Data Collection Procedures Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Data Collection Procedures - Essay Example My research will however apply face-to-face interview with telephone interviews as an alternative, in cases of geographical barriers. The instrument is suitable for the research because of its success in similar scopes such as is application by Mignone, Klostermann and Chen (2009). The data collection technique defines an interviewer, and an interviewee who may be the direct source of required data or may have acquired the information from other sources. I particularly intend to implement a semi-structured interview that will have predetermined questions but will be flexible enough to facilitate in depth exploration of involved subjects (Kothari, 2009; Gill, Stewart, Treasure and Chadwick, 2008). Application of the technique also identifies a number of advantages that has influenced its choice. It allows for generation of extensive data that are further in depth and therefore facilitates adequate exploration of a topic. The technique also allows the interviewer to overcome the challenge of a respondent’s negative attitude towards the research or a question. Consequently, it enhances response rate and promotes clarity because the interviewer has the opportunity to explain uncertain concepts and terms. The technique also integrates easily with other approaches such as observation and therefore facilitates data collection. It can however be expensive, especially if respondents are sparsely distributed over a wide geographical region, and it is susceptible to researcher’s bias. It is also time consuming and requires interpersonal communication skills for developing rapport with respondents and lack of such skills may render it ineffective (Kothari, 2009). The research will also implement questionnaires. The technique is similarly suitable for the research, having been applied by Mignone, Klostermann and Chen (2009) in a research with similar scope of data. Like the interviews, questionnaires consist of predetermined, though

The British Prime Minister Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The British Prime Minister - Essay Example Apart from that, he also has patronage elsewhere such as the appointment of junior ministers The Prime Minister also chairs a number of select committees; at present the Defence and Overseas Policy Committee, the Constitutional Reform Committee, the Intelligence Services Committee and the Northern Ireland Committee. In these committees the Prime Minister has to be very influential in the determining of policies in these committees. Another function of the Prime Minister is to represent the country internationally. The queen is Britain's head of state, but the Prime Minister is Britain's de facto representative abroad. Political instinct alone seems to dictate the American president as 'the world's most powerful man' in the sense that most powerful politician in any of the world's democratic nations. He heads the world's most modern military force and the world's largest economy. In America, the president is the best known among politicians. This by itself gives him a great deal of authority as many people within their own states cannot name their own representatives in the House, Senate or governor. The title of president gives him enormous authority and power as he is the main figurehead within the whole of the massive American political structure. The British Prime Minister, in comparison, does have the same international standing as the president. In the crisis involving Iraq, the driving force behind any move against the leadership in Baghdad has been the American president, George Bush, while the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair has been referred to as clinging onto the coat tails of Bush. Britain simply does not seem to have the international standing to overtly influence policies. Such a position does not allow the Prime Minister to drive an international agenda which the US president is capable of. In this sense, the power of the US president abroad is far greater than that of the British Prime Minister. Taking domestic politics into picture, it is pretty much a reverse case scenario. Although the president can select his own cabinet with which he can work, it has to be ratified by the Senate but it does not necessarily mean that the president might have to work with people he did not initially select for his cabinet. The Prime Minister on the other hand, has no such restrictions. He selects all those people he wants for his cabinet and can remove them if they fail to satisfy his expectations and standards. He does not require consultation and approval from anybody over this though he might discuss it with an inner circle of very close colleagues. Least of all does the Prime Minister have to have his cabinet agreed to be the House of Commons or Lords. The president is not head of his party. The British Prime Minister is not only prime minister; he is also a serving Member of Parliament and head of his party. As such, he commands huge respect within that party and does a great deal to drive the policies of that party in power. With a large parliamentary majority, it is almost certain that prime ministerial policies will eventually become the actual policy and law. He is

Role of the Media in American Politics Essay Example for Free

Role of the Media in American Politics Essay A free and open media is essential to a functioning democracy. Its role in politics is to â€Å"encourage democratization, strengthen the rule of law and promote institution building† (UN News Center). In order for a democracy to work properly, citizens need to be informed on the issues at hand, in a fair and unbiased manner, so they can make sound decisions as to which candidates to vote for. The role of the media in democracy has been realized since the institute’s earliest inception. In 1791 the 1st Amendment was made to the Bill of Rights, and it stated that â€Å"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or the press; or the right of the people to peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances† (PBS). If free press becomes compromised, such as being taken over and run by biased private corporations, then a country’s democracy is at risk, and it can lead to the country becoming a fascist state. In America, the media plays a decisive role in politics and in determining which agendas are successful and which are not and whether or not it has been compromised by private interest continues to be debated. Bias in the Media Whether or not any press can be truly free remains a subject of much debate. Media outlets, just like any other enterprise, rely on a steady flow of funds in order to operate. Thus, they rely on sponsors either through the sales of advertisements or through government funding. Media outlets also much appeal to the demands and tastes of the audience. Various media outlets must compete amongst each other for viewers, so catering to the tastes of that audience becomes a science. â€Å"Restricted by the limited tastes of the audience and reliant upon political elites for most information, journalists participate in an interdependent news system, not a free market of ideas† (Entman 3). Since the media depends on private funds and large numbers of viewers, it is possible that its agenda becomes compromised, from giving a fair and unbiased news report to one that caters towards the tastes of viewers and investors. While media outlets do have the opportunity to be biased, depending on their audience and funding, there are still a wide range of mass media outlets for viewers to choose from. Viewers have a choice as to where to get their news from. If one station seems biased towards one viewpoint, the channel can quickly be changed. Over the decades, technology has increased the ways in which a viewer can get their news. In the 1970’s, television was the main outlet for mass media. There were just seven channels available to the average household, and these captured 80% of all viewing. However, technology has changed this dramatically. In 2005, 85% of households had access to satellite or cable TV and had on average a hundred channels to choose from. Today, viewers can also choose to get their news not just from TV but also from the Internet and smart phones (Muntz 224). With the wide range of choices as to where to get the news, it would not be presumptuous to expect a wider range of political viewpoints to be expressed from various media outlets. However, this does not appear to be the case. Journalists themselves are also inherently biased. While the goal of journalism is to give a fair and unbiased representation of the story being covered, a reporter’s personal views, preferences, and identifications with an issue or politician will undoubtedly come into play. As well, journalists themselves are seeking a successful career in media. In order to be successful, and stand out, they must cover stories that â€Å"make it onto the front page or get lots of airtime on the evening news† (Zaller 21-22). Those stories that get on the front page are those that appeal to the public. Thus, those journalists are mare most adept at appealing to the interests of the public are those that are the most successful (Zaller 22). Thus, the audience may often times end up receiving information that is more sensational than it is unbiased and informational. Despite the wide range of choices as to where to get their news, it has been observed that the public’s viewpoints, as well as those of media outlets, have become increasingly polarized over the years (Muntz 224). It has been proposed selectivity is to blame, that is, peoples inherent nature to select those outlets which best represent their own ideals. â€Å"Selectivity can take place at several junctures with respect to mass media, including exposure to a particular source of political news, attention to what the source says, and biased interpretation when processing the content of political news† (Muntz 225). It is human nature to want to avoid that information which conflicts with their preexisting ideas and beliefs. Thus, while media outlets may offer viewers information, the audience is not necessarily going to listen to the information in a fair and unbiased manner. Thus, bias in the media is a two-way street between media outlets and the viewer’s themselv es. The Media and Political Campaign Coverage The media and politics come most closely into play during presidential elections. Every four years, politicians battle it out to see who will win the most favor from the American people to become the next president. It is the job of the media outlets to inform the public about the various political candidates. During elections, the candidates can get quite negative on each other. The media, as it should, covers the stories behind negative campaign advertisements, political speeches and debates. Politicians who run the most negative campaigns, thus, can end up getting the most media coverage. This can lead towards voter bias on both sides. For example, during the 2012 campaign, the republican candidates received a great deal of media coverage. The candidates – Mitt Romney, Newt Gringrich, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum – were competing for republican nomination. The democratic nominate was assured, as it was the incumbent Barack Obama. So, there was far less media scrutiny on Barack Obama and his issues, such as the success of his healthcare act or his wishy-washy stance on Super PAC’s (Mark). Voters were more informed on the issues, and negative campaigning, of the republican candidates. Politicians rely on media politics to both win elections and to mobilize public support for causes and the implementation of projects while they are in office (Zaller 1-2). Thus, they rely on journalists and reporters to get their story out to audiences. However, the story that journalists choose to get out may not be the one the candidate wishes. This happens when the press uncovers a skeleton in the closet of a politician, or when a candidate suddenly changes their position on an issue and the media exposes them as wishy-washy (Zaller 13). Depending on the candidate, the media can be either a boon or a bust to their political career. Citizens also rely on media coverage in order to know who to vote for. The public wants to know what kind of morals and ethics a politician has and what their stance is on issues that are important to them. Individuals all have different issues they want to see addressed during a presidential campaign, ranging from taxes to abortion. Mass media outlets will poll their audiences, and study their demographics, in order to know which types of stories their audience will be most likely to identify with and those are the stories that will be covered in the news. Media and Government Exposure The media also plays a strong role in keeping the government honest by exposing scandal and controversy. In the early 1900’s, during what is known as the Progressive Era, a new style of investigative journalism was born. Dubbed by Theodore Roosevelt as â€Å"muckrakers†, these journalists â€Å"revealed illegal and unsavory practices of capital, labor, and state and local government† (PBS). Fast forward to the 1970’s, and it was the same type of muckrakers who exposed the Watergate scandal. However, while democracy relies on the ability of investigative journalism to expose scandals, this type of investigative reporting can also lead to sensationalism and stories that are overly sordid. While the media can over sensationalize certain stories, it can also under expose them as well. An example would be the Iran-contra scandal. Before its exposure in late 1986, the Reagan administration has denied that Oliver North had supported the Nicaraguan contra rebels during the congressional ban on its aid. Most members of the media, as well members of congress, simply accepted the denials and failed to investigate the story (Entman 6). Another example is the way in which the media exposed the Watergate scandal. When the crimes actually occurred, in 1972, Nixon was running for re-election. During this time, the media only presented sporadic reports to the public, leaving them ill-informed about the issue. Had the public been more aware of the scandal and its implications, they may have decided not to re-elect Mr. Nixon. Instead, he was re-elected and later impeached, which was an embarrassing scandal for America. Public Misinformation and Media Responsibility The public accepts for fact that what they are told by the media. They trust the media to give them the whole story and for that story to be truthful, correct and unbiased. However, despite this, viewers of mass media have been found to still be poorly informed. For example: â€Å"Six months into the Iraq war, a study by the Program on International Policy Attitudes at the University of Maryland found that FOX News viewers were more likely than consumers of any other major media outlet source to have mistaken beliefs about Iraq. Including the belief that U.S. led forces had already found weapons of mass destruction there. This belief was held by one out of every three FOX viewers at the time, compared to only one out of ten respondents who cited PBS or NPR as their main source of news (Boehlert et al).† Media Matters, an online news source, has exposed media sources, like FOX, That systematically misinform the public (Boehlert et al). Individuals who are loyal to a specific media outlet trust them to give them the true facts, however, this trust may not be warranted. Viewers must also be held responsible for doing their own research in order to fully understand an issue. Citizens depend on media to be the watchdogs of government, but who then is watching the media? Organizations like Media Matters seek to expose bias in media. Getting this message out to the public has become easier with advances in technology and the emergence of social media. New Media A new type of media has begun to emerge as a result of the rise of social media and the Internet. Many people get their news today not from a TV or print newspaper but from internet sites, blogs, and social media sites like Twitter and Facebook. â€Å"The World Wide Web and the accompanying explosion in â€Å"new media† have forced an upheaval in U.S. politics in at least four areas, creating 1) innovative ways to reach voters; 2) a radically changed news system; 3) an unprecedented flood of small donors; and 4) newly empowered interest groups on the left and right† (Edsall). The internet is an inexpensive way for politicians to gain maximum exposure. Even candidates with smaller campaign funds can reach a large audience if they are savvy to the ways of social media and blogging. Since their overhead is lower, small internet based media outlets do not have to rely on advertisers to keep their ventures afloat. Thus, their coverage does not need to bend to the whim of corporate sponsors. In turn, the Internet also allows for constituents to feel more connected to politicians. They can follow their personal Twitter and Facebook pages, which may or, more likely, may not be updated by the actual politician themselves, but more likely a paid staff member. However, the level of intimacy between the candidate and the public is heightened, and this may gain them more favor and, in the end, more votes. The internet has given a voice and the power to change to even the most marginal players. For example, during the 2008 presidential election, an aide to Senator Barack Obama made a pseudo campaign ad depicting Hilary Clinton as an all-powerful dictator. The ad was played on YouTube and received over 1 million hits. While the ad itself may not have changed the course of the election, it did show just how powerful the Internet can be in coloring public opinion (Edsall). Conclusion If it is true that democracy depends on the existence of a free and unbiased media, then it may be argued that the United States if far from a true democracy. Bias is inherent in media: in the media outlets themselves, in the various members of government and politics, in the journalists who report the news and in the way in which viewers and audiences interact with media. However, the ideal that democracy depends on a truly free and unbiased media may be an unrealistic expectation because, in fact, the media will always be biased because that is just part of its nature. We do not live in an ideal world, and ideals quickly fade in the face of everyday reality. Media must change along with its changing society and political environment. In this way, it does represent the ideals and values of the day. Today, we are witness to a time of great change in terms of technology and the way in which information is disseminated. Just as quickly as the political environment is changing so is the media that covers it. New technology is giving rise to the exposure of political corruption and government incompetence. It is giving a voice to the under paid and underrepresented voices of the public. So in fact, it appears that the media is still doing its job. However, it is still up to the individual to remain informed on the issues at hand and to remain a loyal and informed citizen by scrutinizing the media just as they scrutinize the government.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Communication and IT

Advantages and Disadvantages of Communication and IT Introduction This assignment is about the advantages and disadvantages of communication and information technology. it will be outlined that there are as many advantages as disadvantages but in this day of computer technology communication through computer is a necessity.   Anyone that does not move with the times will be left behind. Advantages Globalisation means getting in contact with someone across the world.   If someone went to Canada working and their families were in a different country, they could contact each other in a matter of seconds. It is also being able to shop online.   You can buy stuff from websites from a different country so transferring money into accounts across the world. Research using search engines or information super highway to get information fast. People are more up to date with information such as symptoms of illnesses. Theyre going to doctors with more information to tell the doctors what they think the problem is; as they know what their symptoms are because they have researched them. Online banking is great because it takes a matter seconds to check what is going in and out of a bank account. You can transfer money to any account in the world as long as you have the other persons bank details. Security is a big advantage to a person who is vulnerable such as the elderly. They can set up CCTV in their homes and their family can watch them through the cameras from their own homes, work, holiday etc. to ensure theyre safe. Smart houses have come about in recent times. Its possible to be at a   work out for example and lights, televisions, cookers, washing machines,   dryers can be controlled in homes all with the click of a button. Its now possible to get a degree online from Colleges where the student needs to be in the home to look after family or cannot travel to college. These On line Websites are all recognised and are acceptable in the education system. An example of this is the Hibernia website whereby a teacher can get a recognised qualification and become a Primary Teacher. Disadvantages Bullying is a major disadvantage there are so many teens committing suicide because of being bullied. Identity theft is becoming more and more common each year. There are People hacking other peoples emails, Facebook pages and bank accounts. With online shopping, some web sites arent legitimate and can hack your bank account with the information provided. Someone could get on your Facebook page and read your personal information. If a PPS number is used online, it runs the risk of identity theft so caution needs to be exercised. There is a Social impact on adults and teens. Theyre too busy with social media to take their heads out of their computers, laptops, tablets or phones to engage in an actual conversation.   Social media is taking over their lives.   This can cause serious depression because these people arent bothered to go out and socialise with other individuals. If not leaving the house to go for fresh air and exercise, people can eventually start gaining weight which can be extremely depressing.   Being stuck in a house is terrible for your mental and physical health. Confidence is being lowered, girls competing with each other to be more attractive and to look like theses super models they see on line. Girls these days feel the need to be a size six and if theyre not, they are categorised as fat which leads to low confidence and depression. Sometimes, young girls can go as far as sticking their fingers back their throat and becoming bulimic or anorexic just to become as skinny as the other girls. So many people are losing their jobs because everything is being computerised and there is no need for companies to be paying individuals to do something a computer can do.   In banks nowadays, it is noticeable that there are less people behind counters because everything can be done online. Conclusion The above assignment outlines the advantages and disadvantages of Information Technology in communications. It is evident that there are as many advantages as disadvantages but Information Technology is here to stay and parents have to be responsible to look after children and their use of the internet.   People have to embrace the Internet because they will be left behind if they do not get educated in the correct use of this amazing technology. Bibliography www.enkivillage.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-internet.html www.webroot.com/ie/en/home/resources/articles Tutor notes www.eszter.com/edu/sides.html www.bookboon.com

Deliverance: A Study of Medicaid and Managed Care Essay -- Health Medi

Deliverance: A Study of Medicaid and Managed Care Since the inception of Medicaid in 1965, the program has seen extraordinary growth in expenditures and enrollment. From 1989 to 1992, the increases in Medicaid spending were the largest since the program began in. Enrollment in Medicaid by AFDC families grew from 3.8 million in 1990 to 4.4 million in 1992, almost a nine percent annual increase (Coughlin et al. 1994). During this period, states were also experiencing the effects of a nationwide recession. Rapidly rising expenditure levels stretched revenue streams to their limits. In efforts to save money, states looked primarily at the benefits of managed care, which was becoming a successful delivery and financing system (Ruggie 1996). Medicaid patients had a history of using emergency rooms for problems such as colds, flues, and other minor illnesses. Medicaid paid $75 for an emergency room visit in 1995, but only $29 for a physician’s office visit (Lutz 1995). Medicaid officials hoped that placing the patient in contact with a primary care physician would encourage the use of preventative medicine, thereby holding down costs. States began Medicaid managed care programs using the AFDC population as guinea pigs. With waivers allowed under Section 1115 of the Social Security Act, states restructured their Medicaid programs (Rotwein et al. 1995). This was the single largest Medicaid innovation of the 1990s (Couglin et al. 1999). Between 1991 and 1996, enrollment of Medicaid clients in managed care increased by a factor of six (Thompson and DiIulio 1998). Many reasons accompanied the assertion that the AFDC population would benefit the most from managed care. The women and children of AFDC could take advantage of the ... ...cience Review 67: 1174-1185. Key, V.O., Jr. 1999, reprinted. Southern Politics in State and Nation. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press. Lutz, Sandy. 1995. â€Å"For Real Reform, Watch the States.† Modern Healthcare 25: 31- 35. Rotwein, Suzanne, Maria Boulmetis and Paul J. Boben. 1995. â€Å"Medicaid and State Health Care Reform: Process, Programs, and Policy Options.† Health Care Financing Review 16: 105-120. Ruggie, Mary. 1996. Realignments in the Welfare State: Health Policy in the United States, Britain, and Canada. New York: Columbia University Press. Thompson, Frank J., and John J. DiIulio Jr., eds. 1998. Medicaid and Devolution: A View from the States. Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press. Walker, Jack. 1969. â€Å"The Diffusion of Innovations Among the American States.† American Political Science Review 63: 880-899.

immoral :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Someone that I find to be immoral is my mother. There are many reasons for why I feel this way but just a few of them are, she likes to date men that are younger than me, she has never held a full time job in her life, she puts herself before her children, she is lazy, and she is very sexually active.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As far as my family is concerned she needs to grow up and start taking responsibility for her life and the actions that she takes. My mother bitches because she has no money and can’t pay rent, yet she won’t go out and get a full time job to pay her bills. Since she won’t work and has no money she live off the system, basically the way it works is the taxes we pay as employed people go to her and she does nothing. The amount of money that she gets from being on welfare has allowed my siblings and I to go without for much of our lives. Now since our fathers are in the picture more and have custody of us we are no being raised the way we have deserved to be our whole lives. The problem is that as a mother I thought that u were supposed to provide for your children and if anyone goes without clothing or food it is the parent.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When it comes to relationships my mother doesn’t have the best judgment. The men that my mother has had are normally younger than me and I am only 20, and most of the time they are unemployed just like her. My mom has no standards if it has a pulse she goes after it. For example I brought my best friend over to my moms house and the next day she told me how cute she was and that if he was single she would go after him. My mom hasn’t dated someone over the age of 25 since I can remember. She also has a new boyfriend every couple of weeks. A huge problem with her sleeping with so many men is that she isn’t setting a very good example for my 12 and 14 year old sisters.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In my eyes my mother is the most immoral person that I know.

Feasibility Study Essay

2.1 FEASIBILITY STUDY The feasibility of the project is analyzed in this phase and business proposal is put forth with a very general plan for the project and some cost estimates. During system analysis the feasibility study of the proposed system is to be carried out. This is to ensure that the proposed system is not a burden to the company. For feasibility analysis, some understanding of the major requirements for the system is essential. Three key considerations involved in the feasibility analysis are ECONOMICAL FEASIBILITY TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY SOCIAL FEASIBILITY ECONOMICAL FEASIBILITY This study is carried out to check the economic impact that the system will have on the organization. The amount of fund that the company can pour into the research and development of the system is limited. The expenditures must be justified. Thus the developed system as well within the budget and this was achieved because most of the technologies used are freely available. Only the customized products had to be purchased. TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY This study is carried out to check the technical feasibility, that is, the technical requirements of the system. Any system developed must not have a high demand on the available technical resources. This will lead to high demands on the available technical resources. This will lead to high demands being placed on the client. The developed system must have a modest requirement, as only minimal or null changes are required for implementing this system. SOCIAL FEASIBILITY The aspect of study is to check the level of acceptance of the system by the user. This includes the process of training the user to use the system efficiently. The user must not feel threatened by the system, instead must accept it as a necessity. The level of acceptance by the users solely depends on the methods that are employed to educate the user about the system and to make him familiar with it. His level of confidence must be raised so that he is also able to make some constructive criticism, which is welcomed, as he is the final user of the system.