Media theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Media theory - Essay Example Psychologist and Sociologists come up with a variety of theories as to why we watch TV. They have said that å… ¸he Mass Media Have a Direct, Immediate and Influential Effect Upon Audiences by é  ¸njectingInformation Into the Consciousness of the Masses(Wikibooks,2011) The fact of the matter is human beings have needed to be entertained since the beginning of time. We need to enjoy our leisure and before TV or even radio, in fact, the natives in the jungles of Africa invented their dances and rituals for their entertainment or self gratification if you want to make it sinister. What interests us is driven by our basic needs and background, our experiences and education. Rather than being controlled, we control the mediaPeople Bend the Media To Their Needs More Readily Than The Media Overpowering Them(Wikibooks,2011 ). We do not have studies theorizing why a person prefers a pair of blue jeans over black and quite frankly who cares. Their reasons are the same as why the watch a pa rticular movie or documentary or sporting event. There is no University degree needed here and there are no psychological or sociological problems, it is simply about a human being their need for leisure and enrtainment.. Television has not changed in the last 20 years only the technology involved in producing the entertainment. Television has become part of our lives for a variety of reasons and we do not need theories and conjectures to manipulate the reasons. Television stations produce on a supply and demand basis and we watch for enjoyment, plain and simple. That is how it was 20 years ago and that is how it will be twenty years from now. The Semiotic Media Theory interprets signs, communicative or culturally that point to the significance of a popularly appreciated phenomena. The cultural and communicative signs to the popularization of Super Bowl are pronounced and far reaching in American History. The human being needs excitement and is

Nursing Research Critique Assignment Essay Example for Free

Nursing Research Critique Assignment Essay I will be critiquing two different articles. Both studies are nursing studies that evaluate outcomes. I will be following specific key points for a quantitative perspective and a qualitative perspective. There is a guideline that I will be following for each article that includes identifying and examining the data collection and data analysis methodologies used in each study. The names of the articles are The Experience of Patients Undergoing Awake Craniotomy and The Effects of Crossed Leg Blood Pressure Measurement. The references will also be reviewed to determine validity and relationship to the new study. Data Collection Quantitative Study: The operational and conceptual definition is congruent. The key variables were operationalized using the best possible method and with adequate justification. Specific instruments were adequately described and were good choices, given the study purpose, the variables being studied, and the study population. The instrument used specifically was a blood pressure monitor. The blood pressure cuff size, dimensions, and inflation pressure were described. The blood pressure monitor was adequately pretested and calibrated before the study began by a biomedical technician (Foster-Fitzpatrick, Ortiz, Sibilano, Marcantonio, Braun, 1999). It can be determined that the data collection methods provided data that was reliable and valid. The intervention executed was having patients cross their legs and measuring their blood pressure. The intervention was adequately described and implemented. The implementation of the intervention was faithful to its plan (Polit Beck, 2012). The data was gathered by trained nurse researchers (Foster-Fitzpatrick et al. , 1999). The same blood pressure monitor was operated during the data collection to minimize biases (Foster-Fitzpatrick et al. , 1999). Qualitative Study: The methods for gathering data were appropriate and the data was gathered using interviews over a span of 2 days (Palese, Skrap, Fachin, Visioli, Zannini, 2008). It could be determined that triangulation was achieved since the interviews were performed on numerous occasions and during assorted circumstances. The researchers did ask the right questions and make the right observations, which were also recorded in an appropriate fashion. It can be concluded that sufficient data was gathered, given the specifics required to be a factor in this study. The data collected was adequately rich in depth and detail. The data was gathered using interviews with open-ended questions. The interviews were audio-recorded. The data compilation tools were valid and reliable for this study. Data collection was adequately described and appeared appropriate for this type of study. Bias was kept to a minimum. The researchers were to determine and recognize ideas that may have prompted or provoked personal biases, they also had to recognize any personal experiences or beliefs that might have influenced what they were going to hear and report (Palese et al. , 2008). Data Analysis Quantitative Study: Analyses were appropriated to answer the research question and to test the hypothesis. The researchers performed various blood pressure measurements on a sample of hypertensive males to determine if the crossing of a leg has an effect on blood pressure measurements. Appropriate statistical methods were used given the level of measurement and assumptions of the test. However, there was only one specific group that was the variable, 100 hypertensive males whose ages ranged from 31 to 81. Hypothesis testing allows researchers to make objective decisions whether study results likely reflect chance sample differences or true population differences (Polit Beck, 2012). In this study there was no control group. Then, how can we determine that crossing your leg would increase blood pressure. It is challenging to support whether a type I and type II errors were actually minimized or avoided. The intervention studies did not perform an intention-to-treat analysis. All of the participants were treated and there was no omitted information. The participants also did not abandon the study. The problems of missing values were evaluated and adequately addressed. The limitation of the study includes gender and sample size. The researchers discussed the weaknesses with solutions for future studies. The researchers recommend replicating this study using a larger sample size that includes females. They consider that these changes would increase the significance of the results. The findings are discussed and interpreted. Information about statistical significance and confidence interval is presented and reviewed. There was good use of tables and figures that included titles and headings that were clearly and appropriately labeled. The results were also clearly displayed in tables with identifiable titles and labeled headings. The study included descriptive statistics. The study described the main characteristics in the dataset. The mean and standard deviation for each blood pressure measurement was calculated before and after crossing of the legs was performed by the study subjects. Inferential statistics were also present in this study. In order to test mean differences with three or more groups, an analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistical test is used. This research study conducted a repeated-measure ANOVA, which is when there are three or more measures of the same dependent variable for each participant (Polit Beck, 2012). Measuring blood pressure at various intervals and under numerous conditions for the same subject is one incident where this type of testing can be used. . The model for this design was repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). The level of significance in this study was stated at 0. 05 for all three effects in the model, (before crossing the legs, during legs crossed, and after having crossed the legs). This significance level indicates that researchers accept a risk that out of 100 samples drawn from a population, a true null hypothesis would be rejected 5 times (Polit Beck, 2012). Given the level of measurement and the nature of the hypothesis, the results were adequate. However, I believe that further research is required to have a stronger correlation. A wider sampling population should be used in future research to have more accurate conclusions. Qualitative Study: The data management and data analysis methods were sufficiently described. The data analysis strategy was compatible with the research tradition. It was also compatible with the nature and type of data gathered. The findings are effectively summarized. There was good use of citations from the patient interviews. The researchers were able to abstract concepts that were found in the data collected from the interviews. Although each patient had a unique experience, the researchers were able to categorize concepts from the data that was analyzed. Researchers were able to group these concepts into pre-operative concerns, intra-operative concerns, and post-operative concerns. Since there was limited research conducted on intra-operative experiences there were limits with the ability of being able to link it to previously performed studies. However, the study did recognize the limits it had. Since this is a qualitative study, generally these studies cannot be generalized to the population. Qualitative researchers are not concerned with the general population, but rather with subjects experiences (Polit Beck, 2012). The researchers did acknowledge the importance of the healthcare team members to think about patient’s experiences in order to better understand how to prioritize the needs of the patient (Palese et al. , 2008). I believe that biases were kept to a minimal considering the implementations that the researchers were exposed to at the beginning of the study and before they were exposed to the interviews or observations. The composition and exploration of the data produced genuine and significant descriptions of the experiences that the patients whom were subjects had. Summary After reviewing both articles and critiquing each one, I believe to have a better understanding about the difference between a quantitative research study and a qualitative research study. Data collection should be systematic and meticulous. Both studies gathered their data systematically and meticulously. In view of the statistical analysis, levels of measurement should be defined as nominal, ordinal, interval or ratio level data. Sources of data can be documentary sources as primary and secondary sources, field sources as subjects in person, conditions, environment and events that are observable and measurable, and historical data. Both of the studies also had these types of sources. The methods of collecting data include surveys questioning using interview schedule and questionnaires, observation techniques with the help of structured or unstructured instruments, and measuring with standardized instruments. Both of the studies also used some of these methods for collecting data. The purpose of analyzing data in a study is to describe the data in meaningful terms. For example, the study in reference to blood pressure changes utilized tables for interpretation. Statistics help to answer important research questions and it is the answers to such questions that further our understandings. It is required the researcher to have an understanding of what tools are suitable for a particular research study. Depending on the kinds of variables identified (nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio) and the design of particular study, number of statistical techniques is available to analyze data. The data collection and data analysis methodologies used varied and followed the particular need of each research study. The researchers followed the research process guidelines and methodologies. Although, both studies had some weaknesses, they were both performed adequately, using appropriate techniques and instruments. They were also both performed with integrity, discussing thei r limitations and weaknesses.

Age Of Reason Essay -- essays research papers

Stein 2 Certain Individuals that lived in the period of time know as the Age of Reason discovered many knew inventions and advancements to improve the quality of life. When experimented with, these advantages brought forth knew ideas to extraordinary people who forever changed the way we look at life. Although many people found these discoveries to bring a great revival to mankind, others rejected these new improvements and felt as if they were defying god. These years were full of discoveries, conflicts, and new visions that of the world. The age of reason brought on many changes to religious, political, scientific, and literary aspects of the eighteenth century. Ever since the beginning of time, religion has been the dominating source of reason. People have turned to prayer and spirituality for a sense of control and understanding in their lives. Not until the years of the age of reason was there an alternative proposed for a better method of interpreting things. This alternative method was science. Although scientific thought spread rapidly, religion was not forgotten. Religion controlled many things science could not. It gave people a sense of why they are here and why things occur. This understanding results in sanity and calmness. During the age of reason, people who kept religion flourishing were Ethan Allen, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, and Patrick Henry. In Thomas Paine’s The Crisis, No. 1, he uses vivid imagery and rhetorical techniques to persuade the audience into believing his point. â€Å"Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God.†(Paine). In Ethan Allen’s Reason only Oracle of Man, reason is taught through the eyes of an oracle, or someone whom God speaks to the people through. A religious revival that flourished around this point in history was called Deism. Deism beliefs differed in many ways than the traditional religions for it’s major concept was that God spoke through everyone, not only a particular chosen one. Franklin, Paine, and Jefferson all participated as active Deists, abandoning their previous religion from which they were raised. A key aspect that attracted many people to Deism was that its goal was to achieve goodness and prosperity throughout the world. Although this way of thinking seemed to have no faults, there was the share of those who rejected this idea. As rationalism spread in th... ...cements made in the political movement of the age of reason are what give the basis and shape of our successful governments today. The age of reason also contributed a great literary works. Gaining more common sense, authors were able to use more abstract thinking in their writing and talk about truth rather then fantasy or fiction. Some of the great authors of this time include James Madison and Alexander Hamilton (the Federalist Papers), Franklin and Jefferson’s Autobiographies, and Michel Guillaume Jean de Crevecoeur (Letters from an American farmer). As literary works were at their peaks, poetry was on the duller, unoriginal side. It was often written in direct imitations of the British and had no thought or reason behind it. Great poetry would be soon to come in the age of romanticism.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The age of reason brought on many changes to religious, political, scientific, and literary aspects of the eighteenth century. With advancements, improvements and intelligence improving rapidly through everyone who lived at in that time, the age of reason was more of a turning point in the course of history then just a period of time.

What is A Room With A View about? Essay example -- English Literature

What is A Room With A View about, in your opinion? What methods does E.M. Forster use to convey this message to the reader? A Room With A View is about the social change occurring in England in the early 20th century, post Queen Victoria's death. Darwin had just published his book on the theory of evolution which was the catalyst for the introduction of more liberal and secular ideas into a conservative and religious England. In order to explain this process of change, Forster likens it to the Renaissance, which is why it is significant that A Room With A View begins in Italy. The problem with a rapidly changing society is that members of that society do not necessarily know how to behave because the boundaries are changing and this is what Forster is trying to portray in A Room With A View. Every character in the novel can be categorised into one of two groups, the Victorian/Medieval characters and the 20th Century/Renaissance characters. Certain characters symbolise different periods. However, Forster is skilful enough to make these characters realistic which is why they are capable of contradiction; for quite a few characters, the reader believes that they belong to one of these groups but then their behaviour is suddenly contrary to that group thus confusing the reader as to what period they symbolise. For example Miss Bartlett is immediately perceived by the reader as a 'Victorian' because in the first chapter she refuses Mr Emerson's generosity because she feels it would be improper to accept. However at the end of the novel, the reader is made aware that Miss Bartlett purposefully does not interrupt a conversation between Lucy and Mr Emerson, perfectly aware that he could persuade Lucy to admi... ...es, where people believed in love, but despise those defied convention to marry for love. His novel is successful at doing this because it glorifies passion and impulsiveness; he mocks those symbolising convention such as Cecil, Mr Eager and Miss Bartlett and endorses those that represent love and liberalisation. Cecil doesn't just represent convention he also represents 'culture'. Lucy and George marry in the end to everyone's surprise because it is Forster's hope to encourage romance. Although Forster's novel is dealing with specific events occurring in English history it never the less remains a novel which is still enjoyed today because it deals with the universal theme that love conquers all. The characters are creations that live today just as they did as when the novel was first published, because they are so realistic and familiar to the reader.

Discrimination lawsuit. Why jury decision making emotional damages Essay

Discrimination lawsuit Introduction Presenting evidence   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In court proceedings, evidence is presented as either oral or written depending on the choice of the witness. In addition, the means of giving evidence may be determined by the court or the jury in charge under various considerations. Both oral and written evidence have the same purpose and can be used as the basis of court ruling (Edwards et al., 2011). In this situation where as a human resource I will be required to provide evidence of a discrimination lawsuit, the written method of evidence presentation will be the most appropriate to answer the questions from the Jury.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The method of written presentation will allow adequate time to prepare and present my part of evidence and with adequate in formations. Since the presentation of evidence requires information detailing the truth about the matter and the organizations position on the case and the policy that were under consideration, the written evidence would help me to consult with other legal experts and answer questions accordingly. Oral evidence would prevent consultations that might result in inaccurate evidence that will be used to give unfair rulings.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Moreover, written evidence will save a lot of time that could have been used to present the oral presentation in the court. In addition, any inconveniences would such as absenteeism in work place and productivity of the firm will be avoided (Edwards et al., 2011). Hence, written evidence will ensure that the operations of the business are not affected in any way. Moreover, it will reduce the cost incurred during the lawsuit proceedings.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Finally, written evidence presents a proof that the information communicated is true and cannot be changes. This ensures that the evidence is not compromised since is always read and presented to court as the original copy of evidence. This is in contrast to oral presentation where evidence may be changed where one may be questioned more than once hence compromising the evidence, which may affect the reliability of the evidence. Jury decision making emotional damages   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Jury would rely on information from psychiatrists and medical experts who would evaluate the damages that the plaintiff suffered as a result of discriminations. This would involve psychological and mental problems that may have arose because of the discrimination (Edwards et al., 2011). Stress would be one of the conditions that may be evaluated and whether there were medical complications that resulted from the discriminatory acts. In addition, the information about the pain suffered because of discrimination would be evaluated on medical basis. These sufferings could then be compared with any financial implications suffered.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In addition, information regarding how the working and the productivity of the plaintiff was affected could be used to determine the level of the effects of emotional damages and thus form the basis of monetary compensation. For example, if in any case the discrimination resulted in decreased productivity of the plaintiff, which reduced the financial income of the income would form the basis of monetary compensation decision. Moreover, it could be evaluated based on how the act affected his or her defendant day-to-day life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Similar during the proceedings, the defence presents their argument on the amount of monetary compensation that should be awarded to the plaintiff (Edwards et al., 2011). Jury determine the compensatory amount that should be paid to the plaintiff depending on the information provided by the defence team. When the court uses this information as the basis of their compensatory decision, the court act in favour of the plaintiff and it may end up awarding huge sums of money, which may be unfair to the respondent.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Finally, the jury would use their freedom that is granted by the section of the law to determine the damage caused to the plaintiff and use the evidence presented to award monetary compensation. The decision could either be based on similar cases that were ruled in the past of depending on the reasoning of the bench. Reference Edwards, L., Edwards, J. S., & Wells, P. (2011). Tort Law. Cengage Learning. Source document

An Example Synopsis for Book-Length Fiction

An Example Synopsis for Book-Length Fiction Authors going through the manuscript querying process or entering writing contests must provide a synopsis of their work, along with a portion of the manuscript. After writing a 65,000+ page work, it can be hard to narrow that down to a 1-page synopsis, especially if youve invested a lot of time and emotion into the plot. You might be asking yourself: Whats important to note? What should be left out? And most of all, how can I compress a complicated plotline into 1 page of writing?To help authors through this process, weve provided example synopsis of a popular thriller, Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. In this example, youll see what needs to be included, as well as how to match the style and feel of the manuscript with the synopsis of it.Dos and dontsDO write in active voice and show the entire narrative arc.DO write clearly but show your voice.DO show how major conflicts are resolved in the last paragraph.DO begin with a strong paragraph identifying your protagonist, conflict, and set ting.DONT include too much detail about plot turns and twists.DONT write a back-cover blurb instead of a synopsis.DONT mention too many characters or events.DONT go over 1 page, single-spaced.The synopsis formatBegin with a strong paragraph identifying your protagonist, problem or conflict, and setting.The next paragraph should convey any major plot turns or conflicts necessary and any characters that should be mentioned in order for your book summary to make sense to whoever is reading it.Indicate how major conflicts are resolved in the last paragraph. This ensures a clear presentation of your book or novel and doesnt leave the reader confused.Example synopsisInvestigative reporter Mikael Blomkvist, from Stockholm, Sweden, wants to clear his name from a libel conviction over a story he wrote about a powerful man named Hans-Erik Wennerstrom. Following his trial, Blomkvist is focused on clearing his name when he receives a mysterious phone call from a lawyer representing Henrik Vange r, the retired CEO of Vanger Corporation, requesting Blomkvists presence. In that meeting, Vanger reveals details of the mysterious disappearance of his 16-year-old grand-niece, Harriet Vanger. Vanger then requests that Blomkvist solve the puzzle, with generous financial compensation along with the necessary documentation Blomkvist needs to prove that Wennerstrom is indeed a criminal.Meanwhile, Lisbeth Salander, a 24-year-old hacker, is tasked with investigating Blomkvist as a private investigator for Milton Securities- a job she was able to secure through the help of her guardian, Holger Palmgren. It is revealed that she came from a troubled childhood and her lack of cooperation caused her to be declared mentally incompetent as a young girl. Her life is further threatened when her guardian has a stroke and she is placed under the guardianship of Nils Bjurman, a sadistic man who rapes her repeatedly. Salandar blackmails her guardian to get control over her own finances and is offere d a chance to join Blomkvist in his investigation of Harriets disappearance.Salandar and Blomkvist discover that Harriet was not killed, but she had connected murders of women across Sweden in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s to Bible verses from Leviticus. They eventually learn that Harriet suspected her father, Gottfried Vanger, and her brother, Martin Vanger (the CEO of Vanger Corporation) were the murderers and fled to escape her brother who (like his father) violently raped her. Salandar and Blomkvist confront Martin, resulting in his suicide, and then find Harriet in Australia to tell her he is dead and reunite her with her uncle (Henrik).Blomkvist is then given the information on Wennerstrom but is disappointed to learn that it is too old to be used in court. Salandar then informs Blomkvist that she has copied Wennerstroms computer onto her servers and he can access it all to write the article. Blomkvist then writes the article, as well as an extensive report on Wennerstroms corruptio n, as Salander siphons millions of dollars from Wennerstroms accounts into accounts of her own.Realizing her attraction and love for Blomkvist, Salandar decides to tell him but backs out as she sees him enter his apartment with another woman.

Free Essays on Intelligence And I.Q

INTELLIGENCE & I.Q TESTING In this essay I will be examining the question â€Å"Are I.Q tests an accurate measure of intelligence?† In order to do this I must first define the world intelligence and second examine the context of an I.Q test. Defining the word intelligence is in itself a complex task, does being intelligent mean a person has the potential to learn and apply their knowledge, to solve problems or to merely think rationally and deal with situations effectively?. And if so are these qualities learnt or are we born with them. Psychologists have many conflicting views on the subject and the debate over its true meaning is still continuing. What influences our intelligence is also inconclusive. Some psychologists believe it may be due to environmental factors whilst others believe it is genetics and even health that are the main influence. My own view is that all the factors play a part in our intellect. I believe that we are first influenced by our genetic make up but the environment in which we develop influences the extent to which our given ability is used, good parenting with stimulation and encouragement and a good social environment which opportunities must surely play a key role, but there is no clear conclusion and the definitions will vary depending on what you read. So to try and put forward some kind of summary, if at all possible, may be to say that intelligence is the ability to respond to a given situation in an appropriate and accurate way, whether the reason for response be due to innate or learnt factors. Does an IQ test measure this ability? I.Q tests were first proposed in 1904 by Alfred Binet as a means of assessing problems associated with subnormal children in schools. Binet was to devise a test to measure the intellect of these children whilst relying on no particular intelligence theory. He was only interested in testing a child’s ability against children of the same age. He tried to ... Free Essays on Intelligence And I.Q Free Essays on Intelligence And I.Q INTELLIGENCE & I.Q TESTING In this essay I will be examining the question â€Å"Are I.Q tests an accurate measure of intelligence?† In order to do this I must first define the world intelligence and second examine the context of an I.Q test. Defining the word intelligence is in itself a complex task, does being intelligent mean a person has the potential to learn and apply their knowledge, to solve problems or to merely think rationally and deal with situations effectively?. And if so are these qualities learnt or are we born with them. Psychologists have many conflicting views on the subject and the debate over its true meaning is still continuing. What influences our intelligence is also inconclusive. Some psychologists believe it may be due to environmental factors whilst others believe it is genetics and even health that are the main influence. My own view is that all the factors play a part in our intellect. I believe that we are first influenced by our genetic make up but the environment in which we develop influences the extent to which our given ability is used, good parenting with stimulation and encouragement and a good social environment which opportunities must surely play a key role, but there is no clear conclusion and the definitions will vary depending on what you read. So to try and put forward some kind of summary, if at all possible, may be to say that intelligence is the ability to respond to a given situation in an appropriate and accurate way, whether the reason for response be due to innate or learnt factors. Does an IQ test measure this ability? I.Q tests were first proposed in 1904 by Alfred Binet as a means of assessing problems associated with subnormal children in schools. Binet was to devise a test to measure the intellect of these children whilst relying on no particular intelligence theory. He was only interested in testing a child’s ability against children of the same age. He tried to ...