Saturday, August 31, 2019

John Locke Biography Essay

John Locke was born on August 29, 1632, in Wrington, Somerset, England. He went to the University of Oxford, where he studied medicine. After college he became a philosopher; writing and speaking on topics, such as political philosophy. His father was a country lawyer and was in the military, he served as a captain during the English civil war. John Locke was one of the Whig party founders, this party pushed for constitutional monarchism. He also wrote two books that were published in England; Two Treaties of Government and his Letter Concerning. Toleration while he was in exile in Holland, due to a failed assassination attempt on King Charles II and his brother. Two Treatises of Government showed his revolutionary ideas concerning the natural rights of man and the social contract. Both of these concepts stirred waves in England, and impacted the intellectual underpinnings that formed the later American and French revolutions. John Locke’s liberal politicalviews were verydifferent and were unheardof at the timein Great Britain. He believed that it was wrong for agovernment to force its subjects to conform to a particular religion. Locke said that religious beliefs are a private concern and that they are not a proper subject for government interference. Locke also believed in natural rights which he usually referred to as, â€Å"life, liberty, andproperty†. Hestated that these rights a person may surrender or forfeitby attacking others, but no one can simply take them away. If the government begins to violate these rights by depriving its subjects of life, liberty, and property, then the people have a right to overthrow the governmentand establish a new one. Lockealso believedthat people can consent to create and obey only a limited or constitutional government. Locke’s views on practicing religion freely later influenced the creation of the American Declaration of Independence. John Locke 3 Early in his medical studies, Locke met the Earl of Shaftsbury. The two became friends and Shaftsbury soon persuaded Locke to move to London and become his personal physician. As Shaftsbury’s power grew, so did Locke’s responsibilities. He assisted in his business and political matters and eventually Locke became his secretary of presentations. Shaftsbury had a very heavy influence on Locke’s political career and many of his radical thoughts. Shaftsbury left an outlook on rule and government that stayed with Locke for the rest of his life. After reading about much of Locke’s life it is easy to see that he was very liberal and believed in the people having powers and freedoms that, at the time, were unheard of. John Locke’s philosophical political ideas and writings have greatly contributed to the freedoms we enjoy today in the Western part of the world. BIBLIOGRAPHY John Locke. (2014). The Biography. com website. Retrieved 01:12, Sep 21, 2014, fromhttp://www. biography. com/people/john-locke-9384544. Ball, Terence, and Richard Dagger. Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal. 8th ed. New York: Longman, 2010. Print. John Locke 4 Table Of Contents Page 1: Title Page 2: Table of Contents Page 3: Biographical Background and Political Views Page 4: Connections and Conclusion John Locke 5 Page 5: Bibliography.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Significant Life Event

I have read and understand the plagiarism policy as outlined in the syllabus and the sections in the Student Bulletin relating to the IWU Honesty/Cheating Policy. By affixing this statement to the title page of my paper, I certify that I have not cheated or plagiarized in the process of completing this assignment. If it is found that cheating and/or plagiarism did take place in the writing of this paper, I understand the possible consequences of the act/s, which could include expulsion from Indiana Wesleyan University. Significant Life Event One event in which all involved parties can still laugh about and I believed had brought a significant change to me, and affect me still today. My closest bond I have today it is my relationship with my mother. While our mother-daughter bond has been a blessing we have had the highs and lows of love. There were times when it has been joy and moments which can only be described as maneuvering through a minefield. Most females can relate to this journey through in life. In this relationship, hearts can be broken, feelings can be hurt, and the best intentions can turn a mistake into resentment. With patience and lots of love a mother and daughter can be develop a friendship and a trusting bond strengthened for a lifetime. I can now say as I look back we made a turning point when I was eighteen years old. I had just married my high school sweetheart and the father of my child and had been still living at home with my mother. We are both the oldest child oldest in our family and hence were the example for the younger siblings. We both had plans to make something of our life. We both grew up in an urban area where a teenage pregnancy usually ended a person’s dreams for a better environment. We had considered ourselves adults because we now had a child of our own. But this is hindsight; we thought we had all the answers. My first love and father of child, Robert decided he would enlist in the military and I would finish high school. When he completed boot camp and all the other required training the military deemed for him, his first duty station was thousands of miles away from home. No one could tell me anything about child rearing or the decisions I had made regarding my life. I did not appreciate the help I was receiving from his and my family. With Robert enlisting in the military, we relocated from everyone to start a new life together. By the grace of God his first duty station after boot camp was Hawaii. Most people image Hawaii as paradise on earth, almost anyone including me, at least that was what thought at first. Needless to say when time came near for me to leave I could not wait to get away from my mother’s rules and meddling interfering. My mother and I had differences of opinions on everything, even on the way to the airport until I got on the plane. Once I got to Hawaii to begin my new life, I remember not speaking to her for while except to let her know we made it there safely and besides this was actually a honeymoon for my husband and me. On the day we married he left and I did see him again for five months and we had some cuddling time to make up. Let me tell you once the honeymoon was over and we settled into married life I suddenly realized I was alone with a man who had a life, a job and friends. After I had done all the sight-seeking, daytime television watching, and culture adjustment. I suddenly realized I was home sick and missed my mother. All I had was a two-year-old child that took the word terrible two to another level. The long distant phone calls began and I would call her for the littlest things, from how to cook this recipe, to what are you doing, how to budget and make ends meet, what happened at the last family party or get together and don’t forget to send me pictures of what was going on at home. It hit me that my mother actually knew best, she had the answers from how handle a terrible two year old, why men are the way they are, to why my hair was falling out and skin breaking out. I was miserable with the life we had built and I could blame no one, not even my mother like as I had done so many times before. She was not around and could be blamed for this mess, but she was available by phone and we she would help me figure out what I needed to do to make this work. She suggested that I find something to do with my time, maybe get job, go to school or be more open to social life. I had alienated myself physically from everybody except a husband and a two-year-old child. As time past I adjusted to the island life and developed friendships. A funny thing happened that me, my mother and ex-husband laughs about still today. The situation, reminds me, how much my mother really missed me and how strong our love is. Without our knowledge our home phone was not working properly. We were able to call out but not able to receive incoming calls. This fact was brought to our attention when the military police knock at our door. In my mind at the time a very big official military police officer was looking for my husband. Once he was identified they were inquiring about my where about. The officer said â€Å"His mother-in-law had not heard from her daughter in about a week. † It hit me that my mother had not gone more than a couple days with out hearing from me. Since then my husband was sure we make regular calls home to my mother so the law would not be knocking on our door looking for him. I have a much better appreciation of this relationship with the fact that I now have a grown daughter. I learned later in life the hard way that what comes around goes around. I had my own separation event with my daughter when she moved away for college. But that is another significant life event in its self.

The Concept Of Computer Assisted Instruction Education Essay

IntroductionBACKGROUND OF THE STUDYIn recent old ages, due to promotion of computing machine engineering, the construct of Computer Assisted Instruction is now more prevailing, and has become a tendency ( Yang & A ; Wang, 2001 ) . Electronic larning popularly referred to as e-learning is progressively going acceptable in third establishments all over the universe. This is as a consequence of the chance provided by higher establishments and more pupils taking portion in it ( OECD, 2005 ) . Digital acquisition is fundamentally the usage of information and communicating engineerings ( ICTs ) to heighten and back up larning learning and research ( Eteng & A ; Ntui, 2009 ) . With digital acquisition, there is a displacement from the traditional attack of teacher-directed didactic to modern methods where computing machine engineering plays an important function, thereby bettering the quality, efficiency and effectivity of instruction, larning, research and educational direction. Its method s including the integrating of the World Wide Web, multimedia, information hunt, electronic libraries, and remote acquisition. In this digital age, instructors must cover with the challenge and developmental chances of how to suitably utilize information engineering and how to incorporate assorted educational stuffs into class design and learning methods ( Rosenberg, 2001 ) . The features of digital acquisition is different from the features of traditional schoolroom environment acquisition, and can better upon some larning jobs of pupils who are physically or mentally challenged, assisting them to larn more efficaciously ( Chen, 2003 ) . It provides stimulation from different channels such as words, images, sounds, life, and images, and can often assist pupils utilize larning maps of different centripetal variety meats, and achieve the larning marks of diverse wisdom ( Li, 1998 ) . In planing digital acquisition, bookmans emphasize that larning ideals instead than computing machine engineering should take the design of a computerized acquisition environment ( Chiou & A ; Chong, 1993 ; Yang & A ; Wang, 2001 ) . The demand for digital acquisition has now become of import more than of all time before as the aim of university instruction in Nigeria as defined in the National Policy on instruction ( 2000 ) includes the proviso of high degree work force for national development and this is to be achieved through its programme of instruction, larning and research. Digital acquisition can assist grownups in developing their literacy and innumeracy accomplishments, while besides constructing Information Communication and Technology accomplishments for life and work ( CILIP, 2005 ) . In malice of the bright chance of digital acquisition in the state, it is so unreassuring that there are some hurdlings militating against the effectual usage of the educational engineering in Nigeria. Folorunso, Ogunseye, & A ; Sharma ( 2006 ) and Resnick ( 2002 ) indicates that mass unknowingness, low computing machine literacy degree and cost were identified as critical factors impacting the acceptableness of digital acquisition by pupils and lectors of Nigerian universities. Sharma, Ekundayo, & A ; Ngige ( 2009 ) points out that digital larning topographic point high demand on scholars who have to be more proactive and disciplined than in traditional face-to-face instruction whereas this proactiveness and subject is missing. Assorted barriers to ICT usage in Africa schools have been identified to include: hapless substructure, epileptic power supply, deficiency of electricity, deficiency of trained forces, poorness, unequal support and limited or no internet entree ( Aladejana, 2 007 ; Jegede, 2005 ) .STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMWhile there had been a elephantine effort at incorporating digital acquisition into direction in other advanced states, Nigeria is non yet fascinated by the potency of engineering to heighten instruction and acquisition. Many of our schools are dawdling behind in incorporating engineering into direction. Teachers are discerning about bettering and modifying direction by integrating the new engineerings ( Huckle, 1997 ) . Harmonizing to Salomon ( 1989 ) , there are clear indicants from many developing states like Nigeria that the supply of relevant and appropriate package is a major constriction blockading wider application and use of digital acquisition in Nigeria third establishments. Schulmeister ( 2006 ) states that experience proved that the benefits of digital acquisition could non be to the full taken advantage of, outlooks could non be met and that engineering frequently was used to merely reenforce antique attacks to larning. Res nick ( 2002 ) criticizes that even though Information Communication Technology is applied in instruction, the attacks to learning and larning remain mostly unchanged. There is therefore non-availability of internet entree in some third establishments because of the recurrent cost of bandwidth. Inequality of entree to engineering is the challenge of digital divide bing among the pupil in Nigeria third establishment ( Omofaye, 2007 ) . Thus, some of them are unable to afford computing machines due to the comparative cost to the mean income of workers in the state ( Ajadi, Salawu, & A ; Adeoye, 2008 ) . The cost of accessing the cyberspace in Nigeria is still on the high side, some pupils find it a challenge to afford ( Arikpo, Osofisan, & A ; Usoro, 2009 )PurposeBased on the aforementioned research background and the statement of the job, the intent of this survey is to research the use and consequence of digital acquisition on pupils in Lagos province Tertiary Institutions.RESEARCH Q UESTIONSThe undermentioned inquiries will steer this survey What is the degree of consciousness of pupils on the handiness of Digital acquisition in Nigeria third establishment? What is the position of the use of digital acquisition? What are the challenges faced in the use of Digital larning on pupils?Significance OF THE STUDYThe survey is important in that it will supply information about the current position of use of modern engineering in Nigerian secondary schools. It will besides supply baseline informations for future policy sing engineering preparation and the development of strategic programs aimed at promoting technology-based invention in teacher instruction plans. It is besides hoped that this survey will trip off more research surveies that will inform/encourage execution of new engineering in teacher instruction. This survey will be utile to inform instructors on how use digital acquisition to learn pupils which will turn to the demands of pupils with different larning manners and motive. It will offer great possible to transform and better pupil acquisition, battle and keeping and support pupil success which will assist institutional ends with possible benefits including improved keeping and clip n est eggs for teachers. Average instructors will profit as digital acquisition will assist make their first-class equals and take complex undertakings off their to-do lists, enabling them to concentrate on the parts of instruction at which they can stand out. Through engineering, they can besides obtain real-time informations and advice about how to assist each of their pupils win, salvaging clip and bettering public presentation. It will do it easy for instructors to personalise direction, which many mean instructors find hard or impossible to accomplish with whole schoolrooms of pupils with a broad array of demands. Besides instructors will progressively be able to learn more pupils in individual as digital acquisition replaces parts of direction in an individualised manner and provides time-saving pupil informations ; range pupils remotely via engineering ; and gaining control and portion their public presentations and methods widely through picture and smart package that individu alizes acquisition. Even among first-class instructors, assorted people will boom in different functions. By stressing the usage of simulation – games to learn mathematics, it is hoped that the survey will take to the betterment of mathematics learning and larning in our secondary schools. The general hapless public presentation of pupils in mathematics and their attitudes towards some facets of the topic are expected to be better. With this survey, the research worker aims at exposing the instructors and pupils to the importance of utilizing simulation – games to better the instruction and acquisition of mathematics. Technology and digital acquisition can increase the ability to run into the demands of single pupils. Whether through the handiness of timely informations or the ability to link pupils with the content and activities that meet their acquisition manners and demands, engineering and digital acquisition provide chances for instructors to personalise larning for more pupils at any given clip.HypothesisThere is no important difference between the challenges faced in the use of digital acquisition and pupils ‘ public presentation. There is no important difference between the degree consciousness of pupils and handiness of digital acquisition in third Nigeria establishments. There is no important difference between position and use of digital acquisition.SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDYThis survey will cover the instruction and acquisition activities in Lagos State Tertiary Institutions. The survey will restrict its work within Lagos State Tertiary Institutions because Chapter TWO LITERATURE REVIEW DIGITAL LEARNING RESOURCES In this survey, the term ‘digital learning resources ‘ refers to larning premises and platforms that include engineering enablers such as laptops, multimedia, CD-ROMs, and Internet resources. Digital learning resources can give pupils reliable every bit good as up-to-date information that is non needfully available in text edition. By and large, e-learning resources are utile as they represent a aggregation of cultural and scientific cognition accumulated over the old ages ( Yeo & A ; Tan, 2008 ) . Furthermore, this type of resource can be utile to pupils because it can further their acquisition and their critical thought, their ability to do connexions between different constructs, and bridge the spread between their theoretical and practical cognition ( Palmer, 2007 ) . Despite this, handiness of resources does non take to automatic acquisition betterment ; in fact, productive usage of resources can be hard to accomplish ( Bera & A ; Liu, 2006 ) .Technologies and Method s of TeachingThere are groundss back uping the debut and usage of new engineerings in direction. The World Bank ( 2004 ) opined that ICTs should be considered within instruction for the intent of reforming course of study, reenforcing teaching/learning and to better propensity. The UN Secretary of State ( 2005 ) talking on the function of engineering in instruction said we must guarantee that Information and Communication Technologies ( ICTs ) are used to assist unlock the doors of instruction. As a consequence, Millennium Development Goals ( MDG ‘s ) came up with this policy â€Å" to co-operate with the private sector, to do available the benefits of new engineerings, particularly ICTs to increase educational chances and unlock the door of instruction. As a consequence of this, new engineerings are being disseminated into educational establishments at a rapid rate. For the new engineerings to be efficaciously utilised, instructors at all degrees need non merely to be adept in the engineerings but must besides be good versed in its effectual integrating into their direction. The major country Nigeria could run into this outlook is the instructor ‘s readying in the methods category. It is in the methods category that the pupils can see their instructors patterning the usage or deficiency of usage of the engineering. The usage or deficiency of usage of the new engineerings may widely impact the pupils in future as respect whether to utilize them or non.CHALLENGES OF DIGITAL LEARNINGThe information on any topic which has been put on the web demand to be transformed to knowledge at some phase for it to be made utile. As suggested by Mehdi ( 2004 ) â€Å" it can be highly easy and speedy to reassign information from one topographic point to another, it is frequently really hard and decelerate to reassign cognition from one individual to another † .There have been devised several methods to ease the procedure of transition of information to know ledge, digital age has enabled fleet transportation of information and now strives to bring forth faster ways to change over it to knowledge. Teresa & A ; John ( 2007 ) talked about the assorted developments in digital acquisition like word-processing, interactive multimedia, Computer-mediated Communications, New Literacy Studies, Digital Archives and Information Literacy. The best effectual method for this transition ca n't be defined as larning ability differs from individual to individual and different tools produce different consequences in persons. We normally tend to split these groups based on age, state or proficient background. The assorted demands for way of development in the field of digital acquisition have been felt since a long clip. We ca n't anticipate every person to react in a similar mode to tools that are available for digital acquisition. Therefore different tools and learning methods are required for different groups of people which can be implemented with the aid of human computing machine interaction ( HCI ) as emphasized by Bee & A ; Laurel ( 2004 ) . Another issue is the consciousness to all new tools which can be helpful to a scholar which can besides be done with human computing machine interaction. Besides a affair of concern is that there still exists a little population who is wholly barren of digital larning even if they can afford it. This is mostly because of assorted myths and unknowingness. As marked by Guerra, Alfonzo, Suarez, Hernandez & A ; Milan ( 2007 ) learning AIDSs have moved from chalkboard to projector transparences and so to video projectors and PowerPoint. The instructors are normally non able to bring forth really effectual multimedia or other signifiers of digital acquisition. This is rather obvious as we ca n't anticipate every instructor to be a multimedia expert. The Development of assorted tools was done so as to enable the scholars to get he knowledge easy. Another issue is the capital required for the sp reading consciousness, carry oning workshops, supplying preparation and let go ofing new instruction tools and multimedia merchandises for acquisition. Percept ON DIGITAL LEARNING To successfully make digital learning plan, we need to guarantee that value truly is at that place and it is in concrete footings. That means we need to sell scholars on the true proposition that engagement will supply benefits worth the clip and attempt. The course of study needs to be the point of mention for making an effectual digital acquisition. Making so will excite critical motive and give the plan a opportunity to win ( Allen, 2003 ) . Bad digital larning perceptual experience may be due to miss of apprehension, deficiency of communicating, and deficiency of trust or conflicting dockets in appropriate usage engineering. Some end coaching and consciousness exercisings are likely needed to beef up people ‘s perceptual experience ( Allen, 2003 ) . It is of import to recognize that scholars are both emotional and rational ; and emotions have much consequence on people ‘s perceptual experience and what they do. In some digital acquisition surveies conducted in develop ing states, it was found that deficiency of vision and model in implementing digital larning lead to a failure of these digital acquisition undertakings ( Kizito & A ; Bijan, 2006 ; Pal, 2006 ) . Lack of both proficient and societal accomplishments required for execution contributes to the failure of some undertakings. If scholars can non utilize adaptative tools they might experience ashamed and this affects perceptual experience. When scholars feel ashamed and guilt it is because they are sent in environment in which they are non wholly pleased. The feeling will act upon their survey state of affairs, every bit good as the whole acquisition procedure and this consequence in negative feedback, which may cut down concentration and motive ( Ostlund, 2005 ) .Digital Learning A ModelsAHorn & A ; Staker ( 2011 ) A offers A this A drumhead A of A assorted A digital A larning A theoretical accounts: AA Face-A ­aˆ?to-A ­aˆ?Face A Driver AThis attack A retains A instructors to p resent A most A of their A course of study A in A a A traditional A brick-A ­aˆ?and-A ­aˆ?mortar A school puting. A The A instructor A deploys A online A larning A on A a case-A ­aˆ?by-A ­aˆ?case A footing A to A supplement A or A remediate, A frequently in the A back A of A the A schoolroom A or A in a engineering A lab. AARotation AThe common A characteristic A the A rotary motion A theoretical account A is A that A pupils A revolve A between A larning A on-line A in A a A one-A ­aˆ?to-A ­aˆ? one, self-A ­aˆ?paced A environment A and A in A a A traditional A schoolroom. A The A face-A ­aˆ?to-A ­aˆ?face A teacher A normally A oversees A the A online A work. AAFlex APlans with A a A flex A theoretical account A characteristic A an A online A platform A that A delivers A most A of A the A course of study. A Teachers A supply A on-A ­aˆ?site A support A on A a A flexible, A as-A ­aˆ?needed A footing A through A in-A ­ aˆ?person A tutoring A Sessionss A and A little A group A Sessionss. A Many A dropout-A ­aˆ?recovery A and A credit-A ­aˆ?recovery A blended A plans A fit A into A this A theoretical account. AAOnline A Lab AThe online A lab A theoretical account A relies A on A an A online A platform A to A deliver A the A full A class, A but A in A a A brick-A ­aˆ?and-A ­aˆ?mortar A lab A environment. A Normally A these A plans A provide A on-line A instructors. A Paraprofessionals A supervise, A but A offer A small A content A expertness. A Often, A pupils A who A take part A in A an A online A lab A plan A besides A take A traditional A classs. AASelf-A ­aˆ?Blend AThe A most A common A version A of A blended A larning A is A the A self-A ­aˆ?blend A theoretical account, A where A pupils A choose A to A take A one A or A more A classs A on-line A to A addendum A their A traditional A school ‘s A catalog. A The A online A acquisition A is A ever A remo te, A which A distinguishes A it A from A the A online A lab A theoretical account, A but A the A traditional A acquisition A is A in A a A brick and howitzer A school. A All A auxiliary A online A schools A that A offer A a A La A menu A classs A to A single A pupils A facilitate A self-A ­aˆ?blending. AAOnline Driver AThe online A driver A theoretical account A involves an A online A platform A and A teacher A that A present all A course of study. A Students A work A remotely A for A the A most A portion, A Face-A ­aˆ?to-A ­aˆ?face A check-A ­aˆ?ins A may A be A included. A Some A of A these A plans A offer A brick-A ­aˆ? and-A ­aˆ?mortar A constituents A as A good, A such A as extracurricular activities.THE NEED FOR DIGITAL LEARNING IN NIGERIA TERTIARY INSTITUTIONSThe universe is progressing at a rapid rate. Events have moved to the electronic phase with the computing machine at the Centre. This development has brought a batch of invention and revolution into learning and larning. The 3R ‘s ( reading, composing and arithmetic ) which forms the karyon of the old system of instruction has witnessed series of literacy reforms. The universe is now in the age of information engineering or computing machines age ; hence, there is a demand to maintain abreast of clip. One of the ways of accomplishing this is through the debut of computing machine instruction in our establishments of acquisition ( Ajibade, 2006 ) .

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Analysis of the Film American Beauty Filmed in 1999 Essay

Analysis of the Film American Beauty Filmed in 1999 - Essay Example â€Å"American Beauty† is a remarkable achievement in several ways. Despite having somewhat traditional cinematography, the artistic accomplishments of this movie in other aspects of film making and its following critical acclaim (including all of the awards that it won upon its release) led directly to widespread commercial success. Many aspects of the cinematography of â€Å"American Beauty† are somewhat traditional while avoiding cliche – at very least they are very far from experimental in any real way. The film, for instance, follows the rule of thirds nearly dogmatically, always maintaining action along the imaginary lines that would divide the screen vertically and horizontally. It tends to avoid extreme close-ups and distant medium shots while focusing on close ups and long shots, which all conspire to give this film something of a classical Hollywood look. This traditional Hollywood look that pervades the movie is useful, however, in differentiating the ‘produced’ aspects of the movie which has a generally negative tone, focusing on emotions and ideas such as despair, and ugliness, from other aspects of the film which focus on the polar opposite of these ideas, namely hope and beauty. Hope, one of this films major themes, is consistently connected a certain kind of shot: aerial shots of the suburbia in which the central family of the show lives. These aerial shots, frequently featuring excellent narration by Kevin Spacey, usually focus on the chances of life to expand beyond the mundane and reach into the ethereal. These shots are especially effective because they invoke an otherworldly quality, almost of a being in an afterlife looking down benevolently onto the town. By evoking the afterlife these shots give an underlying feeling of hope and possibility in the crowd. These shots, by departing so drastically from more traditional Hollywood cinematography, draw attention to themselves and their departure from the darke r themes of the rest of the movie. This departure from the traditional Hollywood style for the purpose of aerial shots has one other major parallel in the film, the classic and oft referenced (and mocked) handheld shots of a bag blowing through the breeze. These shots focus on beauty that can be found anywhere in the world, even in the most basic events throughout life. The shots are not only of bags blowing in the wind, but also show one of the main characters, Jane Burnham, portrayed by Thora Birch, disrobing and exposing her breasts to another person for the first time. This openness and beauty juxtaposes her general shyness and awkwardness, showing that even in her somewhat un-perfect packaging beauty can be found. The use of a grainy and unsteady handy-cam to display these signs of beauty, contrasting the high quality shots of ugliness not only draws attention to the shots, but also highlights a final of the film’s major themes: conflict and juxtaposition. One of the ess ential aspects of â€Å"American Beauty† is that there are incredible amounts of contrast within everything from characters (such as a homophobic gay man) to the world itself, which is both ugly and beautiful. Beauty displayed by an ugly handycam video contrasts with ugliness from a high quality video camera to show the essential conflict between opposing

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

The great gatsby- write about gatsby's personality Essay

The great gatsby- write about gatsby's personality - Essay Example To Nick, this quote dissects Gatsby’s personality and makes sense why the external world perceives him the way they do. Gatsby’s smile shows off his magnetic nature as well as giving the person receiving that smile the power of feeling special. Anyone who meets Gatsby cannot help to see only the good in him. What Gatsby does not realize is that his present life can never be fulfilled if he continues to live in his past. Gatsby puts overwhelming pressure on himself to live a certain way as a means to capture his true love’s heart, but ruins any chance of having a future in the meanwhile. A rags-to-riches story, Gatsby pulled himself out of the slums and now lives a life of luxury, throwing lavish parties in hopes to draw Daisy to one so that he can have a chance to win her love again. Anyone who is anyone knows of Gatsby’s lavish parties. He is notorious in New York as the man who has everything. Unfortunately, the means in which he was able to do it by was through bootlegging alcohol and other illegal activities, according to Tom, when he tells Daisy, â€Å"I picked him for a bootlegger the first time I saw him, and I wasn’t far wrong,† (Fitzgerald 282-290) as a desperate plea to convince her to stay with him. The truth is that Gatsby is a criminal. In fact, his real name is James Gatz. This criminal past trying to be erased by a new persona adds to the illusion that Gatsby lives a better life that he created for himself and also reinforces that it is one that can never lead to a lifetime of happiness. Gatsby’s â€Å"front† of bei ng this person that he is not has backfired. Even when Gatsby tells Tom that Daisy â€Å"never loved† him and only married Tom because he was â€Å"poor and tired of waiting† for him (Fitzgerald, 146) in front of Daisy, Daisy isn’t too quick to agree. Gatsby’s delusion that Daisy never loved anyone else but him goes to show that Gatsby could never live in reality. Gatsby’s misconception of

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Brands in Retail Market Literature review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Brands in Retail Market - Literature review Example Brands give products a unique identity or name with the help of a name / design or logo which catches the imagination of the customers. â€Å"A brand is an experience that lives at the intersection of promise and expectation. Your products are a way to deliver upon that promise. Forget features; concentrate on the unique experience you can provide† (Savard & Gallagher, 2010). The goal of retailers is to build strong brand identity to compete with other players in the industry. The paper discusses the implications and strategic significance of retail branding and its impact on customer choice and preference of stores. Introduction The retailing industry has gained increased prominence over the past few decades with growing consumerism in countries and wide range of products flooding the markets vying for consumer attention. The retail industry comprises of the department stores, local shops, discount stores, and specialty stores that form the vital link between the manufacturer s and customers. The global retail industry has witnessed significant changes in the post globalization period with markets opening to multinational products and brands making their way to the retail counters. The small local retail shops are disappearing to large multinational retail chain stores that have created a brand image for their quality of service and range of products available under one roof. Popular retail chain stores like Tesco, Walmart, Marks and Spencer have adopted international expansion strategies to increase market shares and profits. â€Å"Indeed, the larger the company, the more likely it is to operate beyond its domestic borders and to generate a higher percentage of its sales from foreign operations† (Deloitte, 2009). Brand management has emerged as a critical top management function for a business in the last decade. Brand image is increasingly being acknowledged as one of the most valuable intangible assets for a company. In the highly competitive r etailing industry, branding has a very important role to play in influencing customer perceptions and enhancing store loyalty. In the United States grocery and general merchandise industry, retailing has made major inroads in the last few years. The surge in promotions and private labels has been seen as an indicator of increase in retailer power. Simultaneously, there has also been a significant increase in the number of discounters and warehouse clubs. This has put a lot of pressure on traditional retailers. Retail competition has increased and become cut throat both within and between retail formats. Based on these observations the research provides an insight into the different perspectives that have emerged in driving customers to the retail chain stores. What role does branding play in influencing choice of retail stores and how do customers differentiate one retail brand from the other? These are some of the vital questions that are answered by the research paper through an a nalysis of existing literature and theoretical perspectives defining customer decision making process. Retail branding – a conceptual overview Retail branding is an evolving concept that has transformed the way customers shop today and it has generated a lot of speculation on how retail brands influence customers. Retail branding has been defined by Zentes, Morschett, and Schramm-Klein in their book Strategic Retail Management (2007) as â€Å"

Monday, August 26, 2019

Gender Inequality in the British National Curriculum Essay

Gender Inequality in the British National Curriculum - Essay Example Key stage tests have been brought about by the British national curriculum whereby pupils are usually assessed at various stages throughout their education. This National Curriculum was introduced in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to be used national wide by primary and secondary state school following an Education Reform Act 1988. The main aim of the National Curriculum was to ensure that all pupils cover certain basic materials and later on entire teaching time was covered as the curriculum grew in majority of state schools. There have been debates amongst educators about gender-related issues throughout the 20th century. This refers to the cultural classification of people as ‘masculine’ or ‘feminine’. Societies set down cultural expectations for males and females and people are encouraged to think, feel and act in manner ‘appropriate’ to their sex. It is argued that although boys get much more attention from teachers, â€Å"it is not s imply because they are boys, it is partly because of the way both boys and girls behave and this behaviour is shaped by the wider society,†. The most determined action taken within the school cannot effectively counter the influence of peer groups, magazines, television and family. Even if teachers get rid of their sexist attitudes everything would not necessarily be fair and both boys and girls would be treated equally, but classroom action is a two-way process, it is not simply teacher led. French argued that pupils bring in their own behavior patterns to the classroom.... Key stage 1 This stage includes children between the ages of 5-7 years. The key stage is the legal term for the two years of schooling in England and Wales known as year 1 and 2. The students in this stage follow 12 areas of education programme. In year 2 at the age of 7 years, the pupils are assessed with a test known as SAT's that covers English, Science and Mathematics. The subjects this stage is suppos ed to cover include: English Mathematics Science Information and Communication Technology Design Technology History Geography Modern Foreign Language Art and Design Music Physical Education Religious Education (Education Act. 2002, 2002) Key stage 2 This stage includes children between the ages of 7-11 years. The key stage is the legal term for the four years of schooling in England and Wales known as Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6. In this stage, covers pupils during junior schools although in some cases part of this stage fall in a middle while the other part falls through primary school. In this stage, the pupils follow the same areas programme of education just like of key stage 1. In Year 6 at the age of 11 years, the pupils are tested as part of the national programme of national curriculum tests known as SAT's. These tests covers English, Mathematics and Science and the tests are externally marked and the results published in DFES performance table. (Education Act. 2002, 2 002) Key stage 3 This includes children between the ages 11-14 years. The key stage is the legal term for the three years of schooling in England and Wales known as Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9. The stage covers pupils during the first three years of secondary education although in some

Sunday, August 25, 2019

World Literature Comparison Work with some Creative Writing Essay

World Literature Comparison Work with some Creative Writing - Essay Example Annanu, the spider, wants that stories must be told about him as well .The God gives him some arduous tasks and tells that if he is able to accomplish them, then he can have his stories told as well. He is very small creature and it appears that he will not be able to fulfill the tasks granted but with his wit and acumen, Annanu successfully carries the responsibility of the tasks. Similar to this is the story of the mice, in the book called Panchatantra, The Mice and the Elephants, the mice are very clever creatures, and at the first place it appears that would they never be able to repay the King Elephant for the good he once did to them. Nevertheless, when the time comes these small creatures leave no stone unturned to help the elephants out. The use of non-human character renders effectiveness to these fables. These fables are meant to deliver some message and are morality based. They lay set of rules for the individual, which needs to be followed for living in a society. Animal characters worked well in ancient times in the sense that the tales were carried out objectively without offending anyone and secondly,the ancient people felt that animals need to be recognized as living creatures with individuality. As God has bestowed life in all beings irrespective of class and gender, they play important part in our lives. These stories would change if the characters were human and the animals were different. In the story of The Mice and the Elephant if there had been some other animal instead of mice the important moral that this story tries to convey that is never underestimate people with little appearance would have lost altogether .Similarly, In the story Why We Tell Stories about Spider ,would have been ineffective. Even God tells spider to prove his significance in order to get his stories told. He is a trickster and be fools mighty animals, no other animal in his place would have justified this. 2. All that Glitter is not gold is a proverb that conveys a very profound meaning. Human being has a tendency to get attracted towards beautiful things that is, they judge people with the outer appearance. This adage is true, as appearances are deceptive some times, that is, all that glitters or shines is not necessarily gold or holds value of Gold. April showers bring May flowers, this proverb suggests that some unusual happenings are always accompanied by the best fortunes. April showers refer to the bad times or unusual happenings which are always followed by pleasant or good times. Ask me no questions, I will tell you no lies, this one refers to ideology of the present generation that is; there are some subjects, which I would rather not discuss. Three proverbs from the textbook are, â€Å"It is no use crying over spilled milk†, â€Å"A penny saved is penny earned†, â€Å"where there’s a will there’s a way†. The proverb, â€Å"It is no use crying over spilled milk†, reflects a common truth of li fe that whatever is lost is lost. There is no use lamenting on the thing that is lost as it will not come back .The second proverb, â€Å"A penny saved is penny earned† is an advice, that expresses the basic truth of life. The people who squander must know that they need to save for the rainy days or the hard times in the life. Saving the money is a good habit and helps one facing hard times. The third proverb, â€Å"where there’s a will there’s a way expresses common truth that if a man is determined to do something that the life opens ways for you that is the doors of opportunities open for people who have desire and determination. A proverb is defined as a short pithy saying in frequent and widespread use. It expresses a basic truth or practical precept. All these

Saturday, August 24, 2019

California and The United States Research Paper

California and The United States - Research Paper Example This is because revealing of gold was an essential indication of the future economic growth of the state. Consequently, this led the U.S to acquire California for its future economic strength and expansion of its territorial boundary towards the west (Olson & Olson, 2011). The need for the United States to expand its territory was also a factor that led to the acquisition of California. The then President James K. Polk influenced the territorial expansion during his tenancy to ensure his region had a wide area of influence as well as security against other rival states at that particular time such as Mexico and Spain (Genovese, 2010). Polk achieved his desire of expanding the U.S territory through the invasion of Texas, ending the Mexican-American war and negotiation of the Oregon treaty with Britain (Genovese, 2010). Finally, the outcome of these activities was an acquisition of California among other states and US’ western advancement in terms of territory. Manifest Destiny focused on US’ territorial boundary growth, in particular, the western expansion in order to spread beliefs and culture of America. Manifest destiny drew support from democratic individuals who were for the spread of American ideologies while employing nonviolent measures for the peaceful coexistence of the people (Paris, 2012). Thereby, Manifest destiny became crucial in the acquisition of California during the process of western expansion. Discovery of gold in California also attracted a large number of emigrants thus prompting global emigration of wealth seekers from Germany, Turkey, Mexico, China, France, Ireland and Chile thus creating suspicion of the US gaining California (Gold, 2012). This created the necessity to establish measures of eradicating suspicion brought by foreign immigration (Gold, 2012). The number of Chinese immigrants was high than the other immigrants that come for the sake of acquiring wealth through the sale and purchase of gold.

Friday, August 23, 2019

Stem cells Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Stem cells - Research Paper Example James E. They started working in unison in the 1960s and their research laid an ideal platform for the others to take it forward from there and that is exactly what the others did. Stem cells are really useful and they have saved several lives which would not have been plausible had stem cells not been invented. â€Å"Mouse embryonic stem cells treated in culture with a growth factor and then injected into the liver reverse a form of hemophilia in mice analogous to hemophilia B in humans, the new study shows.† (Stem Cells Treated with Growth Factor) Stem cells have several pros and this paper will extensively shed light upon the various uses of stem cells, stem cells have changed many a life. What changes has it brought will also be shed light upon in this paper. The versatility of the stem cells is arguably their biggest strongest point, stem cells can easily grow in certain bodies and they are more than capable of achieving specialized functions. In addition to this they can also renew themselves on their very own and this versatility makes them really useful. There are two types of stem cells namely, Embryonic stem cells and Adult stem cells. The two are really different from each other and understandably have different characteristics. They also differ in functions from one another. Cancer patients undergo chemo and radiation therapy, stem cells are used in this treatment and they have been pivotal in saving several lives. James Thomson and his pupils worked indefatigably hard in the Madison University, stem cell research has been put on the world map because of James Thomson and his pupils. Their research has been incredible and they have made significant progress in the field of stem cell research. â€Å"Adult or somatic stem cells exist throughout the body after embryonic development and are found inside of different types of tissue. These stem cells have been found in tissues such as the brain, bone marrow, blood, blood vessels, skeletal muscles, skin,

Thursday, August 22, 2019

A Secret Govermnt video write up Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

A Secret Govermnt video write up - Movie Review Example h profile government officials have used the secret govemnment as their last resort in bailing them in certain governance problems that they face periodically. The government, as their window opportunity is therefore using the group when all their legitimate options are blocked. The involvement of the member in of the secret government in governance has soiled the reputation of the government in upholding transparent management of its affairs and instead cast doubts on the efficacy of the government to provide leadership. There is also the fear of the unsupervised government being into place when the citizens are expecting continuous improvement on the government on transparent performance on matter of security and administration as a whole. The secret government demonstrates how the top government officials engages with the unconventional groups in the management of its affairs in a desperate move after failing to win the support f the people or that of the congress for constitutional and legitimate

Imogene king Essay Example for Free

Imogene king Essay As Hall (1965) says; â€Å"To look at and listen to self is often too difficult without the help of a significant figure (nurturer) who has learned how to hold up a mirror and sounding board to invite the behaver to look and listen to himself. If he accepts the invitation, he will explore the concerns in his acts and as he listens to his exploration through the reflection of the nurse, he may uncover in sequence his difficulties, the problem area, his problem, and eventually the threat which is dictating his out-of-control behavior. † Major Concepts The individual human who is 16 years of age or older and past the acute stage of a long-term illness is the focus of nursing care in Hall’s work. The source of energy and motivation for healing is the individual care recipient, not the health care provider. Hall emphasizes the importance of the individual as unique, capable of growth and learning, and requiring a total person approach. Health can be inferred to be a state of self-awareness with conscious selection of behaviors that are optimal for that individual. Hall stresses the need to help the person explore the meaning of his or her behavior to identify and overcome problems through developing self-identity and maturity. The concept of society/environment is dealt with in relation to the individual. Hall is credited with developing the concept of Loeb Center because she assumed that the hospital environment during treatment of acute illness creates a difficult psychological experience for the ill individual (Bowar-Ferres, 1975). Loeb Center focuses on providing an environment that is conducive to self-development. In such a setting, the focus of the action of the nurses is the individual, so that any actions taken in relation to society or environment are for the purpose of assisting the individual in attaining a personal goal. Nursing is identified as consisting of participation in the care, core, and cure aspects of patient care. Subconcepts The Care Circle It represents the nurturing component of nursing and is exclusive to nursing. Nurturing involves using the factors that make up the concept of mothering (care and comfort of the person) and provide for teaching-learning activities. The professional nurse provides bodily care for the patient and helps the patient complete such basic daily biological functions as eating, bathing, elimination, and dressing. When providing this care, the nurse’s goal is the comfort of the patient. Providing care for a patient at the basic needs level presents the nurse and patient with an opportunity for closeness. As closeness develops, the patient can share and explore feelings with the nurse. The Core Circle It is based in the social sciences, involves the therapeutic use of self, and is shared with other members of the health team. The professional nurse, by developing an interpersonal relationship with the patient, is able to help the patient verbally express feelings regarding the disease process and its effects. Through such expression, the patient is able to gain self-identity and further develop maturity. The professional nurse, by the use of reflective technique (acting as a mirror to the patient), helps the patient look at and explore feelings regarding his or her current health status and related potential changes in lifestyle. Motivations are discovered through the process of bringing into awareness the feelings being experienced. With this awareness, the patient is now able to make conscious decisions based on understood and accepted feelings and motivation. The Cure Circle It is based in the pathological and therapeutic sciences and is shared with other members of the health team. During this aspect of nursing care, the nurse is an active advocate of the patient. Assumptions The motivation and energy necessary for healing exist within the patient, rather than in the health care team. The three aspects of nursing should not be viewed as functioning independently but as interrelated. The three aspects interact, and the circles representing them change size, depending on the patient’s total course of progress. Strengths/Weaknesses Strengths: The use of the terms care, core, and cure are unique to Hall. Hall’s work appears to be completely and simply logical. Weaknesses: Hall’s work is simple in its presentation. However, the openness and flexibility required for its application may not be so simple for nurses whose personality, educational preparation, and experience have not prepared them to function with minimal structure. This and the self-imposed age and illness requirements limit the generalizability. Analysis Hall imposed an age requirement for the application of her theory which is 16 years of age and above. This limits the theory since it cannot be disregarded that nurses are faced with pediatric clients every now and then. Even though Hall confined her concepts for that age bracket, the concepts of care, core and cure can still be applied to every age group but again, none was specified. The only tool of therapeutic communication Hall discussed is reflection. By inference, all other techniques of therapeutic communication are eliminated. Reflection is not always the most effective technique to be used. The concept of a patient aggregate such as having families and communities as the focus of nursing practice was not tackled. It is purely on the individual himself. Although, the role of the family or the community within the patient’s environment was modestly discussed. In the focus of nursing care in Hall’s concepts, the individual must pass an acute stage of illness for you to successfully apply her theory. Therefore, this theory relates only to those who are ill. This indicates that no nursing contact with healthy individuals, families, or communities, and it negates the concept of health maintenance and disease prevention.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Kfc Kentucky Fried Chicken In Nigeria

Kfc Kentucky Fried Chicken In Nigeria KFC Corporation, or KFCÂ ®, also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is a chain of fast food restaurants based in Louisville, Kentucky. The peculiar history of KFCÂ ® Kentucky Fried Chicken started between 1952 and 1964 when Colonel Harland Sanders (born on September 9, 1890), a politically appointed Kentucky colonel convinced the owners of 600 restaurants in multiple states to pay him a nickel for every chicken they prepared using his secret recipe seasoning. The seasoning is a blend of 11 herbs and spices and sold with his name on it (kfc 2010). In 1964 The colonel as he was popularly called sold the franchise system to John Y. Brown and his business partner Jack Massey for only $2 million. In 1966 Brown and Massey took their company public and increased efforts towards system development with the help of franchisees and Sanders himself who was a marketing icon by all rights, owing to his entrepreneurial success story and image. The company was listed on the New York Stock Exchange on January 16, 1969. Since KFC Corporation went public and registered tremendous growth over the years, it has been acquired by a couple of other multinational corporations. The latest acquisition of KFCÂ ® was by PepsiCo, Inc. in October of 1986, from RJR Nabisco, Inc. for $840 million (Liddle 2010). In January 1997, PepsiCo, Inc. made KFCÂ ® and a couple of its other small quick service restaurants into an Independent entity known as Tricon Global Restaurants, Inc. And subsequently changed the corporations name to Yum! Brands, Inc. in May of 2002. Yum! Brands, Inc. also owns AW All-American food Restaurant, KFCÂ ® , Pizza Hut, Long John and Taco Bell restaurants making it the worlds principal restaurant corporation in terms of system units and spread, having over 32,500 units spread across over 100 countries. While its primary focus is fried chicken, KFCÂ ® also offers a line of roasted chicken products, side dishes and desserts (kfc 2010) This report will be looking at KFCÂ ® in Nigeria; with the aim of investigating and analyzing their main marketing activities and operations in general. KFCÂ ® looking to develop and extend the volume of their market started operation in Nigeria by opening the first Nigerian KFCÂ ® restaurant in December 2010. According to Keith Warren, Yum!s general manager for Africa, We always knew a 150 million people eating chicken on the bone as their primary protein, had to be a good thing for KFCÂ ®, but we didnt quite know how good a thing it was going to be. They have six stores in Nigeria now and they plan on building 20 more stores in 2011. They also forecast that by 2020 KFCÂ ® will have 300 restaurants doing business in Nigeria (kfc 2010). This report is particularly interesting because KFCÂ ® in Nigeria is a new venture for Yum! Brands, Inc. This means that KFCÂ ® is a well known global brand in a new market environment, therefore, the implementation of its market orientation is still taking shape. In other words, the way that KFCÂ ® has decided to do business in Nigeria is still taking shape. Their market orientation, marketing mix and strategies etc will depend on their perception of the new Nigerian market, so we will be looking at KFCs Marketing strategy. In general terms, especially multinational firms use a different strategy in Nigeria than they do in other markets. We are hoping that KFCÂ ® will follow the same trend. 2. KFCS ORIENTATION A business can be Product Orientated, Marketing Orientated or Sales Orientated; but businesses can develop new products based on either a marketing orientated approach or a product orientated approach (Tutor2u 2010). Organizations orientation refers to its familiarization with and approach to the market. A firm can develop new products either based on what it thinks is the best for the market in order to maximize sales or what the customers think. Sales orientated approach fits the profile of market orientation because it uses such skills as selling, pricing, promotion and distribution except it pays little attention to customer needs, priority being sales maximization (Jobber 2007). Market-orientated approach is popular among most successful businesses as opposed to product orientated approach where firms develop products based on their competencies and capabilities rather than the customers needs (Tutor2u 2010). However, (Tutor2u 2010) cited that some products are argued to create a need or want in the customer/consumer, especially products that have high technology content. E.g. Mobile phones have moved from being a business accessory to being a big consumer brand item, with many additional gadgets, such as pictures, video and Internet access. Innovations create the need rather than the customer being able to second-guess how new technology is going to develop. Most technology driven products that requires high level innovation fall within this range because the products create customer needs and market segmentation takes care of the rest. KFC as an organization is Marketing Orientated because it tends to tailor its products and services to the needs of customers in a particular market. 2.1 KFCS MARKETING ORIENTATION: According to Kaur and Gupta (2010:88) Market orientation is a business culture that ensures a set of behaviours needed for generating, disseminating and responding to both internal and external market information for creating superior customer value through superior organizational skills and competencies which ensures long term profitability by continuously identifying and managing limitation in the system that prevents market-orienting culture in an organization. This is a wholesome definition of what market orientation is all about, in that it takes into consideration the business environment, competences, constraints, activities, strategies, implementation and results/targets of marketing orientation, A market orientation needs to be balanced with creativity and a deep understanding of the firms unique capabilities, competencies and objectives (Houston 1986; Sharp 1991; Hamel and Prahalad 1994). Alternatively, the definition of market orientation acknowledges the understanding and acting upon the dynamics of the markets in which they operate and concentrating on critical relationships (Povey 2000). The market dynamics he is referring to may range from the needs of the customers, to what influences their buying decision. There are positive relationships between market orientation and business performance (Pelman and Wilson 1996; Ruekert (1992). As is the case with KFC, their technique of market specialization (i.e. simply put, giving the customers what they really need and importantly not giving them what they dont need) has made them effective in Nigeria. Market orientation is a popular approach especially for a product/service organization like KFC. The need to gain customer preference over major competitors makes them react to the needs and wants of the customer, in order words, they are customer/consumer focused. KFC in Nigeria takes feedback from customers seriously, and they use feedback from customers/consumers to alter or change their standard products according to the customer specifications. The major characteristics of KFC as a Marketing Orientated business is outlined in Table 1 below according to the compilation of Jobber (2007) Table 1. Business Function Activities Identifying Customer/Consumer needs and wants. Marketing Research Developing Products to meet customer/consumer Research and Development/Production needs and wants Deciding on the value of the product to customers Pricing (Sales and marketing department) Making the products available to customers at the Distribution right time and place Informing customers.consumers of he existence of Promotion the product and persuading them to buy it 2.1.1 CUSTOMER NEEDS: In KFC Nigeria, customer needs are primary. The business decisions that KFC make in Nigeria are mainly based on the needs or otherwise complaints or feedback from the end consumer. The advantage of this approach to KFC is that it gives them an edge (competitive advantage) over their competition in terms of meeting and exceeding customers needs. Because a satisfied customer is a happy customer, a happy customer is a loyal customer and a loyal customer is an additional word of mouth promotion for the company; thereby maintaining and increasing KFCs market share. This approach is also growing in popularity mainly because the average consumer has now become knowledgeable and can have very easy access to information, therefore, rather than just working on making their products and services more appealing to the target consumers, KFC is now paying more attention to the customers wants and needs. This approach enables KFC to not only attract customers, but also to satisfy and more important ly retain them. Groucutt (2005 6-10 and 60) cited that an organization can achieve this by first identifying and selecting their target customers and learn their needs and desires by building relationships that will enable them key in to the customers real needs and develop products or services that can be sold at a profit in conformity with customers desire. He further stated that there must be some form of dialogue between the firm and the customers, where customers state their personal needs and wants, and this may be direct or indirect. Through marketing research a customer may communicate directly with the firm, where the firm seeks feedback on particular market issues. He goes on to say that on the other hand, customers may communicate indirectly with the firm by switching brands, and this is to inform the firm that there is a problem with the product (could be price or quality or both) Groucutt (2005) Groucutt (2005 335) The real needs of customers depends on a hierarchy of motives/motivators ranging from Psychological, Safety, Love and belongingness and self-esteem to self-actualization. KFC uses this approach as well, however, with business profitability as the needed end result. This means that they keep the needs of the customers in focus, while they aim at maximize their profit in general. A good implementation of this approach by KFCÂ ® in Nigeria is evident in the way they tailored their menu for different parts of Nigeria. For instance, their menu in the Northern parts of Nigeria does not contain pork because customers in those parts are predominantly moslems who prohibit the eating of pork, and because the case of belongingness is a huge determinant on what people eat. In the southern parts of Nigeria where you have a high density of educated families who tend to be more safety and health conscious when it comes to what they eat, KFC drafted their menu according to diet specifications, making it appear heathy and diet packed. 2.1.2 MARKETING RESEARCH: Groucutt (2005) defines Marketing research as the process of designing, collecting, analyzing and reporting of information that may be used to solve a specific problem in a firms marketing. The marketing problem he refers to can range from the market for a new product, new market for product (as is the case of KFCÂ ® in Nigeria), to lack of patronage for an existing product. Groucutt (2005) cited that Organizations need to narrow down their targeted segment i.e. who they want to appeal to, before undertaking a proper marketing research. It is only when you know who to appeal to that you devise means to appeal to them. He further said that after understanding their targeted segment, firms must have a clear objective as to what the firm aims to achieve both marketing wise and corporate wise. This is because for KFC to have a competitive advantage, they must be able to successfully tailor customer satisfaction with their objectives and end target. KFC Nigeria use feedback from custome rs as a major marketing research tool. According to Groucutt (2005) When efficiently and effectively used, marketing research can benefit the organization in the short-run and long-run. It can give the organization a complete understanding of the market, which includes understanding their current customers, current competitors, potential customers and the impact of macro environmental forces. Organizations can be proactive or reactive to changing conditions only through understanding these diverse groups, according to Groucutt (2005). Market research is important for KFCÂ ® to understand the behavior of a typical Nigerian customer, by analyzing both current and potential purchasing habits, tastes and influences. Marketing research is both a communication tool and a means of communication for KFC, because they use it to get needed information about current market conditions; on the other hand, customers give them feedback on their products and services. Forsyth (2007) cites market research as the planned problem analysis, model building and fact finding to enable better decision making and control in the marketing of goods and services. This implies that marketing research in addition to being an information tool, also enables the organization to guild their internal activities effectively for better results in the market place. According Forsyth (2007) market research contributes to the management of the marketing mix as well as used to help decide on: the marketing strategy needed to better exploit new opportunities; which market discontinuity to tackle; and the key interest areas for future marketing strategy. In application to KFCs activities in Nigeria, the information they get from market research helps them to better adapt to the Nigerian business environment. For instance, the no camera policy in KFC stores is a way they decided to curtail the excesses of some tough local competitors, because there is no limit to the extent a competitor will go to beat business competition in Nigeria. 2.1.3 RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT/PRODUCTION: Effective and efficient use of marketing research creates more information for the organization to potentially undertake research and development of new products; this entails developing products based on customers wants and needs. Ideally, this is should be a continuos process. According to Groucutt (2005). The development of new products and services is usually the key to the beginning of new firms, or the continuation of an existing one. Organizations undertake constant research and development of new products in order to be innovative and stay competitive. Firms engage in New Product Development for various reasons like: To replace a product, to modify a product, to develop products in support of the firms long-term strategic objectives, the adaptation of an existing product, unexpected occurrence leading to unexpected innovation and product and in response to societal, including demographic factors. Societies change and so does their needs, according to Grouccut (2005). The average Nigerian customer is more aware and has easy access to information about different products; therefore his needs and preferences are no longer the same with the last 10 years. KFCÂ ® capitalized on this by rolling out products and services that appeal to Nigerian customers. The important thing is making the products available to the customer when, how and where they want it. For instance, KFCÂ ® incorporated a special type of local chicken seasoning called Suya into their menu in Nigeria because people tend to prefer their chicken made in this way with a lot local pepper spices, different from the rest of the world. KFC also made their chicken a lot spicier because approximately 85% of Nigerians love spicy food and eat spicy food three times in a day. 2.1.4 PRICING: Price is an inherent part of the product/service and must be used as an element of the marketing process (Forsyth 2007) This means that pricing needs to be set carefully because not only does it reflect quality, it ensures that the financial objectives of KFC are met and also creates good image and feeling of value for money by the consumers (Forsyth 2007). Pricing is particularly a sensitive and delicate issue in Nigeria because to most people the price is the first impression about any product. This means that just the mention of the price of a product determines if the average Nigerian customer actually buys a product or not without further inquiry about the quality of the product. Groucutt (2005) thinks that customers may be particularly sensitive to either the set price or increases, even if the increase are marginal. People usually associate this price sensitivity to economic class i.e. lower income groups, but anybody could be price sensitive depending on different factors lik e economic environment or volatility (high growth or low growth). However, price sensitivity in Nigeria can easily be linked to the higher population or high density of lower income people in the population. People work hard and earn relatively less, so it makes sense to want higher value for as low as possible price. Moreover, for most people in Nigeria eating out is a luxury and if that comes with a high price then it is obviously targeted at the higher income groups. This is also a sensitive part of KFCs marketing orientation and it is interesting what they came up with, bearing in mind that they had the objective to penetrate the market and also meet their financial objectives. According to Groucutt (2005) there are different types of pricing tactics that firms use and depending on the objectives/targets and external factors, firms could use some or all of these pricing tactics during the life of a product or service. KFC Nigeria uses Penetration Pricing (Predatory Pricing). Penetration pricing is all about finding a way to access a market by cutting through the existing pricing structures or strategies (Groucutt 2005). Grocutt (2007) also goes on to say that Penetration Pricing can be used to attain entry into an existing market by introducing and maintaining low prices set against the existing average price for that product or service. KFC Nigeria deliberately maintained low prices for most of their products, while at the same time matching the price of competition for some other products. The use of both penetration pricing and Price matching tactics by KFC in Nigeria is very effective, but the use of Penetration Pricing is particularly very important because it was what people mainly responded to and are still responding to. With these pricing tactics, KFC was not just looking at penetrating the market and making sales, but to also create a long lasting impression and customer loyalty in the l ong-run. KFC achieved relatively easy entry in Nigeria mainly because of their pricing tactics because the average Nigerian consumer is very price sensitive and care about quality a lot more than status. 2.1.4 DISTRIBUTION (Brassington Pettitt 2003) Distribution ensures availability and service The availability they are referring to incorporates timeliness as an important factor. It is good enough that customers chose you and not your competition, but it is very important to provide the needed product or service when it is needed on time. Forsyth (2007) cites that distribution is the process that enables products and services to be delivered to customers/consumers in the market. Distribution process typically involves intermediaries but for a fast food franchise like KFC intermediaries are highly unlikely, but for KFC accessibility is vital. Making sure their stores are located strategically to allow easy access by customers when they need to. Therefore, to ensure that customer get timely access to their products whenever they wanted, KFC strategically located their stores in specific parts of Nigeria, depending on the city or area or state. They located stores primarily in areas where customers/consu mers live (suburban and urban locations), close to schools, companies and markets. KFC opened 6 stores in Nigeria in December 2010 in the most populated cities in the country including Lagos city, which is the highest populated city in Nigeria and the 4th highest populated city in the world. KFC also plan to open 20 more stores located strategically in 2011. This also says a lot about KFCs strategy in Nigeria. Currently, KFC does not provide home delivery service which is more convenient for most customers, but they are not the only one in the market who doesnt provide this service. Some of KFCs top local competitors do not provide home delivery service as well because of lack of infrastructure that enables home delivery like good roads etc. 2.1.5 PROMOTION A firm must Promote itself, in other words, it must communicate, clearly and persuasively to let people know what is available and encourage them to buy (Forsyth 2007). There are various promotion tactics like advertising, direct mail, sales promotion e.t.c. Firms decide whether to use some or all of them depending their target audience, the advantages and disadvantages of the promotion tactics, available budget, and level of effectiveness of the promotion tactic (Forsyth 2007). KFC uses advertising effectively in Nigeria as their main promotion tactics. The most effective form of advertising by KFC in Nigeria are electronic and billboard advert by Movie stars and musicians for KFC. KFC takes advantage of the fact that the average Nigerian emulates these stars and follows what they do to some extent. Another promotional tactics that KFC uses in Nigeria and is probably the best at it is Selling. This involves a one-on-one communication with the customer and sometimes forms a final and important, link in the chain of different methods that link a firm to its market, according to Forsyth (2007). KFC is very good at this because they already have standard staff training specifications for all their staff and employees. This is one of KFCs global brand qualities that it brought to the Nigerian market. KFCs competition in Nigeria cannot match this quality at the moment, because they rarely train their staff and even when they do they are not as meticulous as KFC in training their staff and making sure they perfect customer relations. For instance, It is not strange to walk into a fast food store in Nigeria and see a receptionist arguing with a customer, but just few seconds with KFC staff, you will immediately notice that they are different in the way they interact with the customers. They sort of draw you in and make you feel special and appreciated, and for a typical Nigerian customer that respect and appreciation is almost everything. 3. KFCS FOUR Ps OF MARKETING MIX Jobber (2007) suggests that an effective marketing mix matches customer needs, creates competitive advantage, matches corporate resources, and is well balanced. According to Brassington and Pettitt (2003 1105) Marketing Mix is the blend of the 4Ps that creates an homogenous and stable offering to potential customers to satisfies their needs and wants. This means that there must be consistent synergy or balance between these four basic tools of marketing to meet potential customers need and wants. For instance, a good product with bad communication will not work, and so is a bad product with good advertising. This is simply because the elements of the Marketing mix rely on each other and if they lack consistency with each other in what they are saying about the product, then the customers will reject it all because they not stupid. Brassington and Pettitt (2003 25) The 4Ps is a widely recognized concept in marketing and it provides a central organized structure or foundation for marketing activity,which manager can relate to and easily understand, The 4Ps include Product, Price, Place and Promotion. PUT DIAGRAM HERE 3.1 KFCS PRODUCT The product is at the core of marketing exchange. If the product does not deliver the benefits the consumer wanted or if it does not fulfill the expectations created by the other elements of marketing mix, then the whole exercise will be useless. (Brassington and Pettitt 2003 267). A product is a physical good, service, idea, person or place that can offer tangible and intangible qualities that individuals or firms consider necessary, worthwhile or satisfying and are willing to pay for it or exchange any other valuables for it (Brassington and Pettitt 2003 268). This means that for a customer/consumer, the benefit of a product is everything because they buy these products to meet needs, so when a customer/consumer exchanges money, patronage or any other unit of value for a product what he/she is doing is simply paying to get the benefits of that particular product to meet his/her needs. It also means that a product could be anything or place that offers needed benefits and customers/ consumers regard as beneficial. A product (tangible or intangible) is like a personality, and just like a personality there are some characteristics that makes it essentially appealing to the buyer like branding, packaging and labeling, design, style and quality e.t.c. The product and price are the two main parts of the marketing exchange that interests marketers Brassington and Pettitt (2003 268). Alternatively, Groucutt (2005 158) considers products as a collection of features and benefits that provide customer satisfaction. All these different perspectives have two things in common, which is that a product must be beneficial and must provide customer satisfaction. KFC promotes their wide range and varieties of fried, smoked and roasted Suya chickens in Nigeria as nutritious, convenient and even healthy in some parts according to their adverts. According to Doyle (2002) Product decisions comprises of Product variety,product performance, product features, product design, product presentation, product packaging, si zes and brand name. KFCs specialty is fried chicken served in various forms. KFCs primary product is pressure-fried pieces of chicken made with the original recipe. The other chicken offering, extra crispy, is made using a garlic marinade and double dipping the chicken in flour before deep frying in a standard industrial kitchen type machine (Scribd 2011). KFC in Nigeria offers non-durable products and Service products as well. They offer wide range of fried, smoked and roasted chicken in Nigeria, as well as side dishes with fish, port and beef, desserts and ice creams. These are all tangible but non-durable products because the can only be consumed once. KFCs service products in Nigeria represent intangible products such as activities, benefits or satisfaction that customers/consumers derive from their relationship with KFC. KFC menu in Nigeria contains three different segments namely: Family Meals, Individual Meals and Sandwiches. Family Meals comprises of Family Meal, Party Meal and Economy Meal. Ind ividual Meals comprises of Snack Box, Strips Light Meal and Dinner Box. Sandwiches comprises of Suya rap, Suya Burger, Fish rap, beef rap, Chicken fillet supreme, Pork Supreme. They also give customers the chance to make up their own variety box comprising of some or all available products. All the fried Chicken Meals are prepared in the traditional KFC style of frying in oil with the colonels range of spices. All the Meals also have Suya variety, this means that customers/consumers can either chose between the locally prepared Suya or the traditional KFC fried Chicken. KFC also have the same strategy for the beef, fish and pork meals. For the sake of simplicity, this report shall be discussing Fried Chicken. 3.1.1 MARKET SEGMENTATION KFC in Nigeria segments the market demographically by dividing it into groups based on age, gender, family size, income, occupation, religion and ethnicity. KFC segments the market demographically in this way: Age: Between 6 65 Gender: Males and Females Family Size: 2 4, 4 6, 6+ Income: 500Naira and above Family life style: ALL KFCs typical customers/consumers in Nigeria are adults between 18 to 58 who live fast paced lives, and therefore considers convenience when deciding what to eat or drink. This convenience is the totality of what KFC offer in Nigeria. 3.1.1.1 PSYCHOGRAPHIC SEGMENTATION Entails dividing a market into different groups based on social class, lifestyle, religion or personality characteristics (Scribd 2011). KFC in Nigeria divides the market based on psychographic variables like: Upper and Middle class, Life style (not specific) and Personality (ambitious and authoritarian), role expectation of the sexes, reference groups, customs and traditions KFC is concerned about the potential effects of these variables on the sales of its products. This is precedes target market. Psychographic segmentation enable KFC tailor their products or menu content to the specific needs of the target customers in different parts of Nigeria. 3.1.1.2 TARGET MARKET This is the process of evaluating each market segments attractiveness and selecting two or more market segments (Scribd 2011) The two main factors usually considered when selecting a target market segment are the attractiveness of the segment and the fit between the segment and the firms objectives, resources and capabilities. KFC in Nigeria targets upper, middle and a group known as Upper-lower class in Nigeria. KFCs main target are the upper and middle class, but due to the pricing system they initiated, they widened the net to take in this special group known as the upper-lower class, who can afford to take advantage of the KFCs penetration pricing system. KFCs target in Nigeria depends on -Size and growth rate of the segment -Competition in the segment -Brand loyalty of existing customers in the segment -Attainable market share given promotional budget and competitors expenditures -Required market share to break even -Sales potential for the firm in the segment -Resources and structural attractiveness of market segment -Expected profit margins in the segment The market research and analysis discussed before is instrumental in obtaining the above information. (Scribd 2010) 3.1.1.3 MARKET PRESENCE According to Brassington and Pettitt (2006 862) It is a reasonable objective, especially for a small company or a new entrant into an industry/market, to create awareness, both of the firm and of the products offered. According to Jobber (2007) in the communication effects pyramid, 90% Awareness leads to 70% Knowlegde/compreehension, to 40% Liking to 25% Preference, to 20% Trial and 5% Use. This means that to generate more than 5% actual usage which is tantamount to sales of a product, a firm must be more than 90% effective at creating awareness. Even well know brands could have some blind spot relative to a particular market or a new market environment. KFC created awareness in Nigeria through pre-campaigns and promotions, while already gathering potential customers feedback on what they would like to see in KFC eventually. KFC utilized this and tailored their product to popular costumer specifications and needs and this allowed them a relatively easy entry and penetration into the market. The position of KFC products in the minds of target consumers/customers is also important. KFC uses all these attributes to position its products to occupy a clear, distinctive and desirable place relative to competing products in the minds of target consumers/customers. KFC in Nigeria takes feedback from customers and then improve their products. KFC pays more

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Criminology Research Methods

Criminology Research Methods Using examples from published research, critically consider that way that choice of study design might influence research findings and conclusions.   A study design is a fundamental component of any piece of research, providing a structure within which to implement a suitable methodology for the collection and analysis of information and data. The choice of study design employed in criminological research will inevitably influence the findings and conclusions drawn, which may subsequently be used to shape the direction of future policies and interventions within the sphere of criminal justice. This is particularly the case in relation to domestic violence, which remains a socially and politically contested area with regards to the extent to which it merits and requires criminalisation. I therefore intend, with reference to published research, to critically examine how choice of study design may yield different findings and contributions to contemporary understandings of domestic violence. Before considering the various types of study design, it is necessary to provide a brief account of the nature and context of domestic violence. Academics highlight that it is a distinct phenomenon from other forms of conventional violence, often characterised by a series of ongoing violent episodes as opposed to one discrete event and a typical reluctance on the part of victims to recognise and voice their victimisation (Mirrlees-Black, 1999). Criminological research in this area has assumed heightened importance in recent years due to shifts in Government policy towards criminalisation  [1]  . It is therefore vital that any research in this area necessitates an appreciation of the contextual circumstances within which perpetrators and victims operate. A number of study designs are available for the purposes of criminological research, the primary distinction existing between experimental and non-experimental designs; which include randomised control trials, quasi-experiments, cross-sectional and longitudinal designs as well as ethnographic studies. The choice of design will affect the strength of both the internal  [2]  and external  [3]  validity of the findings and conclusions. Bryman notes that the study design chosen reflects a decision about the priority being given to an array of dimensions. These include articulating causal connections, generalising the findings, understanding behaviour in a specific context and having a temporal awareness of social phenomena (2008:35). In addition, certain designs may lend themselves more easily to quantitative or qualitative data, which may impact upon a researchers choice of design given the fundamentally diverse characteristics of both.  [4]   The true experimental design is often referred to as the gold standard (Bryman, 2008:38), despite being rarely employed in criminological research (Wesiburd, 2000:181) due to its potential to yield findings with strong internal validity, particularly if randomised control trials are employed. The experimental design involves the manipulation of the independent variable in order to elicit variation in the dependent variable, a classic example being Bushmans (1995) investigation into the impact of violent films on those pre-disposed to aggression. In randomly assigning subjects to control and experimental groups, he was able to control for rival causal factors, resulting in findings with strong internal validity. True experiments may be either laboratory experiments  [5]  or field experiments  [6]  , although it can be argued that conclusions drawn from laboratory experiments may not have the same level of generalisation due to their artificial setting. However, it is argued th at it is the theoretical principles that are being generalised, not the specific characteristics of the sample, setting or measure (Anderson and Bushman, 1997:22). The experimental design was utilised by Sherman (1984) in investigating the specific deterrent effects of arrest on perpetrators of domestic violence, whereby three types of police response (arrest, mediation ad separation) were randomly assigned to legally eligible cases. The dependent variable, in this case recidivism, was measured over the course of 6months following police intervention using both official data and victim reports. The studys conclusion, that swift imposition of a sanction of temporary incarceration may deter male offenders in domestic violence cases (Sherman, 1984:270), is often cited in support of mandatory arrest policies. However, given that experimental designs are notorious for their weaker external validity  [7]  , it is questionable whether Shermans findings lend themselves to such a sweeping generalisation. Indeed, follow up studies in other US cities revealed more mixed results, with some concluding that arrest had negative effects for victims (Garner et al. 1995). The findings and conclusions by Sherman have been attacked on a number of grounds. Dobash contends that the experiments were designed and carried out with little knowledge of existing and theoretical positions regarding violence against women (2000:254). Indeed, it can be argued that the failure to appreciate the possibility that the reason the arrest of perpetrators resulted in lesser recidivism was not due to its deterrent effects but a result of the victim failing to call the police again or to report their victimisation to interviewers due to fear of a repeated retaliation by the perpetrator that might have followed the initial arrest. This is particularly since qualitative studies have revealed the extent to which victims reluctance to involve the police are a direct product of their fear that an arrest will lead to an escalation of the violence (Felson et al.2002). In addition, Fagan highlights that the short follow-up period of 6months failed to take into account the episodic and cyclical patterns of family violence (1989:382). It therefore appears that Shermans pre-occupation with experimental form, in this case a randomised control experiment, precluded a proper consideration of the nature and contextual characteristics of domestic violence. A variation of the true experimental design is the quasi-experiment, commonly employed in the evaluation of criminal justice interventions due to the ethical difficulties associated with random assignment. Such experiments have been used to research the effect of rape law reforms on the number of rapes reported to the police.  [8]  However, due to the absence of random assignment, such a design may not yield findings that are considered as strong in terms of their internal validity due to the lack of control over intervening causal variables. The Violent Men Study (Dobash, 2000) employed a non-equivalent control group design to evaluate the impact of different criminal justice sanctions on domestic violence, involving the matching of subjects within the different groups. The qualitative data revealed much higher rates of re-offending than the quantitative arrest records portrayed, leading the authors to remark that these stark differences cast grave doubt on the veracity of criminal justice statistics as indicators of the levels of violence or of the effectiveness of interventions (Dobash, 2000:267). In addition, in contrast to the experimental study of arrest that merely speculated the reasons for reduced levels of recidivism following arrest (Sherman, 1984), the Violent Men Study was able to contribute to an understanding of both how and why certain interventions could lead to a cessation of violence (Dobash, 2000). Such findings were arguably facilitated by the fact that the study design was more attuned to the context and dynamics of domestic violence, such as the fact that it was longitudinal in nature, tracing victims experiences and perpetrators criminal involvement over a period of 12months at regular intervals and drawing a comparison between the two sets of data  [9]  . The advantages associated with this design have led to a replication of it in subsequent research.  [10]   An example of a non-experimental study design is the cross-sectional, involving the collection of information and data relating to a designated phenomenon at a particular instance in time. A classic example is the investigation of the effects of visible public and social order on evolving crime rates in Chicago (Sampson and Raudenbush, 2001). However, the problems associated with such a design relate to both the internal validity and the ambiguity of the direction of causality, which may therefore significantly influence any conclusions drawn, as was the case in the Chicago study which could not establish whether the high crime rates resulted before or after a variation in social control (Bachman and Schutt, 2007:154). A study by Hoyle and Sanders (2000) of victims within Thames Valley police force areas utilised a cross-sectional non-experimental design to investigate victims perceptions of the value of various criminal justice interventions. The non-experimental dimension facilitated a more in-depth exploration of victims experiences and beliefs and a deeper contextual understanding of the nature and effects of domestic violence, with the authors highlighting that the more powerful the controlling behaviour of their partners, the less likely it is women will seek to involve the criminal justice system (2000:21). However, a significant drawback of the cross-sectional design is that it results in findings that inevitably fail to capture the recurring and ongoing nature of domestic violence. By contrast, a longitudinal design, involves the collection of information and data at several points in time, which can also resolve any ambiguity concerning the direction of causal influence. Thus, academics assert that the value of longitudinal data is so great that every effort should be made to develop longitudinal research designs whenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦appropriate (Bachman and Schutt, 2007:155). A study by Sullivan and Bybee (2004) interviewed 278 women, who has just left a domestic violence shelter, at various intervals for three years. By collecting and analysing data over a substantial period of time, the study was able to provide a greater understanding of the unique trajectory of domestic violence. However, the problem of attrition is particularly salient for longitudinal designs, with Bachman and Schutt highlighting that those in greatest need are often the most likely to drop-out (2007:159). This has obvious implications for the validity of findings, since a drop-out of the most domestically victimised subjects could mask the extent and seriousness of domestic violence. An interesting study design that is rarely employed, but could nevertheless provide a valuable insight into the phenomenon of domestic violence, relates to ethnography. The purpose of which is to look more in-depth at the mechanisms underlying a social process and to gain an insight into the interpretations and perceptions of actors (Crow and Semmens, 2008:37). Such an approach was taken by Websdale, who provided a critical ethnography of how rural patriarchy shapes the perpetration and policing of domestic violence (Adelman, 2004:135). Although such findings and conclusions cannot obviously be generalised, ethnographic designs serve to reveal important details about the experiences of particular sub-groups of the population, which may not be adequately reflected in the findings of more conventional study designs. In conclusion, it is apparent that choice of study design in criminological research can have a marked influence on the findings and conclusions drawn. In relation to domestic violence, whilst it appears that true experiments yield results with the strongest internal validity, they nevertheless fail to account for the dynamic processes operating which trigger the variation in the dependent variable. The context-specific approach taken by other designs may have the potential to fill this gap by affording a greater emphasis on process as opposed to outcome. In addition, longitudinal designs are vital in capturing the intrinsic trajectory nature of domestic violence which is often ignored by cross-sectional designs. However, it is apparent that a deeper and proper understanding of domestic violence, in order to implement effective policies, necessitates the exploitation of the various strengths of both experimental and non-experimental study designs. To conclude otherwise would be to ig nore the inherent nature of domestic violence and to relegate it to the status of any ordinary violent crime, from which it is clearly distinct. Word Count: 1992