Investigation into the Judgements of Slang

Whenever we open our mouths, judgements are made on our social class, intelligence and even personalities. These judgements are based on various speech elements, such as our accent, dialect, vocabulary and use of slang. It is the latter that this study is based on. The particular type of slang I intend to focus on has recently emerged alongside a new speech pattern known as Multi Ethnic Youth Dialect. (MEYD) My aim is to investigate whether there is a correlation between slang use and negative judgements made on the user. Secondly, as slang is frequently compared to Halliday's Anti-Language hypothesis, I intend to see if it can rationally be seen as such. I also wish to investigate whether specific lexical items a slang user deploys will affect the judgements. Much of the slang used takes origins from gang and drug culture and as a result my hypothesis is that if speakers use slang that holds its origins in these backgrounds, people are likely to extend the negative attributes that are assigned to gang members and drug users and thus label the speakers as violent drug users. I also hypothesise that users of slang will be judged more negatively than non-users of slang. Methodology In my study I will research the slang itself and the opinions people have on slang speakers. I will use recordings of slang speakers which I will analyse, and I shall conduct a survey to collect data on people's opinions. I have gathered four different recordings of youths speaking slang to varying degrees. I am aware that controlling extraneous variables will be difficult but I have attempted to do so by ensuring all speakers use non-standard English (evidenced by their universal use of glottal stops) and that all use either MEYD or Estuary English (EE). Though it would be preferable to have all speakers using MEYD I found that as slang is so deeply entwined with usage of this dialect I was not able to find speakers who used lesser amounts of slang in this dialect. I intend to give four questionnaires (one for each recording) to each participant. The questionnaire will list attributes and after the participant has heard each recording they will be asked to rate the speaker out of four for each attribute (for example, one attribute may be how aggressive the participant is, one would be not at all aggressive, whilst four would be very aggressive) Once I have collected my data, I shall analyse the speakers' language usage and the questionnaire results. I will look for a correlation between language and attributes assigned to speakers, in particular how negatively they are viewed in relation to their slang use. I am aware I cannot practically use as large a sample size as would be desirable, however, I shall take this into account when assessing my results. Analysis Multi Ethnic Youth Dialect (MEYD) In recent years, a dialect known as Multi Ethnic Youth Dialect has emerged. A wealth of research has already been conducted on this accent by such linguists as Sue Fox and David Britain. Though research has mostly been conducted into Multi-cultural London English (MLE) this is just one example of MEYD that is spread across different areas in the country. MEYD derives from multicultural diversity in inner city areas. Increased immigration in cities has lead to various forms of English merging. For the most part the predominant form of English is that spoken in Britain, but it is not uncommon to hear vocabulary that has derived from alternate forms such as the Jamaican Creole. The slang of MEYD derives from a variety of different dialects and creoles. Though I intend to focus on slang, there are several other notable features: An extremely rhythmic speech pattern deriving from West Indes' speech is typical. This rhythmic style of speaking is noticeable in speakers' use of plosives: For example the unvoiced dental fricative in â€Å"thing† being substituted with the voiceless dental plosive so that it is pronounced â€Å"ting†. Use of the glottal stop is also common, resulting from the influence of Estuary English of which the glottal stop is a defining element. These features are all used by speaker one when he says:- â€Å"you have a li*le (.) play area ting inni* where you can just go cotch† The â€Å"cotch† derives from the Jamaican Creole, the use of glottal stops are denoted by asterisks and â€Å"Thing† has been pronounced with the voiceless dental plosive reflecting the rhythmic features of MEYD. MEYD as Anti-Language In many ways, the use of MEYD by youths fits into the idea of anti-language developed by Halliday. In an anti-language words are used in an attempt to exclude people who are not members of the anti-language's discourse community. The dialect of some of my speakers fits well into the idea of anti-language. As Halliday's fourth requirement of an anti-language states the grammar of MEYD is virtually identical to the norm. Though there are some exceptions to the rule such as the second speaker's use of â€Å"you revved† instead of â€Å"you're revved† which derives from the Jamaican Creoles distinct pronoun use. However, the general rules of English grammar are for the most part entirely kept. Halliday's third rule dictates the main linguistic deviation in an anti-language is the lexis. This rule is followed by MEYD speakers and a great variety of lexis which does not adhere to common usage is displayed; for example the first speaker uses the term â€Å"cake† in place of â€Å"being looked for by police† though the word â€Å"cake† could be found in the dictionary, its definition would be entirely different from what the speaker uses it to mean. Halliday's suggestion is that an anti-language is born out of the speakers desire to distance themselves from accepted society. Though this would be difficult to prove of the speakers, it would be likely considering ideas of â€Å"youth rebellion† alongside the fact that most speakers of this form of slang are of the younger generation. Were MEYD to be considered an anti-language this would be hugely relevant to my study. As anti-language demonstrates a desire to be distanced from the norm, it is frequently linked with criminality and rebellious behaviour; this is not helped by the air of secrecy that surrounds anti-language making it difficult for non-users to understand. Lexis (Speaker 1/Very strong slang) The first speaker uses more slang words than any of the other speakers, for this reason, he can be seen as an example of very strong slang. However, to gain a full understanding of the slang he uses, it is necessary to examine the lexis he uses. The first non-standard word used is the concrete noun â€Å"crib†. The word originates from Northern America, initially meaning a â€Å"disreputable bar or brothel†. Since the mid nineteenth century amelioration has occurred and it is used simply to mean home. However, it is still mildly associated with criminality . The next word â€Å"innit†, is an abbreviation of â€Å"isn't it†. The word is not attached to a question but used as a filler or hedge that backs up as a rhetorical device. By using the term â€Å"innit† at the end of a sentence the speaker asks a rhetorical question. Though the question does not necessarily have to be answered it nonetheless seems to be intended to engage the receiver's attention. Though using the word, the receiver has directly been addressed and therefore brought further into the conversation. Despite its rhetorical advantages it is possible that from a prescriptivist point of view, the shortening may be perceived as a result of the speaker's laziness. The first speaker also uses the term â€Å"mans† which though not strictly lexical slang is nonetheless noteworthy. It is highly probable that the term â€Å"mans† derives from an overextension of the standard rules of pluralisation by people to whom English isn't 1st Language. The regular rules of pluralisation have been applied to the irregular plural â€Å"men†. Though the word â€Å"mans† would seem the most logical plural to apply it is grammatically incorrect as â€Å"men† is a plural group noun and thus it is highly likely judgements would be made on intelligence and education. The attributive adjective â€Å"hot† is used to mean â€Å"wanted by police†. The term has British origins and was initially used by thieves to describe stolen goods around the time of 1925. Broadening of the term has since occurred and not only objects but also people can be described as hot, this is demonstrated by the use of the adjective in reference to a person. It is not hard to see how the origins of the term may increase people's likelihood to assume criminality in the speaker. The word â€Å"cake† serves as a synonym to â€Å"hot†. It is also notable that through the speaker's use of slang he is unlikely to be viewed as well spoken and this may be judged to be of low intelligence. Alongside this, if we accept the suggestion of MEYD as a type of anti-language the speaker may be deemed as rebellious or associated with criminality. Lexis (Speaker 2/Strong slang) The second speaker does not use as much slang as the first; however it is still necessary to have a familiarity with the vocabulary he uses to gain a full understanding of his speech. He can for this reason be seen as an example of strong slang. He uses the verbal phrase â€Å"tripping out† which originates from 1970's slang. The initial term being â€Å"Acid Trip† which described a hallucinogenic experience caused by LSD. The verbal phrase originated from this and broadened to mean being under the influence of any type of drug and later to simply mean â€Å"acting crazy or funny†. Regardless of the effect of broadening many people still take the phrase to mean being under the influence of drugs and thus may associate the speaker with drug use. As with the first speaker, the word â€Å"cake† is used and one would assume similar effects to arise. Though it is notable that the word simply appears in a list of slang words the speaker has heard and so the effects may not be as extreme. The adjective â€Å"revved† has complex origins. Its original form was the abstract noun â€Å"revolutions†. The noun was used in reference to a car's revolutions and abbreviated to â€Å"rev† for ease of use. From this use the verb â€Å"to rev† was created via conversion and â€Å"to rev a car† meant â€Å"to force the engine to produce revs†. From this the passive stative verb form â€Å"to be revved† was used in reference to being excited, in this sense the word is a metaphor comparing the excited state of a person with a car producing several â€Å"revolutions† allowing it to go faster. The adjective â€Å"revved† finally derived from this. The term however can also be used to mean â€Å"under the influence of drugs† and as a result it is possible that speakers may again associate the speaker with drug culture. As with the first speaker, it is again possible that the second user of slang will be deemed as â€Å"not very well spoken† and possibly â€Å"unintelligent† or â€Å"uneducated† simply for his using slang. It is also noticeable that he says â€Å"you† in place of â€Å"you're†, this deviation from the standard derives from the Jamaican Creole but its grammatical incorrectness is again likely to make listeners deem the speaker unintelligent regardless of his genuine attributes. Lexis (Speaker 3/Weak slang) Unlike the first two speakers, no knowledge of slang or MEYD is required to understand the third speaker. Though slang is used, it is applied within the context of discussing slang terms. The speaker also does not use several features that are common in MEYD such as rhythmic pronunciation or loan words from ethnic minorities. The language used by the speaker fits more into the category of Estuary English (EE) than it does MEYD. Due to these features I have chosen to use this speaker as an example of Weak Slang. The speaker uses the term â€Å"busted† but in the sentence â€Å"I wouldn't say busted† thus denying any links with the word. Another word used is â€Å"bun† which was initially meant â€Å"tart† or â€Å"slag†. The adjective is English in origin and entered mainstream usage in the late nineteenth century. The speaker also talks about the attributive adjective â€Å"butters† that means â€Å"ugly†. It is most likely of UK origin and probably derives from clipping the phrase â€Å"butt-ugly†. The adjective's meaning has also broadened so that it can be used to refer to anything that causes aesthetic displeasure while previously it could only be used in reference to people. The term â€Å"minging† is an converted adjective from the derogatory noun â€Å"minger† that derives from the Scottish phrase â€Å"ming† meaning â€Å"stink†. The specific lexis of the speaker's vocabulary does not hold negative connotations. It is, however, possible that due to the fact all slang used by the speaker is in some way derogatory, judgements may be made on her friendliness. It is also possible that through using slang the speaker may be deemed â€Å"poorly spoken† or â€Å"unintelligent† Lexis (Speaker 4/No Slang) The final speaker uses no slang and is simply in this study to act a control which should enable me to determine the extent the data gained from the questionnaires is due to slang. Results With shocking regularity, the results followed a distinct pattern. On almost all categories the two speakers of strong slang are rated very poorly (the speaker of very strong slang coming lowest) followed by the speaker of weak slang, who tends to fair comparatively well in people's judgements. With no exception at all, the speaker who does not use slang is seen by people as the least aggressive, most educated, most friendly, hardest working, most intelligent and best spoken. 60% of people said the non-slang user was highly likely to develop a successful career compared to the very strong-slang speaker, who was deemed highly likely to fail a job interview by 70%. If we take an average score of each participant, inversing the characteristics seen as negative (so a score of 4 on aggression would be calculated as a 1) we can see how well each speaker is perceived to conform to the idea of a good and productive member of society. Looking at this â€Å"good citizen† rating, we see the same pattern emerge: Again, a direct correlation is visible between how favourably the speaker is looked upon and the degree of slang they use. Conclusions We can confidently assert that in this study there is an evident relationship between slang usage and the judgements made of individuals. However, an interesting question is whether the specific lexical items used have a direct relationship with the judgments made. If we look back to the previous analysis of the speakers' vocabulary, and assume that specific lexical items do have a relationship with the judgements made, we would be led to believe the very strong slang speaker would come out worst in all categories, with the exception of â€Å"likelihood to take drugs† which would be dominated by the strong slang speaker. Interestingly this is exactly the case. The â€Å"likelihood to take drugs† category is the only exception to the general principle that the very strong slang user is judged least favourable. The data collected would lead us to believe that: Slang is in fact an anti-language, or at least perceived as one. This is reflected by the fact that the stronger speakers of slang were judged to not conform to the notion of good citizenship. Users of slang are judged more negatively than non-users of slang. The more slang is used, the more negative the judgements. This is demonstrated in the consistent pattern of the results; with the strongest slang user being judged worst, and the non-slang user being judged best. Judgements made on slang speakers have a direct relationship with the specific lexical items used. This is suggested in the strong slang speaker (who used slang derived from drug culture) being judged more likely to take drugs than the very strong slang speaker. Evaluation In any investigation, an inquiring mind is necessary, and for this reason there are several issues of validity that we must discuss. Our only evidence for suggesting that specific lexical items impact the judgements made is that the strong slang speaker was judged higher than the very strong slang speaker in his likelihood to take drugs. However, the strong slang speaker is not judged particularly higher than the very strong slang speaker thus we cannot completely assert that it is indefinitely due to his specific vocabulary, although we can speculate. Were the suggestion correct, only a small difference would be expected, as judgement on specific lexical items requires participants to have knowledge of slang used and it is unlikely that they all would. The results do not hold infinite validity, and there are undoubtedly extraneous variables however they are consistent, though we cannot completely label the results as coming from the suggested cause: One could potentially put the results down to people judging the two females higher or judging the two northerners lower. But this would still not answer the question as to why participants rated the individual females or northerners in the order they did with such consistently. One alternative explanation is that there was an apparent correlation between the class speakers were judged to be, and the participants perception of these speakers (the lower the speaker's class, the worse they were judged) The class measurement was, however, simply a judgement made of the speakers, not an actual measurement, and so one would have to explain why the speakers were judged to be the class they were, which seems to take us full circle, and back to their usage of slang as an explanation. While the results do not prove the hypothesis, they undoubtedly suggest it. To know the hypothesis' results for sure, further study would be needed.

The importance of time management

There are many reasons to have time management and organization in your office; they both can lead to failure of you or your business, and or your team etc. If you don’t have time management then you will not have the time to ensure you complete the tasks that need to be done and when they are suppose to be done, even worse ensuring that the ones that work under you will not complete what they need to complete. Ensuring that you stick to a tight schedule and pushing through to the final completion is what you need to do to accomplish the job.Time management is important in ensuring that all missions are accomplished proficiently and in a timely manner. When you can maintain your time management you show your leadership ability to accomplish the jobs. When you use time management to accomplish your tasking, this will give you more time to ensure that you can work on your organization. Ensuring that your office stays organized and clean is to ensure that at any given time you ca n find a form or any information you may need at any time.You need to ensure that you have the space to complete paper work and to ensure you are keeping paper work separated so you don’t lose where your place of work. When you complete your task it is very important to file the completed work to ensure that you keep the work together and don’t lose the information you have already to complete. This helps to ensure that you keep your work together and complete. When you ensure the organization you are normally more proficient. This allows you to work better and faster.When you work time management and office organization you become a more proficient as a leader, employee or as a boss. They work together to ensure success of your career if you take your time and put emplace the program. It’s your career take a hold of it and do what you have to do to ensure success. The 4 components of Office Organization, Filing system- Having a great hard copy filing system is a must, since at any given time a computer could crash, get a virus or just about anything else.A lot of businesses use share drives which load all or the files, work,  pictures and meeting schedules to where everyone involved can look at them, and these can all become corrupt as well. But if you keep hard copies of all your work no matter if the computer system crashes you always can do your research. For example I load drivers packets onto the share drive for the Army so when new soldiers need to be trained they can print off their paperwork needed, but when they come to me I as well keep their file in my filing system, so if they lose their license or move to a new post they can take their entire packet with them showing their training.I also keep all of the tests and files needed on hand in my filing system so that I can copy at any time. This ensures that I will always have my past and future training for all soldiers in my company past and present. Pitch method- This is my p ersonal favorite since it lowers the amount of paper useless information leaving from my desk. This is important so that information that is needed is used and the not needed is trash.It limits what we have to act on; it leaves us with future information as needed and things that need to be acted upon at this very moment. This here ensures that we have the best information for the school, public or the students at the present time. Office flow- Ensuring the flow of the office is very important to anyone and all of us to ensure we get the best results of our time being used. Ensuring you have the best conditions for you in your office so that your comfortable while you work is important to accomplishing the best work you can.Computers- Computers can make almost everyone’s job easier. As a mechanic they have the test equipment that brings up the diagnostic readings that can limit what is wrong with the vehicle. The computer can be organized and set up however that is convenient for you or to give a presentation, or for anyone to use. It can make your job easier. You can ensure proper order while using power point for presentations if you have to give more than one at time.

A girl named Maria Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

A girl named Maria - Essay Example It has been believed that certain individuals have specific roles to play in society. During the ancient times, males were already considered as the providers and protectors of their families and their tribes. Females had the role of taking care of the children and the home.Patriarchy, which was the setup during the olden days up until centuries ago, is the sociological condition wherein the males are considered to be more dominant than the females. More often than not, in this particular type of social setup, males are those in positions of power and enjoy more rights than the females. The society is said to be reigned by either a single male or a group of males. Females, including children, as a result of this type of social organization, are then forced to assume subordinate roles.In Latin America, the culture has been influenced by several other cultures, mainly by the Europeans and the Africans. Nonetheless, just like any other society and culture, which have the tendency to evo lve through time, patriarchy in Latin America has already experienced a decline, giving females much more power and responsibility, somehow offering them a more solid stand as to their place in society.On the other hand, another pressing issue worldwide, which also takes place in Maria's story, is political corruption. In its very sense, political corruption is the improper use of government or political power, usually for personal gain. No form of government is safe from corruption. Though it may display itself in different manners, the most common manifestations are "patronage, bribery, extortion, influence peddling, fraud, embezzlement, and nepotism" (Wikipedia, 2006). When a country is experiencing political corruption, it will be much more difficult for the country to progress, including its citizens. Not only does it compromise the general development of the country, but its development in all other aspects as well. With the political and economic status of Colombia, it is imminent that its citizens will suffer the consequences of other people's actions, with Maria being one perfect example of such an individual. Living in a patriarchal society, she is unable to exercise her rights in the fullest sense, as women are not given that much power, voice, and opportunities. Coupled with the kind of poverty that Maria and her family are experiencing, it is not surprising that she will want to look elsewhere for other opportunities, in order to give herself, her future child, and her family a better life than what they have at present, and something that they most definitely deserve. Just like any other person who is under extreme poverty, Maria made a quick life-changing decision without weighing the consequences and understanding the possible risks involved. She was only focused on the goal of earning more money through a seemingly easy job in order to uplift herself and her family's status in life. The film Maria Full of Grace gives an initial impression of the movie being of a religious sort. However, when one takes a second look at it, realizations of the real meaning and the true story come out. Maria Full of Grace is a story of a young woman who embarks on a journey from her present life at Colombia to the possibility of a better life in New York. Maria Alvarez, the heroine of the story, is a newly-pregnant 17-year-old who lives with her family in Colombia. With her job removing thorns off roses in the farm, she supports those in her family who are financially dependent on her, what with her meager wage. However, just like any other person who is experiencing poverty, she wants more out of life. She wants to be able to escape the life that she is currently experiencing and move on to greener pastures, so to speak. Not only for

Foundation of Law concerning Employment Assignment

Foundation of Law concerning Employment - Assignment Example In the same way that the employer is legally entitled the profits of an employee’s work, the employer has also a legal liability if the same work results in harm. On the other hand, is someone is injured and needs to be compensated; the legal system makes the victim whole and assigns liability to the employer and not the employee. The employer is therefore liable for any harm caused by their servants acting within the scope of employment. There are various legal theories which the employer may be held responsible for the actions of their employee. The master can be held liable for any harm caused by the employee acting in the scope of occupation. This applies to both employees and to the independent contractors for as log as there is an agency relationship. According to the plaintiff’s attorney, the employer should know that the employee might cause harm. If the employee cause the harm while acting within the scope of employment, his/her employer is liable for damages incurred by the victim. This means that irrespective of the employer’s good intentions, or policies, I the employee cause an injury or harm to anybody within and without the company, while performing within the scope of the employment, the responsibility traces back to the employer. Unlike the vicarious liability, the negligent hiring, retention and supervision arises from actions performed by an employee outside the scope of his/her employment. An example of this liability occurs when the employer is held responsible for criminal conducts of the e mployee. The bases of this liability are upon the carelessness of the employer on hiring a criminal for a piece of work that he expected would endanger the lives of others. This is now recognized as a cause of action by many nations. There elements are required for liability to attach to the master (employer). Firstly, employers who employ individuals must train them in every sector of their job responsibilities, if failing to do so would result to injuries. Â  For example, employees who operate a vehicle should be adequately trained to do so to avoid destructed driving because the risk is foreseeable. Secondly, the employer is responsible for hiring, training and supervising employees. Failure to do so is described as a breach of that duty. Lastly, there must be causation between the injury and the conduct. Â  By virtual of employees using some unnecessary devices at work such as the mobile devices while driving company’s vehicle, the employer is said to have breached his/ her duty to supervise his/her employees and is thus held liable to the accident victims.

The prevailing poverty and inequalities in the world Essay

The prevailing poverty and inequalities in the world - Essay Example More specifically, the Summary Report of the Social development: implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly states (2006) that around the world some of "those working did not earn enough to lift themselves and their families above the $2-a-day poverty line" (p.3) In other words, it has quantified economic impoverishment as an earning below the amount of two USD. Hence those people who do not have opportunities to earn a minimum of 2 USD per day, as said to be in a state of poverty. According to the Summit Report of the United Nations General Assembly (2006), the approximate estimate of those living below the poverty-line globally, was about 1.4 billion. This is despite the fact that this 1.4 billion is a working force. According to the report "although the share of the $2-a-day working poor in total employment had decreased to 47.4 per cent in 2006, from almost 55 per cent in 1996" (p.3). Moreover, other categories of aged unemployed, women and children unemployed also fall into the category of 'people living below the poverty line, according to the Summit Report (2007, p. 2-3). The overall figures of the various figures show a m

Marketing analysis - industries, trends and competition Thesis

Marketing analysis - industries, trends and competition - Thesis Example (Charles, 100) Some of the services offered by contractors are professional services that have been traditionally offered by A/E consultants for a long time. A/E consultants, faced with contractors taking away a large slice of the professional service pie, must defend their market shares, and expand their service base. This expansion will require A/H consultants to add new non-traditional services specifically tailored to the front end and back ends of M. Charles. Congress Approves New Design/Build Law. (Civil Engineering 2006) Pg100. the project cycles. Services in these segments include financing assistance, permitting, regulatory assistance, life cycle cost analysis, operation and maintenance (O&M) and renovation services. Marketing professional and construction services in the new millennium is not a simple task anymore. Architects in the past have relied heavily on their reputation and name recognition to get jobs. Consulting engineers relied on the 80/20 rule (80 percent of bus iness comes from 20 percent of clients), to drum-up business, and general contractors fell back on low bids in competitive bidding. (Friednian, 173) These techniques have worked in the past. However, recent shift in the project delivery system, and advancement in communication technology, necessitate that corporations look closely at their marketing efforts in the 21st Century. As general contractors move into the professional service arena, they seize market shares from A/E consultants. A/E consultants must react in any of the following three ways. They must reinforce existing market niche (services and clients). Develop marketing plans focused on client's retention (holding to market shares). Restructure their organizations to offer flexibility in the people and services (new services). The US construction market is a sizable lucrative market, and presents unique opportunities for foreign firms to set up local subsidiaries to actively pursue work. There Friednian, W. Construction Marketing and Strategic Planning. McGraw-Hill, Inc., NY. 2004, Pg172-173. are indications that foreign firms have successfully penetrated the heavy civil and highways public works markets in California, Massachusetts, and Florida. Forensic Construction Forensic construction involves the utilization of science in making decisions for legal disputes about buildings that have been constructed; chiefly involve the kind and quality of the building material, style and labor job. (Humphreys, 02) The design/build method, at-risk construction management, and the build-operate transfer (BOT) methods, have emerged as innovative alternatives to the competitive bidding method to deliver projects on time and on budget. This has resulted in a major shift in project delivery, challenging the conventional thinking, revolutionizing procurement of projects, and redefining the construction process. Trends for the 21st century are: Paradigm shift in the project delivery system. Refocus on the front end and back ends of project cycle. The construction market is becoming a service marketplace, rather than a commodity marketplace. Emphasis on life cycle costs (LCC), and total costs of a project. K, Humphreys.K. Jelen's Cost and Optimization Engineering, McCraw Hill, Inc., NY. 2008. Pg 1-2. Emphasis on value of

The Iraq War 2003 in Western media and public opinion Essay

The Iraq War 2003 in Western media and public opinion - Essay Example Although opinion polls indicated a shift in the British public opinion about the war, the public opinion did not actually change during the entire period. Though the polls conducted by different agencies in the UK indicated an increase in the level of support for the war, it did not reflect the true opinion of the public. The public opinion only appeared to change because of the shortfalls in the polling process. In any opinion poll, there are priority issues that can alter the respondents’ answer depending on the way they are presented. If such priority issues are overshadowed by time or other events, the pollsters can ignore them in subsequent polls. For instance, in the British case, the pollsters left out the key issues because of time and other events that had occurred. Thus, if it were possible to incorporate the key events in the polls disregarding other events that had occurred, the polls could have otherwise suggested a different result. Apart from ignoring the real i ssues that initially determined people’s attitude, opinion polls possibly misidentified the respondents’ support for related issues as the support of the war. For instance, a respondent could have identified with one side of the conflict for personal reasons without necessarily supporting the war. In such situation, the polls deceptively indicated the support of the war. As a result, the outcome became unreliable. According to Baines and Worcester (2005), the public opinion changed during the war because of three major reasons.

IMRAD Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

IMRAD - Essay Example Additionally, researchers have come up with three approaches that lead to employee’s empowerment. These include feministic theory, structural empowerment and psychological empowerment (Jeannette and Roland, 2009). Based on the fact that nurses are not included in the oppressed group, this study covers structural and psychological empowerment theories as theoretical framework. Aim of the research based on four key hypotheses The aim of this research was to investigate the relationship between structural empowerment as well as psychological empowerment and innovative behavior. This was undertaken using four hypotheses as indicated below. Hypothesis 1(H1): There is a positive relationship between innovative behavior by nurses and structural empowerment. Hypothesis 2(H2): There exist positive correlation between innovative behavior by nurses and psychological empowerment. Hypothesis 3(H3): Through psychological empowerment, structural empowerment leads to more innovation by nurses . Hypothesis 4(H4): The extent to which the psychological empowerment leads to innovative behavior is significantly influenced by structural empowerment. ... To ensure that adequate information was collected to come up with a proper analysis, this study collected data from the months of February and March 2007. This was followed by dividing the questionnaire that consisted of 58 items into four major categories. These included structural empowerment, innovative behavior, demographic data and psychological empowerment. To enhance the response from the interviewers, the research adopted various techniques that included cover letter, stamped envelops, follow-ups, in-house newsletters and book tokens. Confidentiality and ethics during the research were upheld by emulating the guidance of the ethics committee and the use of code numbers. By the use of the SPSS Version 12.0 the data was analyzed. This entailed the use of Q-Q plots also referred top as normal probability plots to identify whether the distribution was normal. According to the t Test that was conducted on the data collected, Jeannette and Roland, 2009 study indicated that 6.2% of the missing values differed statistically significant from the average obtained from the innovative behavior. The notable method that this study used to identify the relationship between variables was the bivariate tests of correlation. In the same way, a regression analyses and a one-way analyses of variance were conducted to test the hypothesis. Results The studies indicated that 92.6% of the respondents were female within the age of 41-44 years and those who were married with children. Additionally, 75% of the respondents indicated that they had worked in more than 5 years or more in the hospitals. By the use of the clinical specialty as one of the categories, 37.6% of the respondents had

Paraphrasing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 30

Paraphrasing - Essay Example In our home for instance supervision of children even on simple matters as just browsing the internet is very normal. I therefore have grown up appreciating the important role of parental guidance in our lives. This has become so entrenched in me that seeing fellow youth just doing their own things and making decisions without parental involvement for me seemed strange at some point. I for instance find extremely threatening in terms development and growth for children are allowed a lot of freedom to access and experiment with technology on their own. However, with and as I continue to mingle with people from different cultures and parts of the world I realise that things are different. Children from other cultures are left to surf the internet on their own devoid of any form of parental guidance. Critically looking at the issue I begin to change my biases because I find these children are left to learn on their own and control their own at an early age hence their development could even be faster. Interaction with other cultures is therefore a very important factor behind changes in our biases. Age is also important as well as the level of exposure one has to the outside