ANZ Anz Culture Study: Management Principles

Question 1) Explain the term ‘corporate (or organizational) culture’, and discuss its importance to the operational success, or failure, or organisations. Corporate culture, also known as organisational culture is ‘the system of shared values and beliefs that develops within an organisation and guides the behaviour of its members’ (Schermerhorn,et al, pg 45, 2004). Robbins, et al, pg 70, 2003, explain that culture is a perception, and people perceive culture to be what they see hear or experience within the organisation. This is one reason that corporate culture is so important, as it just becomes part of daily routine or ‘the way we do things here’ (Schermerhorn,et al, pg 45, 2004). Therefore if these common practices are good practices there is a strong chance the organisation will be more successful. The culture of an organisation is very important and can for a large part determine the success of organisations. As culture is a perception, it is concerned with how its members perceive the organisation and not whether they like it, (Robbins, et al, pg 70, 2003). If its members like the culture, the organisation is more likely to succeed. Organisations that have a good culture often perform at high levels, which also corresponds with staff morale. Robbins et al, pg 73, 2003 refer to a case study involving Virgin Blue, who have a different recruiting policy and job roles than other airlines in Australia. Virgin Blue want their staff to show their outgoing personality and interact with their customers during flights. Virgin Blue staff say morale is high and management gets on well with the workforce. The perception of Virgin Blue is that it is a little different to the other airlines in Australia, and that it is a fun outgoing organisation to be a part of, which is a perception Virgi n Blue appears to promote and are proud of. Question 2) Examine and summerize the cultural shifts that occurred on the ANZ over this period and the benefits they brought to various stakeholders. The ANZ like most banks in the late 1990’s had a poor public image. Banks were criticised for bank fees, branch closures and scandals, as a result morale for bank employees was also poor. ANZ conducted a staff survey, which confirmed morale was low and staff satisfaction was below 50%. The survey results were quite clear that staff did not feel valued in their workplace, and employees were asked to nominate words they felt best describes the ANZ bank. Words rating at the top of the list were cost reduction, profit and shareholder value. The ANZ initiated a program, ‘the breakout program’ which was designed to shift the culture, as the bank wanted to create a new public image or perception that distinguished them from other banks. Executives of the ANZ realized a shift if employees mind set was needed to regain the trust of their staff and assist with this intended culture change. This was done with various workshops and subsidising computers for its staff, which in particular was very well received by its staff. As well as increasing staff morale by subsidising computers, staff were given the opportunity to use skills they had acquired by assisting and educating customers with money matters. This was something staff were very passionate about, and by giving them the opportunity to complete such duties may have been a factor to increased morale. ANZ claim a complete transformation in organisational culture, believing their culture has changed for ever. Judging by further surveys conducted since the change in culture, staff morale is high, and this also coincides with customer satisfaction. Question 3) Evaluate the leadership style/s that would have been used by McFarlane and other senior executives in ANZ to implement this cultural shift in the ANZ and describe other leadership styles that may not have been beneficial in doing so. It is quite likely that more than one leadership style or a combination of styles was used by ANZ to initiate its change in organisational culture. One particular style that may have been used is the path-goal theory. ‘A leadership theory that says it is the leaders job to assist their followers in attaining their goals and to provide the direction or support needed to ensure that their goals are compatible with the overall objectives of the groups or organisation’ (Robbins, et al, pg 577, 2006). At the ANZ bank staff morale was low and its public image poor, and to change that McFarlane used the path-goal leadership style to attempt to increase morale, which would also lead to enhancing its public image. The path-goal theory discusses input from staff, this was done by taking information from the staff survey, and gaining an understanding of what is important to staff. Change was then implemented so staff could start working in an environment which they feel much more comfortable, more likely to succeed and have higher job and customer satisfaction. The staff were given direction (path) and could see the rewards or goals, the leader helps facilitate this transition. Mcfarlane changed his leadership style, to give staff more involvement by conducting staff surveys, then implementing change due to results of the survey, this is further evidence to using path-goal theory. As the path goal leadership style assumes that leaders are flexible and can change their behaviours (Robbins, et al, pg 587, 2006). This is contrast to another leadership style, Fielders contingency model, which suggests that leaders could not change their behavior. If using this theory it would been very difficult for ANZ to change its culture as the leader would be unwilling to change their own behaviour in order to facilitate the required changes to result in the change in culture. Question 4) Discuss the challenges faced by McFarlane and his executive team in introducing change across ANZ. For change to occur, someone must take responsibility for managing the change process, the person who does this, who is also usually a manager, is known as a change agent (Robbins and Coulter, pg 360, 2007). At ANZ their CEO McFarlane is the change agent, and he may have encountered significant resistance change. There are numerous reasons why people within organisations resist change. Kreitner & Kiniki pg 546 – 547, 2008 explain that individual and group behaviour following organizational change can take many forms, from extreme ranges of acceptance to active resistance. This resistance to change is an emotional /behavioural response to real or imagined threats to an established work routine. One particular reason discussed by Kreitner & Kiniki, 2008 is an individuals predisposition to change, which is highly personal and deeply ingrained. With so many employees at the ANZ there is a strong chance that there would have been quite a lot of people who just resist change for personal reasons. Another reason for resistance to change is due to a climate of mistrust (Kreitner & Kiniki pg 547, 2008). This may have been the biggest resistance to change within the ANZ. Prior to the change employee morale was low, employees perceptions of ANZ were that they did not care about their staff and were more concerned with profits, cost reduction etc. ANZ were aware of their employees feelings, the lack of trust and realized the importance of having employees trust. Therefore when ANZ were initiating change staff may have found it difficult to adjust and believe that the change was going to be a change for the good. Question 5) Discuss whether or not the executive management instigated changes to the culture of the ANZ are ethical. Ethical behaviour is described as ‘behaviour that conforms to generally accepted social norms’ (Davidson & Griffen, pg 106, 2003). The workplace info case study mentions that most banks in the late 1990’s had a poor public image due to bank fees, branch closures etc. Although it is common practice amongst banks to operate under the conditions, .it is not considered acceptable behavior by the wider community, namely its customers. The ANZ bank wanted to be different to the other banks, it wanted its culture to be a point of difference from the others. It could be said that the ANZ felt it had a responsibility to change peoples perceptions of itself and banks in general. Davidson & Griffen, pg 117, 2003 explain that ‘ethics relate to individuals. Organisations themselves do not have ethics, but organisations do relate to their environment in ways that often involve ethical dilemmas and decisions. Social responsibility is the set of obligations an organisation has to protect and enhance the society in which it functions’. The society for the ANZ bank is the banking community, general community (customers) and its staff. The ANZ bank felt it had responsibilities to their customers, by providing a higher level of customer service in order to enhance its public image, but it had a responsibility to its staff, as they are the people who are to implement the changes. The ANZ may have avoided an ethical issue when it decided that its staff could choose where it could spend time volunteering. ANZ originally controlled where staff would go to volunteer, but this was quickly changed, possibly as a result to ethical dilemmas that may have arose. While there may have been some resistance by staff to change, it did occur and its staff and customer satisfaction have increased, without any major ethical dilemmas arising. Question 6) Determine the organisational structure that would best facilitate the implementation of these new practices. Organisational structure is the formal arrangement of jobs within an organisation. When managers develop change or structure, they’re engaged in organisational design, which involves 6 key elements (Robbins and Coulter, pg 266, 2007). Therefore to develop an organisational structure the manager must consider the elements of organisational design. One of these elements that would have been used by ANZ would have been span of control, which would then also lead to either having a tall or flat organisation structure. Span of control is determining how many people will report to each supervisor or manager (Davidson & Griffen, pg 357, 2003). The decision about span of control determines the overall structure of the organistaion, which will be either a flat or tall organization (Davidson & Griffen, pg 358, 2003). The ANZ may have shifted from a tall organizational structure to a flat structure. Davidson & Griffen, pg 106, 2003 explain that many experts agree that business run more effectively with fewer layers of organisations, which depicts a flat organisational structure. Flat organisations often lead to increased staff morale, productivity as well as increased managerial responsibility (Davidson & Griffen, pg 358, 2003). ANZ structure may look like a tall organization due to the large number of employees, braches and therefore managers for each branch, however a change occurred which would have resulted in less layers, which increased communication from employees to management which assisted in the culture change at ANZ. Question 7) Explain the importance of informal groups in achieving the managerial objective of cultural change. Groups are defined as ‘two or more interacting and interdependent individuals who come together to achieve specific goals’ (Robbins and Coulter, pg 424, 2007). For example, an ANZ branch might have a customer service team, who get together regularly to discuss new ways to increase customer satisfaction. The members in this group are from same ‘team’, and perhaps if not for working within close proximity of each other would not socialise, they are organised formal groups. Contrast to this is informal groups, which Davidson and Griffen, pg 645, 2003, descibe as ‘A group created by its members for purposes that may or may not be relevant to the organisation’s goals’. Informal groups may form while standing around in the morning making coffee, some informal groups are formed by an interpersonal attraction (Davidson and Griffen, pg 646, 2003). Whatever the reason informal groups are formed, they will be important in assisting in the shift for cultural change. When informal groups are formed, they are likely to become cohesive groups, Davidson and Griffen, pg 653, 2003, explain cohesiveness as ‘the extent to which members are loyal and committed to a group; the degree of mutual attractiveness in the group’. Therefore if informal groups within an organisation are open to change it is more likely that the organisation will be able to achieve its objectives, and it this case that is assist with a cultural change. The ANZ bank appears to have undergone a successful cultural transformation, with a focus of staff morale, which increased customer satisfaction. This change has been so well received by staff it now embedded in its staff, and will become the norm for all future staff, regardless of their personality or who is managing them.

Equal Distribution of Income Essay

The fair distribution of income may be the most value-laden of all economic goals; it is certainly the most controversial. When it comes to dividing the total national output, there can be many interpretations of what makes for a fair division of wealth, as there are people. The issue of income equalization is further complicated by regional differences, as identified in the article. The equalization program, which is funded through general tax revenue collected from all Canadians, transfers dollars to poorer provinces so they can offer programs and services reasonably comparable to those offered in the wealthier provinces, at similar levels of taxation. There is a controversial overhaul of transfer payments under study by federal government. The six â€Å"have-not† provinces are splitting $15. 4 billion in equalization payments in 2012-13: Quebec ($7. billion), Ontario ($3. 3 billion), Manitoba ($1. 7 billion), New Brunswick ($1. 5 billion), Nova Scotia ($1. 3 billion) and Prince Edward Island ($337 million). The other four provinces (B. C. , Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador) are considered to have greater revenue-generating capacity and don’t currently qualify for equalization. The Conservative government has been examining substantial changes to the $15. -billion federal equalization program that could dramatically affect transfers sent to provinces and their ability to pay for programs and services. The concern in this article is the proposal, if implemented, could have multibillion-dollar consequences on hydro-producing provinces such as Quebec, Manitoba, British Columbia, and possibly Newfoundland and Labrador. Any reforms to how hydroelectricity is calculated in equalization would almost certainly prove to be one of the most contentious issues, especially in the hydro-producing provinces. The current equalization program calculates 50 per cent of a province’s natural resource revenues in determining its revenue-generating ability — or â€Å"fiscal capacity† — and whether it deserves an annual equalization payment. But, the economic value of hydroelectricity isn’t necessarily calculated the same as oil and gas, partly because of the difficulty in determining the value of hydro power due to a lack of a competitive market in Canada. However, any changes to how hydroelectricity is calculated in equalization could have a â€Å"huge impact† on how much — if any — a province receives from Ottawa in equalization. For example, some studies have suggested Quebec could lose billions of dollars in equalization payments if the true value of hydroelectricity were calculated in the program. If the true economic value of the hydroelectricity were calculated, it would amount to a larger fiscal capacity for equalization-receiving provinces such as Quebec and Manitoba and possibly mean billions of dollars less in federal payments sent to those provinces in the coming years. I feel that the issue of equalization payments with regard to hydroelectricity generating provinces is a controversial one. Although, my opinion on such is that these â€Å"have† provinces (Quebec, Manitoba, British Columbia, and Newfoundland and Labrador) which are producing the hydroelectricity should be compensated for such. Due to the fact that hydroelectricity isn’t calculated like another resource doesn’t mean these hydroelectricity providing provinces should suffer. Currently, the equalization program takes into account differences in revenue-generating capacity among the provinces, but not the varying costs of providing services in each of the jurisdictions. Considering the revenues from hydro generation account for less than 20 per cent of total natural resource revenues across the country. However, hydro makes up nearly 80 per cent of natural resource revenues of equalization-receiving provinces, making it particularly important for distribution of equalization. Regardless if one province would suffer dramatically, I feel it is important to focus energy on this matter as the other â€Å"have† provinces could also benefit.

Rabbit Proof Fence †Help to Study Essay

While watching the movie, take notes and think about the following questions: 1. What is the history and context of the film? When is it set? In what genre is it? Is it based on a true story, a book? Is it fictional? True story. 2. How did the cameraman use specific angles, lighting and music in the film to indicate different moods? What did you notice about the camera angels as the girls became more threatened, for example? What happened to the music when the girls were trying to escape? The music is trying to sound like native music but with a modern feature. 3. What is the fence designed for? How does the fence function as a symbol? Why is the film titled rabbit-proof fence? 4. Very early on in the film, we see the eagle, Molly’s totem, her spirit bird. Her mother tells her the eagle will look after her. When does the bird appear again in the film and why? 5. Discuss Mr. Neville’s theory of eugenics. What were his policies and official duties? Is he a villain or is he a misguided idealist? Why are half-caste children seen as a problem? Think about Neville’s attitude toward the girls? Does it change over the course of the film? Give examples of words and actions that indicate this change. 6. The three children are not experienced actors. Do you find them convincing? Give your reasons. 7. What do you think are some of the film’s key themes and issues? Are these issues/themes effectively communicated through the film? 8. Finally, did you enjoy the movie? Either way, find examples and use descriptions to state your opinion.

Low and High incidence disabilites and gifts and talents Essay

Low and High incidence disabilites and gifts and talents - Essay Example This second website is also informative and gives brief information regarding behavioral and emotional disorder. This website was through Council for Exceptional Children. From this website I learned that substantial behavioral deficits or excesses are shown by those pupils with emotional and behavioral disturbances. Both terms relate to the behavioral patterns that substantially depart from others expectations. Recently, "behavioral disorders" has acquired prefer over "emotional disturbance" for labeling more exactly which further results in more determined decision making as well as fewer negative intensions. This website is also informative and can be used for professional information regarding emotional and behavioral disturbances (Behavior Disorders/Emotional Disturbances). This third website provides detail knowledge about low incident disabilities. From this website I understand that for providing free and proper education to pupils with disabilities, classification of learners in incident terms would be useful. Within this type of system, those pupils with most common disability might be more suitably helped by regional schools; however, pupils with comparatively uncommon disabilities might not find extremely qualified personnel or enough resources. As for providing good information about high incident disabilities, this website can be used for professional purpose (What are low-incidence disabilities?). Generally, at any particular period all of the disabilities that are included in Low-incidence disabilities don’t exceed 1percent in population that is school-age. Every pupil with low-incidence disabilities feel commonness: thus such pupils are hard to help in recent regional school programs. This website is informative and therefore used as for professional purpose (Watts, 2010). This last website provides knowledge about ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and gift and talent. This website generally explains the

Rapid Sequence Induction and Intubation. Incidence Reflection Essay

Rapid Sequence Induction and Intubation. Incidence Reflection - Essay Example In this reflection I have ensured that I maintain confidentiality in line with the Health Professional Council code of Conduct that demands the observance of the same, under code number two that states â€Å"You must respect the confidentiality of service users.† It informs me that I must treat information about service users as confidential and that I must not release any personal or confidential information to anyone not entitled to it (HPC, 2008, pp. 8-9). Therefore all names of the people involved in the process are treated as anonymous and I will different letters to refer to each one of them. I decided to choose this area for my reflection basing on a few reasons. First is that as a student ODP doing my clinical placement, it was my first time to come across such a major incident and therefore it made me curious. Secondly is that, I realized that this procedure is applied to all EG operations, making it commonly used. As a student on placement I realize the need to familiarize myself with the incident and procedures of operation as it is a common phenomenon in our daily lives. The last point is that, I engaged myself in massive research on this topic thereby developing skills and knowledge in this particular area. Rapid Sequence Induction Intubation (RSII) Rapid Sequence Induction and Intubation (RSII) is a medical procedure involving the fast induction of general anaesthesia and following intubation of the trachea. It is generally used in an emergency (EG) situation or for patients who have an increased risk of aspirating gastric contents into lungs (EL-Orbany & Connolly, 2010). The main objective of this technique is to minimise the interval time between loss of protective airway reflexes and tracheal intubation with a cuffed endotracheal tube (ETT). If the intubation is not attained within a maximum 2 minutes, the patient could suffer extreme morbidity or even death from hypoxia (lack of oxygen in body tissue). Therefore airway management is the most important skill for an emergency practitioner. Failure to secure an adequate airway can cause disability (EL-Orbany & Connolly, 2010). The decision to intubate the patient is sometimes very difficult to reach. The difficulty emanates because t he situation requires high clinical experience so as to recognise the signs of an imminent respiratory failure. The concept of RSI was gradually evolved after introduction of Suxamethonium chloride/succinylcholine (paralytic drug) in 1951, and the description of cricoid pressure (CP) in 1961 (EL-Orbany & Connolly, 2010). The procedure include; oxygen administration, rapid injection of a predetermined dose of thiopental/barbiturate (group of drugs), immediately followed by succinylcholine, application of CP and tracheal intubation. It seemed from these components that the term; RSI which is used in both anaesthesia literature and emergency medicine are both inadequate. Because, the technique includes both anaesthesia induction and tracheal intubation, therefore the term RSII is more accurate and descriptive of the technique (EL-Orbany & Connolly, 2010, pp. 18-25) Reflective models My essay will employ the Rolfe et al. (2001) model of reflection to reflect on what I learnt and the exp eriences I went through. Reflective practice is an approach to learning and practice development that is patient centred and which acknowledges the untidiness and confusion of the practice environment

Health assessment and health promotion for the older adult Essay

Health assessment and health promotion for the older adult - Essay Example The case study involves an elderly widow, Mrs. G aged 88 years and living with her daughter. The daughter is also a single mother of three children aged 2 to 10 years. The family lives in a 3-bedroomed house in a very busy street. Mrs. G’s daughter is employed, working 12 hours daily for six day a week. The elderly woman has dementia and impaired vision. She also suffers back curvature and occasional gait. She has difficulty in swallowing, decreased appetite, and loss of weight. The widow keeps talking about her late husband who died approximately five years ago. 3. Changes experienced at old age Old adult age falls in Erikson’s psychosocial stage 8, a stage that is mainly characterized by back reflection in life. The developmental stage involves a feeling of despair and bitterness for those who have been unsuccessful and feelings of integrity for those who have successful life accomplishments (Cherry, 2012, p.3). Individuals experience various physical, cognitive, and psychosocial changes as they transition into older adult stage. Mental inability is a common condition at this stage of development and its roots are often traced from the changes in the brain that occur at earlier stages (O’Brien, 2012). The individuals lose concentration and their attention can be attracted to very petty events. According to Dr. Cheryl Grady, a senior scientist at the Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest, there is a significant difference between the concentration abilities in old and young people and the difference can be explained by some brain mechanism (O’Brien, 2012). The biological/physiological changes experienced in the body explain the other physical changes like visual and hearing impairment. These conditions are observed in the case study. Much of these physical and psychosocial changes have been observed in the elderly widow. She suffers from dementia. Mrs. G is also visually impaired and suffers back curvature and gait. She is highly distracted by the memories of her late husband. 4. Health promotion and prevention for the old adults Health assessment is necessary in the prevention of occurrence or further complications of health problems, especially for the old adults with chronic illnesses. Caring for these elderly people requires an understanding of the characteristic symptoms of mental disorders like dementia. To identify dementia, the care providers need to observe the cognitive impairment in these individuals including noncompliance and inability to follow certain directions. One of the key symptoms of this disorder is inability to think properly and carry out daily routines like eating, bathing, or dressing. They may also experience personality loss and inability to control their emotions. This condition may be managed to some extent through drugs, which do not treat the mental disorder, but slows it down and

Critically analyze the impact that terrorism has had on tourism Essay

Critically analyze the impact that terrorism has had on tourism - Essay Example Tourism generally wields tremendous economic benefits and in some countries, it remains an economic backbone. When tourism is conducted well it has social, political, economic, cultural, and environmental developments that boost a country and its society. Tourism offers a significant number of jobs especially in the hotel and transport industries that provide direct services to the tourists (Korstanje & Clayton, 2012, pp.8-25). Tourism involves enjoyment and relaxation while terrorism intends to cause death and fear (Liu, 2010, pp.8-25). Terrorism attacks in a country lead to vulnerability of tourism through the exposure of traumatizing images to the clients making uncomfortable. They cannot enjoy with fear. The ideology is perpetuated against unknowing civilians and unarmed members of the disciplinary forces, in an attempt to seek an audience from a government or an authority. The fact that terrorism targets innocent civilians, it means that there is indiscriminate killing of people including tourists. The primary objective of terrorism is creating fear through coercion and killings, leading to decline of tourism (Morgan, 2009, pp.7). According to Abraham Maslow, it is impossible to satisfy the human nature when their basic need of security is threatened. The fear of being attacked vehemently reduces the number of tourists in a particular destination leaving a country economically stunted and devastated. Terrorism being a global threat, has necessitated coming up with formidable strategies such as, the formation of â€Å"tourism against terrorism action group† that facilitates better communication between stakeholders, introducing destination tourist intelligence officers and the Sensitization of tourists on terrorism before going for a trip. The pointed measures can alleviate the impacts that terrorism has on tourism (Stickel, 2011,

The future of the human evolution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The future of the human evolution - Essay Example In his book, Darwin of the eighties, sought to explain the evolution of man as a process of natural selection. Darwin proposes four components of natural selection. First, he argues that characters within a population exhibit variations in appearance and conduct. This may be in terms of height, skin color or even body size. Darwin also talks about heritable traits, which are passed on from parents to offspring as opposed to traits powered by environmental conditions. His third component concerns population growth, which at times leads to mortality in cases where the resources cannot support the high population. The fourth component is derived from the third, in which Darwin argues that individuals with desirable traits will always survive in such an environment and give rise the next generation. This is known as natural selection, in which individuals struggle to survive and nature favors the strong. Based on this theory, human beings then have a high chance of evolving, powered by t he advancement in technological innovations, which will enable them survive. Variations among individuals within a population are occasioned by genetic differences. Genes are the materials through which traits are inherited from parents to offspring. ... Not all mutations are detrimental: a mutation in the brain of the Australopithecus enabled him to develop a larger brain and evolve into a hominid. Technological knowhow, however, has been seen to interfere with natural selection. Today, medics have come up with medicine to prolong the lives of mutants, thus encouraging the survival of weaklings which ultimately affects future generations. This means that individuals with desirable traits might mate with mutants and bring forth changes in the human race. This will lead to evolution, which will be occasioned by mutation. Consequently, future generations of human beings might not be able to survive. This not withstanding, not all mutations are negative. Some mutations may be advantageous to the human race. This perception has led to medical practitioners trying to come up with genetically modified human beings known as clones. These clones are designed to have all the positive attributes of their original humans and thus be more suitab ly adapted to live on earth. Human migration might also affect future evolution in terms of gene flow, which is a process of interbreeding between different populations of a given species (Mayr pp.55). When a person migrates from his original place of birth to go to another country, he is bound to start a family with the local people. This leads to the emergence of a new breed of people carrying the genes of both parents. An example of this is the era of the trans-Atlantic trade in which, many able bodied African men were shipped off to the United States to work as slaves. They later married the local women and gave rise to the African Americans. The latter were seen to have inherited most of

Young People and Politics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Young People and Politics - Essay Example With respect to the second one, the electoral numbers of young people is indicative of a comprehensive dissatisfaction that is upsetting the overall British political scenario. The level of non-voting with all qualified adults is in stable decrease for local, common as well as European legislative body voting, and there are deteriorating levels of hope normally within British political establishments, representatives and procedures (Wattenberg, 2011, p. 31). These improvements have brought a few to talk about there being a catastrophe of legality that should be met by plans to boost nationality as well as prompt a strengthened egalitarian society. The Government’s plan of legal alteration tries to deal with these concerns regarding nationality and involvement in egalitarian dealings. In a different place, the financial as well as communal research committee has set up a particular research agenda on parliamentary government and contribution to look into such issues. In additio n, the Crick Report thinks about the systems by which young people may expand a commitment with the political procedure, and recommends bringing in constitutional nationality courses into teaching at educational institutions (Buckingham, 2000, p. 42). This paper deals with these issues with respect to young people, and adds to the hypothetical perceptive of political involvement within Britain. Besides, it reviews the growth of innovative proposals planned to make the administrative structure more responsive to youth issues and additionally flexible to support youth involvement within democratic dealings. It is claimed that mutually, these will facilitate to set in the perception that young people have a chance in society in addition to a responsibility to â€Å"play as full citizens† (Henderson et al, 2010, p. 88). There is rising apprehension between government circles that young people are turning more and more detached from politics as well as the egalitarian structure. C ontemporary opinion is that this improvement â€Å"calls into question the legitimacy of the political system itself† (Fahmy, 2006, p. 21) and that it is as well causing the rise of a disappointed as well as reckless youth generation. This is exemplified by their obvious reluctance to follow the regulation, to act by the set of laws, or to provide financial support for the requirements of others. Surely, the pace of voting turnout with young people during latest elections has pursued a stable descending tendency. During the earlier nationwide voting of 2002, merely 59 percent of 18 years to 24 years olds voted in comparison with a common turnout of 82.1 percent. Recently, the second figure was 71 percent, the smallest ballot from the war, with merely 65 percent of an approximate turnout rate for 18 years to 24 years olds of 68 percent (Fahmy, 2006, p. 21). On the other hand, a number of studies have recommended that whereas young people may be less concerned in official polit ics as compared to other (elder) age groups, this sort of a growth is not necessarily predictable, and nor does it hint at a lack of concern in politics as such. Instead, a number of authors have revealed that young people are apprehensive with reference to issues that are political in nature, but that these apprehensions stay further than the limits of how politics is traditionally recognized. As a result, several studies have revealed that this faction do have a high rate of involvement in different types of charitable as well as campaigning movement - the outcomes of which were projected to attain various political as well as communal alteration - without taking into account this step as essentially political. In addition, young people

Analysing organisation. Wal-Mart Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Analysing organisation. Wal-Mart - Essay Example A firm existence in the American market and exploitation of every opportunity and space during the initial establishment years has enabled Wal-Mart to enjoy a unique brand name. It was a successful strategic move for Wal-Mart to concentrate on the US market, and establish firmly on home soil. From the exploits of the home market, Wal-Mart had enough experience and sufficient resources to make investments abroad. Wal-Mart has coverage for retail business in more than fifteen countries today, with branches in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Japan, South Africa and the UK among many others (Wal-Mart, n.d.). This presentation highlights the various concepts that can be associated with Wal-Mart as a global player in the retail industry. SWOT analysis is relied upon in the design, with the initial part highlighting the strengths and opportunities that an insider at Wal-Mart would quickly give while the second section highlights threats and weaknesses that are critical to the company. General review is a biased outlook on the positives of the company as opposed to the critical review that criticises various business concepts and approaches adopted at the company. Data Collection Information on SWOT from primary and secondary sources made the bulk of research, with an explanation and discussion on the main issues making up the presentation. SWOT as the main theme of the paper identifies with the needs of understanding the operations from an internal as well as an external perspective (Broughton, n.d.). The discussion is not exhaustive on the SWOT analysis but only a selected few items picked formed the discussion on which to base the presentation. General Review (Strengths and Opportunities) Ownership Wal-Mart began and remained as a family business as Walton dedicated his entire to the service and development of the company. Such level of commitment for the management of business usually enables the manager to set organisational objectives above any other interest. Evidently, the success of the corporation as one of the main global players in the retail industry owes much to the man-management techniques that Walton applied (Walton and Huey 1993, p32). As an individual, the president of the United States recognised Walton’s contribution to business and awarded him for his achievement just before his death. This is a milestone achievement for an individual leading an important business player as Wal-Mart in the global economy. Walton retained great influence on the decision making processes at the company in many aspects, despite the fact that the listing of the company implied that he donated some of the leadership to the shareholders. His contribution to the running of the business is undisputed and perhaps, therefore, Wal-Mart’s successes owe much to his roles in the company. The demise of Sam Walton in 1992 paved way for another Walton, Robson who took over as chairperson of the Wal-Mart Board a few days later. Tradition Since its establishment in 1962, Wal-Mart has kept off temptations of changing the market approach from the initial vision of the pioneer (Frank 2006, para.6). Sam Walton envisioned a retailing busines s with a unique pricing strategy that would target the lower end markets by initiating price cuts. Targeting the specific market niche in the retail business and making it possible to stick to it was perhaps the strongest business ideas adopted by Walton. In the modern business strategy applied at Wal-Mart, pricing is a uniquely important tool implemented for the initial objective laid down by Walton several decades ago. In all the retail outlets

Statistic coursework Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Statistic coursework - Essay Example e) Assumptions The population is normally distributed The sample is randomly and independently selected. Question # 4 Distribution of leading digits using Ben ford's Law of distribution. Value of X Probability 1 0.301 2 0.176 3 0.125 4 0.097 5 0.079 6 0.067 7 0.058 8 0.051 9 0.046 Observed Values: Digit Frequency Proportions 1 31 0.344 2 14 0.155 3 9 0.1 4 4 0.044 5 7 0.077 6 3 0.033 7 6 0.066 8 9 0.1 9 7 0.077 Digit Observed Frequency Expected Frequency based on Benford's Law (Observed- expected) / expected. 1 31 27.09 0.564345 2 14 15.84 0.213737 3 9 11.25 0.45 4 4 8.73 2.562761 5 7 7.11 0.001702 6 3 6.03 1.522537 7 6 5.22 0.116552 8 9 4.59 4.237059 9 7 4.41 1.521111 11.189 a) Null Hypothesis Ho: p1= 0.301 and p2 = 0.176 and p3 = 0.125 and p4 = 0.097 and p5 = 0.079 and p6 = 0.067 and p7 = 0.058 and p8 = 0.051 and p9 = 0.046. Alternate Hypothesis Ha: At least one is different b) Test Static = (O-E) /E= 11.189 c) P- Value df = n-1 = 9-1 = 8 0.15

Intercultural aspect of culture Essay Example for Free

Intercultural aspect of culture Essay During the first day of the workshop, I did not completely understand the real meaning of culture. I did not even have a single definition for the term culture. Many questions came into my mind such as, â€Å"What is culture? What are the factors that create culture? What is the scope of culture? Does culture improve itself or not? Although, I started the inquiry on the concept of culture without certain answers for these questions, I had figured them out step by step during that day. I started to find answers for most of the questions that I faced. I finally understood what culture was and why different people with different cultures had different behaviors. By understanding the factors that influenced culture, I started to learn its importance to the parties who got involved in particular conflicts. Throughout that day, I comprehended why people with different cultures got involved in particular conflicts and what were their objectives. I started to give answers for these queries. They might need someone whom they can air their grievances or opinions with. Moreover, they might only wish that others would respect their culture as it was. In the role play, I learned that listening skill was very helpful in making the parties who were involved in the conflict feel better. Also, they should be given the chance to continue telling their stories without any interruption. I had also learned that I could be able to interact with them simply through body language such as moving my head up and down which tells, â€Å"I understand you. Keep going. † Furthermore, these skills would give me the chance to get as much information as possible and understand the parties’ cultures. Personally, I think that having much understanding of other cultures using the skills mentioned earlier would help me adapt with their behaviors and become more flexible when dealing with them. Culture’s factors such as religion, climate and geography play very significant roles in parties’ behavior. These explain why different countries have different cultures. Finally, all ideas and skills that I had learned during the first day of the workshop let me pay a close attention on understanding other cultures, respecting their beliefs and values as I want other people do the same thing when they cross my culture. I would try to use these ideas and skills in my daily life – simply by listening to other people and respecting them. Before evolving an intercultural model of conflict resolution it is important to understand and identify aspects of culture that lead to creation of the framework of conflict. The cultural spectrum holds different shades for a person, a society and a nation, accordingly helping each of them to assimilate and adapt to a common identity that is defined and shaped by culture (Holliday, Hyde and Kullman, 2004). In the process of evolving this collective identity, culture transcends its traditional role of providing an aggregate set of beliefs, customs, norms, values, ethics, traditions, moral, social and legal codes, perceptions, and philosophy, to become the overall physical framework for the society to function. Culture attains a real form, rendering a three dimensional living space for people to experience its living force ((Holliday, Hyde and Kullman, 2004)). Culture is strongly related with geographical setting of a place, religion, ethnicity, and race, explaining why different countries have different cultures, and also why places on seashore share common elements of culture that is quite different from culture of mountainous places. The imprinting of culture on ways a person thinks, acts, perceives the environment and models his/her reaction is very strong and virtually indelible, determining every aspect of human behavior and giving rise to cultural identity in addition to individual and national identity. Although the classic rational choice framework says that people are independent in choice of their behavior and approach towards events, its seen that at subtle levels the structural model provided by culture acts as final determinant in predicting a person, a society and a nation. Although culture is dynamic, evolving and continuously upgrading itself, in essence, these changes occur within the context of culture’s own timeframe. One of the most important contribution of culture to human civilization is the orientation provided towards other cultures, making the culture in question receptive, tolerant, indifferent or outright hostile towards different cultures. Societies are seldom mono-cultural, displaying a range of cultural traits, achieved through generations of trades, contact, and cross cultural mixing (Holliday, Hyde and Kullman, 2004). However, although for people belonging to a particular culture, their culture would hardly seem complex, the cultural realities are hidden beneath the surface, difficult to observe and discern from outside. These improper understanding and imperfect perceptions of culture often give rise to conflict when different cultures are required to meet or come across.

Play and Learning in Childrens Education

Play and Learning in Childrens Education Introduction Learning to play is necessary for a childs academic and emotional progress. Play can assist a child work out conditions in their surroundings, such as social activities in a group. Additionally, board games help to teach reading, rules, counting and other learning related skills. Block Building, Clay and other creative Hands on activities assists a child see how Things work. Several engineers started their Careers by playing with blocks. Task-1 1.1 Describe the development over time of theoretical approaches to play and learning Bandura take a very unusual approach to developmental psychology and confirmed that children learn progress from role models. Banduras approach is an expansion of behavioral theories which highlight the way we learn behavior from others, our surroundings, and experiences and so on and copy role models. They learn from brothers, sisters, sibling and friends. Banduras social learning theory personalized traditional learning theory which was stand on stimulus-response affairs. It believed learning to be no unusual among children, infants, adults, or yet animals. Banduras approach is leading in the cure of problem activities and disorders. Mary Ashworth developed the Attachment theory from Bowl by but she identified it ‘Strange situation. To learn theory researchers observed kids for 12-18 months and they observed to see how they responded when they were left alone and then reunited with their mothers. The attachment theory notifies us that a young child requires at least one affiliation with a primary care. This will assist the childs expressive and social development to raise and this happens over time. 1.2 Evaluate different philosophical approaches to play and learning Evaluation is a procedure used by before time childhood services to discover out about the quality of the program, the surroundings, the learning connections, and the results for children and families. Self-review is a figure of inner evaluation in which the service looks personally at itself and what it does, and applies what it finds out to place goals to develop quality. ERO provides outer evaluation of the superiority of services. Education evaluates are carried out frequently in all certified services. Reports verify what is going fine and make proposals for development. The most recent ERO report should be obtainable from the service, or can be examine on ERO’s website. 1.3 Discuss links between current influences on play and learning and the planning and provision of learning opportunities 1. Every child issue influences planning provision of learning opportunities The National Curriculum is the initial point for planning a school program that meets the definite needs of individuals and sets of pupils. This statutory enclosure statement on providing successful learning opportunities for all students outlines how teachers can transform, as needed, the National Curriculum programs of study to provide all students with relevant and properly challenging work at each enter stage. †¢Child care act 2006 controls planning and provision of learning opportunities This act states that untimely year’s providers have a task to execute the EYFS. Child care do this by gathering the learning and development necessities when doing their weekly scheduling and also conform with the welfare necessities. Child care act does this to make sure that it is very essential to follow rules and regulations to make sure that the children are at the right periods of development in life. †¢SEN code of practice 2002 influences planning and provision of learning opportunities Areas covered consist of the definition of particular educational requirements, parental liability and working affiliation with parents. The code moreover looks at: concerning pupils in evaluation and decision-making; stipulation in the early years; primary and secondary education; legal assessment of children under unavoidable school age; and the role of the unique educational requirements coordinator. Special educational needs: code of practice The SEN code does this to make sure that disability children do not neglect out on enter learning development and also to ensure that they do not feel gone out or frightened. †¢Equality act 2010 controls planning and provision of learning opportunities This act ensures that no one gets treated another way to anybody else this assists planning and provision because it ensures that staff have to ensure that when they plan a action or a lesson plan it is got to be able to engage everyone and ensure that it suits all person needs. 2. Inspectors found that where evaluation was underdeveloped; it tended to spotlight more on children’s benefit or their interests, rather than their education Self-evaluation and action planning was also often seen by childcare contributors as somewhat that had to be done for often rather than a way of improving result for children. Though, outcomes for children were no superior to acceptable in any of the contributors where self-evaluation was insufficient. Press release: A good start for the early years foundation stage, often ensure that it is seen to be significant to plan unusual types of learning prospects for the children as this assists to develop the children’s skillfulness in a variety of mode. 3. The curriculum structures like the EYFS control planning and provision of learning opportunities The term curriculum is applied to describe everything kids do, see, hear or feel in their setting, equally planned and unplanned. The Early Years Foundation Stage is the legal framework beside which providers of untimely education are moderated, and includes necessities for the provision of youthful children’s learning. Health Safety at work Act 1974 the Act imposes general duties on owners to secure the health, safety and wellbeing of people at work and protect others beside risks arising from the job activity. Task-2 2.1 Explain the use of observations to assess learning needs and consider how assessment based on observations can inform planning and respond to individual learning needs 2.2 Discuss how information from other agencies can contribute to the assessment of learning needs Children and families need support at assured times and there are many organizations and self help groups that can offer this support. Such as National association of toy and leisure libraries, National childbirth trust, Child poverty action group, Parent line plus, Home start, Gingerbread and contact a family etc. There are several different settings where children can be concerned for such as Holiday play schemes, Respite care, Schools, Parent and toddler groups, Workplace nurseries, Child minders, After school clubs, Pre-schools, Residential care, Day nurseries and crà ¨ches. Usually the major support group is inside the family group such as grandparents and aunties and uncles. There are four unusual types of sectors that grant care and education for children. They are, Statutory sector Voluntary sector Private sector. Independent A Statutory sector is a sector that has to be there by regulation, so local schools; dentist and hospitals are parts of this. Local schools have to be there by regulation and get some support by the Government. The age range that schools cover up is from five years to eleven years old; they follow a set schedule where reception faces the EYFS and then from year one to year six faces the countrywide curriculum. Schools are in simple access parts, where there is enough gaps for an outside play locale for example the playing field and inside space. A local school should also incorporate snacks; they should be strong snacks like vegetables and fruit. They should also incorporate toileting periods for the children. Statutory Schools are generally free excluding payment for school trips, school dinners, and some snacks. The aim of statutory sector school is to grant opportunities of education for all children and to support their education also making a harmless and secure environment for children to maintain them from harm. Another aim is to grant social opportunities for the kid this will incorporate learning to make friends, knowledge about socialize with people, learning the disparity between adults and kids and learning to value others. A Voluntary sector is a sector, which public volunteer to organize and run, so that Mother and toddler, Brownies and Preschool groups are a part of this. Mother and toddler groups are generally for kid’s age two to four years. The mother and toddler groups are generally opened from nine to eleven thirty in the morning or half one till three in the daylight. These kinds of organizations are generally placed in a church or society hall, which are not necessarily made for the use of children. The employees are generally parents themselves but the individual in charge of the organization should have a level three childcare qualification. The area in which the organization is located may not have an outside area for the kids to play out in, the organization should also follow the EYFS prospectus where kids will learn through play and the gap may also be often inspected. The major aim of a mother and toddler group is to grants short term care of little children to give a parent or care a little time to themselves and also to give little children motivation and also play and communal opportunities. Another major aim is to get children prepared for school or nursery. A Private sector is a sector where people disburse extra to try and get the finest of their childs learning or health and also their personal. They provide all breakfast, meals, dinner and tea with also snack; they moreover have sleep facilities, inside and outside play areas for kids to play in. The building may not be intentionally being built for the kids but will be adapted for the kids to grant their size facilities. All the members of employees will completely qualified, managers and room leaders must be at least level three or level two trained. They will also check the building and the employees to check if it is safe and also to ensure if they are subsequent EYSF curriculum. The aim of a private day kindergarten is to provide protected and secure environment for kids to keep them from injury for children in absence of parents or care and moreover to provide opportunities of learning for every child and to maintain their learning. Independent sectors are companies with more independence to organize their provision. Their services may not rely on Government funding and does not need to follow the EYFS or the National curriculum. Though the service may be OFSTED checked to ensure childrens welfare requirements are being met. Service of independent provision includes independent nurseries and schools. The multi-professional approach team is prepared up of a lot of unusual agencies; they are agencies including schools and teachers, hospitals and doctors, social workers, police and many supplementary. They all work jointly to help parents and kids to stop awful cases such as child abuse, death etc. Task-3 3.1 Explain how to plan curriculum activities which promote learning The E.Y.F emphasizes a personal and individual approach to learning; this is because all kids develop at their individual rate and learn in remarkable ways, come from unusual backgrounds whether communal or religious and therefore have unusual needs and interests. Sensitively children come in unusual packages, some children may seem self-sufficient and confident and Practitioner may be misled into judging that they do not need as a lot attention as the kids who express their sentiments regularly and through for Practitioner attention on a normal basis. This hypothesis would be wrong all children should be giving Practitioner individual attention, how else can Practitioner plan properly for their needs and welfares. The E.Y.F was introduced to include child-minders, pre-schools, after school societies and nurseries to deliver a program that includes personal, social and expressive development, expressive arts and design, physical expansion, literacy, communications and languages, math ematics and at last understanding of the world. The entire areas of learning are included into the exceptional child, affirmative relationships, facilitating environments and learning and development. Practitioner have also included the Welfare Requirements these are worldwide and all setting must meet up often guidelines in learning and caring for children. Scotland and Wales follow related guidelines but with their individual structure to incorporate cultural and learning theories believed to signify their individual countries interests and needs. The E.Y.F wants people as practitioner to perceive each child as exceptional. To do this Practitioner need to observe each kid and make observations so that Practitioner can see a sample of the child’s happiness and how they are rising to see if they are within their age and phase of development and if essential how to plan suitably to be able to see where they are contained by the developmental procedure. There are three sorts of planning: long Term, medium Term and short Term. 3.2 Assess the effectiveness of different approaches to planning learning opportunities 3.3 Consider methods of involving parents and other professionals in reviewing assessments and plans Multi professional approach permits professionals share understanding about a family requirements so that the parents do not have to ask the similar questions over and once more. The professionals are conscious of each other’s roles in sustaining the family so that incompatible advice can be minimized. It is necessary that each agency converses well and understands not only their role and tasks but the others agencies also. A multi-professional or multi-disciplinary team covers many aspects of team work and includes: Empathy seeing somewhat from another person’s point of vision Interpersonal expertise how to converse and respond to others, interface with parents, colleagues and children Reflectivity how reflective has it been, development activities, developments etc Interest focusing training, evaluate articles, maintain curiosity in the job etc Flexibility and frankness new thoughts and initiatives, latest government legislation, the modes children learn. Trustworthiness being added on at all times. Emotional solidity Not becoming too involved and sentiments clouding judgment. Communication is extremely important implement for practitioners and multi agency groups and it is imperative that they converse well. These includes, Notice boards Diary boards Letters Emails Phone calls Team meetings Written communication and a brief record of reports or meetings are also necessary. The practitioner ought to also assess their own learning and act. This can be done throughout ‘Professional progress and planning with the line manager and others practitioners. For illustration: Share cases of practitioner’s practice Get initiatives of other practices Visit other performances and observe, converse Ensure practitioners keep up to date with recent practices Reading articles in magazines, books, training etc Internal or external guidance Supplementary qualifications etc Observe children or observe other practitioners Planning child’s next steps Attempt new things Task-4 4.1 Analysis the key issues in ensuring that assessments are objective and valid The professionals are conscious of each other’s tasks in sustaining the family so that contradictory advice can be minimize. It is important that each agency corresponded well and realizes not only their role and everyday jobs but the others agencies too. Parents or guardians are the most essential people in a kid’s life, and recognize the value of this. Practitioner has a conscientious role that involves sharing concern of the child with parents or guardians; listen to parents or guardians, as they are the ‘specialist’ on their child. Partnerships with new agencies help children. For example, speech and language analysts for children with language and hearing complexities. This could include sign language or English as a succeeding language. Bereavement management play counselor, educational psychologist to evaluate behavioral needs and get about positive behavior in a kid. Sensory injury such as limited vision, hearing disorder or speech problems. This is to make sure that all the needs of the individuals or children are assembled and they grow to their complete potential. These partnerships do have a significant role to play in making sure that childrens skills and learning are exploited. The multi-professional approach team is completed up of a lot of dissimilar agencies; they are agencies counting hospitals and doctors, schools and teachers, police, social workers and many extra. They all work jointly to assist parents and children to prevent tragic cases such as loss, child violence etc. 4.2 Reflect on the role of the practitioner in meeting children’s learning needs An Early Years Practitioner would be to help with the improvement and care of children and he or she may be responsible for organizing a room and ensuring that policies and actions are being followed and documented. Practitioner would have to provide for their needs as little kids; developmentally, socially and physically. This would be ensuring that Practitioner is promoting and keeping healthy surroundings for all kids. It is also essential that Practitioner gain knowledge by experiencing and educating from the experiences of others. Practitioner would have to enables kids to reach their complete potential and to work inside the Children Act and home guidelines, legislation and values and ensure that Child Safety policies and processes are adhered to at all periods. Practitioner would have to arrangement and prepare stimulating play opportunities that meet up the childrens developmental requirements and stimulates their knowledge. Practitioner would also have to create and maintain affirmative relationships with the kids and their families in a mode that values parental attachment and to provide a service that greetings child’s life occurrences and celebrates variety in terms of culture, language, skill, race and religion. Practitioner would also involve in supervision and personnel development procedures in support of individual development and to start training as proper to meet any changes in principles or proper legal necessities as required. Conclusion Reflective practice is an essential aspect of functioning with young kids which grants practitioners with the verification to form judgments about their role and contribution into the education cycle. Experience is the most essential issue and to recognize that as a latest ‘trainee or latest ‘nursery nurse, Practitioner dont know everything. That Practitioner learn by experiencing and educating from the practices of others.

Importance of Breakfast in Relation to Obesity

Importance of Breakfast in Relation to Obesity A critical evaluation Through many influential sources, such as research and advertising, breakfast has been widely portrayed as the most important meal of the day. In fact, much epidemiological evidence tends to support this notion by demonstrating that breakfast skipping leads to an increased risk of obesity (McCrory et al, 2014; Browns et al, 2013). Since the 1980s, the prevalence of overweight and obesity has sharply risen worldwide, with 1.9 billion adults being characterized as overweight and 600 million as obese in 2014 (WHO, 2015). In the UK alone, the proportion of men and women characterized as obese has increased by 14% and 10% from the early 1990s to 2015 (Public Health England, 2017). For an individual, obesity is usually the result of an imbalance between energy consumed and energy expended (WHO, 2016). Although energy imbalance ultimately leads to weight gain, the primary factors are not yet completely understood. Currently, there is no evidence linking specific foods to obesity, however re cently, much attention has been given to eating behaviours, such as breakfast eating, as they may represent a combined effect of a number of nutrients, and breakfast habits could potentially demonstrate an interplay between other lifestyle factors, such as an overall poor diet and physical inactivity. If eating behaviours are observed to be causally linked to weight gain, then they could potentially represent practical strategies for obesity prevention. On these grounds, this essay will explore a wide variety of evidence regarding the association between breakfast skipping and weight gain. Furthermore, we shall discuss whether breakfast eating habits have been linked with overall dietary health and physical activity, as these factors are now known to be strongly linked with obesity. It is reasonable to assume that ones beliefs about breakfast will influence the likelihood of an individual engaging in this behaviour. For example, early research reported that the majority of habitual breakfast eaters believed that breakfast was important for providing energy and increasing productivity throughout the morning (Chapman et al, 1998). More recently, among a UK national representative sample, it was reported that 64% of the population habitually consumed breakfast, whilst 6% skipped it. Moreover, the breakfast eaters believed that breakfast maintained weight control, whereas breakfast skippers believed that missing breakfast supported weight loss (Reeves et al, 2013). This evidence signifies that eating behaviours, such as breakfast skipping, are largely determined by what individuals believe. Some beliefs about scientific matters are thought true despite substantial evidence disproving them, whereas other science-based beliefs are allegedly true even though inadequate evidence exists to support or disprove them (McCrory et al, 2014). This is important because a widely accepted belief is that frequently consuming breakfast compared with skipping breakfast is preventative of weight gain or causes weight loss. A recent meta-analysis reported that the risk for overweight and obesity increases by 55% when breakfast is skipped (Browns et al, 2013).   As this association has often been reported, a theory has been developed which, if correct, may potentially explain how breakfast skipping can lead to weight gain.   The theory states that when breakfast is skipped, there is an overcompensation for the energy missed at breakfast by ingesting more energy than one otherwise would have consumed at breakfast alone (Pereira et al, 2011). On the other hand, lets also consider that breakfast skipping could result in no weight change over time (in a scenario where breakfast skipping does not lead to overcompensation) or to weight loss (in a scenario where there is absence of compensation). While cross-sectional studies have generally reported that breakfast skipping leads to weight gain, currently, there are limited high quality experimental evidence supporting this notion. It is also impor tant to point out that all of the studies reviewed in the Browns et al (2013) meta-analysis, were cross-sectional thereby causality cannot be concluded from their à ¯Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ndings. Whilst randomized controlled trials do not directly allow conclusions to be drawn concerning fluctuations in energy balance, they do allow for conclusions to be made about temporary changes which, if constant over time, could potentially result in changes in energy balance. Yet, short-duration (à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¤ 1 week) randomized controlled trials investigating the effects of breakfast skipping on successive energy intake have been equivocal (Astbury et al, 2011; Leidy et al, 2013; Levitsky et al, 2013). For example two of these studies reported that impromptu lunch intake was greater after breakfast skipping, compared to when breakfast was consumed (Astbury et al, 2011; Leidy et al, 2013). In contrast, Levitsky et al (2013) showed under compensation at lunch, signifying that the collective intake across breakfast and lunch remained lower in the breakfast skipping condition. On the other hand, longer-duration (2-3 weeks) randomized controlled trials do not appear to show a relationshi p between breakfast skipping and weight gain (Farshchi et al, 2005; Schlundt et al, 1992; Tuttle et al, 1950). Although the results of these experimental trials are varied, they do not support for the theory that breakfast skipping leads to overeating. Furthermore, in prospective studies with up to 10 years follow-up, it has been observed that individuals who regularly ingest breakfast appear to gain less weight (Odegaard et al, 2013; Purslow et al, 2008; van der Heijden et al, 2007). One explanation for this could be that skipping breakfast may merely be an indication of overall lifestyle, for example, substantial evidence suggests that skipping breakfast is associated with a less nutritious diet and less physical activity (Szajewska et al, 2010; Rampersaud et al, 2005). This is significant because both of these modifiable factors are strongly correlated with the increased risk of obesity and other chronic diseases. For example, much epidemiological evidence shows a relationship between eating breakfast and healthier food choices and dietary habits (Skinner et al, 1985; Lattimore et al, 2010), whereas, breakfast skippers are associated with whole diets that are inadequate (Christakis et al, 1968; Serra-Majem et al, 2002). Of the s tudies mentioned above, two are outdated, nevertheless, they have been included to demonstrate that the association between breakfast consumption and healthy lifestyle habits has been repeatedly observed over the last 50 years or so, demonstrating that this relationship has remained constant over time. To further explain the results mentioned above, a recent review by Rampersaud et al (2005), revealed that habitual breakfast skippers were more likely to be overweight compared to breakfast eaters, regardless of a higher overall energy intake in the breakfast eating group. It is possible that the combination of breakfast skipping with additional poor eating behaviours, such as an insufficient fruit and vegetable consumption, is contributing to the results observed in this study, as it has been previously established that a low intake of fruit and vegetables increases the risk for obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (Hamer et al, 2007). Regarding physical activity, much epidemiological evidence reports that breakfast skippers are less likely to participate in physical activity (Cohen et al, 2003; Keski-Rahkonen et al, 2003; Aarnio et al, 2002). A proposed mechanism is that skipping breakfast may lead to lethargy and physical inactivity throughout the day (Pollitt et al, 1998; Meyers et al, 1989 ; Shaw et al, 1998) thereby contributing to positive energy balance and thus weight gain. Although there is a vast amount of evidence supporting the idea that breakfast skipping is associated with poor dietary habits and physical inactivity, no conclusions can be drawn yet as the evidence which has mostly found these positive associations have been drawn from cross-sectional and prospective studies which as mentioned before, do not prove causality. Clearly, obesity is a significant public health problem due to its high prevalence and important health consequences. Therefore, in order to provide practical recommendations for the control and/or prevention of obesity, its causal factors must be identfied. Although there is substantial evidence linking breakfast skipping to weight gain, a reasoned conclusion cannot be drawn as the majority of studies reporting this association merely identify a relationship, not a causal pathway as they are cross-sectional or observational studies. On the other hand, experimental trials can usually determine causation.   Regarding the trials reviewed in this essay, short-term trials have demonstrated effects of breakfast skipping on energy intake and appetite later in the day, although together these results are ambiguous, also longer-term randomized controlled trials have not show effects of breakfast skipping on energy imbalance and subsequent weight change. Overall, the evidence we have discussed here does not strongly support the widely accepted theory that breakfast skipping leads to an overcompensation of energy in subsequent meals, nor does the evidence support a common belief that breakfast contributes to weight gain or loss. It can however be argued that whether an individual eats breakfast or not, this will not directly influence their risk of weight gain or obesity. In fact it could be argued that other lifestyle behaviours, such as physical inactivity and inadequate diets, are actually the factors driving this observed association. An integral issue when evaluating the impact that lifestyle behaviours have on obesity is that these behaviours are very difficult to precisely measure within a large, generalizable population. Equally, trying to establish that one factor alone is impacting weight gain is a difficult task, as seen in this essay, many factors interact with and affect each other. Therefore, as to whether breakfast is t he most important meal of the day with regards to the obesity, the jury is still out, so to speak. In the meantime, the simple recommendation to eat less and exercise more appears to still be the most effective tool in the prevention and treatment of obesity. Words: 1569 References Aarnio, M., Winter, T., Kujala, U. and Kaprio, J., (2002). Associations of health related behaviour, social relationships, and health status with persistent physical activity and inactivity: a study of Finnish adolescent twins. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 36(5), p360-364. Astbury, N.M., Taylor, M.A. and Macdonald, I.A., (2011). Breakfast consumption affects appetite, energy intake, and the metabolic and endocrine responses to foods consumed later in the day in male habitual breakfast eaters. The Journal of nutrition, 141 (7), p1381-1389. Brown, A.W., Brown, M.M.B. and Allison, D.B., 2013. Belief beyond the evidence: using the proposed effect of breakfast on obesity to show 2 practices that distort scientific evidence. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 98(5), pp.1298-1308. Chapman, G.E. and Melton, C.L., (1998). College and university students breakfast consumption patterns: behaviours, beliefs, motivations and personal and environmental influences. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research, 59 (4), p176. Christakis, G., Miridjanian, A., Nath, L., Khurana, H.S., Cowell, C., Archer, M., Frank, O., Ziffer, H., Baker, H. and James, G., 1968. A nutritional epidemiologic investigation of 642 New York City children. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 21 (1), p107-126. Cohen, B., Evers, S., Manske, S., Bercovitz, K. and Edward, H.G., (2003). Smoking, physical activity and breakfast consumption among secondary school students in a southwestern Ontario community. Canadian Journal of Public Health/Revue Canadienne de Santee Publique, p41-44. Farshchi, H.R., Taylor, M.A. and Macdonald, I.A., (2005). Deleterious effects of omitting breakfast on insulin sensitivity and fasting lipid profiles in healthy lean women. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 81 (2), p388-396. Hamer, M. and Chida, Y., (2007). Intake of fruit, vegetables, and antioxidants and risk of type 2 diabetes: systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of hypertension, 25 (12), p2361-2369. Keski-Rahkonen, A., Kaprio, J., Rissanen, A., Virkkunen, M. and Rose, R.J., (2003). Breakfast skipping and health-compromising behaviors in adolescents and adults. European journal of clinical nutrition, 57(7), p842-853. Lattimore, P., Walton, J., Bartlett, S., Hackett, A. and Stevenson, L., (2010). Regular consumption of a cereal breakfast. Effects on mood and body image satisfaction in adult non-obese women. Appetite, 55(3), p512-521. Leidy, H.J., Ortinau, L.C., Douglas, S.M. and Hoertel, H.A., (2013). Beneficial effects of a higher-protein breakfast on the appetitive, hormonal, and neural signals controlling energy intake regulation in overweight/obese,breakfast-skipping, late-adolescent girls. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 97(4), p677-688. Levitsky, D.A. and Pacanowski, C.R., (2013). Effect of skipping breakfast on subsequent energy intake. Physiology behavior, 119, p9-16. McCrory, M.A., (2014). Meal skipping and variables related to energy balance in adults: A brief review, with emphasis on the breakfast meal. Physiology behavior, 134, p51-54. Meyers, A.F., (1989). Undernutrition, hunger, and learning in children. Nutrition news (USA). Odegaard, A.O., Jacobs, D.R., Steffen, L.M., Van Horn, L., Ludwig, D.S. and Pereira, M.A., (2013). Breakfast frequency and development of metabolic risk. Diabetes care, 36 (10), p3100-3106. Pereira, M.A., Erickson, E., McKee, P., Schrankler, K., Raatz, S.K., Lytle, L.A. and Pellegrini, A.D., (2011). Breakfast frequency and quality may affect glycemia and appetite in adults and children. The Journal of nutrition, 141(1), p163-168. Pollitt, E. and Mathews, R., (1998). Breakfast and cognition: an integrative summary. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 67(4), p804-813. Public Health England contributor. (2017). Adult Obesity. Available: http://www.noo.org.uk/NOO_about_obesity/adult_obesity. Last accessed 13th Mar 2017. Purslow, L.R., Sandhu, M.S., Forouhi, N., Young, E.H., Luben, R.N., Welch, A.A., Khaw, K.T., Bingham, S.A. and Wareham, N.J., 2008. Energy intake at breakfast and weight change: prospective study of 6,764 middle-aged men and women. American journal of epidemiology, 167(2), p188-192. Rampersaud, G.C., Pereira, M.A., Girard, B.L., Adams, J. and Metzl, J.D., (2005). Breakfast habits, nutritional status, body weight, and academic performance in children and adolescents. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 105(5), p743-760. Reeves, S., Halsey, L.G., McMeel, Y. and Huber, J.W., (2013). Breakfast habits, beliefs and measures of health and wellbeing in a nationally representative UK sample. Appetite, 60, p51-57. Schlundt, D.G., Hill, J.O., Sbrocco, T., Pope-Cordle, J. and Sharp, T., (1992). The role of breakfast in the treatment of obesity: a randomized clinical trial. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 55(3), p645-651. Serra-Majem, L., Bartrina, J.A., Pà ©rez-Rodrigo, C., Ribas-Barba, L. and Delgado-Rubio, A., (2006). Prevalence and deteminants of obesity in Spanish children and young people. British Journal of Nutrition, 96(1), p67-72. Shaw, M.E., (1998). Adolescent breakfast skipping: an Australian study. Adolescence, 33(132), p851-862. Skinner, J.D., Salvetti, N.N., Ezell, J.M., Penfield, M.P. and Costello, C.A., (1985). Appalachian adolescents eating patterns and nutrient intakes. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 85(9), p1093-1099. Szajewska, H. and RuszczyÅ„ski, M., (2010). Systematic review demonstrating that breakfast consumption influences body weight outcomes in children and adolescents in Europe. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, 50(2), p113-119. Tuttle, W.W., Daum, K., Myers, L. and Martin, C., (1950). Effect of omitting breakfast on the physiologic response of men. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 26, p332-335. Heijden, A.A., Hu, F.B., Rimm, E.B. and Dam, R.M., (2007). A prospective study of breakfast consumption and weight gain among US men. Obesity, 15(10), p2463-2469. WHO contributor. (2015). facts on obesity. Available: http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/obesity/facts/en/index4.html. Last accessed 13th Mar 2017. WHO contributor. (2016). Obesity and overweight. Available: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs311/en/. Last accessed 13th Mar 2017.

leadership :: essays research papers

There are two broad approaches to seeking to shape values in society. One is by being "salt and light" in the world (Mt 5:13,14), where by living distinctively Christian lifestyles we seek to influence those around us, and through this the values, decisions and priorities adopted by our communities. The other approach is to confront a particular value, decision or priority which the Christian community feels is out of place, and this may require a more structured and focused campaign. This page offers a six step approach to run such a campaign, whilst click here to view some thoughts on being salt and light. The six steps below seek to help a leader put some structure around an influencing campaign. This may be related to a specific proposal within a community, or more generally trying to influence the values that the community adopts. This community may be a geographic community : neighbourhood, town or even country, or it may be another form of network eg work or interest related. 1. Know what you're trying to achieve. Â · Write down some specific aims for your influencing. If possible, make these aims measurable. Â · These may be related to a specific issue that has arisen within the community, or it may be seeking to change more general values and behaviours. Don't overload with issues - it's better to focus on one or two and achieve something, than make little progress against a broad agenda 2. Decide on your audience and message. Â · Who are the people who hold the key to achieving your objectives? This may include those with formal responsibility (councillors and MPs) , those who can influence them (respected thought leaders and influential organizations) and influential channels such as the media. Â · What is the action you want them to take, and therefore, what is the message that you need to deliver to them to persuade them to take such action? Can you write it down - physically writing the message down is very worthwhile as it ensures that there is sufficient clarity of thinking. Â · The same message can be received very differently when delivered by different people or organizations. Taking the time to identify the most credible and capable people to deliver the message is important. In some cases, you may want to focus on people with specific skills, knowledge or position who can speak with authority.

This Comfortable Cage Called America :: Personal Narrative Essays

This Comfortable Cage Called America    My brothers have a cage in which they keep two iguanas.   I'm sure these creatures were born in captivity, and I assume they will die in the same cage they are in now.   It's not a bad cage.   There are quite a few square feet for them to run around, there is a stick they can climb up and down, there is a heat rock they can relax on, and they have everything they need to survive at their clawtips.   They don't even need to hunt for their meals because their meal tickets (my brothers) provide them with four square meals a day.   They can see outside their cage, but have no idea what it would be like to live outside.   I often wonder, however, what would happen if we were to set these two animals free in what would be considered a natural habitat for most iguanas in the wild.   Would they be likely to adapt in no time at all, or would they look for a nice place with four glass walls and a stick to play on?   And how could this story about two lizards, even if used metap horically, apply to us as a race?   We are responsible for our entrapment within four similar glass walls, yet we are not aware of them.   Inside of a cage called America we sit, and though we have a great view of the rest of the world, that's all it is-a view.   If we could somehow find a way of recognizing and breaking out of this comfortable cage called life, we would be more capable of coming together as a human race and putting an end to a division so obvious that terms such as "first world" and "third world" are created to define the differences.   Although I will incorporate the use of a few references, the main section of this essay will focus on my own experiences of life in another country which, in its own way, was another world.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I was taught little in school or home about cultures and people other than my own.   Was theple other than my own.   Was there a reason I should have learned about a less productive people in some remote country?   There was nothing wrong with the land of the free and the home of the brave, and whether or not I was culturally diverse was of little importance in my life-until I went to live in a different country.

Effects of Music Essay

Music and Its Effects on Our Emotions: Can Music Really Change Your Mood? Music can control a much larger part of your life than most people would like to believe. Music can affect us in ways in which we’re not even aware of, and for this reason, music is simply amazing. There is a large number of studies behind music. Not even just the typical music you hear on the radio or that you download from the Internet, but any sounds and the way they can affect your mood and reflect your personallity. It has been proven that certain types of music can evoke sadness, while others can give you an excitement. Music is used in millions of places for this reason. Advertisements. Advertisements and movies are based around the audio! Certain types of music are more likely to evoke emotions in people which will in turn make them feel a certain way. Sometimes this is great for producers in the economy because they can use music in their advertisements to help produce more profits, because people will become much more interested in the products that they’re of fering. This works the same in the film industry. The film industry is interested in inflicting some sort of mood on its audience. If a movie is able to inflict an emotion into people, then the movie is looked upon as a much better movie, and therefore is more likely to make more money. Music can really affect more parts of the economy than you would ever even take into consideration. One amazing thing, that I’m sure you’ve never even stopped to think about, is the music in a casino. They tend to play very uplifting music, music that will make you want to stay longer. Theoretically, the longer you stay in a casino, the more money the casino will make from you. The casino wants to keep you in their business for as long as they can. Music is one way the owners can go about this. Another irrelevant yet interesting method they have is to release scents that cause people to become more satisfied with what they’re doing, and will make them in turn be more comfortable in the environment and want to stay longer, making the casino more money in the long run. Pop, lighter rock, and most dance music tends to be a very uplifting type of music. If you’re ever looking for a booster, listen to some of this music! I actually enjoy listening to this music every day before going to take classes, because it lifts my spirit and helps me make it through the day. Downbeat music such as death metal and rap music tends to affect people’s emotions in a much darker form. However, this is all personal preference and you cannot  base all of this on my opinion. Overall, music has a much greater affect on you than you would believe. Experiment. Listen to new music all the time. See what music gives you chills down your spine. See what music you can’t understand and hate. There’s something out there for everyone. The Effects of Music In some way, music affects everyone. Whether it is, a young girl’s favorite song on the radio, a college student’s escape from reality or a form of entertainment to a married couple, music brings everyone together. Music definitely affects the lifestyles of people in many different ways. The diverse styles of music makes people look and act differently. Music has many different levels. To me, levels meaning; the more independent and progressive the music is, the more the fans take it to the extreme. Music creates style. It causes people to talk, act, and dress the way they do. I hope to discover how much music influences people, especially college students. Also, the more fascinated they are the more influences it has to them. I would like to prove, that to some, music is nothing more than the pop song playing on the radio in the car, and to others, it is a major part of their life. It is very interesting to me, to learn the effects music has toward people. Music impacts everyone in some way (positive or negative), but I think it impacts college students the most. I would like to know the reasons people are listening to music they buy and support. Also, the reasons certain groups are more popular than others. I used a couple various methods of research to conduct my research. I wrote up ten surveys with some questions about gender, age, what they buy, do they attend concerts, and do they support local music. I passed these surveys out to completely random students so there was no imbalance of the results. I hope to find out certain things like: are males affected more than females from music; who buys more clothing/ accessories; is local music important to college students. Another form of research was done by making some observations. I observed places that college students live. I observed a few of my friends apartments very closely and also observed a couple other houses that I was  invited to over the past month. By doing this, I hope to generalize what they like and how it influences them. For example, posters of music groups hanging everywhere will indicate a more of an influence than paintings, by say Picasso. Clothing, jewelry, and actual speech from people may also provide some interesting details. While making these observations, I had also done a couple interviews. A couple were formal, sit-down interviews and the others were just conversations that I thought would be helpful to making my research complete. After giving some thought to my results, I decided to add a section about my personal history. Throughout my life music has affected me in many different ways. It has helped me through some very important decisions, such as, how I feel, who I am with, where I am going to go. When I was ten years old, I got my first guitar. It was an acoustic guitar. I loved to play it, but dreaded going to the lessons. My parents forced me because I couldn’t play a single note. After a year or two things started to come together and I could play some songs. Then I decided to purchase an electric guitar. For me, this was the greatest thing to ever happen to me. I played everyday at any time that I could. My favorite group was the Beastie Boys. My friends and I would pretend we were them and put on shows pretending to be them. As I got older, I would purchase any music that I could; cassette tapes, records, videos, posters, anything that dealt with music. Around seventh or eighth grade, I purchased a used drum set. My other friends all played, so we decided to form a band. We would practice in the garage as much as often until my parents said enough, until it became an obsession. We played a couple of parties (nothing big, because this was the eighth grade), but still a major part of my life at the time. One day during practice, I remember my good friend, the lead singer, telling me booked a real gig, in downtown Pittsburgh. We got a set ready and about a month to practice our songs. The place was called the Electric Banana, it was real dive bar. Most people there were friends and family, but still a nice turnout. Since then I haven’t been playing in a band, but still love making music. Most of my friends are really into music too. We swap music  with each other and talk about it all the time. When I switched schools in high school, music really helped me make some friends. Without music my life would be totally different and a lot more boring, so I’m glad it turned out this way. I am very happy with the results that I got from the surveys. There were ten surveys filled out. Of the ten, six were females and four were males. Eight of the ten all liked rap/hip hop music or said rap along with some other forms. The other two liked rock, punk, or emo. No one put classic rock as their choice (which I found to be very interesting, because I like classic rock). There were two other questions I found to be very much related. Everyone that collects music, any form, (CD, cassette tape, or vinyl) has clothing and/or accessories that support music, for instance, posters, T-shirts, and hats. Four out of ten said they regularly attend concerts. I was very pleased to hear that eight of ten support local musicians/bands. I am a music lover, (as you know) so the local scene is very important to me. Here is a graph I constructed from the surveys. Females Males 60% 40% The interviews came out to be very useful also. I talked to a music lover/musician/collector. His name was Neil and he was very cooperative. We talked about the unusual styles of music he liked. He has a very wide range of music in his collection. We talked about some of his favorite artists, some being Pittsburgh based groups. He loves live music and goes to as many shows as possible. He said â€Å"it’s hard to get to places without a car and with classes† He also said â€Å"I just saw The Roots play for my sixth time last week, at a little place in Oakland.† We were talking about how they are definitely one of his favorites, if he had to pick. I asked him why he was so into music. He replied â€Å"It’s a stress reliever. It takes my mind off school, work, and people’s pettiness.† Another interview that I performed was not as formal. This one was with my dad at the dinner table. It was pretty short and to the point. I asked him if he likes music. He said â€Å"No.† I then asked him if he ever listens to it and he said â€Å"No, when I am in the car I listen to the news or talk radio and when I’m home I’m either working or watching TV.† After doing this research, I realized that by doing interviews you can really feel the emotion from the answers compared to reading a survey. I think that interviews did help me make certain things easier to understand on the survey. The Effects of Music on People’s Emotions By Rachel Mattison, eHow Contributor , last updated July 02, 2012 Movie producers and recording artists use music to manipulate the emotions of audiences to feel everything from excitement to sadness during movies and performances. No one can deny that music has either positive or negative effects on the emotions of listeners. However, music therapy or the study of music’s impact on emotions examines how music cause positive changes in listeners and patients for areas including early childhood development, healing and recovery, and overcoming negative emotions. 1. Early Childhood Development * Music plays an important role in early childhood emotional and intellectual development, according to information compiled by Brad Kennedy and Jennifer Durst. Their research confirms that even while in the womb, babies can tell the differences between certain types of music. Also called prenatal stimulation this technique has many positive effects including higher levels of intelligence and creativity, along with the ability to calm down when listening to music. Suggested usages for music in early childhood development include teaching children to analyze songs so they can learn how to express and identify their emotions, though processes, behaviors and situations as a way of developing cognitive and motor skills. Healing and Recovery * The American Music Therapy Organization states music therapy can  allow â€Å"emotional intimacy with families and caregivers, relaxation for the entire family, and meaningful time spent together in a positive, creative way.† Additional studies show that music therapy can cause changes in physiology by releasing brain chemicals including melatonin, norephinephrine, epinephrine, serotonin and prolactin, which help to reduce depression, regulate mood and make patients feel calm and more able to sleep. Doctors have used music therapy to help stroke, cerebral palsy and Parkinson’s patients improve. Dr. Suzanne Hasner says head trauma and dementia patients retain music ability because â€Å"deep in our long-term memory is this rehearsed music. It is processed in the emotional part of the brain, the amygdala. Here’s where you remember the music played at your wedding, the music of your first love, that first dance. Such things can still be remembered even in people with progressive diseases. It can be a window, a way to reach them.† * Negative Emotions and Fear Management * Dr. Zbigniew Kucharski, from the Medical Academy of Warsaw, has studied the effects of music when used for fear management in dental patients. He discovered that children who listened to 30 minutes of music preceding and following dental procedures were less likely to experience negative feelings. Another study, â€Å"Quantification of the effects of listening to music as a noninvasive method of pain control,† conducted in 1992 found that relaxing music helped to reduce anxiety and pain in patients undergoing certain medical procedures including painful gynecological procedures and pediatric surgical burn units. How Music Affects Us and Promotes Health Music is one of the few activities that involves using the whole brain. It is intrinsic to all cultures and can have surprising benefits not only for learning language, improving memory and focusing attention, but also for physical coordination and development. Of course, music can be distracting if it’s too loud or too jarring, or if it competes for our attention with what we’re trying to do. But for the most part, exposure to many kinds of music has beneficial effects: 1Music heals Effective therapy for pain Overall, music does have positive effects on pain management. Music can help reduce both the sensation and distress of both chronic pain and postoperative pain. Listening to music can reduce chronic pain from a range of painful conditions, including osteoarthritis, disc problems and rheumatoid arthritis, by up to 21% and depression by up to 25%, according to a paper in the latest UK-based Journal of Advanced Nursing29. Music therapy is increasingly used in hospitals to reduce the need for medication during childbirth, to decrease postoperative pain and complement the use of anesthesia during surgery30. There are several theories about how music positively affects perceived pain: * 1. Music serves as a distractor * 2. Music may give the patient a sense of control * 3. Music causes the body to release endorphins to counteract pain * 4. Slow music relaxes person by slowing their breathing and heartbeat Reducing blood pressure By playing recordings of relaxing music every morning and evening, people with high blood pressure can train themselves to lower their blood pressure – and keep it low31. According to research reported at the American Society of Hypertension meeting in New Orleans, listening to just 30 minutes of classical, Celtic or raga music every day may significantly reduce high blood pressure. Medicine for the heart music is good for your heart. Research shows that it is musical tempo, rather than style. Italian and British researchers32 recruited young men and women, half of whom were trained musicians. The participants slipped on head phones and listened to six styles of music, including rap and classical pieces, with random two-minute pauses. As the participants kicked back and listened, the researchers monitored their breathing, heart rates and blood pressure. The participants had faster heart and breathing rates when they listened to lively music. When the musical slowed, so did their heart and breathing rates. Some results were surprising. During the musical pauses, heart and breathing rates normalized or reached more optimal levels. Whether or not a person liked the style of music did not matter. The tempo, or pace, of the music had the greatest effect on relaxation. Speeds Post-Stroke Recovery A daily portion` of one’s favorite pop melodies, classical music or jazz can speed recovery from debilitating strokes, according to the latest research. When stroke patients in Finland listened to music for a couple of hours each day, verbal memory and attention span improved significantly compared to patients who received no musical stimulation, or who listened only to stories read out loud, the study reports33. Chronic headaches & migraine remedy Music can help migraine34 and chronic headache35 sufferers reduce the intensity, frequency, and duration of the headaches. Music boosts immunity Music can boost the immune function. Scientists explain that a particular type of music can create a positive and profound emotional experience, which leads to secretion of immune-boosting hormones22. This helps contribute to a reduction in the factors responsible for illness. Listening to music or singing can also decrease levels of stress-related hormone cortisol. Higher levels of cortisol can lead to a decreased immune response23-24. 2Effects of music on the brain Music enhances intelligence, learning and IQ The idea that music makes you smarter received considerable attention from scientists and the media. Listening to music or playing an instrument can actually make you learn better. And research confirms this. Music has the power to enhance some kinds of higher brain function: * Reading and literacy skills11-13 * Spatial-temporal reasoning14-15 * Mathematical abilities16-17 – Even children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder benefit in mathematics tests from listening to music beforehand. *Emotional intelligence The Mozart effect Earlier it has been thought that listening to classical music, particularly Mozart, enhances performance on cognitive tests. However, recent findings18 show that listening to any music that is personally enjoyable has positive effects on cognition. Music improves memory performance The power of music to affect memory is quite intriguing. Mozart’s music and baroque music, with a 60 beats per minute beat pattern, activates the left and right brain. The simultaneous left and right brain action maximizes learning and retention of information. The information being studied activates the left brain while the music activates the right brain. Also, activities which engage both sides of the brain at the same time, such as playing an instrument or singing, cause the brain to be more capable of processing information. Listening to music facilitates the recall of information19. Researchers have shown that certain types of music are a great â€Å"keys† for recalling memories. Information learned while listening to a particular song can often be recalled simply by â€Å"playing† the songs mentally. Musical training has even better effect than just listening to classical music. There is clear evidence20, that children who take music lessons develop a better memory compared with children who have no musical training. Note: For learning or memory performance, it’s important that music doesn’t have a vocal component; otherwise you’re more likely to remember the words of the background song than what you’re supposed to be recalling. Music improves concentration and attention Easy listening music or relaxing classics improves the duration and intensity of concentration in all age groups and ability levels. It’s not clear what type of music is better, or what kind of musical structure is necessary to help, but many studies have shown significant effects21. 3Music improves physical performance Music improves athletic performance Choosing music that motivates you will make it easier to start moving, walking, dancing, or any other type of exercise that you enjoy. Music can make exercise feel more like recreation and less like work. Furthermore, music enhances athletic performance6-8! Anyone who has ever gone on a long run with their iPod or taken a particularly energetic spinning class knows that music can make the time pass more quickly. The four central hypotheses explaining music’s facilitation of exercise performance include: * Reduction in the feeling of fatigue * Increase in levels of psychological arousal * Physiological relaxation response * Improvement in motor coordination Music improves body movement and coordination Music reduces muscle tension and improves body movement and coordination25-26. Music may play an important role in developing, maintaining and restoring physical functioning in the rehabilitation of persons with movement disorders. 4Music helps to work more productively Fatigue fighter Listening to upbeat music can be a great way to find some extra energy. Music can effectively eliminate exercise-induced fatigue9 and fatigue symptoms caused by monotonous work10. Keep in mind that listening to too much pop and hard rock music can make you more jittery than energized. Vary what you listen to and find out what type of music is most beneficial for you. You could try classical music one day, pop the next day and jazz the third. Music improves productivity Many people like to listen to music while they work and I am certainly one of them. How about you? Did you know you can perform better at your work with music? Whilst there may be many reasons for wishing to listen to music in the workplace, it really improves your productivity27! According to a report in the journal Neuroscience of Behavior and Physiology28, a person’s ability to recognize visual images, including letters and numbers, is faster when either rock or classical music is playing in the background. 5Music calms, relaxes and helps to sleep Relaxing music induces sleep Relaxing classical music is safe, cheap and easy way to beat insomnia1. Many people who suffer from insomnia find that Bach music helps them. Researchers have shown that just 45 minutes of relaxing music before bedtime can make for a restful night2. Relaxing music reduces sympathetic nervous system activity, decreases anxiety, blood pressure, heart and respiratory rate and may have positive effects on sleep via muscle relaxation and distraction  from thoughts. Music reduces stress and aids relaxation Listening to slow, quiet classical music, is proven to reduce stress3. Countless studies have shown that music’s relaxing effects can be seen on anyone, including newborns. One of the great benefits of music as a stress reliever is that it can be used while you do your usual deeds so that it really doesn’t take time. How does music reduces stress? * Physical relaxation. Music can promote relaxation of tense muscles, enabling you to easily release some of the tension you carry from a stressful day. * Aids in stress relief activities. Music can help you get â€Å"into the zone† when practicing yoga, self hypnosis or guided imagery, can help you feel energized when exercising and recover after exercising, help dissolve the stress when you’re soaking in the tub. * Reduces negative emotions. Music, especially upbeat tunes, can take your mind off what stresses you, and help you feel more optimistic and positive. This helps release stress and can even help you keep from getting as stressed over life’s little frustrations in the future. Researchers discovered4 that music can decrease the amount of the cortisol, a stress-related hormone produced by the body in response to stress. 6Music improves mood and decreases depression Prescription for the blues Music’s ability to â€Å"heal the soul† is the stuff of legend in every culture. Many people find that music lifts their spirits. Modern research tends to confirm music’s psychotherapeutic benefits5. Bright, cheerful music (e.g. Mozart, Vivaldi, bluegrass, Klezmer, Salsa, reggae) is the most obvious prescription for the blues. The 5 Weirdest Ways Music Can Mess With the Human Brain By: C. Coville, Kathy Benjamin February 11, 2011 1,619,046 views The entire reason music exists is because of its almost magical ability to push your buttons. An upbeat song gets you going, a sad song makes you cry and drink. But the more science studies music’s effect on the human brain, the more bizarre things we discover. For instance †¦ #5. It Changes Your Ability to Perceive Time  old music — the stuff you hear on the line when you call everyone from the bank to your local bail bond agency — didn’t fall into America’s phone lines by accident. It’s designed specifically to reduce the amount of time you think you’re waiting, so that you’re less likely to hang up in anger. Other places that involve waiting, such as doctors’ offices, use a similar trick. Time shrinkage is also the aim of most retail stores, which is why you’ll rarely enter a mall, supermarket or clothing store without hearing some sort of music in the background. How the hell does music do that? To understand why exactly music makes it seem like less time has passed, think of the human brain as a mountain lion that is eating a bag of money. It doesn’t matter what the zookeepers distract it with — food, shiny objects or just shouting and yelling. All that matters is that they give another zookeeper the chance to sneak up and retrieve the money while the lion is busy deciding which one of them to eat. Similarly, when your brain is steadily distracted, you’ll be less likely to notice things around you in detail, and this includes the passage of time. Our brains have limited input capacity, and when something else is using up that capacity, we’re less likely to think things like, â€Å"I’ve been standing in line to get Richard Moll’s autograph for three goddamn hours† or â€Å"Do I really need this Garfield alarm clock?† But it works the opposite way, too. In some situations, listening to music can actually expand perceived time. For example, listening to music while performing tasks that require concentration will usually cause us to overestimate the amount of time that has passed. The theory is that as your mind switches back and forth between perception of the music and concentration on the challenging tasks, it forms separate â€Å"events,† or distinct memories. When your brain thinks about what you’ve been doing for the past hour, you’ll remember more of these events and recall that the hour was quite long. Experiments have found that time also expands when we’re listening to familiar music that we dislike. When we hear the opening chords of a song, our brain remembers the whole thing and immediately skips ahead and plays it mentally. This fake mind-music is  extremely vivid, working on exactly the same parts of the brain as actual music does. So the effect is that you take a few moments to vividly imagine that you’re sitting through five minutes of that damn New Radicals song before you come back to reality only to realize that you still actually have to sit through it. #4. It Taps Into Primal Fear OK, imagine how you would sound for a second if you saw your friend Jason across the street and wanted to get his attention by yelling his name. Now imagine you see your friend Jason across the street, suddenly realize a car is careening down the road about to hit him, and shout his name to warn him.Despite the fact that you are yelling the same thing both times, even in your head you can hear how the two sound different. Human beings have a very good, very nuanced sense of what kind of noise indicates a greeting and what kind of noise indicates you are about to be mauled by a honey badger. And that sense is being used against you in every scary movie you have ever seen. There is a reason that horror films scare the crap out of us, and it’s not just the creepy settings, dramatic buildup and sudden reveal of the bad guy RIGHT BEHIND YOU. It’s the music. How the hell does music do that? There are certain sounds that humans will automatically associate with sudden and painful death because they tap into our evolutionary fear of the screams of other animals (and other human beings). Screams of fear in almost any animal are made up of what scientists have dubbed â€Å"discordant noises.† Any noise that makes you feel very unpleasant falls into this category. We know if we hear other living things making those discordant noises that we have to get the fuck out, because something bad is going to happen. Movie directors know this and make good use of it when deciding on the score for a film. That dramatic buildup and subsequent scary reveal is almost always accompanied by really freaky music or somebody screaming his ass off (or both). But this technique is hardly limited to horror movies. For instance, in his original draft of The Social Network, Andy Sorkin wanted a song called â€Å"Love of the Common People† to play over the opening credits scene. Here’s what that would have looked like: That poppy calypso music makes you feel that everything is dandy. Sure, Mark Zuckerberg has just been dumped,  but it’s all OK! He’s running through the Harvard campus and is about to invent Facebook and become a billionaire. Yay!Listen to that lower-level background music throughout. It sounds like random, angry notes played behind a simple piano tune, and those notes are creating discordant sound. Suddenly you’re apprehensive, feeling like something really bad is about to happen (we’re talking getting sued for $64 million bad). So next time you’re getting a little too freaked out by a movie, remember that muting the television is a far better decision than looking away. #3. It Makes You Stronger It’s no secret that many people prefer to listen to music when they work out. But music doesn’t just make physical activity more pleasant — it actually makes our physical performance measurably better. When listening to music, people are able to hold heavy weights for longer than when they’re standing in silence. They can also complete sprints in smaller amounts of time and are even able to reduce their oxygen intake. How the hell does music do that? Similar to the time-perception effect we referenced above, one element is just plain old distraction. Obviously, if your mind is listening to music, it’s not thinking about how much your legs hurt or how much longer you’ve got to run before the treadmill makes that final beeping noise. But there’s much more to it than that. First, there’s synchronicity. When you match your movements to a steady musical tempo, you spend less time and effort on the inefficient slowing down and speeding up that happens when you’re going by your own rhythm. Music also increases the incidence of â€Å"flow† states — states of meditation-like calm in which everything works right for an athlete and that is strongly linked to enhanced performance. Music can even make you feel less pain. Patients listening to music after surgery need less sedatives, report less pain and have lower blood pressure. As if that’s not impressive enough, doctors have found that specially selected melodic music dramatically reduces stress in patients during unsedated brain surgery. In some cases, music caused patients to relax so much that many of them fell into a deep sleep, while people sliced into their exposed brains with fucking scalpels. And even if you’re lucky enough to be asleep during  surgery, there’s a good chance the doctors working on you are listening to music, since most surgeons believe it improves their performance, too. So the next time you’re about to go under a general anesthetic, consider the fact that the guy with the scalpel might soon be timing his incisions to Whitesnake. #2. It Changes Your Drinking Habits Did you ever wake up in the back of a taxi after a long night of tossing down cognac and prune juice and wonder how your pants got replaced by a thick but clumsily applied coat of colorful body paint? Well, now there’s something to blame it on besides your bad childhood: music. What they play in the bar doesn’t just affect how much you drink, but what you drink. How the hell does music do that? Did you know you can make a person buy more expensive wine just by playing classical music? Experiments prove it. It makes people feel like they’re in a wine commercial or in a movie depicting refined, snooty rich people. OK, that one sort of makes sense — we doubt anyone ever drank Wild Irish Rose while listening to Vivaldi. But in another blind study, different types of music playing in the background caused drinkers to change how they’d described the drinks they already had. Laid-back music led people to rate drinks as â€Å"mellow,† and upbeat music resulted in more people calling their drinks â€Å"refreshing.† Even stranger, in another study researchers placed German and French wines in supermarkets, with small flags next to each display so customers could tell which countries they came from. They then played some unobtrusive international music in the background. When German music was played, the percentage of German sales rose, and vice versa. This wasn’t because customers thought to themselves, Ah! Germany! I will celebrate the Fatherland with some nice wine! Questionnaires showed that customers couldn’t recall what type of music was playing and thought they’d chosen a particular wine simply because they’d felt like it. The people selling you the drinks know all of this stuff — or at least, the successful ones do. We’ve pointed out before that bars and nightclubs often play fast music to increase alcohol-based profit. But other establishments, particularly upscale restaurants, prefer slow, relaxing music, which,  believe it or not, can also make you drink more. The tempo of music is linked to your body’s arousal level, or the â€Å"speed† at which your nervous system operates. Fast music heightens arousal (heh), so patrons will do everything more quickly, including eating and drinking and leaving their infant by the salad bar. Which is good for a restaurant owner if he’s just concerned with getting you out the door so he can serve more (and presumably better) people. On the other hand, slower music means that you eat at a more leisurely pace. Maybe you’ll even stay to chat with your companions after you’re done with your meal. All this time passing means you’re likely to buy more drinks every time the waiter comes around to ask, and at a restaurant that’s charging $70 a bottle, that makes up for any lost table space. Some restaurants go as far as to purchase a personalized selection of songs specially designed by â€Å"sound branding† companies, which select songs based on whatever tempo or atmosphere the restaurant is aiming to achieve. #1. It Makes You a Better Communicator How does a narcissistic ass like John Mayer, who isn’t even that attractive, still have hot women of all ages throwing themselves at him? It’s the guitar, isn’t it?Actually, a trained musician like Mayer would probably be able to talk a woman into his bed without ever even playing a note. It turns out that studying music gives you an advantage when it comes to perceiving the emotions of others, so all those years of being chained to a piano as a child are finally going to work in your favor. People who can play instruments at near-professional level can detect subtle emotional changes and intonations in the vocal tones of others. In other words, they know whether you are actually sad when you say you’re fine, even when most non-musicians would have no idea. Not only that, but the fact that they studied music makes them better able to tune out background noise, so they are even better at paying attention to what you are saying in that crowded restaurant or bar. How the hell does music do that? Research shows that people who have studied music actually have brains wired differently than non-musicians. This rewiring makes them better able to express emotions they are feeling, but it also makes them more able to understand the emotions others express. Music is very emotional, and people  wired to understand those subtle emotional changes can also detect them in the vocal tones of someone talking. The emotion of the music translates to knowing when your boss is secretly mad or your mother is secretly disappointed. The sooner you start learning music, the more pronounced this re-wiring is. Scientists think that teaching children music might help kids with autism better understand vocal cues and encode speech. The fact that this brain re-wiring helps them tune out background noise could also help kids stay focused in noisy classrooms. It is also something that gets better the more you play, so sticking to your piano lessons now could lead to a powerful advantage in your future dating world. Read more: http://www.cracked.com/article_19006_the-5-weirdest-ways-music-can-mess-with-human-brain_p2.html#ixzz0MMCXjaIv Music is one of many important parts of our lives because it can be an approach not only to reduce each of our mental tension but also to inspire our feelings in artistic sense. Then, there are only two subtopics to develop into two paragraphs in the body: 1) music is an approach to reduce people’s mental tension 2) music inspires people’s feelings in artistic sense