Validity, Credibility, & Reliability Essay Example for Free

Validity, Credibility, Reliability Essay When seeking out the validity, credibility, and reliability of a source there can be a vast array of sources to compare when seeking this answer. For example, when validating a source we can research the author and his or her background pertaining to the data in question. Data within a claim can be meant to sway the reader one way or the other, with this in mind, I look at who and what there is to gain from this claim. I can use the gun ban debate stewing in Washington for a great example. President Obama has been pushing for tougher regulations and bans on specific fire arms and related accessories based upon the elementary school shooting in Connecticut implying that this will contest the amount of damage and casualties occurred in mass shootings when statistically more people are killed by drunk drivers in society compared to mass shootings, but yet anyone over the age of 21 can purchase any amount of alcohol. However, even statistics can be swayed depending on the pool of interested parties involved. Some methods I use to determine the reliability of data is to first seek the source from which the data is from. Typically I then seek out other sources in which I can compare that specific data against to validate the data is solid and not transparent. I then will analyze the different sources to be sure there is somewhat of a streamline when these sources are compared.

Components of Effective Teamwork

Components of Effective Teamwork There are many components of effective teamwork such as communication, cohesiveness, commitment and collaboration among members to confronting problems directly, coordinating efforts, managing conflict and making decision via consensus, which requires some time compromisation (Heineman,1994). According to Zander,1994,team goal are desirable state of affair members intend to bring about through combined effort. A clear understanding of groups objective through well-articulated goals is the most common characteristic of successful team (Larson and LaFasto, 1996).The team member had never been together before the assignment given. The team established a common purpose that is decided to complete the given task with the allocated time. The team member was randomly selected and joined together, the members undergo the 5 stages Tuckman theory, accomplishing group assignment.In every team, there are team composition needed for a team to work well. According to Guzzo Dickson (1996), composi tion refer to the nature and attributes of team members.Whereas there are large and small groups or team within organization, the important point the composition of the groups or teams. According to Hackman, 1987 the effective team need members who have relevant expertise, interpersonal skills and moderate differences in their background. In a way, there is no point of including many people into a team or group if they do not have complementary relevant skills to contribute to teams goals. Other than that, in many group or team, what generally happen is that individual get appointed onto team where they feel they are wasting their time in the meeting rather than being a contributing member. Thus, it is imperative that a team has combination of the right mix of workforce, expertise right people skills. In discussion of the group assignment, there are different value embed in three main ethics in this group(Malays, Chinese and Indians) including non-assertive, good manners, cooperati on and harmony; trust and relationship building. These values will to some extent influence group norms and cohesiveness (Abdullah and Low, 2001). Apart from that, it is imperative that members understand their roles in their teams or groups. Roles are expected behavior pattern attributed to someone occupying a given position in a social unit (Robbin Judge, 2007).There are many roles that member that members can play within their team or group. According to Margerison and McCann (1990), there are nine roles commonly played by group. Robbin and Judge nine roles include Linker, Creator, Promoter, Assessor, Organizer, Producer, Controller, Maintainer and the Advisor. Each team role has particular strengths wan weakness which is essential for team member to identify themselves and more importantly they need to match the roles with their skills and preference for compensating each other weakness with their strength. Moreover, cohesiveness will bring about positive effect to satisfaction and communication. In teamwork context, it is important that all team members build cohesiveness through understanding and respects of each others roles and contribution trying to accomplish the group task and goals. People who are part of cohesiveness groups are more satisfied than are member of non-cohesive group(Hackman1992).Group cohesion also helps to reduce stress because members are supportive to each other .Effective team work have norms that support high quality performance and a level of group cohesiveness that provide social support to its members. Effective leaders are those who personal qualities enable them to articulate a vision for a given group. It is therefore important that the leader, by his [or her] behavior manifest a loyalty to the needs and aspiration of group members. These things must matter to him [or her] in ways that to view because such evidence of good faith sincere accessible serve to elicit greater acceptance of influence. ( Hollander,1964,pg231;). In addition, Hollander found that, In order the group to function as effectively as possible, the leader needs to be attuned to the need of followers, the perception and expectancies,(1995,pg75).In other words, when followers trust a leader, theyre willing to be subjected to the leader actions, for they are convinced that their rights and interest will not be neglected. Besides effective leadership, an affective membership is also important to achieve successful teamwork. Team membership performs its task then is better able to perform the next task assigned to it. The main reason in forming a team is to complete given task. Not only that, it is also helping maintain good social relations, promotes its members personal and professional development. Therefore, it is essential for member require the right type of people, good internal group process and understand team dynamic to work towards a common goal. This is the social relations, group maintenance, or viability aspect of teamwork (Sundstorm, 1990).For creating effective membership, there is necessary diversity of knowledge and skills. Management teams with members of different backgrounds are more innovative that homogenous team. (Guzzo and Dickson, 1996)

Liposuction Essay -- essays research papers

Liposuction is the most popular cosmetic procedure in the United States. It came to North America in 1982. At first, the doctors used it on thighs, buttocks, and the torso. Now it can be used almost all over the body. The number of liposuctions performed increased by 386 percent from 1992 to 2000. More than 350,000 liposuctions were performed in 2000. Women aren’t the only ones worried about their looks. Last year more than 99,000 men signed up for liposuction and other cosmetic procedures. The most controversial category of new patients is teenagers. Last year, 1,645 teenagers 18 years old and younger had liposuction. The best candidates fro liposuction are normal-weight people with firm, elastic skin. They should be physically and mentally healthy, with realistic expectations. It can help obese people, but it has a much higher risk of complications when more fat is suctioned out. There are two types of liposuction. The first type is the tumescent technique. First they use local anesthetics to numb the area, unless it’s a large area, then they might use a general anesthetic. They put a saline containing solution with anesthetic to reduce swelling and bruising after the surgery. Through a tiny incision, a narrow tube is inserted and used to vacuum the fat layer that’s deep beneath the skin. The tube is quickly pushed and pulled through the fat layer, breaking up the fat cells and suctioning them out. Fluid is lost along with the fat, and it’s crucial that this fluid be replaced during the procedure to prevent shock. Because of this, patients need to be carefully watched and receive fluids. The other type of liposuction is ultrasound-assisted liposuction. The doctors use a heated probe that produces vibrations. The energy it produces causes the patient’s fat cells to rupture, spilling out their oily content. Then the doctors suction out the oil. After the surgery, the patient will experience fluid drainage from the incisions. The patient will also be fitted with a compression garment to prevent swelling and blood clots. The doctor may also prescribe antibiotics to prevent infections.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Liposuction is a costly procedure. It can cost anywhere from 2,650 to 9,100 dollars. It’s not usually covered by insurance, so patients have to pay full cost. Liposuction is an estimated 700 million dollar a year business.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ... ...actions. The following is an example of a liposuction fatality. A mother’s death. No one knows better the Edward Mondeck and his two children, ages nine and eleven. Two years ago, Mondeck’s wife, Rosemarie, 39, decided to have a bit of tummy fat removed with a new procedure called tumescent liposuction. Typically, patients are primed just prior to surgery by injecting large amounts of extremely diluted local anesthetic and epinephrine, a drug that shrinks the capillaries, which reduces bleeding and, many practitioners say, makes it easier to suck out the fat. According to Mondeck and his lawyer, after the drugs were injected, Rosemarie went into cardiac arrest and died. Mondeck sued, and an undisclosed settlement was reached out of court. A lawyer for the physician involved declined to â€Å"get into the issues of the case† because of privacy concerns. â€Å"It was supposed to be a touch-up procedure,† says Mondeck. â€Å"All she had was a fatty area above her bellybutton.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  That was just one of many. Judy Fernandes was just 47 years old. She spent ten hours on the table and died. Lisa Marinelli was just 23 years old. She died of a blood clot the day after surgery.

Stereotypes, Stereotyping and Teen Pregnancy :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

Teen Pregnancy and Stereotypes Teen pregnancy is increasing yearly. According to the March of Dimes, teenage birth rates have decreased steadily in the country since 1991. Teenage birth rates in the United States remain relatively high compared to the more developed countries. According to the March of Dimes, "nearly thirteen percent of all births in the United States were teens ages fifteen to nineteen. Almost one million teenagers become pregnant each year and about 485,000 give birth (Teenage 1). Babies, as well as the teenage mothers, face long-time problems may face long-term problems from the pregnancy. These problems may include school failure, poverty, and physical or mental illness. Babies born to teenagers are at greater risk for neglect and abuse than those of a woman. Teenage mothers may feel like they are being demanded to do the job and they may take their frustration out on the child (When 1). Why are so many teenagers having children at such a young age? What are the parents doing about it? For a long time now, I have thought about these questions. I am a teenager, why aren't I pregnant? Teenage girls feel pressure from their peers. Peers may say to you "Everyone is doing it." You may feel that you need to be part of the group to be "cool". Sometimes you may even feel that you know what you are doing. You think that nothing is going to happen to you until one day, and then you are delivering a baby. Parents are not as smart as they used to be in the sex education area. Many parents are afraid to speak with their children. Some may feel that their children are learning about it in school so why should they say it again. Many teenagers are sent to foster homes because the parents are too busy to take care of their responsibilities. Neglect is a cause for teenagers to get pregnant. They feel that if they have a child that they can be loved. Teen pregnancy, in my opinion, is awful. I feel that young women should not be having children at such a young age. I feel that these teenagers that are having babies are children themselves, and do not know how to take care of them as well as an older, more mature person might.

The Causes Of The World Trade Center Bombing :: essays research papers

In September 1929, "the Roaring Twenties," "the Era of Wonderful Nonsense," of sex, booze and jazz, ended with the stock market crash that began the Great Depression. There followed the "low dishonest decade" of poet W. H. Auden's depiction, as Western statesmen sought to appease their way to security and peace. On Sept. 11, 2001, as the 767s smashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center and Pentagon, killing 5,000 Americans, another unserious era of sex scandals and stock market silliness came to an end. Recall, if you will, the summer of 2001. The story that had CNN, MSNBC and FOX News transfixed was the saga of Gary Condit. Nightly, talk-show hosts demanded answers to the great questions: Why did Gary throw away the watch box? Where did stewardess Anne Marie Smith spend her D.C. nights? By Sept. 11, the story seemed about to end in a great courtroom drama, with Anne Marie charging Gary with libel – for denying she committed adultery. What will the decade be remembered for? The Trial of O. J.? Who killed Jon-Benet Ramsey? The Oval Office trysts of Bill and Monica? Condit summer? Meanwhile, not to worry about the world. For America is "the last superpower," the "indispensable nation." The New Economy will take us to "Dow 36,000!" "Pax Americana" and "Global Democracy" are our destiny. On Sept. 11, the frivolous era came to an end. Suddenly, for the first time since Gen. Jackson drove the British army out of Louisiana, the enemy was inside the gates, slaughtering thousands. Why? Because we adopted an open-borders policy that left tens of millions of illegal aliens wandering about America, few of whom had any loyalty to us, some of whom were willing to murder us on the orders of their foreign masters. To keep the cost of labor down, we let millions of strangers, and not a few enemies, into our home. Never before has America been so vulnerable, and corporate greed and craven politics did it to us. Tuesday, the U.S. reported that industrial production fell for the 12th straight month. Bethlehem Steel became the latest U.S. company to go Chapter 11. U.S. factories now produce at 75 percent of capacity. Last year, the U.S. trade deficit in manufactureds hit $324 billion and the merchandise trade deficit $450 billion. The de-industrialization of America is well advanced. In a triumph of the globalists, America has become again what she has not been in generations: a dependent nation.

Case Study Nike Essay

1. How does Nike’s decision to retain an in-house arm of ad agency Wieden & Kennedy exemplify the concept of organizational design? The decision to retain an in-house arm of ad agency exemplify the concept of organizational design, makes you look at how both companies interpret organizational design. Organizational design is the process of creating structures that accomplish the company’s missions and objectives. First looking at the text, you interpret the Nike’s mission is to design products that will have an outcome of a positive image and that positive image will encourage consumers to purchase Nike products. This shows you that Nike’s image is one of the most viable and important aspects for their company’s success. Which would leave to the following aspects of customer satisfaction, because without that I could potentially ruin Nike’s positive image that they strive so much for. Another factor that plays into this positive image would be advertising. Advertising is an important factor because helps the company showcase their â€Å"consumer-aimed† designs to the public. â€Å"Nike recently spent nearly $2.5 billion annually on advertising.† This textbook reference perfectly displays Nike’s commitment to their positive brand image. Nike’s current advertising agency, Wieden & Kennedy has portrayed this image successfully in the past and currently. This success was show by Nike providing them with â€Å"in-house arms† at the Nike headquarters. By Nike displaying this affection of placing a core contributor to their mission of having a positive image and taking placing them into their headquarters, embodies the concept of organizational design. Not only does is embody the concept is gives the advertising agency the opportunity to have access to Nike’s executive officers, all other employee’s that fall under the top-down and bottom-up structures of change. Which will stimulate Weiden & Kennedy form to better and personalize  marketing strategies and divisional structure for Nike’s mission and purpose to give them the competitive advantage that they have and strive for. 2. Given the problems Nike has had with sweatshop labor being used by some of its foreign contractors, are there parts of the firm that need to be run with a mechanistic rather than organic design? Give examples to support your answer. In my opinion, Nike should run with a mechanistic design rather than organic. They should do this because when looking at the manufacturing departments that Nike employs it is common knowledge that they companies may not provide nor have the basic necessities that would be implemented by labor laws. Now, seeing that mechanistically control is exceedingly bureaucratic is only proves that this needs to happen within outsourcing departments. Nike should have more restricted limits of control to keep them on task when employing these realities of outsourcing. The association with sweatshops is a big deal alone, and Nike is being accused of allowing then to be employed within their company. Looking back at the question above, this would impact their mission of having a positive image as a while. Referring to the text: Nike refused and refuted to comments made by the critics. Nike will destroy their mission of wanting a positive image, when being associated with allowing sweatshops and unsatisfactory work conditions. When looking at prevention of this negative image, you would have to go to the employees who watch the outsourcing and construct and organize the business dealing with the manufacturing firms. Like stated before they should have personalized and centralized tasks and authority at all times. A way they could implement this in there current situation would be appointing Hannah Jones a Nike executive to watch over the efforts of improvements in the factories working and labor conditions. She could do this by simply appointing a position below hers to watch over a specific issue at a time and report back to her. This would give her department power of what is occurring in these manufacturing companies that Nike as a whole  has decided to outsource to. The manufacturing companies involved with Nike’s brand image and business, as a whole should be required to follow Nike’s standards of ethics. When referring back to organizational design, extreme use of supervision is key. Even if Nike were to implement the idea of taking action of supervising every factory to focus of labor issues alone, it would give them the information needed to know if they should be outsourcing with those manufacturing departments. This could lead to the manufacturing departments actually taking that information and collaborating to have well trained and the proper authority to give them the expectations needed.

Achilles and Odyssey Compare and Contrast Essay

Larger-Than-Life Heroes: Achilles and Odysseus What are the main characteristics of a larger-than-life epic hero? An epic hero is a brave and powerful warrior who is motivated to fight both internal and external conflicts to achieve glory and ranks above a normal man. In Homer’s epic poems The Iliad and The Odyssey, Achilles and Odysseus are the well-known heroes. Achilles fights Hektor outside the walls of Troy because Hektor killed his best friend, Patroclus. After fighting in the Trojan War, Odysseus takes on a journey to return back to Ithaca to see his wife, Penelope, and his son, Telemachus.Through his use of tone, figurative language, mood, and imagery, Homer’s epic poems The Iliad and The Odyssey show how Achilles and Odysseus, despite their struggles with themselves and the world, are true heroes because of their motivation for glory and revenge. Achilles and Odysseus are struggling to be viewed as tenacious warriors because of an empty place in their hearts. F or instance, Agamemnon takes Achilles’ prize, Briseis, and exclaims â€Å"See how the lord of the great plains, Agamemnon, humiliated me! He has my prize, by his own whim, for himself† (Iliad. . 168-169). Achilles feels humiliated because Agamemnon took his prize, Briseis, away from him in order to return Chryseis. He still does not want to go to war after Agamemnon returns her. Achilles’ heart is aching and the thought of never seeing his prize again worries him. Homer uses mood to make the reader feel pity for Achilles. Even though Achilles treats Briseis as a prize, it is depressing that he does not have her in his arms. Achilles and Briseis fell in love with each other and were separated such as in a more modern movie called The Swan Princess.Homer makes it seem like Agamemnon is the villain while Achilles is the hero. Achilles’ internal conflict shows how he must cope with not having Briseis in his arms because he did not want to fight in the war. Ev en so, Odysseus longs to return to his homeland, Ithaca, and â€Å"†¦his sweet life [is] flowing away with the tears he wept for his foiled journey home† (Odyssey. 5. 168-169). Odysseus is depressed because he wants to return to his home in Ithaca and see his wife, Penelope, and son, Telemachus, after fighting in the Trojan War.He feels as if his life is transitioning from sweet to bitter. Homer uses imagery to show how Odysseus is crying for his homeland, Ithaca. It creates a depressing mood for the reader because all Odysseus wants is to see his family and return home after a tiresome war, but has failed. The metaphor of Achilles’ sweet life flowing away demonstrates how his lamentations are characterizing him as homesick and how he might not make it through his journey. Achilles struggles with not having a prize while Agamemnon struggles with not sleeping in his own bed for an extensive time.The difference between the internal conflicts is that Achilles cannot fight in war because Briseis is not with him while Odysseus cannot return home and reunite with his family after fighting in the war. Although they both have concerns for their loved ones, Achilles and Odysseus must set them aside and fight their enemies first. Achilles and Odysseus are both epic heroes because they face their external conflicts or struggles with the world and fight as strong warriors. First, Achilles stabbed Hektor in the neck and then â€Å"†¦had in mind for Hektor’s body outrage and shame.Behind both feet he pierced the tendons, heel to ankle. Rawhide cords he drew through both and lashed them to his chariot, letting the man’s head trail† (Iliad. 22. 467-471). Achilles fights and kills Hektor outside the walls of Troy because he killed Achilles’ best friend, Patroclus. After stabbing Hektor in the throat, he ties Hektor’s ankles to his chariot and rides off, dragging him. Hektor uses imagery to show how Achilles ties Hektor to his chariot, and injures him while riding off. Homer also uses tone to explain Achilles’ anger toward Hektor for killing Patroclus.Even so, after slaughtering all of the suitors in his home â€Å"Odysseus scanned his house to see if any man still skulked alive, still hoped to avoid black death† (Odyssey. 22. 406-407). Odysseus finally returns to his home in Ithaca disguised as a beggar by Athena. He is only one out of all the suitors to string Odysseus’ bow, because he is Odysseus and stronger than any man alive. Athena then reveals Odysseus and he and his son, Telemachus, kill all of the suitors in his home. Homer uses imagery to show Odysseus looking around his house to find any more suitors that were still alive.He wanted to no suitor was still alive so he could be in peace with his wife, Penelope. His external conflict is not being able to return home in peace. He must kill all of the suitors, for they wanted to marry Penelope and become King of Ithaca. Odysseus needed to show that he had returned as King of Ithaca and was more powerful than all of the suitors combined. Achilles’ external conflict is fighting Hektor and Odysseus’ external conflict is conquering the suitors. Achilles and Odysseus deal with their external conflicts by conquering their enemies.Achilles and Odysseus are both motivated to face and conquer their struggles with the world for glory and revenge. In fact, Achilles chased Hektor around the walls of Troy three times and â€Å"†¦ ran full speed, and not for bull’s hide or a ritual beast or any prize that men compete for: no but for the life of Hektor, tamer of horses† (Iliad. 22. 189-192). Achilles chases Hektor around the walls of Troy three times because he wants to kill him as a prize. Achilles wants to receive the glory of a stronger warrior and seek revenge on Hektor for killing his best friend, Patroclus.Homer uses imagery to show Achilles’ determination to have Hek tor’s dead body for revenge. The reader can picture swift-footed Achilles on the heels of Hektor, tamer of horses. Achilles almost reaches Hektor, while Hektor almost outruns Achilles. In the end, Achilles conquers Hektor and gains glory for being the stronger warrior and proving himself to being larger-than-life. And then, Odysseus is determined to be reunited with his wife, Penelope, and says â€Å"Nevertheless I long-I pine, all my days-to travel home and see the dawn of my return. And if a god wreck me yet again on the wine-dark sea, I can bear that too†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Odyssey. . 241-244). Odysseus does not give up returning to Ithaca because he wants to see his family. He will bear anything that comes along his way to his journey home. Homer uses mood to make the reader feel hope for Odysseus on returning home safely and how he is ready to fight obstacles that the gods put upon him along his journey. He is motivated to return home because he wants to conquer the suitors, which will earn him glory and prove him to be larger-than-life. He also wants to seek revenge on the suitors that have caused Penelope harm while he was away.It proves that Odysseus saved his wife with the help of his son and how he ranks higher than the suitors. Achilles fights Hektor for his body and glory from the Greeks. Odysseus wants to return home so he can be glorified after seeking revenge on the suitors by murdering them. Achilles and Odysseus both seek revenge on their enemies for what they have done to their loved ones. Achilles and Odysseus are well-known heroes in Homer’s epic poems The Iliad and The Odyssey. Through both poems, the heroes experience internal and external conflicts such as battles with other warriors and missing loved nes. Glory plays a huge role in these characters and they want to be well-known for their actions such as how Achilles conquered Hektor or how Odysseus conquered the suitors. Achilles and Odysseus have the main characteristics of an epic hero, but gain them in different ways. In their internal conflicts, Achilles misses Briseis while Odysseus misses his home, Ithaca, as well as his wife Penelope, and son, Telemachus. In The Iliad, Achilles and Briseis are separated from each other just as how Princess Odette and Prince Derek and separated from each other in the 1994 movie, The Swan Princess.The internal conflict of Achilles can be related to movies such as The Swan Princess today. In their external conflicts, Achilles fights Hektor, tamer of horses, while Odysseus fights the commanding suitors in Ithaca. Achilles conquers Hektor for his life and to gain glory by becoming the greater warrior. Odysseus along with his son, Telemachus, conquers the suitors and gain glory. Achilles and Odysseus seek revenge on their enemies. Achilles kills Hektor because he killed his best friend, Patroclus. He lost his best friend forever and needed to get Hektor back by taking his life.Odysseus seeks revenge on the suitors for harming his wife and taking advantage of her hospitality, such as making a mess during feasts. People today also seek revenge on people that have caused them harm. Achilles and Odysseus have shaped what an epic hero is and show that even though they lived two different lives, they both showed the characteristics of an epic hero and how they must be a brave and powerful warrior who is motivated to fight both internal and external conflicts to achieve glory. Overall, although Achilles and Odysseus are two different characters, their similar characteristics define what an epic hero is.