Management Essay on Labor Relations Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Management on Labor Relations - Essay Example This can be done through involving the workers in decisions they make hence making the workers comfortable while working. Moreover, through sociology, the labor relations can be added insight by ensuring that workers are subjected to better working conditions. These can be given through ample time to rest and paying them incase they are working overtime. Other issues could include paid holidays, office retreats among others. Sociology can contribute to labor relations by ensuring that workers have better pays. That is they are paid according to their level of education, as well as being granted promotions where necessarily. It is also important that they are given an opportunity to involve and engage themselves in unions where they can share experiences as per their job descriptions. 2. Think about a job you have performed and discuss some of the external variables that influenced the work rules required on that job. There are several external variables that influence the work rules, they include; upcoming opportunities, social group, family and personal influences. Upcoming opportunities that people come across outside their current working places, and want to try them. They find better paying jobs, which at times tempt them to move to greener pastures. The family plays a big role as it helps influence the individual in areas of interest especially in sales with different family members giving encouragements and advices (Wolters, et al 6). Social group is another external variable that helps through the form of interactions with one another. These social groups have many functions especially in shaping the perspective of the customer and sales person’s behavior. Personal influences are important external variables as they help individuals in self realization in terms of communications with other people. This greatly affects the diffusion process especially in sales. 3. The text outlines three basic assumptions underlying the labor relations process in t he United States. To what extent do you agree or disagree with these assumptions? Does your response differ depending on whether you think about the question from the perspective of an employer or an employee? I agree with the three assumptions that are underlying in the labor relations process, in the United States. This is because there has always been a conflict of interest in the economic system with the employees and employers struggling to meet and advance their own self –interests (Wolters, et al 7). Essentially, most of the interests of the employees are done through the collective bargain process as they seek to advance on their salaries, working conditions and the security of their jobs. On the other hand, the employers seek to maximize their returns on the capital invested, as well as, improving their economic status. All these issues have led to the sustainability of organizations, which cannot be done without both parties. However, thinking from the employeesâ₠¬â„¢ perspective, the employers need to understand the employees with more cautiousness than they have done in these assumptions. They should give them the freedom to be in unions and include them in most of the decision making process of the organizations because organizations cannot operate without a work force. 4. Discuss your opinion

Determinants Of Infant Mortality Health And Social Care Essay

Determinants Of Infant Mortality Health And Social Care Essay The infant mortality rate of African American newborns within the first year of life is more than twice that of white newborns and higher per 1,000 deaths than any other racial or ethnic group in the United States. Using social ecological model as the theoretical framework, the goal is to understand the causes of racially disparate infant mortality rates. This paper will present health disparities and related social inequities that may underlie these troubling outcomes for childbearing women and infants in the United States. Introduction Infant mortality rates are often used as a measure of a populations general health status, socioeconomic conditions, and availability and access to quality health care. The decrease in the rate of infant death in the United States has been observed for births to both white and black mothers. Although there has been general improvement in infant survival, there has been widened gap in the racial disparity in infant mortality rates. The ten leading causes of infant mortality in the United States are: 1) birth defects: 2) causes related to short gestation or low birth weight (LBW); 3) sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS); 4) maternal complications of pregnancy; 5) complications of placenta, cord, and membranes; 6) accidents; 7) respiratory distress of newborn; 8) bacterial sepsis of newborn; 9) diseases of the circulatory system; and 10) intrauterine hypoxia and birth asphyxia. Infants born to black mothers had the highest IFM due to prematurity and LBW. Additionally, low birth weight and premature infants who survive the first year of life continue to face serious health problems and developmental problems. The social-ecological model has been chosen because it takes in account factors that influence disparate rate among black American infants. Disparities in infant mortality by race and class continue to be a national disgrace. The purpose of this study using the social ecological model will be: (1) discuss individual factors that influence infant mortality and (2) discuss multiple levels of factors that influence infant mortality rate. Methods The literature was searched using the databases of CINAHL, Pub Med (Medline), Eric, PsychInfo, Science Reference Center, and SocioIndex for the years 199-2010. The search terms included social ecological, black women, African American women, parenting, infant mortality, health, social inequalities. Inclusion criteria included a) original research; b) studies published in English; c) peer-reviewed journal; d) articles on black woman and infant mortality; and e) social ecological model. Of the 140 articles identified, only those studies with health, social determinants, black women, social ecological model, African American in the abstracts and full text articles were include (n=39). Social Ecological Model Vulnerable populations are at substantially greater risk of poor physical, mental and social health and have much higher rates of morbidity and mortality. Despite these greater health needs, they also typically face greater barriers to accessing timely and needed care and, even when receiving care, have worse health outcomes than others . The social ecological approach considers the nested arrangement of behavioral and environmental determinants of health. posits that concepts of health promotion require analysis of the health habits and lifestyles of participants, as well as constraints and resources present within participants environments. Secondly, the social ecological approach recognizes the importance of changing interpersonal, organizational, community, and public policy.Finally, the social ecological model has been chosen to analyze personal, community and societal institutions impact on infant mortality. Results Intrapersonal Resources The intrapersonal resources include individual characteristics such as perceived lack of knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, health practices, age, race/ethnicity, income and education and employment status variables effect infant mortality . In order to understand the individual interpersonal characteristics one needs to critically examine the mothers knowledge regarding maternal education and health practices. Social inequities related to educational opportunities and social resources may influence health behaviors or practices that are associated with infant health. Compared with women who receive adequate prenatal care, those who do not seek a reasonable amount of care tend to be young, less educated, single, and/or to have other children . have documented the powerful association between a persons socioeconomic status and mortality. The gap in infant mortality based on mothers years of formal education has also widened significantly over time. Maternal education appears to be an increasingly important predictor of infant survival. Researchers observe that key risk factors for infant mortality, including smoking during pregnancy, delayed or no prenatal care, and lack of health care coverage, vary substantially with socio-economic status and maternal education . Behavioral factors account for about half of premature mortality, and almost all vary by socioeconomic status. The greatest behavioral risk for premature mortality is tobacco use. In 2005, the IFM rate for infants of mothers who smoked was 74 percent higher than the rate for nonsmokers . Those with less education and less income are more likely to smoke. Smoking prevalence reflects likelihood of initiating smoking as well as of quitting, and different policies are relevant for those stages of smoking. However, the more educated were more likely to try and quit, and among those who tried to quit with higher incomes were more likely to succeed. This suggest that efforts to encourage quitting need to be geared more strongly to those with less education and that the means of quitting need to be made more accessible to the poor. Breastfeeding has been shown to reduce rates of infant mortality in the United States and worldwide . However, the rates of initiation and maintenance of breastfeeding are less frequent among black women than white and Hispanic women,. Maternal education again is associated with substantial disparities: women with 9th-to 11th grade education are least likely to breastfeed to 6 months, whereas women with college degrees are most likely to do so as well as to report ever breastfeeding with the most recent birth . Infant mortality rates vary with maternal age, with the highest 2005 death rates documented for infants of the youngest mothers those under age 15 (16.4 per 1,000 live birth), and oldest mothers- aged 40 and older (7.9 per 1,000 live births) . Among older mothers, especially those of low social economic status, infant mortality rates may be affected by pregnancy complications related to advanced maternal age, such as gestational diabetes mellitus and hypertensive disorders. Other contributing factors are black womens higher rates of intra-uterine growth restriction, preterm premature rupture of membranes, placenta previa, preterm birth, very preterm birth, cesarean delivery, light vaginal bleeding, and heavy vaginal bleeding compared to the white population . Chronic stress can affect health both directly and indirectly through its effects on health behavior. While people in all walks of life experience stress, lower-SES persons live and work in more stressful environments. Higher IFM among well- educated black women has been attributed to their cumulative experience of chronic stress over the life course, which causes wear and tear on their reproductive health over time. identified a number of factors that contribute to greater stress at lower SES levels, including economic strain, insecure employment, low control at work, and stressful life events. determined that lifelong accumulated experiences of racial discrimination by black American women constitute an independent risk factor of preterm delivery. noted association between black American womens exposure to chronic stress from interpersonal racism and infant, very low birth weight (VLBW). Black American women who were exposed to what they perceived as racial bias and internalized their responses to unfair treatment had a fourfold greater risk of hypertension as well. proposed the classic host (i.e., pregnant women), environment (i.e., chronic social stressors), and agent (i.e., immediate emotional stress or physical stressors) are ongoing stressors as well as social and cultural modifiers of stress may have influence on how particular stressors is experienced or what the physical response to it may be. Researcher have also suggested that being a woman is a characteristic that cannot be neglected in the context of maternal stressors. Being a black woman produces a double effect of racial and gender discrimination and related stress which in turn impacts their health and the outcomes of subsequent pregnancies. Interpersonal Resources Interpersonal resources include culturally relevant social support as well as social norms that may facilitate behavioral capacity and health behavior change . Research has confirmed that loneliness is detrimental to health. Good health is positively correlated with involvement and satisfying relationships with other people. Studies show that married people live longer than unmarried people and that there are lower death rates among those who have lots of social support. A social network not only assists with instrumental assistance such as childcare, finances and housing, but it is a persons major source of emotional support. A personals level of social support is one of the most potent indicators her degree of vulnerability . Broken relationships create lifelong conditions of high stress and low support, which in turn pattern physiological, psychological, and behavioral responses that put the mother at risk for poor nutrition during pregnancy, and her baby at risk for fetal and infant deaths. Black American families are disproportionately affected by broken relationships, which contributes to disparities infant mortality . Infants born to unmarried mothers had higher IMR compared to those born to married mothers in 2002. However, the IMRs are significantly higher for married black American mothers than for unmarried black American mothers. In a report, maternal grandmothers were more frequently nominated than other source of parenting help including spouses, current or former partners, relatives, friends and professionals. Grandmothers have a tremendous influence on a womans lived experiences. Maternal grandmothers tend to improve child survival rates, as do potential sibling helpers at the nest. In this study, researcher suggests that while help from family may be a universal feature of human child-rearing, who helps is dependent on ecological conditions of the family. Fathers can also have a tremendous influence on the health of mothers and their infants. Some fathers focused efforts are under way in the United State, including the USDAs Fathers Supporting Breastfeeding Program, which uses a video, posters, and brochures designed to target Black men. Poor family and social support, negative attitudes of family and friends can pose a barrier to good health practices. , observed that there was an association of single motherhood and negative birth outcomes with single parent household, which occurred more often and longer than married or coupled households. Community and Environmental Resources The community resources and environmental resources may have a significant impact on individual characteristics of the mother, for instance, substandard housing, lack of transportation, and child -care problems can prohibit a mother from attending prenatal classes or obstetrical appointments. A key to reducing infant mortality is to address the barriers that stand between low-income women and adequate prenatal care. Racial and ethnic minorities tend to live in medically underserved areas, and many black American and Hispanic families lack a regular source of care, making do with outpatient clinics and hospital emergency rooms in times of crisis . According to a study by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, low-income pregnant women are more likely to seek and be satisfied with prenatal care if they can avoid long waiting time, see providers who explain procedures, and have access to ancillary services, especially substance abuse services and childbirth education. Health pr oviders have also begun to understand the need for culturally competent providers and the availability of medical personnel who speak the patients primary language. Exposure to damaging agents in the environment, including lead, asbestos, carbon dioxide, and industrial waste, varies with socioeconomic status. Those lower on the SES hierarchy are more likely to live and work in worse physical environments. Poorer neighborhoods are disproportionately located near highways, industrial areas, and toxic waste sites, since land there is cheaper and resistance to polluting industries, less visible. Housing quality is also poorer for low-SES families. As a result, compared with high-income families, both children and adults from poor families show a six fold increase in rates of high blood lead levels, while middle-income adults and children show a twofold increase Economic differences do not fully explain the persistent high infant mortality rates of black American women and other minority groups. Several studies in the early 90s examined the effect of racial residential segregation on the health outcomes of Black Americans and a positive association between black-white dissimilarity and black infant mortality rates was shown after controlling for metropolitan area poverty rates. After an initial focus on infant mortality, several authors examined the association between racial segregation and mortality in other age groups. Their general finding indicated that black mortality is positively associated with residential segregation and with residence in predominantly black areas. Current research still indicates racial residential segregation as one of the fundamental cause of racial disparities in health. The physical separation of the races by enforced residence in certain areas is an institutional mechanism of racism that was designed to protect whites from social interaction with blacks. The degree of residential segregation remains extremely high for most Black Americans in the United States. The authors review evidence that suggests that segregation is a primary cause of racial differences in socioeconomic status (SES) by determining access to education and employment opportunities. SES was determined to remain a fundamental cause of racial differences in health. The US sociological literature suggests that residential segregation along racial/ethnic lines is not primarily a result of the residential preferences of minority groups. National and metropolitan area surveys have shown that, on average, Black Americans and Hispanics would be more willing than Whites to live in relatively integrated neighborhoods. On the other hand, several studies, including audit studies involving experimental designs, have indicated that Black American and Hispanics continue to face discrimination in housing and mortgage markets even after income has been controlled. Discrimination prevents upwardly mobile members of minority groups from becoming more spatially integrated with Whites. Organizational Resources Organizational resources have a strong effect on the individual characteristics of mother. Lack of access, provider availability and geographic distance, quality of care, timeliness, and types of services creates health disparities for minority women. If a client lives 3 hours away from the regional medical center, the client will have an increased burden placed on her because of the lack of resources available in her own community. used the ecological model as a framework for applying social justice concepts to the care of childbearing women and families. They discovered by addressing health disparities exclusively on an individual level ignores the effect of social practices and institutions on the health of childbearing women and infants and serves as a barrier to achieving the goal of social justice. Although there are a number of mechanisms through which socio-economic status influences health, there is a distinctive link between utilization of health care services and health st atus. Prenatal care most often is associated with medical care, in which case it is an important factor in the prevention of poor birth outcomes, particularly prematurity and/or low birth weight and their associated neonatal mortality . Typically, efforts to improve infant health in the United States have focused on timely, appropriate care during pregnancy and delivery. While these services remain the keys to giving babies a good start in life, they do not sufficiently address the maternal health problems that often underlie infant mortality. There is a growing consensus that prevention efforts need to begin well before conception, especially for those mothers at greatest risk for poor pregnancy outcomes. Several months of medical attention cannot overcome many years of disadvantage and poor health. Women, particularly minority women need good care between pregnancies. Good maternal health requires diagnosis and management of chronic disease well before conception. But lack of health insurance keeps women from getting the care needed to maintain their own health and improve their chances for healthy pregnancies. Before pregnancy, women qualify for Medicaid only if they have extremely low incomes- well below the poverty line (68 percent of the Federal poverty line for working women, and under 41 percent for those who do not work). Once they become pregnant, women are held to a less stringent requirement (185 percent). As a result, many low-income women who qualify for Medicaid only after a confirmed pregnancy test often experience delays in enrollment and referral to a provider suggests that disparities in neonatal mortality are primarily determined by not only the birthrate of extremely premature infants but access to specialized obstetrical and pediatric care. This analysis suggests that the epidemiology and social meaning of disparities in infant mortality are intensely dynamic and increasingly reflect the interaction between social forces and technical innovation. interviewed a total of 6, 2999 white, black American, Hispanic and Asian adults, to view their differences in perceptions of health care system. It was determined that bias and cultural competence are not fully explained by such factors as demographics, source of care, and patient-physician communication, but it may partially explain disparities in patient ratings of individual health care provider cultural competence. As such, interventions aimed at improving access to a regular source of care and enhancing patient-physician communication may improve patient ratings of interpersonal bias and cultural competence of physicians; however, such interventions alone are not likely to substantially improve ethnic minority patients perceptions of bias and cultural competence in the health care system as a whole. Moreover, disparities in preterm births have proven very difficult to overcome. In 2005, the preterm-related infant mortality rate was more than three times higher for black mothers than for white mothers . Infants chances of survival often depend on technology and expertise available at local hospitals. Hospitals serving a high proportion of minority patients have higher than expected mortality rates for infants born at very low birth-weights . In 1999, Congress requested in the Institute of Medicine (IOM) report, entitled Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities, in Healthcare, assess is the extent of racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare, the study concluded that although myriad sources contribute to these disparities, some evidence suggests that bias, prejudice, and stereotyping on the part of healthcare providers may contribute to differences in care. From the IOM report, assuming that access-related factors- such as insurance status and the ability to pay for care are the same, the possibility that overt or subtle biases or prejudice on the part of healthcare providers might affect the quality of care for minorities; suggests the need for intervention strategies to improve access to quality health care . Discussion The impact of social and environmental factors on the behavior and health of individuals and populations has been understudy for years. Addressing health disparities from an individual, community and organizational level is important to the social health of United States. Nationally, black infants have the worse birth outcomes than any other racial and ethnic group. By exploring the social ecological model a more comprehensive approach to acknowledging how individual challenges, environmental resources, and organizational structures influences the health behaviors of black women. Social inequities may contribute to differences in access to or quality of health care, which leads to less knowledge and skill in promoting personal and family health, thus results in poor health and birth outcomes. To rekindle concern about infant mortality to the level of effective action, public health professionals must refocus the publics attention on assuring that all women are provided adequate education and services to help them avoid unintended pregnancies, that all pregnant women receive services in appropriate facilities, and that the causes of preterm deliveries are discovered. Effective action in these areas would not only improve infant mortality overall; it would also reduce racial and ethnic disparities in infant health . Implications for Research and Practice In summary, prevention of an infant early death is not a health outcome, but rather a surrogate endpoint for optimum fetal, infant, and lifelong health. Racial and socio- economic disparities in rates of preterm birth and infant mortality area among the most widely recognized but, least understood aspects of infant and maternal health in this country. In particular, the persistent black/white differential requires intensive study. At any age, and at any income, education or socioeconomic level, an black American mother is more than twice as likely to lose her infant as a white woman. Given the complexity of the layered intrapersonal, interpersonal, local, and national contexts in which social justice operates, and realizing social justice is a work in progress; we can certainly help move nursing and medicine toward integrating concepts of social justice for the betterment of society, as a whole . Adoption of universal health-care coverage for women and children and providing optimum work policies for women is worthy goals. Additionally, new interventions designed with the social context of friends, family, and neighborhood associates, can be used to improve birth outcomes.

Colonization Across the Globe Essay -- Colonies World History Economy

Colonization Across the Globe After Christopher Columbus landed in the West Indies in 1492, Spain and Portugal started disputing areas of influence on the South American continent. The dispute was eventually settled by the Pope (Alexander VI), who in 1493, drew up defined areas of influence for the two nations with the idea of spreading Christianity to the natives in those territories. In time the Portuguese territory became known as Brazil, hence the working language of that country to this day is Portuguese, while most of the rest of the continent speaks Spanish. On 1 August 1498, during his third voyage, Columbus finally sighted the South American mainland for the first time. The next white explorer to reach the continent was the Portuguese navigator Pedro Cabral, who anchored off the coast of present day Brazil in April 1500 - a territory which he then claimed for Portugal. However, the claim was ignored for more than 30 years by Portugal itself, whose sailors had in the interim sailed round Africa to India. During this time of Portuguese indifference, the Spanish seized the initiative in Central America and the West Indies. In 1519, the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, then employed by the Spaniards, first sailed up the Rio de la Plata River. He then proceeded south and in November 1520, first sailed round the southernmost part of South America and sighted the Pacific Ocean. 1. Spain In 1519, Cortes with about 600 men set sail for South America with a few cannon and horses. A last minute dispute with the Spanish governor saw Cortes' expedition being officially cancelled, but Cortes continued, later bringing back gold and other riches to the Spanish crown as justification for his expedition. The army sailed west along the Gulf Coast, engaging in a major battle against a local tribe. It was at this first battle that Cortes realized the technological advantage the Europeans possessed: steel armour, guns, cannons and even horses were completely unknown to the people of Central America, and many tribesmen fled at the very sight of a powerful charge horse. These advantages were pressed home remorselessly, and all the native tribes in Central and South America were to pay dearly for being technologically so far behind the Europeans. At the time of the Spanish conquest of Central America, the Aztecs had created an empire which... ...ess Cixi. The terrorist activities of the Boxer society gradually increased during 1899, with Boxer bands attacking all whites on sight. When these bands entered the Chinese capital, Peking, the whites powers sent a small armed column to the Chinese capital to protect the few whites in the city. On 16 June 1900, the Empress Cixi ordered Chinese troops to attack the whites army which was still outside Peking. Then on 18 June 1900, the Empress Cixi publicly called on the Chinese to kill all the whites they could find. Many whites were then murdered: large numbers fled into the fortified foreign embassies in the city. There they were besieged by Chinese. Finally, a combined army consisting of British, French, Russian, German, American and Japanese troops entered Peking on 14 August 1900, relieving the besieged foreign embassies. Peking was then occupied by the whites powers for a year until September 1901, when the Chinese signed a peace treaty in terms of which they had to pay a large indemnity and grant the whites powers the right to station troops in Peking to safeguard the embassies. This situation remained unaltered right up until the early part of the 20th century.

Systems Model; Critique

Critique the relevance of the systems model to the study of politics Models, theories and concepts as approaches for analysing policy and decision making have been developed by political and social scientists to guide the study of public policy, to facilitate communication and to suggest possible explanations for policy actions. This essay is a critique of the relevance of the systems model to the study of politics. A model is conceptually defined as a theoretical representation of empirical data that aims to advance understanding through highlighting of significant relationships and interactions. According to Heywood (2007) one of the most influential models in political analysis is the Political system model developed by David Easton (1979, 1981) which aims to explain the entire political process including the functions of the major political actors through what is called systems analysis. A system is an organised and complex whole, a set of interrelated and interdependent parts that form a collective entity. Roskin, Cord, Medeiros & Jones (1997) concur that in the political systems model the politics of a given country worked the same way as a biological system. Here they were trying to emphasise the interrelationships and inter dependence likening it to the biological human body; how the various organs needed or related to each other and likening this to the political system. Systems theory is therefore the theory that treats the political system as a self regulating mechanism responding to inputs (demands and supports) by issuing authoritative decisions or outputs (policies). David Easton’s model illustrated the existence of a linkage between inputs and outputs in a political system(Heywood, 2007). Inputs consist of demands and support from the general public and demands in a political system range from pressure for the need of a higher standard of living, improved employment opportunities, greater protection to minorities, improved social benefits among many. Support on the other hand includes ways in which the public responds to the political system that is by paying taxes, offering compliance to the state through participation in public life and other societal issues. Heywood (ibid) further asserts that outputs on the other and are in the form of laws promulgated by government, consisting of decisions and actions of government that is the passing of laws, the imposition of taxes and most importantly allocation of public funds. The outputs generate feedback which consist of further demands and support from the general public. Further Easton referred to what he called gatekeepers being political parties, church organisations, pressure groups which gatekeepers manage the percep tion of the people and convey their inputs in the form of demands and supports. Outputs from government go back to the people and the cycle goes on and on. He projected that a political system tends to operate at equilibrium as its survival depends on outputs being brought into line with inputs. However, according to Anderson (1997) the usefulness of the systems theory in studying public policy is limited by its highly general and abstract nature. Older studies have devoted little attention to the nature and definition of public problems. It is now conventional wisdom that policy study that does not consider the characteristics and dimensions of the problems that stimulate government action is less than complete. In Easton’s model there is no clarity on the inputs which are the problems of the public. It gives a general picture of society. The importance lies in knowing both why some problems are acted on and others are neglected and why a problem is defined in one way rather than another. It is also important to know the nature of the problem whether it is foreign or domestic, a new item or an outgrowth of an existing policy to determine the ensuing policy making process, issues that the systems model is silent on. According to Jackson & Jackson (2003) the basic argument of systems analysis is that governments are the centre of political systems which involves three stages mainly the effects of the environment on a political system by making multiple demands, as well as providing fundamental support. A demand can be defined as a condition or situation that produces needs or dissatisfaction among people for which relief or redress is sought. For example problems such as air pollution, unwholesome food, abortion, urban congestion, crowded prisons and global warming are conditions that may become problems if they produce sufficient anxiety or dissatisfaction to cause people to seek a remedy. For this to happen people must have some criterion or standard by which the troubling condition is judged to be both unreasonable or unacceptable and appropriate for government to handle Anderson (1997). Conditions do not become public problems unless they are defined as such, articulated by someone or defined as such. The systems model therefore does not explore these highlighted problems. According to Jackson & Jackson (ibid) the systems analysis is criticised often arguing that the model on which it is based does not help discern which part of a political system are essential or influential. It is further argued that it is impossible to predict how or even whether a change in one part of the system will affect another part. Furthermore political systems are not as closely related as the model implies. Political systems are not as static as the model implies Another criticism of the systems theory is that it does not acknowledge the changes that occur with time. According to Roskin (et al) systems change over time with the rise of new powers, new technologies and new alliances. It does not even recognise the existence of bigger entities with many components for example countries or groups of countries that interact with each other forming international systems. To some the fall of the Soviet empire in the 1990’s marked the end of the cold war and the bipolar system. But some argue that the bipolar system did not end with the collapse of the Soviet Union, but rather a multi polar economics race emerged. As Moscow gave up the East European nations and no longer posed any invasion threat to Western Europe which moved closer to unity in the European Union (EU). All barriers among the fifteen members disappeared, producing a single economy if not a single political entity. The United States on the other hand had some economic problems, massive trade deficits following massive budget deficits making it the biggest debtor. It could no longer call the tune and get alliance from allies in Europe and Asia. Countries of the Eastern bloc consolidated their political system significantly. The systems model is limited in this sense in that its diagrammatic representation is only limited to small entities. According to Anderson (ibid) a condition to be turned into a problem, must be seen as an appropriate topic for governmental action and further, as something for which there is a possible governmental remedy or solution. The systems model does not articulate the inputs fed into gate keepers, neither does it clarify the difference between conditions and problems. Those who oppose government action to ban smoking in public places may argue that tobacco smoke is not harmful, or that smoke is a matter of individual choice and should not be regulated. Professor Wildavsky contends that officials are unlikely to deal with a problem unless it is coupled with a solution. He thus, states that ‘a problem is a problem only if something can be done about it’,(Anderson, ibid). Thus in Easton’s model there is no emphasis on the nature of the inputs. Power distribution in the systems model is not adequately explored in the graphical representation. In today’s world for example the American system, political power is fragmented and dispersed by constitutional prescription and political practice. Many points of official decision making exist and a multitude of officials share in the exercise of political power and the formulation of public policy. Structural functionalism focuses on the different levels of a system and their reciprocal influences and also the possibility of making generalisations about them. It is premised on what structures perform what functions in any given system and under what conditions. Key proponent Almond (1960) critically examined Easton’s model and proceeded to look for the functions that could be included among the inputs and outputs of a political system and identified six functions. Chief among these functions is interest articulation, interest aggregation, rule application and adjudication and communication. Political systems consist of units or structures that perform certain or particular functions. The detailed variables with which the model is concerned are structural that is pressure groups, political parties, the legislature among many. Political systems are compared on the basis of the functions that are performed by their units. However, according to Jackson &Jackson (ibid), the structural functional approach does not accommodate itself well to the state as a dynamic entity. The mechanical role of performing functions is assigned to the state. It ignores the human element that those who perform functions of the state may have their own interests. Some critics even argue that structural functional approach places too much emphasis on technology and rational procedures and obscures the relationship between structures and functions. Almond seems to contend that all systems must evolve in the same manner and direction as did the Anglo American Democracies if they wish to develop to higher political stages. David Easton’s model of a political system is the basis of most contemporary political systems. But however, it is only ideal as there are constant changes that occur in the society we live in, therefore an equilibrium can never be achieved. It forms a basis of analysis upon which scientific generalisations can be made. REFERENCE Anderson, J. E. Public policy making; An introduction (3rd edition). Houghton Mifflin Company: Boston Heywood, A. (2007). Politics (3rd edition). Palgrave Macmillan: New York Jackson, R. J. & Jackson, D. (2003). An introduction to political science. Prentice Hall: Toronto Roskin, M, Cord, R. L, Medeiros, J. A, & Jones, W. S. (1997). Political science; an introduction (6th edition). Prentice Hall International (UK) Limited: London

Vark: Educational Psychology and Learning Styles

VARK Analysis Grand Canyon University VARK Analysis VARK refers to a specific style of learning, visual, auditory, reading and writing and kinesthetic leaners. (Fleming & Mills, 1992) VARK assessment questions alert people to the variety of different approaches to learning. (VARK: A Guide to Learning Styles, 2011) For those struggling with learning the VARK analysis can develop a new learning approach or enhance your current learning style by identifying your learning style to more effectively store and recall information. Knowing our own learning style also can help you to realize that other people may approach the situation different from your own. (Connor, 2009) â€Å"Everyone has a certain amount of each learning style, but one learning type will be more dominant that than other. †(Smith, 2011) Throughout our journey of childhood education we are introduced to kinesthetic learning in the early years, JR high visual and read and write and higher learners experience more auditory. (Smith, 2011) Each individual is exposed to different learning approaches however we develop a preference to a specific learning style. Whichever type a person is, will be how they view life and comprehend situations. This is their own, unique personal filtering system. Obviously each of us will become automatically drawn to our same type, and those who filter the same information the way we do. But having diverse relationships will increase our own happiness throughout our lives† (Smith, 2011) â€Å"VARK is a bout learning, not leisure activities. The read/write learners prefer information displayed as words. This learning style emphasizes text based-input and output. People who prefer this modality are often addicted to Power Points, the internet, lists diaries and words, words, words. †(VARK: A Guide to Learning Styles, 2011) Upon taking this test, it reinforced the learning strategies I currently utilize the read and write learning preference. Read and write learners need writing materials to take down points the think are important from what the read, hear and see. (Smith, 2011) The advantage for read write learners they are very independent with learning and can self-teach. A disadvantage to this style of learning preference if a presentation is audio or visual with no opportunities to take notes, this type of learner will struggle with comprehending the content. With a presentation that is more visual and audio, the read write learner must convert this content to a style of words in their head that will help them commit this to memory. (VARK: A Guide to Learning Styles, 2011) Read and Write learners prefer to take information by making list, headings or utilizing book, handouts, essays and manuals. To make their intake of information a learnable package a read and write learner must convert their â€Å"notes† by 3:1 for studying. † (VARK: A Guide to Learning Styles, 2011) These read/write learner to utilize the information they gather often organizes their written words into diagrams, graphs, charts and read their notes and rewrite the principals into other words. The successful output of this information is when they can perform well on a test or assignment. VARK: A Guide to Learning Styles, 2011) Completing the VARK analysis at the beginning of my BSN program reinforced the strengths of my read write learning preference. This learning preference style analysis also gave suggestions if a read and write learner is put in a situation where they must utilize the other learning styles. The suggestion to convert that information into the preferred â€Å"word† method read/ write learners like is an excellent suggestion rather than focusing on the fact one is uncomfortable with the presentation of the material in a non-preferred learning method. University Education is ideal for a read and write learner due to the comfort of reading text, writing notes and essays. † (VARK: A Guide to Learning Styles, 2011) This style learning preference does well with self-teach /learning which a benefit in the online classroom environment. The challenge a read/ write learner might face in the online classroom is the need to l isten to online tutorials, this is a time they would need to convert the information into a preferred â€Å"word† method to process the needed information in a way they better comprehend. The read write learner has a â€Å"AH HA’ moment which is the point the words they intake help them comprehend the topic and process the information long term. (Smith, 2011) References Connor, M. (2009). Ageless Learners: What’s your Learning Style? Retrieved January 20, 2012, from http://agelesslearner. com/assess/learningstyle. html Fleming, N. , & Mills, C. (1992). Helping Students Understand How They Learn [Journal]. The Teaching Professor, 7(). Retrieved from www. vark-learn. com Smith, C. (2011, June). Understanding Every Personality Type: Audio, Visual and Kinesthetic [Discussion Group comment]. Retrieved from http://applecsmith. hubpages. com/hub/Being-Successful-With-Every-Personality-Type-Audio-Visual-Kinesthetic Smith, D. (2011, June 26). Advantages and Disadvantages to different learning styles [Discussion Group comment]. Retrieved from http://www. ehow. com/info_8651838_advantages-disadvantages-different-learning-styles. html VARK: A Guide to Learning Styles. (2011). www. vark-learn. com