Lowering the Drinking Age to 18 May Help Reduce Binge...

The debate of the drinking age has been long discussed throughout America. The drinking age has been 21 for the last 22 years, and people around the country have wondered weather or not this was the right call. People say that 18 year olds may not be mature enough to drink alcohol and might not know when to stop. It isn’t that teenagers don’t know how to stop, but rather have not been properly taught when enough has been consumed or how to drink responsibly. Changing the drinking age from 21 to 18 years old will take the thrill that teens get from breaking the law while drinking, will no longer give them the idea that drinking is the final stage of adulthood and full maturity, and will no longer force teenagers to drink in unsupervised†¦show more content†¦Once an adolescent reaches the age of 18, they have the ability to join or be drafted into the military, vote, buy tobacco, get married, serve on a jury, sign contracts and be prosecuted as adults. They have all of these rights, so why is it that the only thing an 18 year old can’t do is drink alcohol? Once you hit the age of 18, you are an adult, and should be treated as an adult, so therefore you should be trusted enough that you can make your own decisions on how much alcohol should be consumed (Drinking Age). According to Engs, teenagers under the age of 21 are more like to be ‘binge’ drinkers. Binge drinking means that you consume over 5 drinks at least once a week. Engs claims that 22% of teeneagers under the age of 21 are heavy drinkers, whereas those of the age of 21 that drink heavily is only 18%. Also, among only drinkers, 32% of underage drinkers are heavy drinkers, while only 24% of legal age drinkers are heavy drinkers (Why the Drinking Age Should be Lowered). ProCon.org also argues that having the drinking age at 21 makes underage people think that being able to drink shows that they have reached the final stage of maturity (Drinking Age). The drinking age being at 21 causes a lot of 18-20 year olds to drink in unsupervised areas. For example, not letting an 18 year old drink at a bar, restaurant or any public location, means that theyShow MoreRelatedThe Minimum Legal Drinking Age1594 Words   |  7 PagesThe Drinking Age is Safer than You Thought As Americans, we are always wondering what we can do to save lives. We suspect cancer, disease, suicide, violence, and distracted driving as taking the lives of our fellow Americans. What you may not know, is that we are already saving lives, and we have been since 1984 because of one simple law. The Uniform Drinking Age Act of 1984 moved the minimum legal drinking age from 18 to 21. Lowering the drinking age is a step backward for our safety and ourRead MoreUnderage Drinking Is Part Of The Culture Of College1734 Words   |  7 PagesI did discover is that underage drinking is part of the culture in college, also the friends that I had in high school who are 21 now I have discovered they drink some of the least amount now. Which has begun to make me wonder why people who are 21 drink less than people who are underage. I believe that when people are 21 they now do not have to worry about the next time they can get alcohol. Congress should lower the drinking age from 21 to 18 because at age 18 when they are in college, for someRead MoreLowering the Drinking Age1223 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"What we’re doing now to prevent underage drinking isn’t working; it’s time to try something else.† Although many people argue that the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1964, which lowed the drinking age from eighteen to twenty one, was a good idea. David J Hanson a professor in the State University of New York believed that something needs to be done to make the United States a safer place to live. Is it fair that people in the United States can serve in the military, vote in elections, serveRead MoreFavors for and Against Lowering the Legal Drinking Age771 Words   |  4 PagesDr. Steven Mathews October 24, 2012 Lowering the Legal Drinking Age to 18: Yea or Nay Argument in Favor of Lowering the Legal Drinking Age The age of 18 is a transitional point in life. An 18-year=old can vote, marry, enlist in the military and buy cigarettes. To some it’s absurd that an 18-year-old can vote politicians into office and fight wars for the country but cannot legally buy and consume alcohol. Strong (It tells you everything that an 18-year-old can do) Like it or not alcoholRead MoreThe Legal Drinking Age Should Not Be Lowered988 Words   |  4 PagesThe Legal Drinking Age Should Not Be Lowered There are copious amounts of people who believe that the legal drinking age should be lowered to eighteen. Others think the drinking age needs to remain the same. A few of those also conclude the legal age of adulthood should be raised to 21. The belief is if the adolescent brain has not matured enough to support alcohol use by age 21, it cannot make the responsible decisions required at 18 years of age. Voters should make the decision toRead MoreWhy Lower the Legal Drinking Age?801 Words   |  3 Pageslower the drinking age below 21 lose 10% of their annual federal highway appropriations (Haevens). This is the main reason the legal drinking age has not been lower below 21 years of age.a large number of the general population desires a lower drinking age. In the 25 years since the legal drinking age was set at 21, seven states have tried to lower it. (Wechsier ).It is unfair for the federal government to withhold money from states if they exercise their rights to set the legal drinking age to whatRead MoreCollege Binge Drinking As A Right Of Passage1447 Words   |  6 Pagesbeing introduced to alcohol and plenty of it; learning how to shotgun a beer or attempt a keg stand is all the rage. Suddenly, people are viewing college binge drinking as a right of passage for even their youngest students. Thus, demands the questioning of lowering the drinking age to counteract college binge drinking. â€Å"The reality is that at age 18 in this country, one is a legal adult. Young people view 21 as utterly arbitrary—which it is. And because the explanation given them is so condescending—thatRead More The Drinking Age Should Not Be Lowered Essay1711 Words   |  7 Pagespile of empty beer cans filled the kitchen sink, and the deafening music rattled the window panes. A group of girls managed to stumble past us. They waved goodbye to the host, who was handing drinks to me and my sister. It was not my first time drinking. In fact, everyone there was quite experienced – after all, it’s college. Half of the guests were completely drunk, and I had no problem with it. That is, until later that night when my sister locked herself in a room with a guy she had met onlyRead MoreHow Bingeing Became the New College Sport 1089 Words   |  5 PagesDrinking on college campuses has become a huge problem. For example, in the 10th century only old people used to drink, but now students drink more than their parents. Students see their parents drinking, so they may think that drinking has no effect on health that anyone can dri nk so why can’t the students drink? Therefore, college students have been drinking alcohol since the 14th century. Barrett Seaman’s article â€Å"How Bingeing Became the New College Sport,† appearing in TIME magazine on AugustRead MoreShould The Legal Alcohol Age Be Changed?1560 Words   |  7 Pages To fight for our country at the age of 18 and seeing things that only you could imagine in the battlefield. Coming home from deployment and just wanting a simple beer for your hard work but not being able to buy any because you are not 21 years of age. How is that fair to the men in the military forces? Fighting for our country’s freedom but not being able to have a few beers with your closest friends and family members. The topic of the legal alcohol age being changed has been a great topic

Naked Through The Eddies Of The Sea - 1780 Words

Jacqueline Bitetto Mr. Breig English 11H 9 March 2013 Naked Through the Eddies of the Sea â€Å"I feel ashamed to go naked about the world† (Whitman). Poetry, for many, is a comfort and a pleasure for the senses. But, for Walt Whitman, it was something much more. Poetry was a channel for his most profound emotions and a mass broadcasting of his entire being. In his beautiful words, he was able not only to convey both misery and elation to the masses, but absolute truth. His Leaves of Grass revealed so much about his persona that it served as, perhaps, one of the most beautifully written American autobiographies. It has been said that a true artist must let himself be vulnerable to the world—allowing for critics and skeptics to take him apart like vultures-- and Whitman published his poems and walked amongst his peers naked for all to see. For him to be a homosexual on top of all of this was an even bigger component of his revealed â€Å"shame†, but he revealed it nonetheless. In â€Å"I Sing the Body Electric,† â€Å"The Sleepers,† and â€Å"Song of Myself,† Whitman conveys a personal theme of homosexuality through his imagery of the male physique. Whitman’s homosexuality, considered at the time as a taboo, had to be concealed during his early life given the circumstances of his upbringing. May 31st, 1819 was the day Whitman first came to breathe air on this earth and the day he was named after his father, a carpenter, in West Hills, Long Island (Whitman Archive). A son being named for his fatherShow MoreRelatedSaturn Essay1901 Words   |  8 Pagesplanets known in ancient times. The earliest known observations of Saturn, by the Babylonians, can be reliably dated to the mid-7th century BC, but it was probably noticed much earlier, since Saturn tends to shine brighter than most stars. To the naked eye it appears yellowish. The Greeks named it after Cronus, the original ruler of Olympus, who in Roman is the god Saturn. Saturn is the 6th planet in order distance from the sun. It cannot approach the planet Earth closer than 1,190,000,000 kilometersRead More My Eating Disorder - I Had a Problem with Food Essay2434 Words   |  10 Pagesand toilet, the cool white ceramic tiles reflecting the blonde of my hair, the tears that somehow managed to eke out of the eye ducts were streaming down my hot, mucus slathered face. In the corner behind the toilet, the dog hair swirled in little eddies, and the rim of the toilet had faint speckles of urine, unnoticeable to anyone not at eye level. The shower was on and the fan running as a distraction. Every once in awhile I would knock a bar of soap into the tub with a heavy thud or set a bottleRead MoreDid Wordsworth or Coleridge Have Greater Influence on Modern Criticism?8605 Words   |  35 Pagestalked about this in quite some detail in the last unit.12    Origins of Romanticism So before moving on to Lyrical Ballads, well survey one more thing. There are three competing events for the cause or origin of Romanticism, that well just run-through quickly.    Rousseaus Confessions The  first  possible origin is the publication of Rousseaus Confessions in 1781, with itschampioning of the individual and its radical notion that the personal life and ideas of a single individual, is matter worthRead MoreEssay on The Odyssey21353 Words   |  86 Pagesdaughter of the mighty Proteus. She helps Menelaus to trap her father so that he may hear about the past and future from him. Noemon - an Ithacan. Athene borrows his ship for Telemachus to take to Pylos for finding news of Odysseus. It is through Noemon that the suitors realize Telemachus has left Ithaca and has gone to Pylos. Medon - a herald in Odysseus home at Ithaca. He is loyal to Penelope and often overhears the vicious plans of the suitors and reports them to Penelope. He

My Glorious World free essay sample

â€Å"Five forty-five† flashes a solid red. â€Å"Beep beep! Beep beep!† resounds throughout the groggy atmosphere, followed by the soft whish of a door swinging close. At the very moment my feet fall from the top of my bed to the floor, my mother’s feet drop from the front steps of the house to the lawn. Sauntering through to the hallway towards the bathroom, I wonder how my mother has the ability to conjure up the stamina to leave the house at the same time I wake up every day. Maybe I just have it easy. After all, what is eight hours in a classroom compared to twelve hours in an office? I am guaranteed the privilege of public education, but my mother is in a constant competition to keep from being laid off. The most of my worries consist of turning in homework and getting to my classes in time. We will write a custom essay sample on My Glorious World or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page She has to bear the burden of supporting a whole family of four. It really makes me realize how much I take my life for granted. Looking at my mother’s history further emphasizes my own fortune. Growing up in Malaysia, English was a third language to my mother, so her accent often distances her from the rest of the community here in the United States. The fact that I have the opportunity to build an actual career often evades my mind, because I was born in the United States. It encourages me to endeavor to make the most of opportunities given to me, and make use of these ever so vital years. Knowing this, I feel the need to repay her for giving birth to me in a country of opportunity. I want to give her the boon of money and the luxury of relaxation. In order to do this, I have decided to take the path leading to a career in astrophysics and engineering. Not only has the subject fascinated me since I was five years old, it provides for an occupation with decent income. With this, I hope to be able to support a stable life for myself, as well as a stress-free retirement for my mother and the rest of my family. With this in mind, I have strived all my life to demonstrate mental fervor and determination in and out of the classroom. I have taken my need for a successful future and transformed it into encouragement and perseverance that perpetuates my will to do well in school. I have risen to every challenge offered to me in order to stand out above the crowd and show that I am capable of working for what I want and what others need. I intend to continue to exhibit outstanding behavior studying astrophysics and engineering at a University of California.

Three Programs To Listen And Analysis Essays -

Three Programs To Listen And Analysis For this project, I chose to pick three programs to listen to on PeachState Radio, station 88.1 on the FM dial. The program's were Classical24, which aired Monday through Thursday from 12am-5am; Jazz AfterHours which aired from 12am-5am on Fridays and Saturdays; and CarTalk which aired Saturdays from 10am-11am. I chose these programsbecause I thought it would give me an insight on a good variety of theprograms played on national public radio. Classic 24 played an arrayof selections ranging from Mozart and Beethoven to Haydn and Chopin. Jazz After Hours featured names common to me like John Coltrane andRosemary Clooney, but also many others whose music that I foundquite enjoyable. Still, the program I liked the most and chose to writeabout was Car Talk. Car Talk airs weekly on the National Public Radio. It's a call-inradio show that allows listeners to ask questions about problems withtheir car. Brothers Click and Clack Tappet help the people solve theirtroubles in a comical, yet help ful way. The brothers always seem topoke fun at their callers, making them feel somewhat stupid, yetalways bounce back with an answer to the problem. The episode Ipicked to discuss aired February 20, 1999. The first caller to the program was Doris, who had a 1988 PontiacSunbird that was running hot. She complained that at a time whiledriving, the temperature went way up. She said that she went to hermechanic and he said he was too busy and would help her tomorrow. Click and Clack commented that if she was having a heart attack,would the doctor ask her to come back the next day? They told hernot to go back to a mechanic that puts you off. The most probablesolution, they said, was simply to change the thermostat and to makesure that the electric cooling fan was working. Another caller, Ann, who owned a 1994 Mercury Villager wasconcerned with whether or not her van was able to make across-country trip while pulling a pop-up trailer. Click and Clack saidthat it probably would not. They said she should drive it out to PikesPeak, let the kids push it off, and go buy a Yukon to pull the camper. Of course they were only kidding and told the caller that she shouldhave the engine and transmission properly serviced and that it wouldbe fine. The last one I want to talk about was the funniest to me. A womancalled in about clutch problems on a 1989 Volkswagon. She said thatshe had been through five clutches and the car only had 85,000 mileson it. She said that she had taken the car back to the dealership forrepairs, and each time they could not figure out the problem. Themechanics said that the teeth on the flywheels kept breaking and thepressure plate was splitting in half. Click and Clack asked questions totry to find a solution but the results were negative. They called her a?wacko woman driver? and said the only thing wrong with her car wasthat she needed to learn to drive properly. Car Talk was a very informative and humorous program. I did notexpect to get a laugh out of it, but to my surprise I did. It can reallyhelp solve those troublesome car problems. Car Talk was a really coolshow and if I ever am riding along at ten in the morning on aSaturday, I would definitely listen to it again.

Performance Appraisal as a Tool for Achieving Organizational and Employee Development

Performance Appraisal as a Tool for Achieving Organizational and Employee Development Overview of RMRDC The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) promotes the development of industrial raw materials in the Republic of Nigeria. It also oversees the utilisation of the same minerals, while its activities are considered part of the Nigerian government on a federal level.Advertising We will write a custom proposal sample on Performance Appraisal as a Tool for Achieving Organizational and Employee Development specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The organisation started in 1988 and has grown to become an essential institution that supports federal service. It serves many stakeholders who are involved in the country’s vast raw material sector. The organisation began when the country had limited foreign exchange earnings. At the time, Nigeria relied on petroleum products. With the functioning RMRDC, the country can lower its import bill by focusing on domestic raw material production, rather than rely on im ports (RMRDC, 2015). Background of the study This study will focus on the subject of performance appraisal. According to Armstrong (1998), researchers mainly concentrate on accuracy and fairness whenever they are conducting performance appraisal studies. This is a subject under Human Resource Management (HRM), and it refers to the use of tools and frameworks to enhance the productivity of human capital within organisations. When organisations measure their performance, they gain insights into their operations and can, therefore, address emerging issues related to performance. This can be in the actual sense of speed of delivery or the impediments to delivery. Being able to identify these areas allows the organisation to respond appropriately to avoid trouble and build on its past and ongoing successes. As a result, the use of performance appraisals can be a way of achieving competitive advantages.  Employees can offer their viewpoints on different aspects of their jobs with the sy stematic evaluation and its related adjustments. They use the process to improve their performance and get a basis for earning rewards. This reason makes the performance appraisal concept crucial as an HRM tool and highlights its ability to help realise capabilities of an organisation’s human resources.  Although performance appraisal increases employee productivity, much is unknown about its effects on financial performance.Advertising Looking for proposal on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More According to Pollitt and Bouckaert (2011), there is no research evidence available for the link. Nevertheless, the consensus among researchers and practitioners is that the process should be continuous and involve supervisors who regularly evaluate their approach to measuring the performance of subordinate employees. The benefits of appraisal include an increase in efficacy, productivity, and morale. Many organisations exist as hierarchical structures. Such organisations require structured performance appraisals so that they can tell what each department in different levels is doing and why the problems that arise at any level fail to be resolved. With the information, the organisation can streamline its decision-making processes and achieve a better execution of strategic choices. It also moves away from the chaos that can plague its administrative hierarchy (DeVries, 1983).  The definition of performance appraisal follows its tie to human resources, which is regarded as a source of competitive advantage for organisations (Farndale Kelliher, 2013). It can be a review, evaluation, or discussion about the development of employees in relation to the present standards. After examination, result documentation of the comparison occurs and the information serves as a guideline for intervening in employee relationships concerning their jobs and the realisation of an organisationâ⠂¬â„¢s objectives (Farndale Kelliher, 2013). The employment of performance appraisal leads to the identification of staff members needing training, promotion, demotion, retrenchment, firing, or recognition, among other eventualities within the mandate of human resource departments (Farndale Kelliher, 2013). Aim This study aims to look at performance appraisal in the context of an organisation’s determination to achieve employee development. Therefore, the study is going to focus on the Raw Materials Research and Development Council of Nigeria. In doing so, it will specifically concentrate on how subordinate employees within the organisation perceive the existing performance appraisal methods used by the organisation. It will also examine the outcome of the evaluation of management staffs and the subordinate staffs. Lastly, the research will consider the strengths and weaknesses of the performance appraisal program at RMRDC in seeking to find out areas that can be improved o r introduced. Objectives To determine the perception of subordinate employees on performance appraisal program at RMRDC To examine the strengths and weaknesses of performance appraisal program used by RMRDC To examine the goal and outcome of performance appraisal in RMRDC on the subordinate employee level and management employee level To identify gaps in the efficacy of the current performance appraisal program in structure and purpose regarding best practices and organisational context. Justification of the research The research will be useful in the Nigerian organisations’ context because of the following contributions.Advertising We will write a custom proposal sample on Performance Appraisal as a Tool for Achieving Organizational and Employee Development specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It will enhance the view of performance appraisal and lead to its appreciation as a productivity tool for firms. It will result in the proper structuring of performance appraisals after highlighting the strengths and limitations of the current structure at RMRDC. The study will provide organisational insight that practitioners can readily apply to their respective institutions to realise the additional potential of their human resources. It will lead to the identification of the role and relevance of different stakeholders in a government agency, such as RMRDC It will highlight the benefits of performance appraisal from an empirical context. Purpose of the research The basis of this research is to understand the impact of performance appraisal program/s at RMRDC on the council’s staff. It will result in is a significant contribution of information that is integral in decision-making by stakeholders for the improvement of the program/s or process of performance appraisal. Evaluation of the Relevant Literature Performance management links corporate objectives, performance standards, and evaluation in one proc ess, which is used by managers to serve the following three roles in an organisation. First, it assists in the administration, development, and communication functions of any entity (Beam, 2008). In its administrative role, it captures staffing, compensation, promotion, and punishment or rewards for members of the organisation to ensure that the human resource functions optimally. In its development role, it identifies and builds potential for future performance. It gives an organisation a capability that it can tap on when conditions are favourable. In its communication role, performance management seeks to offer feedback to employees concerning how they are executing their duties. According to Brown (2008), records of performance appraisals help employees to fight against wrongful dismissal.  The development of appraisal instruments so that the measurement of human effort is objective and accurate is an important research issue under performance appraisal (Cash, 2010). At the sa me time, Glaveli and Karassavidou (2011) noted that research tends to focus on supervisors and employee characteristics, thereby highlighting their bias on performance appraisal ratings. Lastly, research on the subject has also concentrated on the process as it is executed within organisations (Sinclair, 2005). Techniques of appraisal for management purposes can be observational or actual measurements. Organisations use ratings in their simple applications, and behaviour anchor scales in complex applications. This follows the theoretical assumptions of motivation. According to Watkins (2011), problems with performance appraisals relate to the lack of focus, poor training, inefficient communication, and biased criteria. A number of motivational theories can help explain performance appraisals. They include the Maslow’s needs hierarchy theory and the Herzberg’s two-factor theory because of their elaborate description and fit in organisational contexts (Watkins 2011). Acc ording to Watkins (2011), other relevant theories in performance appraisal include the expectancy theory, goal-setting theory, and the McClelland’s needs achievement theory.Advertising Looking for proposal on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The goal setting theory helps to explain better how employees operate in the work environment. It also offers insights on how to influence employee performance. It relates to the direction of employee attention. The theory encourages effort and provides avenues for encouraging persistence. Managers can use the theory to foster goal attainment and following of strategic action plans. The theory is relevant because every performance appraisal starts with a goal. The concept of performance appraisal management became famous in the mid-1980s, and Barry (2007) coined it. Since then, researchers have explored it further. Armstrong (2011) considers it a strategic and integrated approach. It offers sustained success of the organisation. This happens through the improvement of performance appraisal for people and the creation of capability teams and individual contributors (Armstrong, 2011).  Therefore, performance appraisal is strategic, systematic, and holistic. It concerns the broader i ssues facing an organisation, as much as it is detailed on specific individual performance. Based on the research by Bach (2004), performance appraisal relates to behaviour and results. Behaviour comes from a performer. It transforms performance appraisal into action. Behaviour is an instrument for the result, and it is an outcome of mental and physical efforts. However, this is only as long as the mental and physical efforts go to a specified task. Therefore, behaviour can be judged independently or as part of a task. In the end, performance appraisal is reactive. Theoretical framework Scholars have examined individual employee performance for many years. Nowadays, researchers and practitioners agree that employees play an important part in a firm’s competitive advantage realisation. Rao (2011) sees that competitive advantages, in this case, arise in the presence of four conditions. Based on the resource-based theory of the firm, the researcher notes that the conditions are addition of value to a company, rarity of skills or advantages gained, difficulty in imitating human capital investments, and the ability to structure and program jobs so that employees work as desired. These conditions were also supported by research by Waldman (2011) and Barry (2007) concerning difficulties in other firms replicating another firm’s strategy. Based on the above citations, it is clear that the behaviour of employees in a firm affects the performance of the particular company. Therefore, performance appraisal will result in changes in organisational performance because it affects employee performance. It can affect motivation and skills of staffs positively. The associated return on investment due to increased performance and growth should result in better financial performance. Based on the understanding, it is possible to use these effects as dependent variables. Review of empirical studies Studies show that individuals’ attitudes and feelings about t heir work affect their behaviour at work and their attitude towards work practices, such as performance appraisals that human resource departments use (Chang Chen, 2011). According to Waldman (2011), age, tenure, and job experience predict the results of an employees appraisal.   On the other hand, Sinclair (2005) considered age, tenure, salary, and education, and performance appraisal as having a negative relationship. Other studies that look at the relationship between job attitudes and behavioural aspects are Downs and Swailes (2013) – a capability approach to organisational talent management, Dimba (2010) – on strategic human resource practices and how they affect employee performance, and Farndale and Kelliher (2013) with a study on the exploration of performance appraisal on the implementation of performance appraisal. The three studies support the findings by Sinclair (1995). They record relationships between job attitudes and behavioural aspects that can lea d to, interfere, promote, and arise from the individual performance evaluation.  The findings can be inconclusive and mixed. Meier (2005) indicated that the direction of the relationship between organisational commitment and other variables was conditional and relied on the types of commitment. On the other hand, a significant, positive relationship happened when there were affective commitment and performance appraisal. A negative relationship existed between continual engagement and performance appraisal, which was an illustration of the inconclusiveness of the present research and highlighted the need for additional studies on the same. According to Esu (2009), demographic factors and job attitudes like job satisfaction and commitment to a particular organisation are important because they are associated with positive results in an organisation. They lead to increased effectiveness and efficiency in the organisation. At the same time, Waldman (2007) indicates that diversity in individual characteristics has the potential to affect decision-making for performance appraisal. Research Philosophy Research philosophy relates to the development of research background, research knowledge, and nature, with research philosophy being a broad framework that comprises of perception, beliefs, understanding of theories, and research practices. Therefore, research philosophy acts as a precise process encompassing the steps that the researcher will undertake to create a relationship between the objectives and questions that the research seeks to answer (Galliers, 1991). Philosophical and Methodological Considerations This research will use a mixed method approach, where there will be primary and secondary sources of data. In the main research part, data collection will take place using questionnaires as the instruments. The questionnaires will be delivered to RMRDC staffs chosen to participate in the research. Therefore, RMRDC will be the case study organisation. The stu dy is going to include two interviews with two directors of the Council. The study timeline will cover the questionnaire survey first, before proceeding to the interviews with the directors. The expectation is that out of 30 questionnaires, at least 20 will be filled accurately and completely to aid in the analysis part of the study. The figure below elaborates the study process. Figure 1: Research onion showing the process of study (Saunders, 2009). The following section provides definitions and elaborations of the different concepts that inform the methodology of the proposed research. Data Collection Data collection relates to the act of getting information about a particular research question to inform decisions and analysis that seek to answer a research question. This study will use surveys and interviews among the available data collection methods. The survey uses questionnaires as an instrument for collecting data. With questionnaires, respondents get forms that have specif ied questions that they have to answer. Questions will be both structured and unstructured. Structured questions require a particular response, while the other questions provide freedom for the individual to answer. The research will try to interpret the responses based on the study criteria. Interviews differ from questionnaires in the way they are conducted. Interviews could embrace structured answers or unstructured questions, depending on the needs of the study. In this case, both will suffice. Usually the researcher and the interviewee meet physically or virtually. Cross-sectional Study Cross-sectional studies are specially constructed explorations into a research question. The study collects data for a defined population. Cross-sectional studies happen once or for a short time. The aim of a cross-sectional study is to estimate the existence of a hypothesis in a given population. The researcher surveys information from a set of literature as a way of doing it as a secondary res earch. The literature sample will be selected using keywords, the focus of the studies consulted, and the time of research or any other relevant criteria. In this case, the keywords will be performance appraisal and human resource management. The focus will be on the keywords and public organisations, while the time will be the last decade. The findings will then be summarised to give a description of the secondary data. Case Study A case study is an in-depth investigation into an event or organisation. Data is gathered from different sources. A case study relies on several methods of research. Therefore, a case study is a research that includes all or any other research methods, such as surveys. It can be a cross-sectional study too, given that this research will be based on RMRDC. A case study allows the researcher to investigate a topic in a detailed way that would be impossible when there are so many participants and too many variables. In this regard, a case study is only an ap proach, but it is not a research method. It uses typical research methods highlighted above (Bryman Bell, 2011). Multi Methods As the name suggests, multi-method research relates to the inclusion of two or more methods of research in one study. It mixes qualitative and quantitative data, methods and methodologies, or paradigms to arrive at a comprehensive finding that would be impossible or shoddily done with only one method or research tool. It can be simply the inclusion of different standpoints, and may use many methods and standpoints (Bryman Bell, 2011). Inductive Research The inductive research follows the inductive reasoning, where the intention is to provide significant evidence for a conclusion. Thus, the study provides evidence to support a conclusion, which makes the conclusion probable pending further research that can confirm or deny it. The evidence presented in the study will support a conclusion about performance appraisal and its application at RMRDC (Bryman Bell , 2011). Positivist Learning Positivist learning concerns the collection of information that is observable and classifiable. It leaves out internal meanings, motives, and feelings or emotions of individuals, and only concentrates on the explainable and observable facts. Therefore, positivist learning relies on statistical data to facilitate learning. In positivist learning, correlations of different variables matter (Bryman Bell, 2011). Ethical Considerations This study will explain its importance to the organisation in question as a way of gaining acceptance. The researcher will seek permission from the relevant authorities before proceeding with the research. Respondents will volunteer information and the only information collected in relation to identity will be demographic collected used for specified exploration tenacities only. Here, staffs at RMRDC will receive requests for research and have seven days to respond. There will be no incentives used to obtain information. The e xpectation of the research is that all participants will provide accurate information without coercion. The participants will only access their responses and will not find any opportunity to know what other participants will answer. This option seeks to safeguard the job interest of participants and prevent any victimisation by colleagues, supervisors, or directors at RMRDC. Contingency Plan I have earmarked two directors for the interview and two chief scientific officers as alternatives in case the directors are not available for the research. The intention here is to use 20 questionnaires. Nevertheless, the researcher will commence an inquiry with 30 questionnaires presented to the Council. Conclusion It is important to understand the performance appraisal from a particular organisation’s context so that other practitioners can have a credible example to relate. Using a positivist learning approach, this research will contribute significantly to the existing literature on factors affecting the realisation of performance appraisal objectives in public organisations. Other than the meeting of research objectives, the shortfalls of this research could arise because of a small sample size and failure of participants to provide accurate information. However, the study will rely on professional conduct of the research process to increase its validity. References Armstrong, M., Baron, A. (1998). Performance management: the new realities. London, UK: Institute of Personnel and Development. Bach, S. (2004). Employee participation and union voice in the National Health Service. Human Resource Management Journal, 14(2), 3-19. Barry, J. M. (1997). Performance management: A case study. Journal of Environmental Health, 60(4). Web. Bryman, A., Bell, E. (2011). Business Research Methods (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press. Beam, G. (2001). Quality public management: What it is and how it can be improved and advanced. Chicago, IL: Burnham Publishers. Berman, E. M., Bowman, J. S., West, J. P., Wart, M. R. (2012). Human resource management in public service: Paradoxes, processes and problems (4th ed.). New York, NY: SAGE Publications. Bryman, A., Bell, E. (2011). Business research methods (3rd ed.). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. Cash, J. (2010, May/June). Human resource management handbook. Harvard Business Review, 3. Chang, P.-C., Chen, S. J. (2011). Crossing the level of employees performance: HPWS, affective commitment, human capital, and employee job performance in professional service organizations. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 22(4), 883-901. DeVries, D. L. (1983, August 26). Viewing performance appraisal with a wide-angle lens. Web. Dimba, B. A. (2010). Strategic human resource management practices: effect on performance. African Journal of Economic and Management Studies, 1(2), 128-137. Downs, Y., Swailes, S. (2013). A capability approach to organizational talent management. Human Resource Developmen t International, 16(3), 1-15. Esu, B. B. (2009). A case for performance management in the public sector in Nigeria. International Journal of Business Management, 4(4), 98-105. Farndale, E., Kelliher, C. (2013). Implementing performance appraisal: exploring the employee experience. Human Resource Management, 52(6), 878 897. Galliers, R. (1991). Choosing appropriate information systems research approaches: A revised taxonomy. In R. Galliers (Ed.), Information systems research: Issues, methods and practical guidelines (pp. 144–162). Oxford, UK: Blackwell. Glaveli, N., Karassavidou, E. (2011). Exploring a possible route through which training affects organizational performance: the case of a Greek bank. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 22(14), 2892-2923. Harper, S., Vilkinas, T. (2005). Determining the impact of an organisation’s performance appraisal management system. Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, 43(1), 76-97. Lawler, E. E. (1994). Performance appraisal management: the next generation. Compensation and Benefits Review, 26(3), 16 –19. Pollitt, C. Bouckaert, G. (2004). Public management reform: a comparative analysis. (2nd ed.). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. Rao, V. (2004). Performance management and appraisal systems. New Delhi, India: Response Books, a division of Sage Publications. Ristow, A. (1998). Transformational leadership and organisational effectiveness in the administration of cricket in South Africa, Rhodes University, Faculty of Commerce. MSc Thesis. Web. RMRDC. (2015). Raw Materials Research and Development Council. Web. Saunders, M., Lewis, P., Thornhill, A. (2003). Research methods for business students. Harlow, England: Prentice Hall. Sinclair, D., Zairi, M. (1995). Effective process management through performance measurement: Part III-an integrated model of total quality-based performance measurement. Business Process Management Journal, 1(3), 50-65. doi:10.1108/146371595101032 20 Waldman, D. (2011) Performance in organisations: Determinants and appraisal. Glenview: Scott, Foresman and Company. Watkins, R. (2007). Designing for performance, PART 3: Design, develop, and improve. Perf. Improv., 46(4), 42-48. doi:10.1002/pfi.124

Virtual Perceptorship Nursing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Virtual Perceptorship Nursing - Essay Example From the study, notable findings were that; over the study period, women above 35 years increased their rate of delivery by over 84 % while for women above 40 years, their deliveries increased by over 100%; The prevalence of smoking in women decreased from 32.7% in 1988 to below 25.1% in 2001; prevalence of women below 20 years remained almost the same during the study period at 50%; there was an increase in the proportion of women with a pre pregnancy weight gain of over 90 kilograms over the study period; There was a also an increase in proportion of women with a pregnancy weight gain over the study period. Finally, nulliparity increased significantly over the study period. From the study, the research team concluded that, dramatic changes have occurred in maternal characteristics in Nova Scotia, over the years between 1988 and 2001. From the foreseen changes, it is evident that these changes are on-going. The research team also concluded that, if these maternal characteristics con tinue changing into the future, it is going to affect perinatal health and obstetric practice. This is because; maternal characteristics are known indices of obstetric practice, perinatal mortality and morbidity (Bianco, 1996). Research Critique This research has been done proficiently and effectively. The time period that the research team used was sufficient enough to attain the necessary results and possible conclusions. The study was conducted on Nova Scotia women in a time period of 14 years. This long period of time chosen has made the research proficient in the sense that it gave the research team sufficient time to analyze the chosen maternal characteristics which are useful indices of obstetric practice and perinatal care. Another factor that has made the research proficient is that women chosen were of varying age groups. This has enabled the research team to avoid bias in their findings since one finding may be characteristic of a particular age group and not the other. For example, smoking prevalence was assessed in women below 20 years and those above 35 years. It was found that the prevalence did not change much over the 14 year period in women below 20 years while it increase d tremendously in women above 35 years. The data of the study is reliable and this has ensured that the findings are consistent with the available data. The representative sample chosen was women in Nova Scotia who had given birth between 1988 and 2001. The data was obtained from the Nova Scotia Atlee Perinatal Database (NSAPD), a reputable organization that has for years collected accurate data on births in Nova Scotia since 1988. Its personnel are well trained so that there are no errors during data collection exercises. As a result of this, findings on the study are highly accurate and up to date, and they represent the reality on the ground. The reported findings from the study in Nova Scotia are consistent with information available on the subject matter. More recently, studies in western countries indicate that maternal characteristics are changing, and this trend is worrying health care experts (Edwards, 1996). For example, pre pregnancy weight gain has been observed to incre ase in various women, and this is worrying because adverse weight gains in pregnancy are associated with adverse birth outcomes. Recent findings assert that

History of Commincation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

History of Commincation - Essay Example The Renaissance era was a time with a lot of technological advancements. Communication also had a significant technological advancement including the printing press and also the linear perspective in drawing. There were major artists of the period that had a meaningful communication through their artwork. There are sketchbooks from that period that include books from Leonardo Da Vinci that have valuable insight into the mechanical technology of the time. The late 14th century and the early 15th century saw the use of the arquebus and musket. The printing press that was a significant advancement in technology saw many books and other media messages spread throughout Europe. The spreading of the messages and the books was a great help to enable people to be more conscious of their national identities. Printing that was a significant development during the era was a discovery by Gutenberg. The whole idea was Gutenberg’s invention that saw the printing machine being a movable type . The movable part saw the increase in use and it spread all over Europe. The expanded interest in expressions, designing and building ventures required non-verbal and traceable correspondence record of a more rugged sturdiness than wooden tablets with clay or wax. The material was accessible, yet was excessively costly. Amid the Renaissance paper fabricating, which likely had its creation in China around 100 AD, was beaten and paper plants set up crosswise over Europe. Even before education turns out to be, more broad portrayals and drawings were utilized to communicate.