Thursday, August 27, 2020

The Welfare State - A Cost Benefit Analysis Essays -

The Welfare State - A Cost Benefit Analysis The Welfare State - A Cost Benefit Analysis The job of government assistance inside our general public has consistently been dubious. This issue accentuates the need to comprehend the jobs of variable elements when relating to the subject of government assistance inside our general public. The proposed examination will address the marvel of government assistance help and a few components which may add to the expansion or abatement of government assistance help to the poor in 4 different ways: (1) by characterizing significant ideas and some other ideas about which there is probably going to misconstrue (2) by further analyzing the previous history relating to the subject of government assistance help inside the United States; (3) by building up the plan of a speculation which will accommodate a clarification of government assistance; lastly (4) deciding if the advantages of government assistance help exceed the expense. At last, the motivation behind this exploration examination is to research variable factors that may add to the expansion or decline of government assistance help. This money saving advantage investigation is an endeavor to clarify the speculative suppositions of others relating to the subject of government assistance, so as to decide and clarify the relationship of government assistance to the financial expense and advantages. Money saving advantage Analysis Before government assistance help can be broke down there is a need to characterize the terms that will be utilized. Arrangements like government assistance help are beneficial just if the advantages to society are more prominent than the expenses. While picking among a lot of approaches, the arrangement with the best net (advantage over expense) ought to be picked. Consequently, this is the place the term money saving advantage examination originates from. Money saving advantage investigation is a method for deciding the ideal degree of a monetary action, for example, government assistance. When all is said in done, a movement, for example, government assistance help ought to be extended as long as it prompts more prominent advantages than costs. In simply monetary terms, does the advantage of government assistance help legitimize the expenses of government assistance help? (Mishan 13) Why Use Cost-advantage Analysis? Since 1981, government offices have been required to perform money saving advantage investigations called Regulatory Impact Analyses (RIA's) for every single significant guideline inside the United States. Numerous resolutions necessitate that money saving advantage investigation be embraced and the outcomes be accounted for to Congress (Mishan 2). Money saving advantage examination can likewise be a decent method to gauge how successful an approach, for example, government assistance help has been, or to discover manners by which a program can be improved. However, paying little heed to how it is utilized, the planning of a money saving advantage examination gives a helpful structure to thought of the potential impacts of a proposed approach. Previous History of Welfare Assistance One of the main government assistance projects to give salary backing to the poor was a governmentally sponsored arrangement called the Aid to Dependent Children (ADC) program. This enactment was presented with the foundation of the Social Security program during the Great Depression. (Rowley, and Peacock 43) The ADC program which had begun about sixty years prior is presently also called the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program, which gave a government qualification to monetary help for single guardians with youngsters more youthful than 18 who fell beneath an edge of advantages and salary (Rowley, and Peacock 44). Government rules considered each state to set its own foreordained needs norms for groups of various sizes and living areas. Both the national government and the states provided financing for the AFDC program (Rowley, and Peacock 50). In 1996 Congress received the Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) program by authorizing the Personal Responsibility a nd Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act which eventually changed the structure of government monetary help to the states along these lines nullifying the AFDC program. Another social government assistance program was the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. Congress set up the Supplemental Security Income program in 1972, with installments starting in January 1974. It supplanted the previous Federal-State projects of Old-Age Assistance (OAA), Aid to the Blind (AB), and Aid to the Permanently and Totally Disabled (APTD)( Myles, and Pierson 9). An individual may have equipped for installments based on age, visual deficiency, or handicap. Any individual matured 65 or more established was additionally qualified. President Richard Nixon established the Supplemental Security Income program with the marking of the Supplemental Social Insurance Act. The advantages under

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Rebuilding the Virginia Department of Transportation Essay -- Leadersh

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is among the biggest of state offices and holds a national notoriety as an innovator in street security and development going back to the mid 1920's. VDOT additionally has a past filled with being decided as the most expert state office that is - until the 1990's, when buyouts and governmental issues shook the office's piece and compromised its open notoriety. The office lost a huge number of veteran representatives who might end up being imperative resources and they started to see a decrease in incomes. With the powerlessness to convey the quality development and upkeep program they were once known for, unmistakably new authority and a total rebuilding was required. In 2002, Phillip Shucet was designated magistrate of VDOT, bringing his private-division business experience curious to see what happens. His assignment end up being a troublesome one and he was confronted with numerous difficulties including: the executives and authorita tive conduct, general and explicit ecological variables, and persuasive issues. (Virginia Department of Transportation: Trying to Keep Virginia Moving.) Section 1 The essential issue of VDOT is that managers do not have the capacity to finish street extends on schedule. In general, VDOT experiences a hardship of prescience, order, control, coordination and association (Oke, 2011). The traditional methodology of managerial standards will give a line of unlimited correspondence between VDOT field laborers and official administration. The managerial standards approach will likewise guide pioneers to convey their assets through order guideline; by providing requests to individuals from one source (Oke, 2011). In this manner, bringing together comparable exercises and errands under one administrator; expanding synchronize... ...partment of Transportation: Trying to Keep Virginia Moving. 2011. Recovered from http://dm.darden.virginia.edu/vdot/studentWeb/content/videoList.htm 6 Steps to Insanely Successful Business Goals for 2013 http://www.forbes.com/locales/alanhall/2012/12/08/6-strides to-madly fruitful business-objectives for-2013/ http://library.gcu.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=22466052&site=ehost-live&scope=siteâ © 2013. State University. All Rights Reserved. Oke, R. (Ed.). (2011). Hierarchical conduct and the board. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Custom Learning Solutions. Exclusively (compressed) content ISBN-13: 9780470942710 Sternberg, B., and Weitzel, S. R. (2001). Key Point Summary. Defining Your Development Goals: Start With Your Values, 29-30. Yemen. G and Clawson. J (2005), Virginia Department of Transportation: Trying To Keep Virginia Moving

Friday, August 21, 2020

How to set H1 tag, Meta tag and Description for visibility on Search Engine

How to set H1 tag, Meta tag and Description for visibility on Search Engine H1 tag and Meta tag and description is important part of SEO (Search engine Optimization). Because through those tags and description Search Engine can easily understand your blog or website and collect information for relevant search crawl. Though this is a basic concept of SEO but it has a strong effects on Search Engine. Without title tags and Meta description you cant start your journey on SEO (Search engine Optimization). Because without Meta tag and description Search engine wont understand what the niche follow your site. So I will show you simple and effective procedure to set Meta tag and description first and then I will show you how to set H1 tag for your blog. Before that see my Blog's Meta Tag and Description status in Search Engine- Setting up Meta tag Meta tag is also known as your blog title. Suppose my blog name is Blogger Spice so I can set this name as Meta tag. However you can add some extra line or keywords with your Meta tag because it would better for SEO and search engine visibility. Using relevant keywords with Meta tag search engine will love to display your blog frequently. Suppose in my blog I have added Blogger Spice | Blogger Tips | Tricks | Widgets | SEO | Earn Money | Blogger Templates Meta tag should be within 66 words which will appear best way in Search Engine. So here if any visitor search for Blogger Templates then there is a chance to show my blog name on higher SERPs (Search Engine Result Pages). Though my blog name is Blogger SpiceBut I will able to divert some traffic due to use of some keywords. If you write my blog name on Google search engine then you would see some keywords will appear with my blog name. Setting up Meta Description In terms of Meta description works fine just like Meta tag. When your blog name will appear on SERPs then it will not only display your blog name or Meta tag but also it will display little description about your blog or website. And any visitor can easily understand what the main subject of your blog is. Suppose I can write on Meta description like below- Get Latest Blogging tips, tricks, Blogger widget and free premium template everyday You can write up to 145 words as Meta description. Where to Put the Meta tag and Description To put the Meta tag and Description on right place please follow the below steps- Step 1Log in to your Blogger account and Go to yourBlogger Dashboard Step 2Go to yourSettings-Basic-Edittab. Step 3Now Write your Meta tag here. and Click on Save Changes. Step 4Now again Click onDescription-Edit. Step 5Now Write your Meta Description here. and Click onSave Changes. How to write H1 tag H1 tag is same as title tag or Meta tag. Just repeat your Meta tag and add an extra opening and closing H1 tag. h1Your H1 Tag Here/h1 You can also add Title tag after H1 tag. See it on above image. Now I will explain where to place this H1 tag. Just follow the simple steps from below. Step 1Log in to your Bloggeraccount and Go to yourBloggerDashboard Step 2Click on Now click on-Template-Edit HTML- Unfold code Step 3Now Find thiscodeHeadby pressingCtrl+F Step 4Copy theH1 Tag from below and Paste it Below/afterHead h1titleYour H1 Tag Here/title/h1 Step 4Now hit on Save Button Hope this article will help your to place your H1 tag, Meta tag and Description on right place and it would help you to get higher position on SERPs. If you feel any difficulty then feel free to contact with us.

Monday, May 25, 2020

Enron Research Paper - 2224 Words

Enron Research Paper In 2001, the world was shocked by the demise of Enron, a multibillion dollar corporation that had thousands of employees and people that had affiliations with the company including The White House itself. Because of the financial chaos and destroyed lives and reputations this catastrophe left in its path, questions arose concerning how exactly it happened, why it occurred, and who was behind it. It is essential to understand how this multibillion dollar corporation rose to power and later imploded. Enron itself was born as the result of Houston’s Natural Gas and InterNorth, a gas based pipeline company from Nebraska in 1985. In the final analysis, the conspiracy of Kenneth Lay, Jeffery Skilling, and others, including†¦show more content†¦Beyond the dollars and cents, the Enron catastrophe offers a new textbook example of failed ethics in business. Individuals are responsible for their actions; unethical or illegal individual actions are systems of systemic problems, a nd Enron’s system of accountability, oversight, ethical disclosure and corporate concerns were flawed. The corporate culture at Enron exemplified values of risk taking, aggressive growth, and entrepreneurial creativity. Although these can be positive values, they were not balanced by genuine attention to corporate integrity and value. Since the culture at Enron was not wellShow MoreRelatedEnron Research Paper3111 Words   |  13 PagesTHE COLLAPSE OF ENRON amp; THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SARBANES OXLEY ACT BY TREVOR GARRETT 02/25/2011 Abstract Enron Corporation was one of the largest energy trading, natural gas and Utilities Company in the world that was based in Huston, Texas. The downfall of Enron is one of the most infamous and shocking events in the financial world, and its reverberations were felt around the globe. Prior to its collapse in 2001, Enron was one of the leading companies in the U.S and considered amongRead MoreEthics in Accounting1196 Words   |  5 PagesEthics in Accounting By Pace University – New York Accounting for Decision Making, MBA 640 Fall 2011 Required Research Paper Page 1 of 11 Table of Contents Number Content Page Number 1 Introduction 3 2 Ethics in Accounting 4 3 Enron Scandal 6 4 Satyam Scandal 8 5 Conclusion 10 6 References 11 Page 2 of 11 Introduction †¢ What is â€Å"Ethics†? Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questionsRead MoreFailure Of Responsible Management : Enron Corporation1645 Words   |  7 Pageswhich failure of responsible management. The Enron Corporation is an example, because Enron event is the typical case for organization failure of responsible management In the end of 2001, Enron scandal has been disclosure, Enron stock prices slumped, and its financial tricks was exposed. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) began survey of company s records. Enron’s auditor ‘Arthur Andersen ‘destroys relevant documents. (Ailon, G. 2011) Enron was bankruptcy in December 2001, and became theRead MoreUniversity of Phoenix Organizational Culture1133 Words   |  5 Pagesis the case with the Enron Corporation, a once massive energy company that suffered arguably the most horrific financial collapse in American history. The Enron failure began with the development of a flawed corporate (organizational) culture, and was fulfilled by the constant reinforcement of that culture. From the top down, Enron s corporate culture damned the company s successes and ensured it for eventual collapse. It must by noted that while the collapse of the Enron Corporation was dynamicRead MoreThe Ethics Of The Enron Case1407 Words   |  6 PagesThe Enron case is a very popular case to show how the profession of accounting is vital to make the corporate world of business flow reliably. Enron was recognized as one of the world’s major electricity, natural gas, communications and pulp and paper’s company. However Enron was found to record assets and profits at inflated, fraudulent and non-existent amounts. Debts and losses were found to be excluded from financial statements along with other major transactions between Enron and other companiesRead MoreEssay on Analysis of the Enron/Arthur Anderson Scandal1558 Words   |  7 PagesEnron and Arthur Anderson were both giants in their own industry. Enron, a Texas based company in the energy trading business, was expanding rapidly in both domestic and global markets. Arthur Anderson, LLC. (Anderson), based out of Chicago, was wel l established as one of the big five accounting firms. But the means by which they achieved this status became questionable and eventually contributed to their demise. Enron used what if often referred to as â€Å"creative† accounting methods, this resultedRead MoreThe Importance Of Accounting As Well As Ethics1442 Words   |  6 Pagesknow it would be an honest mistake. They all have the upmost confidence in their accountants to have the professionalism and competence to be able to catch the mistakes that are made. Secondly and perhaps most important and relevant to the case of Enron and Andersen, they all stated the obvious. The easiest way for a scandal like this never to occur is to ensure the people at the top of the organization such as the CEO, CFO, Founders, and COO all have the proper ethical training and moral values.Read MoreReasons for Enrons Business Failure1434 Words   |  6 PagesEnron - Reasons for Business Failure Abstract Various major companies in the past have witnessed unimaginable growth of their businesses, but some of them eventually had to succumb to downfall as their business models failed. Most of these businesses had been deemed as failures due to the management methods, leadership practices and flawed organizational structures. This research paper aims to focus on Enron, a large entity as a failed model of business. This would be achieved by discussing aboutRead MoreEnron And Its Impact On Enron s Downfall Essay1492 Words   |  6 PagesAbstract recent collapses of high profile business failures like Enron,Worldcom,Parmlat,and Tycohasbeen a subject of great debate among regulators, investors, government and academics in the recent past. Enron’s case was the greatest failure in the history of American capitalism and had a major impact on financial markets by causing significant losses to investors. Enron was a company ranked by Fortune as the most innovative company in the United States; it exemplified the transition from the productionRead MoreEnron And The Enron Scandal1588 Words   |  7 PagesEnron was a corporation located in Houston, Texas and in just fifteen years the US energy trading and utilities company grew to become one of America’s largest and more successful cooperation’s. Enron suffered a major fall. After being one of the most successful corporations Enron became the biggest company to file bankruptcy in history. In this research paper it will discuss about the history of Enron, the frau d committed and who is to blame. The historical development of white collar crime in the

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Native Americans And American History - 1396 Words

Native Americans have remained a prominent aspect of American history; not just a history of the people, but a history of the land and the extensive traditions that shadowed it, like footprints in the sand. However, when the Europeans staggered over with indifference towards the natives and their unusual customs, a conflict erupted that dates back hundreds of years and continues into the present. As the United States grew further more intolerant of the natives, the daring judgment to either assimilate into the American society, or face extinction of the Indian race and culture was presented. Some natives elected to conform to American culture, while abandoning their Indian heritage. Like immigrants, who presently migrate into America,†¦show more content†¦The Society’s pleas to the federal government proved successful when Congress created the Indian Claims Commission, which would settle Native grievances with the American government, in 1946 (2). As the years persis ted, so did the transformation of the Cherokee people, noted as the â€Å"Cherokee Culture Change† in the 1800s. In 1804, the Moravians opened a school, which taught Cherokee children how to be â€Å"civilized†. The children were taught how to speak, dress, and practice Christianity. The young boys were instructed on farming techniques, and the adolescent girls were trained to be docile and submissive (3). One of the most ingenious adaptions to the American society was the system of writing for the official Cherokee language. Sequoyah crafted eighty-six symbols for each sound, consequently enabling numerous Cherokees to learn how to read and write. Adding on to their countless accomplishments from assimilation into American culture, the Cherokee commenced the launch of the Cherokee Phoenix, a newspaper which expressed the opinions, viewpoints, and rich history of the Cherokee Nation(3). The most significant reasoning for the Natives’ assimilation into American society was a desire for an advanced life; disassociated from the worsening conditions on the reservations, and the fatal massacres brought

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Diabetes Mellitus Affects Over 20 Million People - 1305 Words

â€Å"Diabetes Mellitus affects over 20 million people in the United States, although approximately 25% of those are underdiagnosed with the condition. More than 50 million people have what is called â€Å"prediabetes,† a condition in which they have a blood glucose higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed with Diabetes Mellitus, and 35,000 people die from it each year. Diabetes Mellitus is classified into several categories† (Sommers). Diabetes can be summarized as simply as a lifetime condition of high blood sugar levels. However, it is more complex than that. People with diabetes face many symptoms such as constant thirst and hunger. Also, often time’s diabetics will gain or lose a noticeable amount of weight. Along with that,†¦show more content†¦Diabetes is most often caused by heredity, more specially chromosome six, however obesity, acute tension, other disorders can put a person at a greater risk. If diabetes continues to go on not treated it can lead to death. According to Watkins, in ABC of Diabetes, someone with diabetes should, â€Å"Use complex carbohydrates as the main energy source rather than fat or protein, while, avoiding filling up with fatty foods such as cheese or meat containing high saturated fat levels, along with eating fish, especially oily fish. Also, use olive oil in cooking, and always keep sugar to a minimum.† (p.40) There are three main types of diabetes known as Type 1, Type 2, and Gestation diabetes. However, they all have one thing in common, if a person’s body does not break down sugars and carbohydrates into glucose, then the cells will not be able to take insulin and use it at energy. In some cases a person’s body may even produce the insulin, but reasons unknown cannot use the insulin. The least common type of diabetes is known as Type 1. â€Å"The classic symptoms of diabetes emerge when approximately 90% of the ÃŽ ² cells in the islets have been destroyed. Although characteristically such symptoms have a relatively sudden onset, the initiating pathophysiological process leading to the clinical emergence of type 1 diabetes may occur over a prolonged period of time†(Scobie). It affects mostly children and adolescents. It is more commonly known for the

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Highly emotional scene Essay Example For Students

Highly emotional scene Essay An Inspector Calls by JB Priestley is a drama in which there is a highly emotional scene. The play is set in 1912 but was written in 1944.  The play begins with the celebration of Sheila Birling and Gerald Crofts engagement. Suddenly, it is interrupted by the arrival of Inspector Goole. He begins asking each family member questions about a girl named Eva Smith who had recently committed suicide. One by one, it is revealed that they all had some involvement with the girl and ultimately, contributed to the girls death. The most emotional scene in the play is when Sheila Birling hears of the horrible death of Eva Smith. As the plot unfolds, she finds herself more involved with her death than previously thought. She then finds out that her fiancà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½e also knew the girl, as he had spent the previous summer with her using her as his mistress.  Sheila, normally a very excitable and complacent girl, immediately becomes upset when she hears of Evas death. (Distressed) I went to the manager at Milwards and I told him that if they didnt get rid of that girl, Id never go near the place again and Id persuade mother to close our account with them.  The stage directions instantly inform us that Sheila is anxious and distraught about what she has done. The long sentence also emphasises the panic and unease she feels as she explains herself. At this point it is clear to see that Sheila is justifying her actions and taking no responsibility.  When Sheila begins to realise that she has done something wrong she takes responsibility and simultaneously, shows hurt and remorse. Yes, but it didnt seem to be anything very terrible at the time. Do you understand? And if I could help her now, I would.  This quote conveys her pleading with her audience. The rhetorical question Do you understand? shows her sheer desperation for forgiveness. She understands she has treated the girl wrongly and wants the Inspector to see it from her point of view. Her regret is genuine. The dialogue shows us that only now, does she see how her behaviour was wrong. At this point, the audience can start to sympathise with Sheila and she did not realise her actions were going to lead to the eventual death of the girl and she is truly sorry. After Sheila calms down, the Inspector goes on to say that Eva Smith then changed her name to Daisy Renton. Sheilas fiancà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½e Gerald startles What? From this response we learn that he too, knew the girl who killed herself. Sheila is angered to find out this news.  Well Gerald? How did you come to know this girl Eva Smith? Daisy Renton then its the same thing? Sheilas interrogation of Gerald shows her despair and impatience to find out the truth. We already knew she had her suspicions and now she wants to get to the bottom of things. The irritable tone of this dialogue highlights the tension and emotion that Sheila is feeling in this scene. It shows how worried she is and is thinking the worst of her fiancà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½e. As an audience, you would feel her angst and want to find out about Geralds involvement with the girl. In conclusion, my analysis has shown that An Inspector Calls by JB Priestley is a play in which there is a highly emotional scene. Throughout the scene, we see an extremely distressed and upset Sheila in contrast to the rather unfeeling older members of the Birling family. This was purposely carried out by Priestley in order to get across his message that hope lies with the younger generation as they have more compassion for one another. He believes that hope for the future lies with the youth of society as they are more open to change and can make the world a more caring one.

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Clevelands Poor Economy and Deplorable Housing Conditions

Introduction Plans to attain a stable regional future for Cleveland are surrounded by so many challenges. Policies that are exclusionary and discriminatory, complex urban disinvestment as well as the divided and inconsistent suburban growth that gives rise to segregation are part of these challenges.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Cleveland’s Poor Economy and Deplorable Housing Conditions specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More These challenges and associated complexities of Cleveland city have left the metropolitan region dry and almost lifeless. There are heightened disparities within the City of Cleveland that have led to unstable social, economic and health facets of Cleveland’s City. In addition, competition in the region is dangerously eminent. This paper aims to understand how the once highly accredited city in Ohio is now fighting to restructure its current poor economy and deplorable housing cond itions. Present Demographic The population of Cleveland is low at an estimated 438, 042 in 2007 and is expected to further decline (Cleveland Land Lab, 2008). According to Mallach Brachman (2010), Cleveland’s population is less than 50% of what it initially used to be. The worst part is that the population continues to decrease and the situation is not presumed to get any better. Close to 3,300 acres of land are empty space and around15, 000 buildings are vacant. As if this is not enough, current demolishes and fires are consuming the already derelict structures. Most people have deserted the urban core and moved to the edges of the city even after a long-term investment within the heart of Cleveland. Growth on the fringes of the city gives rise to radical and high living standards due to a high need for city services, high taxes and diminishing rural outlook. The mansions that once made up John hay neighborhood do not exist. The Euclid Avenue of Aristocrats is forlorn-looki ng with long blocks of empty buildings, factories and lots. It is apparently clear that population loss has led to a declined economy for Cleveland. Currently, very few residents are foreign and fewer of the residents have achieved tertiary education. Housing According to â€Å"The Plain Dealer† by Lubinger (1992), mortgage rates were at their lowest in 20 years during this time. Housing has been at the heart of issues in Cleveland, escalated by the formidable foreclosures that continue to become worse to the extent of house abolishment (Kotlowitz, 2009). Either one of the following reasons lead to foreclosure as indicated by Mikelbank Post (2011): â€Å"the sale was a sheriff’s sale; the house had sold at a sheriff’s sale in the last 2 years; and the house had a foreclosure filing against it in the last 2 years†. There is obviously substantial land that is unused and various buildings have no one residing in them. This is due to the harsh reality of pop ulation and job loss. The following exhibit illustrates the prices of housing in Cleveland’s submarkets.Advertising Looking for essay on african american? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The exhibit evidently shows that the housing price in Cleveland city is less by half than that of the suburbs. Other than a clear split of the city versus suburbs, there are distinct features denoting the comparison between the two markets (Mikelbank Post, 2011). Also, there have been peculiar price changes, which raised concern among the residents, as obviously indicated by the exhibit. The foreclosure filings are higher in the suburbs than in the city. These have partly led to the lowered rates in housing prices and changed ways of doing business. Low housing prices might have also resulted from the economic crisis that hit the land. Social The current status of Cleveland has stemmed from a social and historical past marked by discri mination and exclusion across race and class during planning of state affairs. The current status of the African Americans in Cleveland is poor and is getting worse with each passing day (Blackwell, Bullard, Ferris Powell, 2007). Unemployment and low wages/income, lack of education and sprawl are the attributive factors for these poor conditions. Cleveland has a strong health care industry but the marginalized African American group is not able to access adequate and quality health care. Economic Cleveland is struggling with its many challenges in the attainment of a stable economy. Currently, Cleveland is undergoing decentralization of jobs and individuals as they move to the fringes of the suburban areas from the urban core. The economy of Cleveland has now become a service economy; the humming machines that once occupied the riverside are now replaced by white suburbanites enjoying their night (Keating, Krumholz, Perry, 1995). There is a decline of the once renowned industrial zone of Cleveland, jobs and population while dominance of the suburbs prevails. Cleveland does not fit to get into global competition because of disinvestment and disparities in education, which are very obvious within the entire region. As a result of no robustness in Cleveland’s economy, it becomes impossible to hire and meet business and family needs. Cleveland is the hub of economic struggles in Ohio manifested by loss of jobs and poor population growth. Availability and accessibility to economic opportunities differ due to the prevailing segregation.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Cleveland’s Poor Economy and Deplorable Housing Conditions specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Past Demographic The growth of Cleveland is owed to its strategic location at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River and connecting Ohio River with Lake Erie. It was not until after 1830 that Cleveland’s population began to g row modestly as foreigners arrived in the region. The canal network and railroad supported the evident growth. Cleveland was among the American cities that had a high population of foreigners. However, the systems in place did not do much to bring about integration and desegregation among the different foreign groups. Social Initially, Cleveland was the epitome of cultural diversity. Segregation in Cleveland came about after the Civil War when Millionaires’ Rows such as Euclid Avenue, occupied by wealthy industrialists, became a place for elegant mansions facing Lake Erie (Kotlowitz, 2009). On the other hand, there were the poorest sections of Cleveland, near the work places. Also, ethnic enclaves were evident as new immigrants sought to develop and maintain social and economic networks. These enclaves saw a distinct division among the foreign ethnic groups that were perceived as a threat to the existence of the Native Americans. As a result, there resulted a fight for 100% A mericanism. The adverse effects of this conflict between America and the foreign ethnic groups were labor strikes, inflation, unemployment and race riots. In its eventuality, immigration from Europe was restricted and as an alternative, Cleveland employers sought cheap labor from South America. Cleveland was referred to an â€Å"All America City† because it embraced reforms, streamlined City Council and implemented a recovery strategy that was comprehensive (Keating, Krumholz, Perry, 1995). These would not be achieved if both private and public sectors did not work together. The city also was seen as a representative of American urban change. The locality, economic prosperity and size of Cleveland favored the establishment of a medical school within the region in 1840. A public health officer and a board of health were formed in 1856 when poor sanitation was regarded as an aggravating factor for health problems (Keating, Krumholz, Perry, 1995). The early German and Irish im migrants formed social and economic networks that would help preserve their cultural traditions and beliefs. The Germans developed their own newspaper in 1846 and formed various functional groups. The Irish on the other hand came up with self-help organizations and maintained a religiously Catholic culture. Protestants were the predominant religious group with a total of 34 congregations. There were 8 Catholic and 2 Jewish congregations. At this time, Blacks were few and accounted for less than or 2% of the population. The blacks were scattered and worked as semiskilled or skilled employees. EducationAdvertising Looking for essay on african american? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Education became an issue of interest in 1853 and a Board was formed then. Three years later, the first high school was built. Economic The nineteenth century was the time when Cleveland was in the race for national development. This was between the Civil War and the Great Depression, when most American cities changed from agriculture, business and trade cities to industrial cities. Cleveland was part of this transition and in 1886, Cleveland had become a â€Å"great manufacturing city† (Keating, Krumholz, Perry, 1995). Cleveland underwent various economic changes that are interlinked with the present economic status of Cleveland. Initially, it was the pasture grounds that changed to become a hub for commerce and later as grounds for oil and manufacturing companies. The transition from a mercantile to an industrial city was linked to an influx of ethnic immigration. This was due to economic expansion that attracted Germans and Irish to Cleveland. The Germans managed to secur e stable jobs as skilled workers while the Irish were casual laborers. The Civil War led to the development and growth of Cleveland’s iron industry because its isolation and an excellent transport and communication system transformed it into a production site for war materials. Cleveland witnessed periodic depressions that were mostly followed by wage cuts, strikes and importation of strikebreakers from foreign countries. The First World War changed everything, from the population of young men to European immigration. As a result, the Great Migration was used to counteract the effects of World War I. Labor was obtained from Blacks in the South and their population exponentially increased, increasing by 308% in 10years. 1930 was the year when Cleveland’s prosperity came halting to an end after the great market crash of 29th October 1929. The rate of joblessness shot up rapidly, tax revenues dwindled rapidly yet the demand for shelter food and clothing was adamantly high (Keating, Krumholz, Perry, 1995). During World War II, Cleveland’s population swelled as industrial workers streamed in. The result was inadequate housing leading to overcrowding and overuse, hence creating a base for deterioration in the future. As if this was not enough, the return of servicemen wanting to raise new families aggravated the situation. In the mid-nineteenth century, the living conditions in downtown Cleveland were deteriorating and people were moving to the suburbs (Michney, 2007). In 1978, the situation peaked in Cleveland when it experienced bankruptcy. Cleveland was not able to settle its $14 million debt. In the early 1970s, Ralph J. Perk, who was Carl Stokes’ successor, took heavy loans and sourced money from bonds to cater for operational costs within the city. He also either sold or leased valuable assets of the city. The situation became worse when Dennis J. Kucinich was voted in as mayor in 1978 and default of the debt became a possibility a s local banks did not roll over short term notes. However, George V. Voinovich brought new hope for Cleveland when he became elected as mayor in 1979. Nonetheless, the general situation in Cleveland did not improve nor did Cleveland restore its former glory as one of the best and prosperous cities in America. At the end of the twentieth century, Cleveland had shrunk in population despite ongoing development at the time and the gap between poverty and affluence was wider (Warf Holly, 1997). Future Demographic The loss of population in Cleveland is not something that can be remedied overnight. As a matter of fact, the projected population size is 387, 039 in 2016, a further decline compared to the 2007 estimate (Cleveland Land Lab, 2008). However, it is believed that proper governance and administration would somehow restore the success of former Cleveland. There is a lot of reclaimed land that is idle and is a valuable resource in future developments (The Citizens’ bioregiona l plan for Northeast Ohio, 1999). It is expected that permanent and long-term solutions will be formulated. However, for a start, some short-term holding strategies will be set up to aid in stabilizing the region. Despite the fact that land is available and believed to be a ground for future developments, other factors do not show an auspicious future for Cleveland. Fewer people are an indicator for a weak labor force. Therefore, even if industries are set up, there is no labor available and the one that is available does not qualify to compete in the contemporary world with new technology because the people have achieved little education. Most families are single headed and the high poverty levels within Cleveland do not make the situation any better. The future is somewhat bleak and Cleveland may only have to rely on foreign residents to help in restructuring its economy. Developing land is not the only thing that will help Cleveland. It is important to help the existing populatio n raise its standards of living with a focus on education, health and housing. Only then, such a population will help to build Cleveland despite the alternative of relying on foreigners. Economic It is believed that the core of the urban area will redevelop to host renovated and elegant buildings and this will decline rapidly as an individual moves outside the city. There is likelihood that more job opportunities will be witnessed in the future. However, it is presumed that there will be difficulties trying to match diverse and well educated and well trained individuals to the emerging job opportunities. In addition, it is presumed that most of the job opportunities will be available in the suburbs. However, according to literature like the one from Kerr and Dole (2005), it is obvious that this objective is far from being achieved. Kerr Dole (2005) indicate that laborers are not paid in full commensurate with their labor costs. As a result, the living standards of the Clevelanders that the leaders are inexorably trying to improve will continue to be deplorable at this rate. It is not possible to ask for reforms if people will continue to suffer under the very same people calling for reforms. This article shows that the homeless and a majority of people living in the Cleveland’s shelters were laborers through day-labor agencies (Kerr Dole, 2005). Even though they would be paid the minimum wage or slightly above the minimum wage, this is not adequate to cater for a standard kind of life characterized by the availability and accessibility to social amenities like health care, good education, water and electricity in addition to the basic human needs. As long as some people will continue to get very low income, segregation will be salient and with it in the picture, it is difficult to bring back the former Cleveland. The Service industry that has dominated the region cannot manage to pillar the economy of Cleveland and much less, meet employment demands ( Kerr, 2011). The Plain Dealer by Smith (2013) indicates some of the lessons that Cleveland should learn from Youngstown. Cleveland should learn to utilize what is already in its possession. Social Crime is evident in Cleveland and is an impediment to achieving the future goals of restructuring and renewal. Crime mainly results from poor living conditions and racial discrimination. But, when it occurs, it causes more unrest as involved groups go against one another in a bid to prove their credibility (Durham, 2011). Racial segregation is a great challenge for the auspicious future of Cleveland because as long as racism exists, there will always be demonstrations, riots and strikes that will always bring down the progress of Cleveland as was the case in the 1960s in Hough (Keating, Krumholz, Perry, 1995). Racial struggles consume much of the time that could otherwise be spent on building and developing the state (Jones, 2012; Saatcioglu Carl, 2011). Conclusion Cleveland’s pas t has greatly affected the present Cleveland and will continue to affect its future. The city stemmed from a mere reserve to an industrial city that was viewed as an epitome of success in Ohio and in the entire American region. Unfortunately, when disaster struck, the long-term investment was not spared and everything was lost in a matter of days. Currently, Cleveland is struggling to survive and the future is quite bleak due to the associated challenges. However, all these can be overcome if leaders take a sound, noble, just and reasonable position. References Blackwell, A., Bullard, R., Ferris, D., Powell, J. A. (2007). Regionalism: Growing together to expand opportunity to all. Cleveland, OH: The Presidents’ Council of Cleveland. Cleveland Land Lab. (2008). Re-imagining a more sustainable Cleveland: Citywide strategies for reuse of vacant land. Cleveland: Kent State University. Durham, M. G. (2011). Vicious Assault Shakes Texas Town. Journalism Studies, 14(1), 1-12. Jones , P. (2012). Coming of Age in Cleveland. OAH Magazine of History, 26(1), 7-8. Keating, W. D., Krumholz, N., Perry, D. C. (1995). Cleveland: A Metropolitan reader. Ohio: The Kent State University Press. Kerr, D. (2011). Derelict Paradise: Homelessness and Urban Development in Cleveland, Ohio. Amherst and Boston: University of Massachusetts Press. Kerr, D., Dole, C. (2005). Cracking the Temp Trap: Day Laborers’ Grievances and Strategies for Change in Cleveland, Ohio. Labor Studies journal, 29(4), 87- 108. Kotlowitz, A. (2009, March 8). All boarded up. The New York Times. Web. Lubinger, B. (1992, July 19). Medina county leads in home sales buyers attracted to the area’s low crime rate, schools and large lots. Plain Dealer, The (Cleveland, OH). Web. Mallach, A., Brachman, L. (2010). Ohio’s cities at a turning point: finding the way forward. Washington, DC: Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings. Michney, T. M. (2007). Constrained communities: Black Clevelandâ⠂¬â„¢s experience with World War II public housing. Journal of Social History, 40(4), 933-956. Mikelbank, B. A., Post, C. (2011). Separating the good from the bad from the ugly: Indicators for housing market analysis. A Journal of Policy Development and Research, 13(2), 175-183. Saatcioglu, A., Carl, J. (2011). The discursive turn in school desegregation: National patterns and a case analysis of Cleveland 1973-1998. Social Science History, 35(1), 59-108. Smith, R. L. (2013, March 3). Can Youngstown shift gears from Rust Belt to Tech Belt? Steel, manufacturing, software are building blocks. Plain Dealer, The (Cleveland, OH). Web. The Citizens’ bioregional plan for Northeast Ohio. (1999). EcoCity Cleveland, 6(4-6). Warf, B., Holly, B. (1997). The rise and fall and rise of Cleveland. Annals of the American Academy of Political Social Science, 551, 208-222. This essay on Cleveland’s Poor Economy and Deplorable Housing Conditions was written and submitted by user Jonathon Juarez to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Monday, March 9, 2020

Neurotransmitters Definition and List

Neurotransmitters Definition and List Neurotransmitters are chemicals that cross synapses to transmit impulses from a neuron to another neuron, glandular cell, or muscle cell. In other words, neurotransmitters are used to send signals from one part of the body to another. Over 100 neurotransmitters are known. Many are simply constructed from amino acids. Others are more complex molecules. Neurotransmitters perform many vital functions in the body. For example, they regulate heartbeat, tell the lungs when to breathe, determine the set point for weight, stimulate thirst, affect mood, and control digestion. The synaptic cleft was discovered by Spanish pathologist  Santiago Ramà ³n y Cajal in the early 20th century. In 1921, German pharmacologist Otto Loewi verified that communication between neurons was the result of released chemicals. Loewi discovered the first known neurotransmitter, acetylcholine. How Neurotransmitters Work The axon terminal of a synapse stores neurotransmitters in vesicles. When stimulated by an action potential, synaptic vesicles of a synapse release neurotransmitters, which cross the small distance (synaptic cleft) between an axon terminal and a dendrite via diffusion. When the neurotransmitter binds a receptor at the dendrite, the signal is communicated. The neurotransmitter remains in the synaptic cleft for a short time. Then it is either returned to the presynaptic neuron through the process of reuptake, metabolized by enzymes, or bound to the receptor. When a neurotransmitter binds to a postsynaptic neuron, it can either excite it or inhibit it. Neurons are often connected to other neurons, so at any given time a neuron  may be subject to multiple neurotransmitters. If the stimulus for excitation is greater than the inhibitory effect, the neuron will fire and create an action potential that releases neurotransmitters to another neuron. Thus, a signal is conducted from one cell to the next. Types of Neurotransmitters One method of classifying neurotransmitters is based on their chemical composition. Categories include: Amino acids: ÃŽ ³-aminobutyric acid (GABA), aspartate, glutamate, glycine, D-serineGases: carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), nitric oxide (NO)Monoamines: dopamine, epinephrine, histamine, norepinephrine, serotoninPeptides:  ÃŽ ²-endorphin, amphetamines, somatostatin, enkephalinPurines: adenosine, adenosine triphosphate (ATP)Trace amines: octopamine, phenethylamine, trypramineOther molecules: acetylcholine, anandamideSingle ions: zinc The other major method of categorizing neurotransmitters is according to whether they are excitatory or inhibitory. However, whether a neurotransmitter is excitatory or inhibitory depends on its receptor. For example, acetylcholine is inhibitory to the heart (slows heart rate), yet excitatory to skeletal muscle (causes it to contract). Important Neurotransmitters Glutamate is the most abundant neurotransmitter in humans, used by about half of the neurons in the human brain. It is the primary excitatory transmitter in the central nervous system. One of its functions is to help form memories. Interestingly, glutamate is toxic to neurons. Brain damage or a stroke can lead to an excess of glutamate, killing neurons.GABA is the primary inhibitory transmitter in the vertebrate brain. It helps to control anxiety. GABA deficiency may result in seizures.Glycine is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the vertebrate spinal cord.Acetylcholine stimulates muscles, functions in the autonomic nervous system and sensory neurons, and is associated with REM sleep. Many poisons act by blocking acetylcholine receptors. Examples include botulin, curare, and hemlock. Alzheimers disease is associated with a significant drop in acetylcholine levels.Norepinephrine (noradrenaline) increases heart rate and blood pressure. It is part of the bodys fight or flight syst em. Norepinephrine is also needed to form memories. Stress depletes stores of this neurotransmitter. Dopamine is an inhibitory transmitter associated with the reward center of the brain. Low dopamine levels are associated with social anxiety and Parkinsons disease, while excess dopamine is related to schizophrenia.Serotonin is an inhibitory neurotransmitter involved in mood, emotion, and perception. Low serotonin levels can lead to depression, suicidal tendencies, anger management issues, difficulty sleeping, migraines, and an increased craving for carbohydrates. The body can synthesize serotonin from the amino acid tryptophan, which is found in foods such as warm milk and turkey.Endorphins are a class of molecules similar to opioids (e.g., morphine, heroin) in terms of structure and function. The word endorphin is short for endogenous morphine. Endorphins are inhibitory transmitters associated with pleasure and pain relief. In other animals, these chemicals slow metabolism and permit hibernation.

Saturday, February 22, 2020

Government role in a market economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Government role in a market economy - Essay Example The need of the hour is to have a proper system in place which shall form the basis of immense success for the sake of the organization and hence the government of the land needs to play its quintessential role nonetheless. Moving ahead with the debate, how the government comes into the equation is an interesting debate. This is because the government is usually held responsible for all the actions and undertakings that are being taken on the national level, and thus the brunt is dropped on its head whenever there are serious issues that come to the surface (Rao, 1998). How the government copes with the pressure that is exerted upon it is something that must be understood within the related settings. Proper arrangements should be made to guarantee that these are followed by the organizations within the country, and that success comes about in full circle within the related aegis. The government must give subsidies, lower the taxes and provide relief in different forms – all of which should embody the basis of attaining harmony within a free market economy. ... hat the negativities with regards to the free market structures are taken care of, and if there still exist any further problems, the same are handled in an amicable way. This will resolve the ambiguities that exist within the related fore as well as take care of the free market economic realms in the long run. The government makes sure that the ant-trust laws are reinforced and thus the promulgation of the same would mean success for the sake of the organization in the long run. It would also mean that the government plays its significant part within the protecting of property rights for the free market economic domains and realizes its due role within making the market a freely accessible one. This highlights the proactive role of the government and how it would delve deep into building trust and credibility within its related regimes. The government provides a stable fiscal and monetary environment which shall bring a lot of respect for the government in the long range but what it will really do is to encourage the stakeholders to give in their best time and time again. The political stability is preserved if the government realizes its role towards building the free market scenarios which are indeed something that can go down well within the organizational and indeed the industrial concerns. The role of the free market economic stakeholders is directly dependent on how the government shapes up its own self. If the government realizes its responsibility towards building the economic undertakings, then this would that it is playing its part in a very proactive fashion. However, when this does not happen, there are bound to be serious irregularities. What is most important is to know that such measures would mean failure of the economic undertakings that exist within

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Business law assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Business law assignment - Essay Example e marijuana will still be an illegal drug in other states, businesses are more likely to restrict their operations with Colorado and Washington where it is legal. When it comes to the American legal system, federal law is regarded as a higher authority than state laws as they may not prevail consistently throughout the whole nation, unlike federal law. At many instances, state law comes into conflict with federal law, in which case, a federal preemption is enacted where the state law is invalidated in the light of their inconsistencies (O’Reilly, 72). The legal aspect revolving any business is an important determinant of its activities and operations, as they occur in compliance or in conflict with the state order or law. The legalization of pot opened way for new business and ventures as investments poured into the relatively infant area of legalized business activity. One aspect of marijuana legalization is the end of illegal criminal activity associated with underground marijuana sale. With the new development, businesses are hopeful of generating high profits with new business ideas revolving around marijuana. Apart from its use as a recreational drug, marijuana is also known for its helpful medicinal properties. Due to this purpose, marijuana research centers could be established to carry out further research as to its use for curing diseases and healing some form of cancers. According to the White House, a number of states possess laws regarding medical usage of marijuana with Colorado and Washington completely legalizing its usage (n.pag.). A factor to consider is the dual status which implies that states other than Colorado and Washington still treat marijuana as an illegal drug, whose sale and trade is a criminal act. With its legalization in Colorado and Washington, it is evident that the marijuana related business is thriving. However, the nature of such businesses should be restricted within due to the legalities. This means that any marijuana

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Consumer Buying Behavior Towards Chocolates Marketing Essay

Consumer Buying Behavior Towards Chocolates Marketing Essay As consumers, we play a very vital role in the health of the economy local, national or international. The decision we make concerning our consumption behavior affect the demand for the basic raw materials, for the transportation, for the banking, for the production; they effect the employment of workers and deployment of resources and success of some industries and failures of others. Thus marketer must understand this. In order to become a successful marketer, he must know the liking or disliking of the customers. He must also know the time and the quantity of goods and services, a consumer may purchase, so that he may store the goods or provide the services according to the likings of the consumers. Based on the attribute that different buyer seeks while making purchase decision, marketers has to device appropriate marketing mix to position their product in the targeted market(s). Through this descriptive study we have tried to analyze the various attribute that different buyer seeks while making purchase of chocolates of different size and quantity for different purposes altogether with significant differences in favorite brand; flavor; price and place of buying etc. Also, we have tried to examine the various degree of relationship that exist between the different attributes of the product that consumer favors and the brand loyalty that consumer have toward his liked brand. Also main emphasis is laid to find out what results in brand loyalty and is this relationship is significant with changing marketplace. Keywords: Chocolate, Consumer behavior, Consumption INTRODUCTION: If people thought that chocolates were just restricted to kids think again. According to a recent study conducted by a major chocolate brand in India the major consumers of chocolates apart from kids are teenagers and people between the ages of 15 35. Chocolates which were considered expensive once have now become affordable by one and all. Most of the chocolate brands in India produce chocolates in different sizes that are priced according to their sizes. Chocolates like Diary Milk and Five Star can be got for just  `  10. Chocolates in India are slowly and steadily substituting the mithai or traditional Indian sweets. Due to the increasing levels of social consciousness people prefer gifting well wrapped chocolate packets rather than sweets on occasions and festivals. Taking advantage of this situation the top chocolate brands in India are now concentrating on the packaging and are introducing well packaged chocolates for specific occasions.   OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to make generalization of consumers buying behavior towards the purchase of chocolates and than to measure the extent of brand loyalty, altogether with knowing what other marketing mix variable affect buyers decision regarding the purchase of chocolates. This study is a step toward generalizing the consumer purchase pertaining to following major set objectives: To know the customer behavior and to identify the level of customer satisfaction towards different brands of chocolates. To know the significant promotion mix that plays role in particular market. To test the brand loyalty among different gender of different age. CONSUMPTION OF CHOCOLATES IN INDIA Chocolate consumption is gaining popularity in India due to increasing prosperity coupled with a shift in food habits, pushing up the countrys cocoa imports. Chocolate market in India is pegged at Rs 2,000 crore and is growing at the rate of 18 20 per cent per annum. The global chocolate market is estimated around $80 billion. The Indian chocolate market is seen growing at a compounded annual growth rate of 15-20%. The Indian chocolate market is thought to be worth some R1,500 crore and has been hailed as offering great potential for Western chocolate manufacturers as the market is still in its early stages. Over 70% of chocolate consumption takes place in the urban areas. Chocolate consumption in the rural areas is negligible in India. Chocolate market is a highly concentrated market, with Cadbury having 70 per cent and Nestle around 20 per cent. The two giants have been instrumental in building up the chocolate market in India with huge investments in product development, advertis ing and brand building. Modern trade constitutes about 10% of the overall chocolate category, or roughly Rs 320 crore, according to Nielsen. Of this, brand Cadbury Dairy Milk has a share of 35%, while Bournville and Silk together account for 18%. Facts Figures: Indian Chocolate Industry as today is dominated by two companies, both multinationals. The market leader is Cadbury with a lions share of 70%. The companys brands like Five Star, Gems, Éclairs, Perk, Dairy Milk are leaders in their segments. Until early 90s, Cadbury had a market share of over 80 %, but its party was spoiled when Nestle appeared on the scene. The other one has introduced its international brands in the country (Kit Kat, Lions), and now commands approximately 15% market share.  Bars or molded chocolates like Dairy Milk, Amul, Nestle Premium, and Truffle account for 35 40 per cent of the total market (in terms of volume). The Count chocolates such as Five Star, Kitkat, Perk etc. is the next largest segment, accounting for 30 per cent of the total market. Panned chocolates enjoy 10 per cent of the total market share. In India, chocolates are consumed as excitement / enjoyment and not as snack. Therefore, more than 75 per cent of chocolate purchases are impulse. Ch ocolate consumption in India has nearly trebled since 2005, which is the reason why leading chocolate companies are investing in bringing premium brands such as Toblerone. Seasonal and boxed assorted chocolates have been experiencing the fastest growth, and sales are expected to expand 13% between 2010 and 2015. Cadbury India, which has been on an overdrive to promote its premium brands such as Cadbury Dairy Milk Silk and Bournville, is now rolling out Toblerone from parent Kraft Foods stable. The per capita consumption of chocolates in India, according to Chandramouli Venkatesan, director (snacking strategy), Cadbury India, has increased from 40gm per person per year in 2005 to 110-120gm. However, the launch of Toblerone is in line with Cadbury Indias business objective of growing the premium-gifting chocolate market. Gifting is a Rs 15,000-crore category in India, of which branded chocolate gifting is about 6%. Cadbury Indias share in branded chocolate gifting is 80%. Despite the fact that Indians have strong affinity for sweets, the size of domestic confectionery market is small on account of traditional consumer tastes and habits. The Chocolate market in India is a niche market penetrated largely in urban areas and per capita consumption is low as compared to those in developed countries of the West. Cadbury Indias main source of revenue is its 70% bite of the 23,000 tonnes Indian chocolate market. Advertisement Trends (AdEx division of TAM Media Research) Regional GEC took the second place with a 21 per cent share ad volumes of chocolates, followed by Hindi movie with 13 per cent share during January-November 2007. Cadbury India Ltd was way ahead of its peers with 66 per cent share followed by Nestle India Ltd and Parle Products Private Ltd during January-November 2007. As expected chocolate advertising skewed towards kids channels and regional GEC took the second position. Cadbury India Ltd rules chocolate advertising on television. Chocolate advertising rose by 30 per cent during January-November 2007 compared to January-November 2006. Maximum chocolate advertising was during Raksha Bandhan across 2005 and 2006 and January-November 2007. 17 per cent more advertising during third quarter 2007 (Raksha Bandhan festival) compared to first quarter 2007. LITERATURE REVIEW After having detailed study of Principles of marketing management book by Kotler and Keller, we came to know about consumer purchasing behavior and other various attributes of marketing mix like place and product strategy in alignment with promotion and pricing strategies and concept of brand loyalty with all the major attributes of a good brand. Beside this detailed study of various research papers and articles has also been made to know the practical applicability of the concept. Consumer leant about chocolate from many sources, mainly from friends and families, through advertisement and from their own experience. Whether a promotion and advertising hurt or help a brand is under-researched (Mela, Gupta Lehman, 1997). In the long-run, advertisement help brands by making consumer less price sensitive and more loyal. The purchase decision pertaining to particular brand and loyalty is a result of various attributes of the product. Advertisers must remember that advertising messages are interpreted differently between different genders (Maldonando, Tansuhaj Muehling, 2003; Hogg Garrow, 2003; Putrevu, 2001). Previous studies have proven that females were more likely to engage in elaboration than men (Maldonado Muehling, 2003). Hogg and Garrow (2003) found that women paid more intention about the details of the characters of an ad when asked to analyze advertising messages. They said that this may be explained by the fact that females have a greater tendency than men to consider external information and information related to others. Women are comprehensive processors who try to gather all available information about the product Advertisement can change consumers perception of a product in terms of attributes content and proportion and also influence consumers taste for attributes (Gwin Gwin, 2003). Brand preference and product attribute: Attributes are the characteristic or features that an object may or may not have and includes both intrinsic and extrinsic (Mowen Minor, 1998). Understanding why a consumer choose a product based upon its attributes helps marketers to understand why some consumers have preferences for certain brands (Gwin Gwin, 2003). Both tangible and intangible attributes of a product are equally important in choosing a product or brand (Myers, 2003). There is no evidence that certain attributes are more related to customer loyalty than others (Romariuk Sharp, 2003). Romariuk and Sharp (2003) suggested that marketers should focus more on how many attributes the brand should be associated with and not what attributes. For low-involvement products, consumers have more objective view of the nature of the attributes (e.g. food, cosmetics) because they are constantly being advertised and promoted. Price is another form of attribute used by consumers to evaluate a product. Price can sometimes be an indicator of quality; with a higher price indicating higher quality (Mowen Minor, 1998; Siu Wong, 2002). Consumers perceive that a higher price can be attributed to the higher cost of quality control (Siu Wong, 2002). Some consumers are highly price sensitive (elastic demand), whereby a high prices may shift consumers to competitive brands (Mowen Minor, 1998). Therefore price can have a positive or negative influence on customers. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY In this study the problem pertains to both State of nature and relationship among the variable i.e.; what is general behavior of consumer and than inferenceing the relationship that exist among the different variables to test the extent of brand loyalty and influence of one variable over the other from the data. As the study is related to the study of consumer behavior toward chocolates thats why the appropriate research design used is Fundamental descriptive with the use of both qualitative and quantitative design with static research approach. Formalized research design is also taken into consideration in order to test the Hypothesis framed. In this cross sectional co-relational field study data related to various independent variables dependent variables was collected from the stratified sample of 100 individuals, including males and females of different age groups constituting the sample. All the respondents were approached on the basis of simple random sampling in convenient ma rket place to ensure the accuracy precision of results. Personally administrated questionnaires were used for conducting the survey. INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS OF FINDINGS: In our study 48% (41) of respondent are males while 52% (45) of respondent were females. In this 57% (49) respondent are student, 16% (14) were professional, 13% (11) were businessman while 14% (12) respondent were females. 33% respondent includes people of age group 10-18, while other includes those of age 19-59. Q.1 who do purchase how frequently and how much they purchase Out of 86 respondents 13 (15%) respondents buy chocolates daily while 35 (41%) of them buy it weekly compared to 16 (19%) who buy them monthly against 22 (25%) respondents who buys it occasionally. In this 12% of males buy daily while 14% of female buy it daily. While 42% of males buy chocolates in a week against 33% of females, whereas 31% of females like to buy chocolate in a month compared to 22% of males. The result of collected sample reveals that 62% (53) respondent buys less than 5 chocolates a week, while 28% (24) people buys 5-10 chocolates a week. Only 3% of respondent said that they buy more than 15 chocolates an week against 7% who buys 10-15 chocolates a week. The analysis of sample data results that females buy more chocolates than males in a week as 38% of them buy 6-10 chocolates while only 17% of males do so. 73% of males generally buy chocolate in between 1-5 packs a week compared to 51% of female respondent. It is analyzed that 21% (18) of respondent purchases chocolate costing between 5-10 Rs while 47% (40) buys chocolate that cost 10-20 Rs. Chocolates costing 20-50 Rs is preferred only by 24% (21) of respondent and only 7 (8%) out of 86 respondent buys chocolates costing more than Rs 50. Price of chocolate significantly affect different gender differently as 22% female purchase chocolates costing 5-10 Rs against 19% males, while 49% of females prefers to buy those costing in between 10-20 Rs as against 44% of males. 32% Males buy chocolates those costing in between 20-50 Rs compared to 18% of female buying the same. Q.2 For whom it is purchased In collected sample 41% (35) respondent buys chocolates for self consumption against 29% (25) who never buys for them-self. Among them 44% (38) respondent purchases for children against 15% (13) who never buys for childrens. 28% (24) of respondent buys chocolates only for the gifting. The percentage of those who buys always and never for special occasion is approximately 27% and 24% respectively. Analysis shows that 42% of females always buy choclates for self consumption where only 39% of males do same for self consumption. When it comes for buying choclates for children than insignificant of gender both have same buying behaviour. Males seems to gift chocolate more than female as 20% of them buy it for gifting compared to 12% of females. Q.3 what motivate to buy chocolate In a study of 86 respondent it was found that 17% (15)of the respondent were very tempted by the display ads while 34% (29) respondent are moderately affected by the display ads while it has no affect on purchase decision of 13% (11) of respondent. In the undertaken study visual ads highly affect 41% (35) respondent while only 9% (8) of respondent are not affected by it. 24% (21) of respondent perceives affect of family and friends on their purchase decision while it has no affect on 5% (4) of respondent. This shows that family and friends has very high affect on purchase decision of chocolates buyers. Very insignificant numbers of respondent only 2% are affected by sales-man persuasion while it has no affect on 49% (42) of respondent. Also celebrity endorsement has only a moderate influence on purchase decision of respondents. Only 9% respondent are affected by celebrity endorsement compared to no affect on 16% respondents. 42% females are affected by visual advertisment against 39% of males while the display ads affect male more compared to females with 24% and 11% of significant impact on purchase decision respectively. Also family and friend affect females(27%) more against males (22%). Q.4 Important Attribute of the chocolate It can be inferred from study that taste is very important for buying chocolate 95%males 93% females buy chocolates because of taste. 54% males 49% females are showing neutral response to availability, while 27% males 36% females say that availability is most important for buying chocolate. 19% males 15% females have least impact of availability. Price is most important consideration for 29% males 33% females. It affects 42% males 29% females moderately. For 29% males 38% female price is least important. Packaging seems to impact purchase decision of 49% males 58% females moderately during purchase of chocolates. For 22% males 27% females packaging is most important consideration for buying chocolate. 29% males 15 % females have least impact of packaging. Q.5 Advertisement seems to have moderate impact on purchase decision irrespective of gender; however 29% males 22% females are mostly affected by advertisement. 17% males 24% females are not affected by advertisement. Q.6 Forms of chocolate impact 54% males 44% females moderately while 24% males 27% females are mostly affected by form of chocolate. 22% males 29% females are least impacted by form. 80% chocolate buyer seems to buy particular brand against 7% who do not care for the brand name Q.7 how advertisements persuade consumers to purchase Sample in hands results that 20% of people like to buy due to emotion in their advertisement while 43% of respondent love fun in advertisement while only 27% of people like knowledge in the promotion mix against 10% of people who likes music/jingle. So it can be concluded that people watch and are persuaded due to fun content in the advertising of the chocolate more than any other factor. While analysing data on the basis of gender it can inferred that males (81%) like fun and emotional content in advertisement than females(47%), while female (33%) prefer knowledge content more than males (19%). While 20% of female loves music and jingles in comparison no male like it. Q.8 which brand mostly prefered by consumers In the undertaken study it was found that Cadbury is the most favoured brand with 70% of share as against 21% of Nestle, 4% 5% respectively for Amul and miscellaneous ones. It can be inferred from the collected data that females (71%) like Cadbury more than males (68%), while males prefer nestle (24%) more than that of females (18%). While demand for Amul chocolates is found to be very insignificant and equal in both the gender. Q.9 effect of increament in rates The sample analysis say that 82% respondent are highly brand loyal as 18% of them will buy the costly pack of same and 64% of them will not show any change in demand pattern. Only 5% of respondent are in favour of shifting brand against 13% who will reduce the purchase quantity if the rate increases by 2-5 Rs. The deep gender-wise analyses of result show that both genders are equally brand loyal towards price sensitivity. Results show that around 64% (in both gender) will have no change in their purchase decision while 19% of them show positive relation toward buying as they will buy more thinking quality has improved. Also its seems that Law of demand (increase case) operate on males more than females as 15% 11% of them will reduce buying chocolate with increase in prices. Q.10 from where consumers mostly buy The sample study results show that 35% (30) respondent buys from local shop against 49% (42), 7% (6) and 9% (8) respondent who buys from store, cafeteria and malls respectively. In this study, males (42%) prefer to buy more from local shop than compared to females (29%) while female (55%) prefer to buy more from stores against males (41%). While the ratio of buying from malls and cafeteria reveals there is no significant impact of it on gender as both have almost equal choices in this regard. Q.11 what consumers do if preferred bran not available The analysis of sample data says that 9% of total respondent will buy costly pack of same brand while 56% of them will move to next shop. This shows that 65% of respondent are highly brand loyal against those 30% who will buy another brand or other (6%) will postpone their purchase decision. The analysis of sample data gives result that females are highly brand loyal than males as 71% of them will buy the costly pack of same brand or move to another shop compared to 59% of males if that particular is not available. While36 % males 24% female say that they will shift to another brand while 6% of both genders will postpone their purchase decision. Q.12 how much customer are loyal to specific brand To check brand loyalty and competitive affect we has analyzed that 15% of respondent will not buy any other brand while 53% of them may consider the same against 35% who are not sure of taking decision. Our study 41 male 45 female respondents were there if another brand of the same product appears in the market then 7% males 22% females will not buy the new brand. 64% males 44% females may be considering the new brand. 5% males 18% females shall not consider new brand. 24% males 16% females cant say they will buy new brand or not. CONCLUSION: In study of 86 respondents it was found that 95% (82) respondents like Cadbury Brand, 68% (59) respondents like Nestle Brand, 24% (21) of respondents like Amul Brand 1% respondents like Other Brand. So it can be concluded that Cadbury is most famous brand among others. 50% Cadbury buyers like to buy Dairy milk out of 82 respondents 15% Cadbury buyers like to buy 5 Star out of 82 respondents. 10% Cadbury buyers like to buy Perk out of 82 respondents. So, the findings from study that most preferred chocolate are Dairy Milk out of Cadbury buyers. 36% of Nestle buyers like to buy Kit -Kat out of 59 respondents. 24% of Nestle buyers like to buy Éclairs out of 59 respondents. 20% of Nestle buyers like to buy Munch out of 59 respondents. 52% of Amul buyers like to buy Chocà ³ Mines out of 27 respondents. 48% of Amul buyers like to buy Chocà ³ Zoo out of 27 respondents. To be concluded that Kit -Kat and Chocà ³ Mines is most preferred chocolate in Nestle and Amul respectively. Also, it was found that 59% (51) of respondents like chocolate flavor, 23% (20) likes coffee flavor 20% (17) respondents like nuts flavor. So it can be concluded that chocolate is the most profitable flavor coffee second most profitable. APPENDIX 1. Ho = their exist no relationship between the gender who buy chocolate for self consumption, children, gift. Ha= Gender have significant impact on the purpose of buying chocolates. Gender Child Chi-Square(a,b) .186 13.000 Df 1 2 Asymp. Sig. .666 .002 Gender Gift Chi-Square(a,b) .186 34.907 Df 1 2 Asymp. Sig. .666 .000 Gender Self Chi-Square(a,b) .186 2.116 df 1 2 Asymp. Sig. .666 .347 After applying Chi square test on the data it is found calculated value of test is less than the tabulated one. It means that Ho is accepted thats prove that their is very insignificant difference in perception of both the gender and thus both gender buy chocolates for self consumption, gifting and children in a equitable amount. APPENDIX 2. Ho = their is no relationship in gender and frequency of buying chocolates Ha= Gender affect frequency of buying chocolates. Gender How Often Chi-Square(a,b) .186 13.256 Df 1 3 Asymp. Sig. .666 .004 our Ho is selected and Ha is discarded. Thus use of chi square test proves here that both the gender have similar frequency in buying chocolates. APPENDIX 3. Ho= Cost do not affect the purchase decision of diferent age group Ha = different age group have different perception towards cost Age Cost Chi-Square(a,b) 45.209 26.279 Df 30 3 Asymp. Sig. .037 .000 Here in this study it is found that the age and cost have significant relationship among them. It means different age group have different reaction towards different price levels. Thus our Ha is accepted and Ho is rejected. APPENDIX 4. Ho=Visual ads do not have different on different gender Ha=Visual ads affect different gender Gender Visual Ad Chi-Square(a,b) .186 32.256 Df 1 4 Asymp. Sig. .666 .000 Here Chi Square test show that tabulated value of Chi square is greater than calculated thats why our Ho is accepted, which means that there is no relationship betwen gender and visual ads. APPENDIX 5. Ho= The cost of chocolate do not affect the brand purchase Ha=The price of chocolate affect the brand purchased Cost Brand Chi-Square(a,b) 26.279 85.558 Df 3 2 Asymp. Sig. .000 .000 Here Chi Square test show that tabulated value of Chi square is greater than calculated thats why our Ho is accepted, which means that there is no relationship between cost and brand purchased.

Monday, January 20, 2020

Essay --

Motivation can be described as a psychological process that causes the excitement, direction and persistence of intended actions that are goal directed (Mitchell, 1982). In other words motivation is the force within an individual that begins, directs and keeps goal oriented behaviours. Morgan (1961) describes the following words as synonyms of motivation and these include wants, strivings, desires, needs, motives, goals, aspiration, drive and aims. Motivation is the wish that helps an individual to do certain things based on the desires and needs. If an individual wants to meet these goals and needs, in that case it requires the person to motivate him or herself in order to make certain moves. Morgan (1961) illustrates that motivation is a behaviour instigated by needs within the individual and directed toward goals that can satisfy the needs. Motivation is the determined power which will assist the employee to work up to their efficient level. It is commonly expected that good motivated employees will work better than that of other employees. As indicated by Ber- elson and Steiner (1991) motivation is the procedure of motivating the workforce to actions in order to achieve the organisation goals. Work motivation is a combination of external and internal power that begins the behaviour connected to work and create its direction, form, duration and intensity (Pinder, 1998). External forces can be identified as the nature of work to be performed and the reward system of the organisation. The internal forces can be described as the motives and needs of the individual on the behaviours linked to work. According to Moorhead and Griffin (1998) to motivate employees with the intention of performing to the greatest of their ability and t... ...t. Looking at the day to day responsibilities of a manager, motivating their employees is the most important and difficult function (Handy, 1944). Content theories seek to describe and categorise the needs that influence behaviours. Perry (2006) explains that content theories are the most influential theories as they analyse the behaviours of individuals. Motivation is the force that helps a person to do certain things based on the desires and needs. Investigating the definition of motivation, content theories such as Maslow hierarchy of needs and Herzberg dual factor theory are the most powerful theories that describe motivation works as motivation is controlled by the desires and needs of the people. Maslow (1943) hierarchal theory of needs suggests that humans strive to reach the highest levels of their capabilities with the aim of satisfying their desires. â€Æ'

Sunday, January 12, 2020

Evidence Based Practice in Mental Health Nursing Essay

One of the most common and disabling psychological disorders encountered within mental health and general medical settings is that of an anxiety disorder (Dattilio & Kendall 2000). Research has indicated that people with learning disabilities are more prevalent to psychological disorders than the general population (Hassiotis et al 2000) consequently it could be hypothesised that prevalence rates of anxiety disorders are similar if not greater within the learning disabled population. Professional literature suggests that cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT) has been an effective treatment against anxiety disorder (Beck 1995) however; this literature has predominately concentrated its focus to within the confines of mental health and general medical settings (Dattilio & Kendall 2000). The ability of people with learning disabilities to identify, evaluate and respond to their dysfunctional thoughts and beliefs, fundamentals of CBT (Beck 1995) have put into question the very use of this treatment programme for this particular client group (Kroese et al 1997). From a professional and personal perspective and through the utilisation of the Seedhouse (1998) ‘Ethical Grid’ responding to an anxiety disorder by way of CBT could be considered an ethically acceptable clinical intervention. Nationally and locally through government directives, ‘Valuing People’ (Department of Health 2001) and initiatives such as Health Action Plans (Department of Health 2002) services have recognised that they need to be more responsive to the mental health needs of people with learning disabilities. As a learning disability nurse wishing to ascertain the effectiveness of CBT as a practical intervention when presented with the dual-diagnosis of anxiety disorder and l earning disability, is through the use of ‘evidence-based practice’. When deciding on the best possible clinical intervention for an identified practice problem it seams logical to convert the issue into a single answerable question (Colyer & Kamath 1999). Several authors have identified that the use of frameworks to inform the development of the clinical question provide the practitioner with a systematic process of formulating an answerable question (Sackett et al 1997 Ridsdale1998). One such framework as described by Sackett et al (1997) is a four- stage process, known by the acronym PICO: Patient or Population Intervention or Indicator Comparison or Control Outcome The construction of an answerable question is the basis of evidence-based practice and should guide the practitioner to how to find an answer (Ridsdale 1998). It is important that each variable under the PICO framework is clearly defined, being as detailed and explicit as possible in order to extend clarification to the question. Working through PICO methodically the practitioner would instigate the process by defining the ‘Patient or Population’. Characteristics such age, gender and diagnosis would need to be deliberated and whilst the aforementioned were easily recognised in the practice area as adult male, identifying appropriate terminology for diagnosis can prove problematic. The term ‘Learning Disability’ is often used interchangeably in literature with terms such as, Mental Retardation and Intellectual Disabilities. ‘Learning Disability’ is a term with contemporary usage within the United Kingdom to describe a client group with significant development delays (Gates 1996). Whilst the idiom ‘Learning Disability’ is the preferred terminology for the question due to its contemporary usage it must be accepted that it’s a term not internationally recognised nor is it a term used for long in the United Kingdom (Gates 1996). Anxiety disorder comes in many facets and can be described as severe psychological disorders in which abnormal or chronic anxiety interferes with daily living (Adams & Bromley 1998). The client in the practice area had described psychological and physiological symptoms that were diagnosed as a social anxiety disorder through rating scales and self-report measures. It is crucial that the practitioner is aware that the term identified for the question as ‘social anxiety’ is often recognised by the synonyms, social phobia or panic disorder (Dattilio & Kendall 2000). The recognition of this inconsistent terminology will enable an evaluation to  take place between the relationships of the chosen term to symptoms displayed by the client. The identification of existing clinical interventions is a valuable part of the process of developing evidenced-based interventions (Meijel 2003). Literature suggests that CBT is an effective treatment for a number of psychological disorders (Embling 2002 Hatton 2002). Central to the model of CBT is that distorted or dysfunctional thinking is prevalent in all psychological disorders (Beck 1995). Analysis of accumulated experience of existing interventions and the aforementioned evidence of its validity led to the application of CBT as the ‘question intervention’. It is not imperative for the question to have a comparison intervention and this was the situation in the clinical problem described, therefore the conclusive element utilising the PICO framework was ‘outcome’. The outcome should be measurable (Sackett et al 1997) and after initially trivialising with the term ‘used’ it became evident that this would not develop into something that could be measured. Discussing whether or not an intervention is ‘effective’ however would provide the question with a measurable outcome. Revision of the terminology identified through the PICO framework would consequently translate the question as – Is cognitive-behaviour therapy an effective intervention for adult males with learning disabilities diagnosed as suffering from social anxiety? A well-formulated search strategy is an essential component in gathering appropriate evidence (Hewitt-Taylor 2002). Ridsdale (1998) discusses a four-stage search strategy that helps to translate the question into a meaningful search – a) Identify the subject elements of the question b) Define the relationship between the subject elements c) Convert the subject elements into search themes d) Decide on the scope of the search Assistance to define the subject elements can be found within the PICO framework – Patient – Learning Disability, Social Anxiety Intervention – CBT Outcome – Effectiveness Once identified an effective means of linking the subject elements of a question for the search process is through the use of ‘operators’. Operators such as: And – Or – Not, form a logical link between the elements of the question and can be used collectively or individually in any electronic database search (Ridsdale 1998). All of the subject elements of the question were required in order provide a conclusive answer therefore the operator required for the search strategy could be identified as ‘And’. The subject elements then require conversion into terms by which references can be retrieved (Ridsdale 1998). A keyword search would apply the terms identified as the subject elements, however making a list of the known synonyms of the subject elements such as Intellectual Disability and Mental Retardation, for inclusion, would substantially develop the search process. Finally the scope of the search decides what is wanted from the search. In order to identify the most appropriate type of evidence that is required for the practice problem the type of question asked must be identified (Sackett et al 1997). The question developed through the PICO framework can be readily identified as questioning, ‘the effectiveness of a therapy’. Sackett et al (1997) proposes that the best available evidence to answer this type of question is comparative / prospective studies and ideally random controlled trials (RCTs) which in turn determine the choice of database (Ridsdale 1998). Sackett et al (1997) provides a comprehensive catalogue of information resources such as databases, journals and web sites along with descriptions  of the type of evidence that can be found within these resources. It was established previously that the best type of evidence for the question would be RCTs and comparative / prospective studies. From the descriptions supplied by Sackett et al (1997) it could be identified that the Cochrane Library supplies the user with full text systematic reviews of effects of health-care interventions along with bibliographies of controlled trials. Further electronic databases identified through Salford University library information services were PsycINFO that contains citations and summaries of journal articles and books in the field of psychology chosen for its congruity with the clinical intervention. ‘Swetswise’ an electronic journal aggregator that provides access to full text publications from several major health care related academic publishers and ‘IngentaConnect’ which offers full text availability for all core Blackwell science and medical journals were chosen due to familiarity of use and extensive subject matter. Other databases considered were CINAHL, EMBASE and AMED however all were discounted due to their general nursing bias. Despite the recognition of Ridsdale’s (1998) four-stage search strategy and its systematic approach the initial search were completed exploiting familiar strategies through the IngentaConnect database. Preconceptions from previous endeavours searching for relevant evidence furnished the belief that a similar strategy would provide sufficient evidence to answer the question. A number of the subject elements were used through keyword searches whilst the operator ‘And’ was used to link each in turn (See Appendix). This easy to use search strategy produced a number of hits however none matched the criteria identified as being the most appropriate type of evidence to answer the question. The search revealed that almost all of the evidence found belonged in either mental health (Heimberg 2002) or general medical settings (Scholing & Emmelkamp 1999). Whenever the term learning disability or mental retardation was utilised they invariable appeared indiscriminately amidst the title or abstract of the article providing no specific relevance to the question. The frustration born out of this strategy led to further searches of electronic databases firstly through another familiar database, Swetswise. Ridsdale (1998) identifies that too many hits will be recovered if the subject element is to general  and this was evident in the first keyword search. The term learning disabilities produced 548 hits (See Appendix) far too many to feasibly scan. The subsequent four searches failed to produce a single hit a possibility also recognised by Ridsdale (1998) who suggests alternative synonyms are utilised in this circumstance. Due to the inability to find any relevant material of value towards answering the question Ridsdale’s (1998) four-stage strategy was then conscientiously adopted in conjunction with the knowledge acquired through lectures received at Salford University. A further search of Swetswise database was completed (See Appendix) which revealed significantly less hits than previously achieved but produced a literature review (Hatton 2002) specifically aimed at the use of CBT and people with learning disabilities. Whilst this evidence did not fulfil previous identified criteria it established that pursuing Ridsdale’s (1998) strategy could provide some success. A similar approach was undertaken while searching the Cochrane Library database which allows the user to restrict the search to the acquisition of systematic reviews and controlled trials whilst using a simple keyword option. Again the subject elements were utilised along with the recognised operator and despite new found co nfidence and knowledge the search strategy revealed no evidence of systematic reviews or RCTs with regards to the question (See Appendix). All systematic reviews or RCTs retrieved belonged within general and mental health settings. The final electronic database to be utilised was PsycINFO (via Ovid) where again Ridsdale’s (1998) four-stage strategy was conscientiously adopted. PsycINFO requires the user to have some prior knowledge of how to use electronic databases and their search strategies, which initially can prove bewildering to the novice. Once familiar with the database and its ability to combine search strategies either through keyword, journal or author the user should find it a practical resource (See Appendix). No systematic reviews or RCTs were found within the results however a further literature review (Feldman & Rivas-Vazquez 2003) aimed at psychosocial interventions and people with intellectual disabilities was unearthed along with evidence from child and adolescence services (Dadds & Spence 1997) and psychiatric services (Carmin & Albano 2003). Hatton (2002) suggests that research evidence on the effects of psychosocial interventions  for people with learning disabilities is sparse, whilst Kroese (1998) adds that therapists are reluctant to engage into therapy with this client group due to their dislike of having to relate to them. In an attempt to discover any type of evidence relating to people with learning disabilities and CBT the Salford University library catalogue was searched (See Appendix). A simple keyword search revealed one book (Kroese et al 1997) attaining the subject elements however again it did not produce the type of evidence recognised as the most appropriate to answer the question. Sackett et al (1997 p.2) defines evidence based practice as: â€Å"†¦the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients†. With this definition in mind it should be established as to what constitutes ‘current best evidence’ and its implications for the practitioner wishing to implement ‘evidence based practice’. Belsey & Snell (2001 p.2) states that, â€Å"†¦evidence is presented in many forms†¦ and the value of evidence can be ranked according to the following classification in descending order of credibility†: I. Strong evidence from at least one systematic review of multiple well-designed randomised controlled trials II. Strong evidence from at least one properly designed randomised controlled trial of appropriate size III. Evidence from well-designed trials such as non-randomised trials, cohort studies, time series or matched case-controlled studies IV. Evidence from well-designed non-experimental studies from more than one centre or research group V. Opinions of respected authorities, based on clinical evidence, descriptive studies or reports of expert committees In accepting this hierarchy of evidence practitioners should concede that the systematic review of multiple well-designed RCTs constitutes ‘best available evidence’ (Colyer & Kamath 1999). Sullivan (1998) adds weight to this argument when he states that RCTs constitute the strongest source of evidence and that the scientific community prefer the quantitative research technique that makes use of empirical data following a systematic process. Whilst a number of RCTs were found (Dadds & Spence 1997 Scholing & Emmelkamp 1999) whilst undertaking the search strategy none belonged within learning disability settings. The only evidence found specific to the original question were literature reviews and a specialist book (Kroese et al 1997) aimed at CBT and learning disabilities. The literature reviews (Hatton 2002 Kroese 1998) revealed that a number of case studies and a case series had demonstrated the potential feasibility of CBT reducing anxiety amongst people with learning disabilities. Whilst the specialist book (Kroese et al 1997) discussed conceptual and contextual issues of CBT and people with learning disabilities suffering anxiety disorders. This type of evidence appears in the lower reaches of the hierarchy of evidence and as such its subjectivity, reliability and validity can be disputed (Sullivan 1998). Whilst acknowledging the hierarchy of evidence and the proposal that comparative / prospective studies and ideally RCTs were the best forms of evidence to answer this type of question (Sackett et al 1997) it appears that in their absence the evidence revealed is the ‘best available’. RCTs are widely acknowledged as the gold standard of evidence-based practice (Rowland & Goss 2000) however it is suggested that they bear little resemblance to day-to-day reality (McInnes et al 2001). RCTs can be pragmatic or explanatory the former is concerned with the overall effectiveness of an intervention whilst the latter examines the impact of specific treatment elements on outcome (Parry 2000) however neither considers the perspectives and uniqueness of the respondents. The evidence recovered for the question (Hatton 2002 Kroese 1998) albeit in the lower reaches of the hierarchy acknowledges the feelings of the respondents due to its qualitative nature (patient centred, holistic and humanistic) therefore making it extremely suitable for the study of nursing phenomena (Parahoo  1997) along with its relevance as regards answering a therapy question (Parry 2000). Kroese (1997) offers a number of reasons why there is this lack of quantitative research evidence surrounding the subject elements in the question. He suggests that people with a learning disability are a devalued population, it is impossible to ensure that changes are due to clinical manipulations if individuals (learning disabled) do not have stable cognitions. Finally there is a conjecture that anxiety in people with learning disabilities is the same as in the general population consequently there is no need for specifically focused research. It emerges that learning disability services continue to adapt research evidence from general and mental health settings (Finlay & Lyons 2001) a similar approach with the RCTs recovered from the search strategy could make them a valued resource however it would take a skilled clinician to make this a feasible option. Reflection is a necessary component of Continuing Professional Development and is a legitimate method for questioning personal effectiveness and responsibility in all aspects of health care (Driscoll & Teh 2001). Through the process of reflection the practitioner recognised his own limitations in identifying appropriate evidence for his clinical problems, along with the often inconclusive, time consuming and frustrating strategies undertaken in the search of evidence in support of his clinical practice. The structured frameworks utilised throughout the process described earlier gave the practitioner a systematic approach to formulating a question, developing a search strategy and identifying appropriate evidence to answer his practice problem. The ability to systematically approach future clinical problems will enable the practitioner to offer his clients a holistic, client centred practice from the best external evidence available. Adams, B. Bromley, B. 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(2000) Panic Disorder In: Dattilio, F.M. Freeman, A. Cognitive Behavioural Strategies in Crisis Interventions 2nd Edition, London, The Guildford Press. Driscoll, J. Teh, B. (2001) The potential of reflective practice to develop individual orthopaedic nurse practitioners and their practice, Journal of Orthopaedic Nursing, Vol. 5, pp 95-103 Embling, S. (2002) The effectiveness of cognitive behaviour therapy in depression, Nursing Standard, Vol. 17, Nos. 14-15, pp 33-41 Feldman, L.B. Rivas-Vazquez, R.A. (2003) Assessment and Treatment of Social Anxiety Disorder, Professional Psychology: Research and Practice Vol. 34, No. 4, pp 396-405. Gates, B. (1996) Learning Disability In: Kenworthy, N. Snowley, G. Gilling, C. (Eds) Common Foundations Studies in Nursing Second Edition, London, Churchill Livingston. Hassiotis, A. Barron, P. O’Hara, J. (2000) Mental Health Services for People with Learning Disabilities, British Medical Journal, Vol. 321, Issue 7261, pp 583-584 Hatton, C. 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(1997) Evidence-based medicine: how to practice and teach EBM, London, Churchill Livingston. Scholing, A. Emmelkamp, P.M.G. (1999) Prediction of treatment outcomes in social phobia: a cross-validation, Behaviour Research and Therapy, Vol. 37, pp 659-670 Seedhouse, D. (1998) Ethics The Heart of Health Care 2nd Edition, Chichester, Wiley. Sullivan, P. (1998) Developing evidence-based care in mental health nursing, Nursing Standard, Vol. 12, No. 31, pp 35-38