Ethic Norms Within Scientific Research

Ethic Norms Within Scientific Research Free Online Research Papers There are several reasons why it is important to adhere to ethical norms in research. First, some of these norms promote the aims of research, such as knowledge, truth, and avoidance of error. Many of the norms of research promote a variety of other important moral and social values, such as social responsibility and human rights. Given the importance of ethics for the conduct of research, it should come as no surprise that many different professional associations, government agencies, and universities have adopted specific codes, rules, and policies relating to research ethics. It has been argued that researchers need to develop better understandings of the politics and contexts within which ethics are regulated in order to increase both the perceived and actual legitimacy of their research investigations. Understanding ethical principal A formal system of ethics is the means by which professionals establish explicit standards of behavior and hold themselves accountable to those standards. An ethical code helps both professionals and those affected by the professionals actions (e.g., clients and consumers) identify and understand the principles which must guide the professionals work (Keith-Spiegal, 1998). Less altruistically but more practically, professionals systems of ethics can also represent or be motivated by the professions desire to minimize regulation by external organizations and systems (e.g., state licensing boards, the civil and criminal courts) (World Medical Association, 2000). The origin or elaboration of formal ethical systems can also be a response to pressure from consumers, clients, and the public who seek a change from laissez faire and caveat-emptor approaches to professional responsibilities. The paternalism inherent in the attitude that professionals know best and are beyond accountability i s not tolerated among the public as it once was (Keith-Spiegal, 1998). Understanding Research Department of Health and Human Services regulations define research as a systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge (45 CFR 46.102 d). Often it is assumed that a specific question is being addressed by the researcher, and that the design is appropriate to answer the proposed question. Data collection to evaluate a specific programs effectiveness is generally not considered research since findings are not normally generalizable. Collecting information regarding client change or satisfaction also may not fall under the aegis of research, because results are specific and informative to an individual therapist with the intent of improving therapeutic competence and success and therefore, are not generalizable (National Bioethics Advisory Commission, 2001). However, if therapists plan organized, well-thought-out designs to investigate a specific research question about a therapeutic procedure and intend to disseminate the results through publication or other means, they are engaging in human subject research (Institute of Medicine, 2002). Psychological theories on ethics During the 1960s there was increased interest in moral reasoning. Psychologists such as Lawrence Kohlberg developed theories which are based on the idea that moral behavior is made possible by moral reasoning. Their theories subdivided moral reasoning into so-called stages, which refer to the set of principles or methods that a person uses for ethical judgment. The first and most famous theory of this type was Kohlbergs theory of moral development (Macrina, 2000). Another group of influential psychological theories with ethical implications is the humanistic psychology movement. One of the most famous humanistic theories is Abraham Maslows hierarchy of needs. Maslow argued that the highest human need is self-actualization, which can be described as fulfilling ones potential, and trying to fix what is wrong in the world. Carl Rogerss work was based on similar assumptions (Sherry, 1991). He thought that in order to be a fully functioning person, one has to be creative and accept ones own feelings and needs. He also emphasized the value of self-actualization. A similar theory was proposed by Fritz Perls, who assumed that taking responsibility of ones own life is an important value (Macrina, 2000). R.D. Laing developed a broad range of thought on interpersonal psychology. This deals with interactions between people, which he considered important, for an ethical action always occurs between one person and another. In books such as The Politics of Experience, he dealt with issues concerning how we should relate to persons labeled by the psychiatric establishment as schizophrenic. He came to be seen as a champion for the rights of those considered mentally ill. He spoke out against (and wrote about) practices of psychiatrists which he considered inhumane or barbaric, such as electric shock treatment. Like Wittgenstein, he was frequently concerned with clarifying the use of language in the field - for example, he suggested that the effects of psychiatric drugs (some of which are very deleterious) be called just that: effects, and not be referred to by the preferred euphemisms of the drug companies, who prefer to call them side effects (Keith-Spiegal, 1998). Laing also did work in establishing true asylums as places of refuge for those who feel disturbed and want a safe place to go through whatever it is they want to explore in themselves, and with others. A third group of psychological theories that have implications for the nature of ethics are based on evolutionary psychology. These theories are based on the assumption that the behavior that ethics prescribe can sometimes be seen as an evolutionary adaptation. For instance, altruism towards members of ones own family promotes ones inclusive fitness (Macrina, 2000). Ethical Principles for Conducting Research The Standing Committee on Ethics in Research with Human Participants has now completed its revision of the Ethical Principles for Research with Human Subjects and the new Ethical Principles for Conducting Research with Human Participants have been approved by the Council. In the forefront of its considerations was the recognition that psychologists owe a debt to those who agree to take part in their studies and that people who are willing to give up their time, even for remuneration, should be able to expect to be treated with the highest standards of consideration and respect. This is reflected in the change from the term subjects to participants (National Bioethics Advisory Commission, 2001). To psychologists brought up on the jargon of their profession the term subject is not derogatory. However, to someone who has not had that experience of psychological research it is a term which can seem impersonal. Deception The issue of deception caused the Committee considerable problems. To many outside the psychology profession, and to some within it, the idea of deceiving the participants in ones research is seen as quite inappropriate. At best, the experience of deception in psychological research can make the recipients cynical about the activities and attitudes of psychologists. However, since there are very many psychological processes that are modifiable by individuals if they are aware that they are being studied, the statement of the research hypothesis in advance of the collection of data would make much psychological research impossible. The Committee noted that there is a distinction between withholding some of the details of the hypothesis under test and deliberately falsely informing the participants of the purpose of the research, especially if the information given implied a more benign topic of study than was in fact the case. While the Committee wishes to urge all psycholo gists to seek to supply as full information as possible to those taking part in their research, it concluded that the central principle was the reaction of participants when deception was revealed. If this led to discomfort, anger or objections from the participants then the deception was inappropriate. The Committee hopes that such a principle protects the dignity of the participants while allowing valuable psychological research to be conducted (National Bioethics Advisory Commission, 2001). Debriefing Following the research, especially where any deception or withholding of information had taken place, the Committee wished to emphasize the importance of appropriate debriefing. In some circumstances, the verbal description of the nature of the investigation would not be sufficient to eliminate all possibility of harmful after-effects. For example, an experiment in which negative mood was induced requires the induction of a happy mood state before the participant leaves the experimental setting (National Bioethics Advisory Commission, 2001). Risk Another area of concern for the Committee was the protection of participants from undue risk in psychological research. Since this was an area in which the Principles might be looked to during an investigation following a complaint against a researcher, the Committee was concerned to seek a definition that protected the participants in the research without making important research impossible. Risks attend us every moment in life, and to say that research should involve no risks would be inappropriate. However, the important principle seemed to be that when participants entered upon a psychological investigation they should not, in so doing, be increasing the probability that they would come to any form of harm. Thus, the definition of undue risk was based upon the risks that individuals run in their normal lifestyle. This definition makes possible research upon individuals who lead a risk-taking or risk-seeking life (e.g. mountaineers, cave divers), so long as the individuals are not induced to take risks that are greater than those that they would normally encounter in their life outside the research (National Bioethics Advisory Commission, 2001). Implementation The Council of the Society approved the Principles at its meeting in February 1990.There followed a two-year period during which the new Principles were provisionally in operation. In spring 1992 the Council reviewed the Principles, in the light of experience of their operation. During this period researchers were unable to identify problems in the working of the Principles. Following minor amendment the Principles were formally adopted in October 1992 (National Bioethics Advisory Commission, 2001). The Council urges all research psychologists to ensure that they abide by these Principles, which supplement the Societys Code of Conduct and thus violation of them could form the basis of disciplinary action. It is essential that all members of the psychological profession abide by the Principles if psychologists are to continue to retain the privilege of testing human participants in their research (Sherry, 1991). Psychologists have legal as well as moral responsibilities for those who help them in their study, and the long-term reputation of the discipline depends largely upon the experience of those who encounter it first-hand during psychological investigations (National Bioethics Advisory Commission, 2001). Unethical practices / Current regulation A scandal that was made public in 1972 was the Tuskegee study, which began in Alabama in the 1930s and continued for about 40 years. Black males who were diagnosed with syphilis were left untreated to experimentally observe the natural course of the disease. The public outcry to this disclosure was considerable, especially after it was learned that a Public Health Service committee review of the experiment had recommended that the experiment be continued (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2000)! The government response to the resultant public outrage was to regulate even greater public control of research ethics and provide for the bureaucracy to ensure its implementation. The National Research Act, which required mandatory ethics review by Institutional Review Boards in institutions receiving federal research grants, also created the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research. Over the next several years it was propose d to extend required ethics review to research in all disciplines, whether federally funded or not. Yet in another case that leaves question and concern, a funded collaborative research project between the county schools and probation office is aimed at 8th and 9th grade students who are on probation and are failing two classes. Funding requires that therapeutic intervention procedures be compared to determine if a specific approach is more effective in improving grades. A family therapy clinic that provides in-school counseling service is asked to lead two solution-focused groups. The family therapy clinic will be paid its standard fee for individual clients plus an additional $250 per student to complete research outcome measures. Students are identified by a school-probation professional team to take part in the research project. After identifying students, a letter and consent form is sent to parents that describe a special program aimed at improving grades so the student may be promoted. Parents are to send back a form if they do not want their child to be part of the program . One of the therapists is a part-time faculty member at the local university. She is requested to submit the study for IRB approval. Also, she plans to ask the department chair about using a MFT graduate student to assist with co-leading therapy sessions and with data collection and analysis. Confidentiality may also be violated. Because the therapy research was conducted at the school, faculty and other students may have been aware of who was in the study and for what reason. In addition, what would happen if a research participant revealed illegal behavior during the study (e.g., drug use or vandalism) is not specified (McCollum,2002). Currently, the federal government is emphasizing education and training for professionals who are or will be engaged in human participant research. Led by the OHRP and the Office of Research Integrity (ORI), professionals are expected not only to know the ethical principles underpinning human research, but also be familiar with the responsible conduct of research (Institute of Medicine, 2002). In addition to knowing human subject regulations, researchers are expected to know about other areas of responsible conduct of research, including data acquisition and management, publication practices, research misconduct or falsification, fabrication, and plagiarism (National Bioethics Advisory Commission, 2001). Conclusion In conclusion, ethical regulation is an element that has been permanently added to the design and conduct of psychological research. Regrettably, some researchers have been reluctant to acknowledge this fact. When psychologists engage in research activities, they are expected to cultivate a culture of research integrity. Professional ethical standards and federal and state regulations must be understood and followed. These regulations serve as the leading guidelines for correct research practice involving human participants. They are also the foundation for best research standards and practice, which simply stated is, Respect people while doing good science. (World Medical Association, 2000) Research Papers on Ethic Norms Within Scientific ResearchResearch Process Part OneThree Concepts of PsychodynamicInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesArguments for Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS)Genetic EngineeringThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseOpen Architechture a white paperAnalysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into Asia

Brigadier General John C. Caldwell in the Civil War

Brigadier General John C. Caldwell in the Civil War Early Life Born on April 17, 1833 in Lowell, VT, John Curtis Caldwell received his early schooling locally.   Interested in pursuing education as a career, he later attended Amherst College.   Graduating in 1855 with high honors, Caldwell moved to  East Machias, ME where he assumed the position of principal at Washington Academy.   He continued to hold this position for the next five years and became a respected member of the community.   With the attack on Fort Sumter in April 1861 and beginning of the Civil War, Caldwell left his post and sought a military commission.   Though he lacked any type of military experience, his connections within the state and ties to the Republican Party saw him obtain command of the 11th Maine Volunteer Infantry on November 12, 1861. Early Engagements Assigned to Major General George B. McClellans Army of the Potomac, Caldwells regiment traveled south in the spring of 1862 to take part in the Peninsula Campaign.   Despite his inexperience, he made a positive impression on his superiors and was chosen to command Brigadier General Oliver O. Howards brigade when that officer was wounded at the Battle of Seven Pines on June 1.   With this assignment came a promotion to brigadier general which was back-dated to April 28.   Leading his men in Brigadier General Israel B. Richardsons division of Major General Edwin V. Sumners II Corps, Caldwell earned high praise for his leadership in reinforcing Brigadier General Philip Kearnys division at the Battle of Glendale on June 30.   With the defeat of Union forces on the Peninsula, Caldwell and II Corps returned to Northern Virginia. Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville Arriving too late to take part in the Union defeat at the Second Battle of Manassas, Caldwell and his men were quickly engaged in the Maryland Campaign in early September.   Held in reserve during the Battle of South Mountain on September 14, Caldwells brigade saw intense fighting at the Battle of Antietam three days later.   Arriving on the field, Richardsons division began assaulting the Confederate position along the Sunken Road.   Reinforcing Brigadier General  Thomas F. Meaghers Irish Brigade, whose advance had stalled in the face of heavy resistance, Caldwells men renewed the attack.   As the fighting progressed, troops under Colonel Francis C. Barlow succeeded in turning the Confederate flank.   Pushing forward, Richardson and Caldwells men were ultimately halted by Confederate reinforcements under Major General James Longstreet.   Withdrawing, Richardson fell mortally wounded and command of the division briefly passed to Caldwell who was soon replaced by Brigadi er General Winfield S. Hancock. Though slightly wounded in the fighting, Caldwell remained in command of his brigade and led it three months later at the Battle of Fredericksburg.   In the course of the battle, his troops took part in the disastrous assault on Maryes Heights which saw the brigade suffer over 50% casualties and Caldwell wounded twice.  Ã‚   Though he performed well, one of his regiments broke and ran during the attack.   This, along with false rumors that he had hid during the fighting at Antietam, tarnished his reputation.   Despite these circumstances, Caldwell retained his role and took part in the Battle of Chancellorsville in early May 1863.   During the engagement, his troops helped stabilize the Union right after the defeat of Howards XI Corps and covered the withdrawal from the area around the Chancellor House. The Battle of Gettysburg In the wake of the defeat at Chancellorsville, Hancock ascended to lead II Corps and on May 22 Caldwell assumed command of the division.   In this new role, Caldwell moved north with Major General George G. Meades Army of the Potomac in pursuit of General Robert E. Lees Army of Northern Virginia.   Arriving at the Battle of Gettysburg on the morning of July 2, Caldwells division initially moved into a reserve role behind Cemetery Ridge.   That afternoon, as a large assault by Longstreet threatened to overwhelm Major General Daniel Sickles III Corps, he received orders to move south and reinforce the Union line in the Wheatfield.   Arriving, Caldwell deployed his division and swept Confederate forces from the field as well as occupied the woods to the west.   Though triumphant, Caldwells men were compelled to retreat when the collapse of the Union position at the Peach Orchard to the northwest led to them being flanked by the advancing enemy.   In the course of the fighting around the Wheatfield, Caldwells division sustained over 40% casualties.   The next day, Hancock sought to temporarily place Caldwell in command of II Corps but was overruled by Meade who preferred a West Pointer hold the post.   Later on July 3, after Hancock was wounded repulsing Picketts Charge, command of the corps devolved to Caldwell.   Meade moved swiftly and inserted Brigadier General William Hayes, a West Pointer, in the post that evening despite Caldwell being senior in rank. Later Career Following Gettysburg, Major General George Sykes, commander of V Corps, criticized Caldwells performance in the Wheatfield.   Investigated by Hancock, who had faith in subordinate, he was quickly cleared by a court of inquiry.   Despite this, Caldwells reputation was permanently damaged.   Though he led his division during the Bristoe and Mine Run Campaigns that fall, when the Army of the Potomac was reorganized in the spring of 1864, he was removed from his post.   Ordered to Washington, DC, Caldwell spent the remainder of the war serving on various boards.   Following the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, he was selected to serve in the honor guard which bore the body back to Springfield, IL.   Later that year, Caldwell received a brevet promotion to major general in recognition of his service. Departing the army on January 15, 1866, Caldwell, still only thirty-three years old, returned to Maine and commenced practicing law.   After briefly serving in the state legislature, he held the post of adjutant general of the Maine Militia between 1867 and 1869.   Departing this position, Caldwell received an appointment as US Consul in Valparaiso.   Remaining in Chile for five years, he later obtained similar assignments in Uruguay and Paraguay.   Returning home in 1882, Caldwell accepted a final diplomatic post in 1897 when he became US Consul in San Jose, Costa Rica.   Serving under both Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt, he retired in 1909.   Caldwell died on August 31, 1912, at Calais, ME while visiting one of his daughters.   His remains were interred at St. Stephen Rural Cemetery across the river in St. Stephen, New Brunswick. Sources Brigadier General John C. CaldwellFind a Grave: John C. CaldwellJohn C. Caldwell

Comparison of the key management and leadership aspects of Essay - 1

Comparison of the key management and leadership aspects of organisations in the private sector, public sector and not for profit - Essay Example Several experiments on ways to improve performances of organizations in terms of synchronization and productivity were conducted, and consequently paved the way for several approaches to management. The behavioral approach to management is a turning point to organizational relations. Modifications in the way managers deal with subordinates are given emphasis. As proposed by Maxwell, successful business is not all about efficient management of resources or development of work skills in response to the growing demands of the industry. Its core foundation is good relationship and thus cultivated by trust and respect from people – customers, employees, and partners, among others (2004). Growth will be next to impossible if concentration is entirely drawn to the inanimate factors. In his work â€Å"Top Performance†, Zig Ziglar points out that â€Å"you won’t be an effective leader or manager unless you gain the willing cooperation of others. Cooperation is not gettin g others to do what you want, but getting others to want to do what you want. The aforementioned principle, however, may not apply to all forms of organizations. Although it proves beneficial that the personal needs of the members are given due consideration, there are instances in which it will do more harm than good. Military organizations, as we all know, implement procedures that are significantly distinct from those privately established. They strictly follow a hierarchy of command, and respect to authority is of utmost weight—a culture that has prevailed over the centuries. Men in the military receive the same standard privileges as other employees do—wages, leaves, medical coverage, etc. Their function, nevertheless, is not called a profession but accountability. For this reason, the proposal to incorporate behavioral approach to military organizations may not be feasible. 2.0 Behavioral Approach â€Å"The behavioral approach to management has 2 branches: the h uman relations approach and the behavioral science approach† (Bromiley 2005). In the first approach, managers understand the underlying reasons behind the behavior of their subordinates along with the â€Å"psychological and social factors that influence them† (Bromiley 2005). Advocates of this approach attempt to demonstrate how the process and functions of management are affected by differences in individual behavior and the impact of groups in the work environment. The second approach to management use motivation, leadership, communication, group dynamics, and participative management to achieve organizational goals (Clark 2009). This approach helps secure better employee performance and the willing pursuit of organizational goals. The human relations approach to management was introduced in the 1930s in response to the mechanistic view of organizations and the pessimistic position of human nature suggested by the classical approach (Cooke n.d.). The classical approa ch meant that people were perceived as machines and efficiency was the sole criteria for success (Walker 2002). On the contrary, human relations approach suggests that people are emotional rather than economic rational beings; that, organizations are cooperative social systems, and are composed of informal structures, rules, and norms as wells as formal practices and procedures (Cooke n.d.) Organizations that are designed and operated as though they were machines are now

Study skills Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Study skills - Essay Example n the said phase is the determination of the personal strengths, weaknesses, feedbacks from other people, both positive ad negative and the different performance indicators (Cottrell, 2010; Self Improvement Mentor Website, 2009). Based on the said parameters, the first focus is the determination of skills. On a personal note, my strengths include capability of expression and logical and critical thinking. In most cases, the capability to establish the principles surrounding certain events is one of the fundamental attributes. In terms of the capability of self-expression, there is a number of ways which can be considered as strength such as in verses as well as artistic visual expression. These are considered strengths since it can support the professional expertise that ca be achieved through studies. Upon the determination of the strengths, knowledge of one’s weakness is another important phase (Self Improvement Mentor Website, 2009). Although self-expression is one of the strengths, my professional communication skills and self-esteem can be limitations in certain cases. This can be attributed to the inadequate experience in the said skills. Basically at the present, self-evaluation can bring about the need to polish technical skills to be able to have the capability for expertise on the professional level. This view had been achieved through the feedback gathered from other people of close interaction, in addition to self-assessment. Feedback of other people is important on a person’s development because they can observe performance and attitude on a perspective different from the person himself. In taking into consideration of feedback though, it is important to prioritize objectivity of the person (Self Improvement Mentor Website, 2009). Positive feedbacks from people of close interpersonal interaction had been gathered. One of the constructive criticism that had bee received is the need to be focused in doing a single task due to the

A Theoretical Vision of Community Essay Example for Free

A Theoretical Vision of Community Essay Introduction and overview of a theoretical vision of community The following document outlines the defense of my theoretical vision of community. It will address the extent to the vision is informed by my particular beliefs and understandings regarding the nature in which a society can more efficiently function. It will also delve into some of the perspectives of communitarian vision in relationship to this particular theoretical vision, and will look into areas of human personality and agency as mechanism for the success and failure of past and future visions of community. The document will also address some of the more intricate theories of knowledge and moral truths, as well as the details of logistics as to how such a community will function in a democratic fashion. Priorities on rights and morals within the community will be addressed, as well as the general systems of social welfare. The concept of equality will be introduced as a force within this envisioned community, and will be analyzed in terms of its meaning within this vision of community. This vision of community will base itself mainly on Conservativism and the visions of group behavior and community from such philosophers as Allen Bloom, Alasdair MacIntyre and Russell Arben Fox. My particular theoretical view of community is quite simple to state, and yet very difficult to enact. It is a view that believes that the human experience is not sustainable if one only works towards individual liberties. It is important to understand the web of relationships to which we all belong. These webs can consists of our relationship to the environment and the earth, our relationship to our local and global community and our relationship to our families, friends and other social networks. By understanding the complex webs of existence that determine the human condition, we can begin to conceptualize a community that is sustainable. Currently we are functioning within a paradigm of an unsustainable collective reality. My vision of community perceives of a group collective whose members dedicate a minimal amount of attention, energy, and resources to projects that uplift the collective. This brings up one of the other principle understandings in my envisioned group. It is that the exclusive pursuit of individual interests, rights and freedoms places an enormous burden on the social and physical environment. Individual rights and freedoms can only work within the greater paradigm of the collective reality that encases it. And so, my vision recognizes the need for human rights and the existence of human agency, while at the same time it recognizes the existence of the human collective. In this sense, my vision gives equal rights to the collective experience as to the individual experience. When considering the state of institutions and organizations in America, one must reconsider the notion of community and morality within a group paradigm. I envision a theoretical community based on much of the resurgence of communitarian ideas. Disturbing trends towards crime and social disorder, as well as an all-prevailing attitude that gives emphasis towards self-affirmation and self-interest. Communitarian ideas focus on restoring integrity in human community efforts and institutions, especially in the administrative and localized realms. Within communitarian studies, one can begin to perceive a renewed interest in a community that fights for basic ideals regarding the human individual character, integrity, and the virtues and values which manifest themselves in the public sphere. My vision of community calls for the embodiment of communitarian ideals and policy approaches which begin at the micro-level of the human individual experience, branching out to the macro-level of cultural and institutional development. The basis of the vision involves a union of individuals committed to becoming the change that they wish to see in the world. This involves the education of good personal conduct and personal responsibility, a notion that has unfortunately seeped out of the basic frame of reference of many individuals of our modern time. This theoretical vision of community is based on a more Conservative approach to the philosophical notion of morality and human decision-making, as well as the functioning of society as a unit. An important aspect of this theoretical vision for society is an idea that as individuals can work as communities that assert moral standards for conduct, we can reduce a reliance on costly government programs. In an economic sense, there is an underlying moral standard for conduct as well, as the individual may think more towards empowering a group of people instead of his own personal interests for gain. In this sense, the theoretical vision for a community is an optimistic take on the nature of the human being as a capable individual for decision-making, given the right education and values. It is true that humans tend to act in selfish ways, but through the creation of community there can be a mental shift whereby the individual can begin to open in awareness. This opening in awareness comes from the direct experience of the benefits involved in creating a society based on cooperation of common goals for the common good. This can only be ingrained into the mind of the individual through the actual experience and practice of living in a community that strives for the common good. Similarly, the modern 21st century society has inspired the mind to search for individual and immediate satisfaction. The communitarian approach considers itself to be the â€Å"essential optimistic view that has animated Americans throughout our history.†[1] I agree that communitarian policy has brought forth positive change in the creation of social and community awareness, as well as the creation of social action that works towards reversing the trends of self-interest alone. If I had to adhere to one particular form of Communitariansism, it would be the Ideological approach to social wellbeing. This approach bases itself on a perceived observation of deteriorating social networks, and an attempt to correct that deterioration by increasing social capital. In my vision of community social capital can be increased by observing what Robert Putnam calls the collective value of all social networks and the inclinations that arise from these networks to do things for each other. To directly quote The Responsive Communitarian Platform:   Ã‚  Ã‚   Many social goals . . . require partnership between public and private groups. Though government should not seek to replace local communities, it may need to empower them by strategies of support, including revenue sharing and technical assistance. There is a great need for study and experimentation with creative use of the structures of civil society, and public-private cooperation, especially where the delivery of health, educational and social services are concerned. The role of the human individual: agency and personality in the community vision The Communitarian approach focuses mainly on the advocating of social capital and the furtherance of the community through an agreement on particular values and morality choices. In my vision of community, this is also one of the strongest aims for the collective. And yet, within that collective import, my vision also holds space for the acknowledgement of human free will, personality or agency. If one creates an ideological or theoretical vision based only on an awareness of the social collective, one misses the duality that exists between the individual and the group as a paradigm of human existence. It is important to understand that human agency is still the motivating force behind all collective vision. Without the personality of the individual, groups would merely consist of collective drones marching to the beat of the loudest drummer. The collective vision of social capital resurgence can only function against the greater backdrop of human individual change and awareness. And so, the basis of this paradigm of collective change is one that acknowledges the need for individual education and the evolution of self. The great irony is that many libertarians or freedom and rights advocates believe themselves to be â€Å"free,† when actually they are merely working within a different paradigm that limits the development of the individual. Allan David Bloom notices this irony in his groundbreaking work The Closing of the American Mind. â€Å"The most successful tyranny,† he states, â€Å"is not the one that uses force to assure uniformity but the one that removes the awareness of other possibilities, that makes it seem inconceivable that other ways are viable, that removes the sense that there is an outside. (p. 249) Bloom’s ideas on human agency and social control are based on preserving certain philosophical truths for later generations. His book is a critique of the contemporary university, and yet we can find within in it the even greater critique of American society. He believes that modern liberal philosophy was responsible for the crisis, stating that the notion that â€Å"a just society could be based upon self-interest alone, coupled by the emergence of relativism in American thought had led to this crisis.† This belief embodies the heart of my vision for a communitarian-based social reality. Here we can clearly see how while the recognition of self-interest, personality and human agency exist and are important, it is through the creation of a solid commitment to the well-being of the whole that the human agency of action can be stimulated to put energy and effort into that ideal. And so, the vision entails a training of the human agency, an education of the individualism and self-interest that, if left unchecked can lead to the social crisis and the void of spirit that we find in America today. In his critique on American universities, Bloom discusses this void of spirit. As it now stands, students have powerful images of what a perfect body is and pursue it incessantly. But deprived of literary guidance, they no longer have any image of a perfect soul, and hence do not long to have one. They do not even imagine that there is such a thing. (p. 67) Bloom discussed how the failure of contemporary education has lead the modern human being to be stunted in the development of self. Modern life in America offers us all the promises of material gain and monetary success, yet these are small mundane offerings being misrepresented as â€Å"success.† The search for commercial gain as the most highly valued element of the human life has poisoned the human soul. I am therefore in full agreement with Bloom that the individual must be educated to search for philosophic truths and self-awareness. In this sense, a huge part of the community vision involves the commitment in each and every individual towards the search for higher truths beyond self-interest and material gain. Macintyre and a theory of morality My theoretical vision of community resonates with the writings of Alasdair Macintyre and his belief that â€Å"the best theory so far† for understanding human morality is the tradition of Thomistic Aristotelianism. Macintyre worked within the tradition of virtue ethics, which states that the most effective way of determining human morality is to actually look into the habits, virtues and knowledge surrounding how one actually lives their life. I am attracted to this particular understanding of moral reason because it resonates with my belief that it is more important to â€Å"be† and â€Å"do,† than to merely come up with lofty ideals that remain in one’s speech and not in behavior. This approach is so elegant in that it focuses on how to make the most out of an entire human life. Many other theories focus on specific issues such as gay rights, abortion, women’s rights and religious debate, but in my vision of community, these issues are merely symptoms of the greater problem. It is more important for each human being to focus on their own good judgment than on the issues that society is debating upon. By focusing on good judgments, meaning honesty, not creating ill will, working to have good speech towards others, non-violence, etc., one creates good character for oneself. The underlying morality of my community, therefore, is not based on anything that any one agency or institution â€Å"decides upon,† but is wholly based on the virtues of life that enable good behavior to emanate naturally from individuals committed to integrity. MacIntyre, who bases himself on the Aristotelian idea of an ethical teleology, believes that right and wrong are more important than the formal rules that attempt to encourage them. MacIntyre emphasizes the need for a community of individuals committed to the highest good. These individuals must be engaged actively in the â€Å"practice† of what he calls â€Å"goods of excellence† rather than any commitment to some exterior moral agent. This, once again, fully parallels my own understanding of an ideal community, whereby the â€Å"proof is in the pudding† of individual action, not within the individual need for rights. Universal morality and truth My vision of community is based on the belief that there is in fact a universal objective moral or truth. At the same time, I am not claiming that I myself can outline what those universals are, nor can I explicitly define a notion of moral truth, but as the saying goes, â€Å"I know it when I see it.† Truth is an experience whereby ones witnesses and experiences. When I speak of morality and value systems throughout this document, it is important to mention that I am not referring to any hard-coded set of rules to be used indiscriminately by force, but am referring to the instilling of values within the individual that actually allow them to become more free. Freedom, in this sense, refers to becoming a more peaceful, aware human being. A part of this peaceful nature entails not harming others, or oneself. And so, when I refer to the education of youth, it does not mean an indoctrination of a group of people, but more an opening of the mind, so as one becomes less and less focused on the individual success, and more and more focuses on the good of all beings. In this sense, I do adhere to the existence of truth as a human universal. This human universal is that we are all looking to lead a life which reduces human suffering, and increases a peaceful existence. The tactics and recommendations provided herein are merely stepping stones to reach that greater freedom. Tradition and traditional values The role of tradition in this vision of community is only tradition-based if that particular tradition works in adherence to the ideals on community up-lifting and the advancement of virtue. Only traditions have the capacity to inspire a community to move forward should be given precedence. Traditions, no matter what ethnic or racial background they come from, are only valuable if they are steeped in the wisdom of the collective reality. This means that traditions that are self-centered or and driven by greed should be avoided. Traditions that work towards special interests of a few very powerful should be ignored. This means that if one were to analyze the current American government or economy, one could determine that much of the tradition of the capitalist society is based on the search for individual material gain. In this sense, the tradition of laissez faire economics and capitalism may be a tradition that could be remedied. On the other hand, there are many American traditions which are based on the spirit of community which should be given space for growth. The value of family and friendship networks, the emphasis placed on spiritual and religious adherence, and the feeling of patriotism towards the country (not government), could be considered as positive traditions. And so, tradition plays a role in my vision of a community inasmuch as the tradition can prove to play a correlating role within the greater scope of the vision. In another sense, my vision of community does take a more conservative approach to ethical matters, and in this sense, may be considered to be steeped in â€Å"traditional values.† Such values include the notion of family, parenting and education. In order to instill a sense of values and morality into the human individual, it is important to start with the new generations. In this way, it is the responsibility of parents to instill certain values of moral education and integrity into their children. This is done by setting an example, not through words alone, but through actions. I believe that most children today are being given an education by teachers or from the mass media. This is an unfortunate fact. The examples that parents are giving it one of the mass consumer, obsessed with acquiring the next technological advancement, or purchasing the latest designer clothes. Most parents are products of the individual-based society. They are so focuses on themselves, that they forget to remind their children of the importance of the greater social reality. Other parents who are less selfish are under huge societal pressures to make enough money to keep up with the current standards of living. These parents, while they may have the desire to educate their children in a good way, simply do not have the time and flexibility to attend to their moral and educational duties. Once again, children are left to be educated by under-paid, over-worked teachers and even worse, the mass media. In my vision of community, workplaces play a crucial role in reestablishing some of the more â€Å"traditional† values involving family life and parenting. Parents, particularly those with young children, need to be given the opportunity for more flexible work schedules. For the sake of the upcoming generations, parents need to be present at the educating forces in the child’s life. Programs such as paid and unpaid parental leave, flextime, shared jobs, opportunities to work at home, and for parents to participate as volunteers and managers in child-care centers, are an integral part of the more traditional vision of family and child education. Furthermore, there needs to be a shift in the collective conscious on how we value parenting. Child raising needs to be given new precedence as one of the most important things that a human being can ever endeavor to attempt. Also, continuing with an adherence to traditional values, it is important that human individual have support with the raising of children. It has been consistently shown that single parent households often have a more difficult time in raising children. This is not to place a moral judgment on single parents, but is just to say that women or men who are left to be single parents should be given more social support due to the sheer lack of resources that they have. Schools represent one of the main areas where the establishment of good morals can be ensued. Because the American family has become so weak, the capacity for parents to provide proper education has been greatly impaired. Schools now play the major role in the character formation of the next generation. Therefore, in the envisioned community, not only do parents and communities play a role in proper education, but also educational institutions would recognize the incredible role that they play in shaping the moral education and value system of students. Tolerance, equality and the creation of peaceful idealism How can a school teach value systems without getting involved in religious issues on morality? Once again, we can come back to the principals discussed earlier in the document, on universal truth. I feel that no one in the community would argue with an organization that teaches us to work for the dignity of all human beings. Nor would anyone be inclined to argue with the teaching of equality, respect and tolerance. Human equality is the highest virtue of this perceived theoretical society. All persons should be treated as equals, and the discrimination of any human being is unacceptable. Of course, these are lofty ideals but we must have some sort of ideal that we can try to work towards. In this sense, we must create an arsenal of peaceful idealism. Peaceful ideals include a peaceful resolution to conflicts. Violence, in any form, should be avoided. Basics such as lying, stealing and killing are universals to be avoided. One could also state that a democratic government which fosters participation from all citizens could be considered as one that works toward peaceful idealism. Totalitarianism and authoritarianism are not. Equal pay for women and men, as well as equal pay for all ethnic groups is another part of peaceful idealism. Much in the same, this ideal can be applied to globalization as well. With the onslaught of the widely spreading mass media and rapid forms of travel and communication, we must also extend our idea of the collective to include the global collective. These same ideals, because they are not religious or culturally or even politically based, can be applied to any group of people. The nature and scope of democracy Like Robert Putnam, I believe that social capital is a key component to building and maintaining democracy. The political setup of society today is a false democracy. The perceived democracy of American society today is actually the an oligarchy of a few very influential, powerful, wealthy corporations. In my envisioned community, there would be much more local participation in politics. Ordered liberty, rather than unchecked, unlimited individual and corporate license would be obtained not through force, but through the cultivation of education which is based on shared values. These shared values are not limited to any particular culture, but are universal values that assure a respect for one another’s rights. In the same, the democracy is based on policies that are accepted as legitimate by the social reality, not policies that are imposed through force. Any political policy that works through force will only be successful at masking the problem. The government of my community would be a real democracy, representative and participant democracy that was responsive to the needs and realities of all community members, regardless of race, gender or religious background. This can be done by creating ways to make citizens of the community feel that they actually have a voice within the decision making process, whether by direct vote or by fostering programs for wellbeing and education. An important part of a democracy is the diffusion of information to the population of citizens. Government needs to be transparent. Similarly, corporations and governments alike must modify their practices to reduce the role of private money, special interests and corruption. Voting is another method for keeping the community constituents involved in the decision making process, but it is not the only method. Being involved in non-political activities such as community volunteering and relief efforts, or social work and fundraising is another way to affect change on the community and be responsible members of society. Economic responsibilities include paying one’s taxes to enjoy social works. Justice In the words of Bloom: The most successful tyranny is not the one that uses force to assure uniformity but the one that removes the awareness of other possibilities, that makes it seem inconceivable that other ways are viable, that removes the sense that there is an outside. (Closing of the American Mind, 249) Law may prescribe that the male nipples be made equal to the female ones, but they still will not give milk. (Closing of the American Mind, 131) The following quotes embody my vision of the creation of collective community in regard to its attitude towards justice. Law and justice systems are only affective inasmuch as they are working towards the truth, or the embodiment of the human universals and peace principals. The justice system of this theoretical society must therefore work towards correcting behavior through education and persuasion. Most methods of the current justice system involve either coercion or through the fear of punishment. This simply masks deeper hidden social ills. What we end up with is a nation full of costly prisons and uneducated human beings, rather than programs which foster education and reasoned judgment.   The realm of justice lies not in unrestrained individual freedoms, nor in harsh governmental control, but in the balance between the two: the communitarian social space. Social justice is one such area of understanding in the community space. This involves the notion of reciprocity. All members of society feels that it is indebted to the collective, just as the collective society feels that it is indebted to its members. In order for social justice to exist, all members must feel a responsibility towards the community effort. Individual rights and responsibilities towards the collective My vision of community gives priority to the â€Å"good† for the collective over the rights of the individual, only if the collective good is something that has been agreed upon by the social reality. This means, the â€Å"good† has been determined by individuals that are clearly searching for higher truths and values in their lives. These values are based on the uplifting of others as a social collective. This approach embodies the need for balance between the rights of the individual (which it also recognizes) and the responsibility that the individual has towards the collective. This means, if the individual is given a plethora of rights, then there must be an exact correlation of strong responsibilities at hand. In this sense, the age-old saying, â€Å"To whom much is given, much is required,† rings true. If I am committed to ensuring the best for the collective, and I am responsible for looking out for the social well-being, the certainly I am an individual that can enjoy many rights. On the contrary, if I am a self-centered individual, only looking out for my own material gain, my rights need to be limited, as I am certainly likely to do grave harm to the social collective. My vision of rights and the collective good is based on a belief that contemporary society has been too liberal in bestowing rights and individual autonomy. This has come at the price of individual and social responsibility. That said, there are many rights that all individual should have. This includes basic human rights like the right to good healthcare, education, a safe living environment, and basic employment. These are rights that all human beings are entitled to. It is of utmost importance to mention that my vision of community, while placing much emphasis on the collective good, does, in no way, place disregard on human rights. I am of the firm belief that the more and more one works towards collective responsibility, the more one can enjoy the rights and freedoms that one is entitles to. Simply bestowing rights to uneducated, self-interested human beings is no freedom at all. Rights and freedoms are only freedoms according to how each and every individual uses them. And so, all individuals in my theoretical vision of community should enjoy a clean environment, public education and works programs, as well as equality under the law. And in this sense, the community or society works at maintaining the delicate balance between individual rights and the collective enjoyment of agreeing upon certain individual limitations. Many critics of a more conservative, non-liberal approach to the philosophy of community cite the First Amendment as an important right. I believe that the First Amendment is an incredibly important right, but that also we should consider the rights of the victims of such a right. Take for example an extremely racist, sexist person. If they have complete freedom to speak their minds, they are doing so at the cost of the wellbeing of others. In a sense, their freedom is incurring on the freedom of the victim of their words. Imagine that that individual is a member of a college campus, and that his words spark an onslaught of sexist and racist behavior on campus. In this case, a college-wide program educating individuals on the benefits, logic and rationale behind having a more tolerant mind state would be helpful to the community by promoting inter-group understanding. This is an example of how we can work to create awareness, understanding and tolerance as morals and values of the highest level, without sacrificing the First Amendment. This can occur because there are some universals of truth that all humans can live by. And so, we should have complete freedom in all sense, if and only if, that freedom does not cause harm to another being within the collective. This is an aspect of the human universals that have been discussed in his document, and is the cornerstone of the greater vision of my view of a theoretical community. Social welfare I believe that the government should not be the sole institution to provide social welfare programs. This involves caring for the sick and elderly, the homeless, the poor and for new immigrants. I believe that we should work as a community to address these problems on a local level, and that government should only intervene if our social systems (as small collectives) fail. Big government programs have proven time and again to be costly and inadequate at meeting the needs of specific local levels.   In the case where it is absolutely necessary, nationwide programs could be established. But once again, I believe it to be much more effective to work to affect change on a micro-level first. This means that social welfare should be attended to by families first. By educating people more and more, there will be less need for the national government to have to intervene. This is a positive step in actually giving individuals more freedom of choice in their lives. By giving the national government power to create social welfare programs, we are actually taking more and more power out of the hands of the local constituent communities. Social goals regarding welfare can be achieved through a partnership between local groups and institutions. A creative use of structures of both civil and private society could be used to create health, education, and social care systems that empower individuals at a local level. Community and excellence of character Russell Arben Fox speaks of a communal authority in his essay, Activity and Communal Authority: Localist Lessons from Puritan and Confucian Communities. While not very fashionable in today’s modern Western society, Fox urges us to look at some of the lessons we can gain from the communal spirit and the goals of excellence of character in both Puritan and Confucian communities. Both cultures work at understanding human arrangements based on ideals of behavior that work towards a moral character or a universal â€Å"worldview† for correct behavior. As we move more and more towards a more relativistic globalized macro culture, we are losing the role of the overarching harmony that must exist within the global â€Å"melting pot.† We are so focused on relativism and cultural differences that we attempt to function as a collective within a chaotic collective mindset. The notion of harmony in Fox’s work is a pivotal part of my own idea of peaceful idealism and human universals. And while I do not agree with either Confucian nor Puritan communities on their ideas of authority, I do believe that contemporary society could learn very valuable insights into their ideas on boundedness, interconnection and harmony. The, Confucian understanding of communal harmony could be easily applied to the justification of the new trend towards localism in the face of mass globalization. Confucian and Puritan understandings are an attempt at arriving at some of the universals that have been discussed through the paper. My vision of community is contingent upon the notion of excellence of character, and it is within this paradigm that all other aspects of society fall into place. But how can we arrive at this Confucian harmony, this excellence of character for the greater social whole? Excellence of character is based on a human dignity and the respect for all beings. I believe that by instilling this value into humans, we can arrive at a responsive community that will be the best form of human organization possible. Self-inquiry is a huge part of the process, and in this sense, human agency is very important to maintain social wellbeing, but at the same time, shared deliberation among the people is also pivotal. My vision of peaceful idealism and human universals may seem utopian. But how can we being to make a better world if we do not first create an ideal or an utopia with which to work towards? This cannot be achieved through authoritarianism and coercion, but through genuine conviction of change within the individual. My vision may seem utopian, but quite frankly, I believe that it is the only hope for a movement towards peace and wellbeing in the world. The global community, on both a global and local level, must work towards programs that deal with the pressing problems that threaten our lives as human beings. More and more we are plagued by war, environmental degradation, social and political unrest and technological breakdown. It is my belief that through the education of collective responsibility, individuals may actually begin to heal some of the great psychological, emotional, social and physical stresses that they are under. And so, the theoretical vision of community is one that is based on a renewed commitment to the social space, a renewed commitment to human rights and equality, and a new commitment to discovery and healthy intellectual debate on human truths and universals. Within this healthy debate, we can hope to achieve a greater understanding of not only the human individual experience, but also the collective one. Resources    Bloom, Allan. 1987. Closing of the American Mind, New York: Simon Schuster. Fox, Russell Arben. Activity and Communal Authority: Localist Lessons from Puritan and Confucian Communities. Friends University MacIntyre, Alasdair. After Virtue. Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 1981, 2nd edn. 1984. MacIntyre, Alasdair. The MacIntyre Reader. (Knight, Kelvin (ed.)) Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 1998. Putnam, Robert. Communitarianism, National Public Radio, February 5, 2001. Sandel, Liberalism and the Limits of Justice, 143. [1] The Communitarian Network, Responsive Communitarian Platform Text. http://www.gwu.edu/~ccps/platformtext.html

Ku Klux Klan :: American History KKK

Ku Klux Klan During the nineteenth century, black people were treated as slaves. White governments introduced many laws to control their freedom. They could not vote. They were denied access to good jobs and to worthwhile education and well into the twentieth century they suffered great poverty. People from the USA wanted to prevent them from voting and holding office. They were called the Ku Klux Klan, it was organized in Pulaski, Tennesee, during the winter of 1865 to 1866 by six former confederate army officers who gave their society a name adapted from the Greek word Kuklos.The KKK used violence and intimidation to keep blacks segregated. They used parades, beatings, lynching, and other violent methods to intimidate blacks. The Ku Klux Klan, or KKK as known today, was started in the spring of 1866. Six Confederate veterans formed a social club in Pulaski, Tennessee. This KKK only lasted a short six years, but left tactics and rituals that later started in generations. (Ingalls, 9) The Klan was a small group very much in secrecy at first. The exact date of the beginning is unknown. Despite all of the secrecy the six KKK members initiated new members to join their social club. (Ingalls, 9) The Klan now started to spread across Tennessee. At first the Klan used tricks to keep blacks "in their place". At first, the Klan would ride around on horses, and with their white robes, and white pointed masks, try to scare blacks. They would try to act like ghost with their white uniforms. Unfortunately, the Klan quickly moved to more violent pranks. (Ingalls, 12) In 1869, General Forrest, the Grand Wizard of the KKK ordered Klansmen to restrict their activities. The Klan was getting out of control, and Congress passed a Ku Klux Klan Act in 1871. By the end of 1872, the federal crackdown had broken the back of the KKK. Because of the restriction and the Act passed violence was isolated but still continued. The KKK was dead, and Reconstruction lived on in southern legend . This would not be the last of the KKK. On the night of Thanksgiving in 1915, sixteen men from Atlanta, Georgia climbed to the top of Stone Mountain and built an altar of stones on which they placed an American flag. They then stood up a sixteen foot long cross and burned it. One week later, this group applied for a state charter making it "The Knights of the KKK, Inc.

Net Present Value and Correct Answer

Question 1 2 out of 2 points | | | Assume that the economy is in a mild recession, and as a result interest rates and money costs generally are relatively low. The WACC for two mutually exclusive projects that are being considered is 8%. Project S has an IRR of 20% while Project L's IRR is 15%. The projects have the same NPV at the 8% current WACC. However, you believe that the economy is about to recover, and money costs and thus your WACC will also increase. You also think that the projects will not be funded until the WACC has increased, and their cash flows will not be affected by the change in economic conditions.Under these conditions, which of the following statements is CORRECT? Answer | | | | | Selected Answer:| You should recommend Project S, because at the new WACC it will have the higher NPV. | Correct Answer:| You should recommend Project S, because at the new WACC it will have the higher NPV. | | | | | Question 2 2 out of 2 points | | | Which of the following statements is CORRECT? Answer | | | | | Selected Answer:| Multiple IRRs can occur only if the signs of the cash flows change more than once. | Correct Answer:| Multiple IRRs can occur only if the signs of the cash flows change more than once. | | | | Question 3 2 out of 2 points | | | Which of the following statements is CORRECT? Answer | | | | | Selected Answer:| One advantage of the NPV over the IRR is that NPV assumes that cash flows will be reinvested at the WACC, whereas IRR assumes that cash flows are reinvested at the IRR. The NPV assumption is generally more appropriate. | Correct Answer:| One advantage of the NPV over the IRR is that NPV assumes that cash flows will be reinvested at the WACC, whereas IRR assumes that cash flows are reinvested at the IRR. The NPV assumption is generally more appropriate. | | | | Question 4 2 out of 2 points | | | Which of the following statements is CORRECT? Answer | | | | | Selected Answer:| One defect of the IRR method is that it assumes that the ca sh flows to be received from a project can be reinvested at the IRR itself, and that assumption is often not valid. | Correct Answer:| One defect of the IRR method is that it assumes that the cash flows to be received from a project can be reinvested at the IRR itself, and that assumption is often not valid. | | | | | Question 5 2 out of 2 points | | | Which of the following statements is CORRECT?Assume that the project being considered has normal cash flows, with one outflow followed by a series of inflows. Answer | | | | | Selected Answer:| If a project has normal cash flows and its IRR exceeds its WACC, then the project’s NPV must be positive. | Correct Answer:| If a project has normal cash flows and its IRR exceeds its WACC, then the project’s NPV must be positive. | | | | | Question 6 2 out of 2 points | | | Assume that the economy is enjoying a strong boom, and as a result interest rates and money costs generally are relatively high.The WACC for two mutually excl usive projects that are being considered is 12%. Project S has an IRR of 20% while Project L's IRR is 15%. The projects have the same NPV at the 12% current WACC. However, you believe that the economy will soon fall into a mild recession, and money costs and thus your WACC will soon decline. You also think that the projects will not be funded until the WACC has decreased, and their cash flows will not be affected by the change in economic conditions. Under these conditions, which of the following statements is CORRECT?Answer | | | | | Selected Answer:| You should recommend Project L, because at the new WACC it will have the higher NPV. | Correct Answer:| You should recommend Project L, because at the new WACC it will have the higher NPV. | | | | | Question 7 2 out of 2 points | | | Which of the following statements is CORRECT? Assume that the project being considered has normal cash flows, with one outflow followed by a series of inflows. Answer | | | | | Selected Answer:| The highe r the WACC used to calculate the NPV, the lower the calculated NPV will be. Correct Answer:| The higher the WACC used to calculate the NPV, the lower the calculated NPV will be. | | | | | Question 8 2 out of 2 points | | | Which of the following statements is CORRECT? Answer | | | | | Selected Answer:| An NPV profile graph is designed to give decision makers an idea about how a project’s contribution to the firm’s value varies with the cost of capital. | Correct Answer:| An NPV profile graph is designed to give decision makers an idea about how a project’s contribution to the firm’s value varies with the cost of capital. | | | | Question 9 2 out of 2 points | | | Which of the following statements is CORRECT? Answer | | | | | Selected Answer:| If two projects have the same cost, and if their NPV profiles cross in the upper right quadrant, then the project with the lower IRR probably has more of its cash flows coming in the later years. | Correct Answer:| I f two projects have the same cost, and if their NPV profiles cross in the upper right quadrant, then the project with the lower IRR probably has more of its cash flows coming in the later years. | | | | Question 10 2 out of 2 points | | | Which of the following statements is CORRECT? Assume that the project being considered has normal cash flows, with one outflow followed by a series of inflows. Answer | | | | | Selected Answer:| If a project’s NPV is less than zero, then its IRR must be less than the WACC. | Correct Answer:| If a project’s NPV is less than zero, then its IRR must be less than the WACC. | | | | | Question 11 2 out of 2 points | | | Which of the following statements is CORRECT?Answer | | | | | Selected Answer:| The NPV method assumes that cash flows will be reinvested at the WACC, while the IRR method assumes reinvestment at the IRR. | Correct Answer:| The NPV method assumes that cash flows will be reinvested at the WACC, while the IRR method assumes re investment at the IRR. | | | | | Question 12 0 out of 2 points | | | Which of the following statements is CORRECT? Assume that the project being considered has normal cash flows, with one outflow followed by a series of inflows.Answer | | | | | Selected Answer:| If a company uses the same payback requirement to evaluate all projects, say it requires a payback of 4 years or less, then the company will tend to reject projects with relatively short lives and accept long-lived projects, and this will cause its risk to increase over time. | Correct Answer:| One drawback of the regular payback for evaluating projects is that this method does not properly account for the time value of money. | | | | | Question 13 2 out of 2 points | | | Which of the following statements is CORRECT?Assume that the project being considered has normal cash flows, with one outflow followed by a series of inflows. Answer | | | | | Selected Answer:| A project’s IRR is the discount rate that causes the PV of the inflows to equal the project’s cost. | Correct Answer:| A project’s IRR is the discount rate that causes the PV of the inflows to equal the project’s cost. | | | | | Question 14 2 out of 2 points | | | Which of the following statements is CORRECT? Answer | | | | | Selected Answer:| Projects with â€Å"normal† cash flows can have only one real IRR. Correct Answer:| Projects with â€Å"normal† cash flows can have only one real IRR. | | | | | Question 15 0 out of 2 points | | | Which of the following statements is CORRECT? Answer | | | | | Selected Answer:| If a firm uses the discounted payback method with a required payback of 4 years, then it will accept more projects than if it used a regular payback of 4 years. | Correct Answer:| Multiple IRRs can exist, but not multiple MIRRs. This is one reason some people favor the MIRR over the regular IRR. | | | | | Question 16 0 out of 2 points | | When evaluating a new project, firms should include i n the projected cash flows all of the following EXCEPT:Answer | | | | | Selected Answer:| The salvage value of assets used for the project that will be recovered at the end of the project’s life. | Correct Answer:| Previous expenditures associated with a market test to determine the feasibility of the project, provided those costs have been expensed for tax purposes. | | | | | Question 17 2 out of 2 points | | | A firm is considering a new project whose risk is greater than the risk of the firm’s average project, based on all methods for assessing risk.In evaluating this project, it would be reasonable for management to do which of the following? Answer | | | | | Selected Answer:| Increase the cost of capital used to evaluate the project to reflect its higher-than-average risk. | Correct Answer:| Increase the cost of capital used to evaluate the project to reflect its higher-than-average risk. | | | | | Question 18 2 out of 2 points | | | Which of the following stateme nts is CORRECT? Answer | | | | | Selected Answer:| A sunk cost is a cost that was incurred and expensed in the past and cannot be recovered if the firm decides not to go forward with the project. Correct Answer:| A sunk cost is a cost that was incurred and expensed in the past and cannot be recovered if the firm decides not to go forward with the project. | | | | | Question 19 2 out of 2 points | | | Which of the following statements is CORRECT? Answer | | | | | Selected Answer:| An example of an externality is a situation where a bank opens a new office, and that new office causes deposits in the bank’s other offices to increase. | Correct Answer:| An example of an externality is a situation where a bank opens a new office, and that new office causes deposits in the bank’s other offices to increase. | | | | Question 20 2 out of 2 points | | | Which of the following statements is CORRECT? Answer | | | | | Selected Answer:| Simulation analysis is a computerized version of scenario analysis where input variables are selected randomly on the basis of their probability distributions. | Correct Answer:| Simulation analysis is a computerized version of scenario analysis where input variables are selected randomly on the basis of their probability distributions. | | | | | Question 21 0 out of 2 points | | | Which of the following statements is CORRECT?Answer | | | | | Selected Answer:| The existence of any type of â€Å"externality† will reduce the calculated NPV versus the NPV that would exist without the externality. | Correct Answer:| If one of the assets to be used by a potential project is already owned by the firm, and if that asset could be sold or leased to another firm if the new project were not undertaken, then the net after-tax proceeds that could be obtained should be charged as a cost to the project under consideration. | | | | | Question 22 2 out of 2 points | | | A company is considering a new project.The CFO plans to calculate th e project’s NPV by estimating the relevant cash flows for each year of the project’s life (i. e. , the initial investment cost, the annual operating cash flows, and the terminal cash flow), then discounting those cash flows at the company’s overall WACC. Which one of the following factors should the CFO be sure to INCLUDE in the cash flows when estimating the relevant cash flows? Answer | | | | | Selected Answer:| The investment in working capital required to operate the project, even if that investment will be recovered at the end of the project’s life. Correct Answer:| The investment in working capital required to operate the project, even if that investment will be recovered at the end of the project’s life. | | | | | Question 23 0 out of 2 points | | | Which of the following statements is CORRECT? Answer | | | | | Selected Answer:| Using accelerated depreciation rather than straight line normally has no effect on a project’s total projec ted cash flows nor would it affect the timing of those cash flows or the resulting NPV of the project. Correct Answer:| Using accelerated depreciation rather than straight line normally has the effect of speeding up cash flows and thus increasing a project’s forecasted NPV. | | | | | Question 24 0 out of 2 points | | | Which of the following rules is CORRECT for capital budgeting analysis? Answer | | | | | Selected Answer:| If a product is competitive with some of the firm’s other products, this fact should be incorporated into the estimate of the relevant cash flows. However, if the new product is complementary to some of the firm’s other products, this fact need not be reflected in the analysis. Correct Answer:| Only incremental cash flows, which are the cash flows that would result if a project is accepted, are relevant when making accept/reject decisions. | | | | | Question 25 0 out of 2 points | | | Which one of the following would NOT result in incremental cash flows and thus should NOT be included in the capital budgeting analysis for a new product? Answer | | | | | Selected Answer:| Using some of the firm’s high-quality factory floor space that is currently unused to produce the proposed new product.This space could be used for other products if it is not used for the project under consideration. | Correct Answer:| The cost of a study relating to the market for the new product that was completed last year. The results of this research were positive, and they led to the tentative decision to go ahead with the new product. The cost of the research was incurred and expensed for tax purposes last year. | | | | | Question 26 2 out of 2 points | | | The relative risk of a proposed project is best accounted for by which of the following procedures?Answer | | | | | Selected Answer:| Adjusting the discount rate upward if the project is judged to have above-average risk. | Correct Answer:| Adjusting the discount rate upward if the pro ject is judged to have above-average risk. | | | | | Question 27 2 out of 2 points | | | Dalrymple Inc. is considering production of a new product. In evaluating whether to go ahead with the project, which of the following items should NOT be explicitly considered when cash flows are estimated?Answer | | | | | Selected Answer:| The company has spent and expensed for tax purposes $3 million on research related to the new detergent. These funds cannot be recovered, but the research may benefit other projects that might be proposed in the future. | Correct Answer:| The company has spent and expensed for tax purposes $3 million on research related to the new detergent. These funds cannot be recovered, but the research may benefit other projects that might be proposed in the future. | | | | | Question 28 2 out of 2 points | | Which of the following should be considered when a company estimates the cash flows used to analyze a proposed project? Answer | | | | | Selected Answer:| The new p roject is expected to reduce sales of one of the company’s existing products by 5%. | Correct Answer:| The new project is expected to reduce sales of one of the company’s existing products by 5%. | | | | | Question 29 2 out of 2 points | | | Langston Labs has an overall (composite) WACC of 10%, which reflects the cost of capital for its average asset.Its assets vary widely in risk, and Langston evaluates low-risk projects with a WACC of 8%, average-risk projects at 10%, and high-risk projects at 12%. The company is considering the following projects: Project Risk Expected Return A High 15% B Average 12% C High 11% D Low 9% E Low 6% Which set of projects would maximize shareholder wealth? Answer | | | | | Selected Answer:| A, B, and D. | Correct Answer:| A, B, and D. | | | | | Question 30 2 out of 2 points | | | Which one of the following would NOT result in incremental cash flows and thus should NOT be included in the capital budgeting analysis for a new product?Answer | | | | | Selected Answer:| A firm has spent $2 million on R&D associated with a new product. These costs have been expensed for tax purposes, and they cannot be recovered regardless of whether the new project is accepted or rejected. | Correct Answer:| A firm has spent $2 million on R&D associated with a new product. These costs have been expensed for tax purposes, and they cannot be recovered regardless of whether the new project is accepted or rejected. | | | | | Thursday, November 17, 2011 11:33:19 PM EST OK

College Education Essay

College education essentially is the key to success in the future. It opens many doors of opportunity and allows us to explore every option available. College education can provide a student with many more new and exciting opportunities that they never would have had if they drop out at high school. College education is important because you need a degree in order to get a good job or a stable career. I’d like to talk of some of the benefits that furthering your education can provide. It is common for students in high school to wonder if college education is really important. Many high school students don’t enjoy their school life, so it is little wonder that when they have the chance to leave education many of them are tempted. However the importance of college education, as well as the huge differences to high school, should not be overlooked. Many students don’t know what they want to do with their life yet, thats why I feel everyone should go to college. In college you can learn about things you are really interested in and pinpoint what you want to do in life. In high school you can’t really do this so many students don’t know the opportunities they can fulfill. Lastly, these days if you don’t have a college education it’s likely that you won’t make it very far in life. Businesses today only want the smartest people working for them, so they always overlook the drop outs and people that never went to college. If you want to make a good amount of money and be successful I strongly encourage you to go to college and get a good education. I would say this is the most important reason to go to college. In today’s economy I believe going to college is the best decision you can make. having a good education has so many great aspects. Never overlook getting a quality education, it will always do you good in the longrun.

Keirla essays

Keirla essays Keirlas tail swooshed back and forth angrily as she stared at the small, cluttered room before her. Boxes were piled around her so that there was barely any room to stand. Keirlas claws flashed as she swiped at an empty box beside her. The shredded cardboard rained to the ground in a manner much like confetti. A tear sprang to her eye as she thought of her mother who, in seeing this, wouldve rushed to her side to find out what was wrong and comfort her. But that would never happen again, her mother was gone now, and there wasnt anything she could do about it. Keirla lay in her bed remembering when she first moved here to Dufur, Oregon and when she had found out about her mother. Keirlas Irish accent still lingered and Keirla imagined that it would for many years to come, but that was the only thing that she had left of her past, her heritage. Keirla could now, at the age of 16 only barely remember her mother, she had been only 5 when her mother had died. Now, eleven years had passed and Keirla was now moving to a new high school, full of new people. Keirla hoped to have better luck at her new school, at her previous one, Keirla had been expelled for fighting with another student. Keirla had had no friends in or out of school, but hopefully, that would all be over in the morning. Tomorrow, she started at her new high school. It was 3 in the morning and Keirla couldnt sleep, it was not the new school jitters or fantasizing about the male population of the school or anything like that. Keirla was not a normal teen, or a normal Kitania (cat people) at that. Keirla had the ears, tail and attitude of a tiger. She stood about 52, rather short for her age and breed, she had long, straight, jet black hair that fell to her knees, her eyes were a fierce yellow and her skin was as pale as death itself. ...

10 of the Best Jobs in Retail Nationwide

10 of the Best Jobs in Retail Nationwide Considering a job in retail? Hoping to find a workplace that treats you fairly and can maybe even lead to a full-time career? Maybe you’ve never even thought of making a career in the retail field, but the great news is there were several retail companies listed in this year’s Employees’ Choice Awards by Glassdoor and on Fortune’s Great Place to Work list. If retail might be a job (or even the job) for you, then you might want to consider these 10 companies first.1. Wegman’sThis food market chain in the mid-Atlantic and New England graces both lists. Employees say it looks out for its employees and offers great benefits- including extra holiday pay, time-and-a-half, and flexible hours. The company seems to truly value their employees and encourage them to advance within the company. (Glassdoor score out of 5: 4.2.)2. IKEAIKEA also gets a Glassdoor 4.2 for encouraging a friendly work environment and providing great benefits- including education assis tance, health care, holiday gatherings, and a flexible and supportive environment for working mothers.3. LululemonAgain: 4.2 from the Glassdoor list. Lululemon offers fabulous perks for the fitness oriented like free workouts, an enticing corporate culture, and career counseling.4. AppleAnother 4.2 from Glassdoor, Apple offers competitive pay, a yearly bonus, great benefits, and a work environment that is consistently rated on top 10  lists.5. QuikTripQuikTrip makes both lists, as well. Employees consistently mention a sense of community and a supportive work environment, plus good benefits, full-time weekly hours, a stable schedule, and a focus on not only employee well-being and growth, but also charitable giving. Glassdoor score: 4.2.6. CarMaxCarMax employees describe this company work environment like a family, with supervisors and managers nurturing employee’s ambitions to further their careers. There’s an emphasis on fun, respect, and integrity in the workplace .7. PatagoniaPatagonia also gets a great rep for as a workplace that feels like family, with employees consistently  writing glowing reviews. Employees also cite their appreciation for the company’s policies, goals, and ideals aligning with theirs on a social and environmental level. Employees also cite a sense of leadership that  nurtures the needs of their workers.8. In-N-Out BurgerThis West Coast burger chain out gets a whopping 4.4 on the Glassdoor scale, mostly for being a busy work environment where time seems to fly. It offers lots of opportunities for advancement, plus a very friendly and positive culture.9. Build-A-Bear WorkshopBuild-A-Bear is highly praised by its employees for the respect and empathy with which the company treats its employees. Employees say it feels like a family and that the warmth with which they interact with customers is almost always genuine. It’s a great place to turn a part-time job into a lifelong career.10. Publix SupermarketsP ublix employees consistently rave about the culture of respect and teamwork at this supermarket chain. Coworkers feel like family, and employees feel as though the management treats them support and dignity.

Annotated bibliography ( Professional research and evaluation ) Essay

Annotated bibliography ( Professional research and evaluation ) - Essay Example Hess, J., Rothgeb, J. and Zukerberg, A. (1997) Survey of program dynamics pretest evaluation report [Internet], Survey of Program Dynamics, US Census Bureau. Available from [Accessed 13 March 2012]. In order to check whether a survey questionnaire would be able to obtain necessary information as well as being easy for adolescents and pre-adolescents to answer them under a specific timeframe, pre-testing them in various sample populations were necessary, as explained by the authors. Pensoneau-Conway, S.L. and Toyosaki, S. (2011) Automethodology: tracing a home for praxis-oriented ethnography. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 10 (4), pp. 378-400. This article showed how not detaching oneself from a group being studied could give a whole new perspective to ethnographic studies, such as showing a sense of self, home, and culture and putting oneself in the other’s shoes, instead of just being an onlooker. Rodriguez, K.L., Schwartz, J.L., Lahman, M.K.E. and Geist, M.R. (2011) Culturally responsive focus groups: refraining the research experience to focus on participants. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 10 (4), pp. 400-418. The use of focus groups is very relevant, especially in qualitative research in social sciences. This article discusses how using culturally responsive researches can give respondents a chance to show their true selves, thus giving a better picture of the views and ideas of different groups, especially marginalized cultures. Sakshaug, J.W., Yan, T. and Tourangeau, R. (2010) Nonresponse error, measurement error, and mode of data collection: tradeoffs in a multi-mode survey of sensitive and non-sensitive items. Public Opinion Quarterly [Internet], 74 (5), pp. 907-933. Available from [Accessed 14 March 2012]. The authors were able to discuss the other side of surveys, which is the correction of errors obtained during sampling. The relationships between the administration style of the survey and the type of errors most likely to occur were also presented, as well as possible ways to reduce them. Schonlau, M., Fricker, R.D. and Elliott, M.N. (2002) Conducting research surveys via e-mail and the web, Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation Internet survey is considered one of the cheapest forms of surveying since there is less effort to implement it. However, certain considerations must be made in order for its success, such as appropriateness, sample size and sensitivity of the issue at hand. This book assesses the problems and the solutions for internet survey to work. Smart, C. (2011) Ways of knowing: crossing species boundaries. Methodological Innovations Online [Internet], 6(3), pp. 27-38. Available from [Accessed 13 March 2012]. In order to control a horse, not only does the handler recognise visual cues but also subconsciously read the horse’s movements, and react accordingly to it. Over time it becomes automatic for the handler, who reacts to the horse’

Theatre Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Theatre - Essay Example He had what was described as a rough childhood as he was often described as being effeminate which his father, an alcoholic did not approve of, and his mother was described as being bipolar. Tennessee had a close relationship with his sister ‘Rose’ who later in life was discovered to be schizophrenic and spent much of her life in mental institutions. It was the case that Tennessee’s fear of falling into madness would plague him in later life and ultimately lead him into alcoholism and drug abuse. Rose ultimately had a lobotomy performed on her which left her more or less docile for the rest of her life. When Tennessee was young, his family moved to St. Louis where he attended Soldan High School . It became clear at an early age that Tennessee was a gifted writer and won a number of small awards for his short stories and plays. Tennessee attended the University of Misouri, Washington University, and the University of Iowa where he completed his undergraduate studies but by the late 1930’s he was studying and living in New York City. Probably what proved to be most influential on the writings of Tennessee Williams was living in New Orleans where in the late 1940’s he began writing a Streetcar named Desire arguably one of his most famous works. It was during this time that Tennessee began a homosexual relationship wit a man named Frank Merlo. As one recognizes from the works of Tennessee Williams it is the case that he often used alcoholism, mental health issues, and homosexuality as cornerstones of his works. However it was during the time that Tennessee was living with Merlo that he arguably completed his most notable works, arguably this is owing to the relative stability that this relationship brought to his life. According to the library at thinkquest (2010) it is the case that Williams had published thirty eight plays, nine works of fiction, and