Harvey Norman Case Study Essay Example For Students

Harvey Norman Case Study Essay Official Summary HN (Harvey Norman) (set up in 1982) is perceived as one of the most proficient organizations in Australia at advertising their items transcendently as to information and the execution of their Marketing Plan and the need in routinely screen the adequacy of the showcasing plan. The job of advertising is to interface a business with their shopper and the potential or future client base. The job of advertising in HN is an enormous piece of its example of overcoming adversity. Situational Analysis As at 31 December 2009, there were 195 diversified edifices all through Australia. They have additionally quickly extended their seaward markets in the course of recent years, there are 70 organization possessed stores situated in New Zealand (31 stores), Republic of Ireland (14 stores), Malaysia (6 stores) and Slovenia (3 stores). The Global economy has endured an extreme downturn toward the start of 2009 which has added to HN’s sensational misfortune. In light of this HN should modify its promoting plan trying to pull in clients to their organizations. SWOT Analysis StrengthsWeaknesses *Brand name in Australia, almost certainly the best in Australia * The organization is over dependent on its Chairman, Gerry Harvey *The organization keeps on acclimating to suit advertise changes * Lack of freedom on the board, wrong choices could be made. OpportunitiesThreats *There will be a lot more varieties of buyer and office * If Gerry Harvey chooses to step down Equipment that will be available in the years ahead * Bad exposure over evaluating and advertising Diagram)HN is †Business declined 40% between 30th June 2008 †30th June 2009 To address the company’s misfortunes, it intends to audit the cosmetics of the top managerial staff the same number of them have been there for over 15 years. The property advancement business and quick track presentation of a full scale web based shopping methodology over the brands. Setting up Marketing Objectives HN’s primary objective like numerous organizations is benefit. Its point is to give an acceptable offer profit and produces enough benefit for the organizations development. Expanded piece of the pie †¢ Decreased working expense †¢ Increased number of clients †¢ Increased client support †¢ Long term endurance of the business †¢ Change item blend †¢ Promote change in item blend Identifying Target Markets HN portions its business sectors to offer a progressively close to home assistance to every one of its clients. Market division permits HN to: *Better address the issues of every one of its clients and subsequently contend all the more adequately in the commercial center. HN is divided into three brand names: *HN †planned explicitly for the rural family. Domayne †regularly focused on the single individual, void nesters families living in extravagance homes and condos *Joyce Mayne †focused on the deal trackers and low pay families HN screens the internet based life systems, for example, Facebook and Twitter for input from their clients on brands and items which encourages them better comprehend their business sectors and along these lines furnish their clients with what they need. Creating Marketing Strategies HN has built up the accompanying methodologies: †¢ changed down its anticipated benefits quick track online store and make them work inside 5 years across Harvey Norman brands †¢ Gerry Harvey will by and by work with the investigators in the following 6 - a year to address the worries in regards to his property the board business. Item †¢ Aust. Customers biggest spenders on the most recent items †¢ Eg. Blue ray players are currently found in numerous homes †¢ Social impact( new home diversion marvel. A few explanations behind this social change could be an aftereffect of the accompanying: o Higher pressure looked in the work place Increase in road and unimportant wrongdoing o The significant expense of diversion o The expansion in working families ? The after effect of these social changes is that numerous individuals currently want to remain at home for their amusement. Value HN utilizes a few kinds of evaluating ideas: Price skimming: applied to new items that are alluring and which has next to zero rivalry Penetration estimating: charging a low value at first to create high volume deals and addition piece of the pie. .uaffead4a25047b452e2f5501441b8186 , .uaffead4a25047b452e2f5501441b8186 .postImageUrl , .uaffead4a25047b452e2f5501441b8186 .focused content territory { min-tallness: 80px; position: relative; } .uaffead4a25047b452e2f5501441b8186 , .uaffead4a25047b452e2f5501441b8186:hover , .uaffead4a25047b452e2f5501441b8186:visited , .uaffead4a25047b452e2f5501441b8186:active { border:0!important; } .uaffead4a25047b452e2f5501441b8186 .clearfix:after { content: ; show: table; clear: both; } .uaffead4a25047b452e2f5501441b8186 { show: square; change: foundation shading 250ms; webkit-progress: foundation shading 250ms; width: 100%; mistiness: 1; progress: obscurity 250ms; webkit-change: murkiness 250ms; foundation shading: #95A5A6; } .uaffead4a25047b452e2f5501441b8186:active , .uaffead4a25047b452e2f5501441b8186:hover { haziness: 1; progress: darkness 250ms; webkit-progress: murkiness 250ms; foundation shading: #2C3E50; } .uaffead4a25047b452e2f5501441b8186 .focused content zone { width: 100%; position: rel ative; } .uaffead4a25047b452e2f5501441b8186 .ctaText { outskirt base: 0 strong #fff; shading: #2980B9; text dimension: 16px; textual style weight: intense; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; text-adornment: underline; } .uaffead4a25047b452e2f5501441b8186 .postTitle { shading: #FFFFFF; text dimension: 16px; textual style weight: 600; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; width: 100%; } .uaffead4a25047b452e2f5501441b8186 .ctaButton { foundation shading: #7F8C8D!important; shading: #2980B9; fringe: none; outskirt range: 3px; box-shadow: none; text dimension: 14px; textual style weight: striking; line-stature: 26px; moz-fringe sweep: 3px; text-adjust: focus; text-improvement: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-stature: 80px; foundation: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/modules/intelly-related-posts/resources/pictures/straightforward arrow.png)no-rehash; position: supreme; right: 0; top: 0; } .uaffead4a25047b452e2f5501441b8186:hover .ctaButton { foundation shading: #34495E!important; } .uaffead4a25 047b452e2f5501441b8186 .focused content { show: table; tallness: 80px; cushioning left: 18px; top: 0; } .uaffead4a25047b452e2f5501441b8186-content { show: table-cell; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; cushioning right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-adjust: center; width: 100%; } .uaffead4a25047b452e2f5501441b8186:after { content: ; show: square; clear: both; } READ: Parapsychology EssayPromotional valuing: transitory decrease in cost on various items on offer Competitive evaluating: on the grounds that HN has an enormous portion of the market they are â€Å"price leaders† and different organizations tail them Credit terms: utilizing autonomous Finance Companies which can likewise offer premium free periods Rental of specific items as opposed to buying e. g. PCs Promotion There are a few different ways that HN elevates items to the buyer. †¢ TV and Radio publicizing †¢ Newspaper Advertising High Quality gleaming pamphlets embedded in papers and letterboxes †¢ Low sp ending handouts embedded in papers and letterboxes †¢ In-store retail location openings Place HN stores are situated as Retail Stores over a few urban regions of urban areas where his objective markets can advantageously get to them. The Stores in all HN brands have their items gathered in Departments (e. g. Television and PCs and so forth) so clients can without much of a stretch access and analyze the item extend. Usage, Monitoring Controlling As the economy is in a mess, it is significant that HN continually screen their showcasing techniques. The execution stage is very troublesome, particularly as unanticipated circumstances may emerge that put in peril the achievement of the whole showcasing plan. HN utilizes the accompanying apparatuses to screen their exhibition. *Financial Forecast †Financial expectations can be made utilizing past deals information, factual models, spending plans and studies. *Controlling †Comparing their real outcomes with those arranged permits them to see their qualities and shortcomings. Changing Strategies †If Harvey Norman isn't content with its position and results, it will overhaul their advertising techniques so the showcasing destinations can be accomplished. End Harvey Norman will execute the techniques and watch the accompanying †¢ More items will mean more clients can purchase and subsequently more piece of the overall industry and benefit. †¢ Harvey Norman wil l keep on giving great characteristics and brands at an assortment of costs to focus on every likely market. They will keep on advancing their items with web advancements, exposure and promoting and make a name and enthusiasm for the organization. Their anticipated online deals office will give more noteworthy accommodation to their clients and gives most extreme benefit to Harvey Norman and this element will just improve with time. Because of their techniques, Harvey Norman will adjust their item blend which will create an expansion in piece of the overall industry and benefit. Harvey Norman will have the option to keep on restoring a decent profit to its investors just as keep on keeping up development as an effective, productive and predominant business.

Organization Change Plan

Questions: 1. Build up a hierarchical change plan that:a. Talks about the key changes that should be made after a merger.b. Screen drifts in the outside condition to distinguish patterns that may affect the achievement of the merger. You should explore information from government sites, measurements influencing the business, and so on for forward-thinking current patterns influencing the monetary business today. c. Takes a gander at potential/speculative operational change prerequisites following the merger.d. Records the change prerequisites arranged by significance. This arrangement ought to be composed with the budgetary establishment directorate as a main priority as you should introduce this arrangement to them. When endorsed, you should create and actualize this change the executives strategy.2. Build up your correspondence/training intend to advance the advantages of the change to the association. The arrangement should expect to limit misfortune and center in actualizing the system to u nite the two organizations. You ought to likewise set up a draft timetable of exercises as a stage from which you can convey the correspondence plans to every single significant gathering and people in the money related foundation. 3. In what manner will you talk with applicable gatherings and people for contribution to the change procedure when the usage commences?4. What hindrances to the change do you see as could be expected under the circumstances? Build up a hazard the board and moderation plan for each.5. In your change the executives plan, incorporate activity plans and exercises and the venture timetable. You may utilize Critical Path Analysis or Grant Chart for this, however may decide to utilize another strategy. 6. How might you activity mediations and exercises set out in venture plan as per venture timetable.7. By what method will you enact the methodology and start the procedure for change?8. How and when will you direct assessment and audit? When might you adjust the change the board venture intend to accomplish change program goals? Answers: 1.a. Key Changes required during merger Most significant thing needs to survey the all out market by considering development factors assessing of future open doors in the market, current pattern of market and the input of clients. The assent of the board of the two organizations is required in combination process. The choices with respect to rebuilding of plan and parameters for the future ought to be taken by trading of data and information from the both side. 1.b. Patterns in the outside condition As per report, it is seen that wellness focuses have more noteworthy effect on Australian economy. It has improved wellbeing and profitability in Australia. The income wellness industry is $1.2 billion of every 2012 and the commitment towards Australians GDP is $1.4 billion (Majumdar, Moussawi and Yaylacicegi, 2013). At present, Aerobic, wellness and rec center exercises are in second situation in the types of activity. As developing of fines industry, sport amusement are additionally developing in quicker rate. There is even has enormous open doors for developing this industry. 1.c. Potential/Hypothetical changes Administrative pecking order level would be changed. At present, every Center Manager report to the CEO. Be that as it may, post merger there will be include of two elements. Choice will be taken with assent of the two organizations. Business method is required to be changed. 1.d. Rundown of changes required I) First is required to set another name and logo for the inside. ii) The size of association ought to be expanded in light of the fact that step by step the quantity of individuals expanding and it is getting blocked. iii) Routine calendar ought to be changed by clients. iv) New current machines ought to be introduced for training. v) new representatives need to select. 2. Correspondence Plan Great correspondence is fundamental for combining two organizations. It is expected to make get staff and proprietors the real purpose behind merger and what is their future job and the job of association. An away from of message ought to be created from the very beginning. Messages might be in any language which can make them more clear (Lind and Stevens, 2004). It is critical to cooperate in all arranging. It is expected to co-ordinate in timing and informing. In all interchanges procedure, senior administration ought to in front for showing successful initiative and clear future vision and furthermore ought to be prepared for up close and personal correspondence and media correspondence. The correspondence ought not be one way. Tuning in of people groups reactions is additionally indispensable. Any issues (both inside and remotely) can't be overlooked and it ought to be screen in well way (Lind and Stevens, 2004). 3. Conference with significant gatherings and people The different procedure of interchanges can be use to associate with the gathering and individual, for example, pamphlet, email informing, leading of preparation of each group, doing bunch workshops and masterminding of meeting for counseling to gathering or person. Outside correspondence can likewise be utilized. 4. Obstructions to the change Merger process is unpredictable and tedious. It can expand the working expense of the association because of changing of innovation, giving preparing to laborers, leaving of representatives, and so on. Representatives can oppose changing of present culture. Merger process relies upon financial factors, for example, GDP, current circumstance of economy, authoritative and managerial methodology, current loan fee and world of politics of non-monetary viewpoint. The administration of styles of the two organizations might be extraordinary (Hrebiniak, 2005). Worker opposition can be overwhelmed by taking appropriate activities. The board can do primer research with respect to the budgetary prospects of the organization. Representative obstruction can be relieved through advising the workers about the progressions and its advantages. Each choice ought to be made with counsel of the two organizations. 5. Activities plans and exercises and the venture timetable Exercises related with change the executives are hierarchical rebuild, correspondence, preparing, the board of obstruction and usage. Each movement is impossible in one day. Every action has its own length to finish it which can be determined through Critical Path Analysis. Longest way will be chosen which incorporates the all the exercises. 6. Set down and out mediations and exercises In the event that any postponement is found in basic way as indicated by expected, the explanation ought to be discover and vital move ought to be made. For example, if there is any issue emerge in correspondence process. Its explanation ought to be discover and conceivable move ought to be made (Majumdar, Moussawi and Yaylacicegi, 2013). 7. Usage of methodology The methodology created by the assent of the two associations is executed. Directions are given to the staffs about the activities. As indicated by those operational plans, everybody begins to work exclusively and cooperatively (Glass, 1991). 8. Assessment and audit Organization begins its activity as indicated by the enacted system. Assessment and survey is required to improve any changes. In assessment process, the each movement and activities are checked whether any shortcoming or deviation emerge as indicated by the norm. In the event that any deviation is discovered, the progression for alteration is taken to defeat that (Gleich, Kierans and Hasselbach, 2010). Reference Lists: Glass, H. (1991)Handbook of business technique, Boston: Warren Gorham Lamont. Gleich, R., Kierans, G. also, Hasselbach, T. (2010)Value in due determination, Farnham, Surrey [U.K.]: Gower. Hrebiniak, L. (2005)Making technique work. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Wharton School. Bar. Lind, B. furthermore, Stevens, J. (2004) Match your merger incorporation procedure and initiative style to your merger type,Strategy Leadership, 32(4), pp.10-16. Majumdar, S., Moussawi, R. furthermore, Yaylacicegi, U. (2013) Merger Waves and Firm Growth: Contemporary Historical Evidence.Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, 84(1), pp.1-16. Maksimovic, V., Phillips, G. furthermore, Prabhala, N. (n.d.) Post-Merger Restructuring and the Boundaries of the Firm.SSRN

A View from the Class Ally Tang COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

A View from the Class Ally Tang COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog The SIPA Office of Alumni and Development is pleased to share another installment of A View from the Class, a SIPA stories series featuring current SIPA students, recently graduated alumni, and SIPA faculty. In this issue, we feature recently graduated SIPA student Ally Tang MPA 18, concentrating in Human Rights and Humanitarian Policy with a specialization in International Conflict Resolution. What were you doing prior to attending SIPA? I practiced commercial litigation in New Zealand for close to three years and also interned in the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague, working in the Office of the Prosecutor. Why did you choose SIPA? I liked its strong focus on global policy, the caliber of SIPA’s faculty with expertise that aligned with my areas of interest, and its location in New York City, a hub of international activity and organizations. Why did you choose to focus your studies on Human Rights and International Conflict Resolution? I wanted to build on my legal background to work on human rights policy, particularly in the area of atrocity prevention. The International Conflict Resolution specialization also provides a good mixture of practical skills and theoretical knowledge. What are some highlights of your SIPA experience? I have really enjoyed being part of a diverse cohort of students, which created a rich learning environment for sharing experiences and ideas through a comparative lens. I interned with the International Justice Program at Human Rights Watch and was part of the Business and Human Rights Clinic for my capstone project. I have also been a teaching assistant for Professor Robert Jervis and Professor Vicky Murillo at the undergraduate and graduate levels. How has SIPA impacted you? SIPA has really broadened my skill set and allowed me to build on my legal training to work in policy areas I am passionate about. The intellectual environment at Columbia is excellent; events and talks on campus have exposed me to an array of ideas and policy discussions from high-level policymakers, heads of state, and leading academics. I’ve also made a number of exceptional friends over the two years. What are your plans after SIPA? I will be working as a Research Analyst at the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect here in New York.

Current Status of the Electronic Health Records in the...

For years now, the healthcare system in the United States have managed patient’s health records through paper charting, this has since changed for the better with the introduction of an electronic medical record (EMR) system. This type of system has helped healthcare providers, hospitals and other ambulatory institutions extract data from a patient’s chart to help expedite clinical diagnosis and providing necessary care. Although this form of technology shows great promise, studies have shown that this system is just a foundation to the next evolution of health technology. The transformation of EMR to electronic heath record system (EHR) is the ultimate goal of the federal government. Adoption of Meaningful Use in Today’s Healthcare†¦show more content†¦Currently only 4.4% of hospital meet a majority of the fourteen core measures of meaningful use (pg. 122). With such a slow progression to adopt an EHR system, government groups such as CMS have been encouraged by the government to provide financial incentives to providers who adopt the meaningful use requirements via EHR and those who fail to adopt may face penalties like the reduction of Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements (Hebda Czar, 2013, p.281). Benefits to EHR over Paper charting One of the primary reasons that the electronic health system exist is to allow universal access to a health records by all healthcare professionals providing care to a particular patient. In a society with a vastly growing population with increasing comorbidities and demands for sooner diagnoses; the role of the paper charting no longer meets the demands of today’s healthcare system. If for example a patient with a history of Type II diabetes was admitted to the ER, the presence of his records through an EHR system can confirm that is he has had uncontrolled diabetes for some years now and fast interventions can be initiated to provide optimal care. This system provides an updated and accurate snapshot of a patient’s health history, most importantly this type of communication is a key element in emergent situations when a patient finds themselvesShow MoreRelatedThe Current Status Of Electronic Health Record1445 Words   |  6 Pages Electronics has become one huge complex reality. When you turn to your right someone is using a form of electronic device and when you turn to your left something is being controlled by some electronic. In general there are computers in schools, prisons, hospitals and at home. It has become part of our day to day need in our community. 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The Civil War Essay - 925 Words

nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The Civil War was a time when the United States was split in two. In every battle Americans were killing Americans because of sectional conflicts. These were times when people were forgetting the concept of the United States, all the things their fathers and grandfathers had worked so hard for. Lincoln’s speech, The Gettysburg Address, defined, symbolized, and epitomized the spirit of America. Lincoln established equality, found in the Declaration of Independence but not in the Constitution nor in any Federal or State law, as a basic and fundamental concept in America. This is very true since this country was founded on equality but apparently not granted in the Constitution to all. In the time of the Civil†¦show more content†¦When Lincoln became president by one the southern states seceded from the Union. The big question was whether or not the South had the right to secede. It was legal for territories to become states, but it was not state d in any document that states could break away from the United States - because that’s what they are supposed to be, united. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;When writing the Gettysburg Address Lincoln had in mind the equality of all citizens. He felt that winning back the South and abolishing slavery was a tough fight that many had given their life to win. Lincoln expressed this when he said, â€Å"It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who have fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.†(Doc.25 lines 12-14). In the Address, Lincoln also showed his fears of losing the war. â€Å"†¦That these dead shall not have died in vain - that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that the government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.† (Doc. 25 lines 17-20). 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Dupage County Needs Assessment Free Essays

Dupage County needs assessment U OM LTH C A E TUS ENT H A T ESM S S AS ITY N DUPAGE COUNT Y HEALTH DEPARTMENT Everyone, Everywhere, Everyday Community Health Status Assessment DuPage County Health Department 2010 Prepared By Mary Lally, RN, MPH Crystal Reingardt, MPH Peggy Iverson, BS Stacey Hoferka Jensen, MPH, MSIS Elizabeth Barajas, MPH Table of Contents Section 1 Leading Causes of Death . . . We will write a custom essay sample on Dupage County Needs Assessment or any similar topic only for you Order Now . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Top Ten Leading Causes of Death . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Crude Mortality Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Top Ten Leading Causes of Death by Gender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Top Five Leading Causes of Death by Age Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Years of Potential Life Lost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Demographic and Socioeconomic Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . DuPage County Population . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Birth Statistics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Statistics. Mortality Statistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Immigrant Population . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Unemployment. Unemployment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Poverty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Uninsured . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1 1-1 1-2 1-3 1-4 1-5 2-1 2-1 2-7 2-8 2-9 2-10 2-11 2-12 2-13 2-13 3-1 3-7 3-8 3-22 3-23 3-24 3-25 3-25 3-28 3-29 4-1 4-1 4-7 4-8 4-12 4-13 4-14 5-1 5-1 5-4 5-7 5-7 5-10 6-1 6-1 6-2 6-3 6-6 Section 2 Section 3 Chronic Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diseases of the Heart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cancer. Cancer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stroke. Stroke. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arthritis. Arthritis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diabetes. Diabetes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Asthma. Asthma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . EndDisease. End-Stage Renal Disease. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Infecti Infectious Diseases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . VaccineVaccine-Preventable Diseases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other Infectious Diseases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sexually Transmitted Diseases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HIV/AIDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tuberculosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rabies . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Section 4 Section 5 Maternal and Child Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Infant Deaths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Prenatal Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Factors. Risk Factors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Low Birth Weight and Very Low Birth Weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adolescent Pregnancies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Activity Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nutrition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Activity. Physical Activity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Obesity. Overweight and Obesity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FORWARD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Section 6 Section 7 Environmental Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Outdoor Air Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Water Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Waste. Toxics and Waste. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Communities. Healthy Homes and Healthy Communities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Infrastructure and Surveillance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Foodborne Illness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mental Health Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mental Disorders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Suicide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alzheimer ’s disease . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Substance Abuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alcohol Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tobacco Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Illicit Drug Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Injury and Violence Prevention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Unintentional Unintentional Injuries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Accidents. Motor Vehicle Accidents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Falls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Drowning. Drowning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deaths. Firearm Related Injuries / Deaths. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Homicide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Child Abuse and Neglect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Domestic Violence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1 7-1 7-3 7-4 7-6 7-6 7-8 8-1 8-1 8-3 8-5 8-6 8-7 8-10 8-12 9-1 9-1 9-2 9-3 9-4 9-5 9-6 9-7 9-9 1010-1 1010-1 1010-2 1010-2 1010-4 1010-5 10-5 101010-8 1111-1 11-1 111111-2 1111-4 1111-5 1111-6 1111-6 Section Section 8 Section 9 10 Section 10 Minority Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DuPage County Population . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DuPage County Mortality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ethnicity. Cause Specific Deaths by Race and Ethnicity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Top Five Leading Causes of Death by Race and YPLL . . . . . . . . . . . . . Motor Vehicle Accidents, Homicides, and Suicides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maternal and Infant Health Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Infectious Disease . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Access to Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Health Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Preventive Clinical Preventive Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ongoing Sources of Primary Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inadequate Prenatal Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sentinel Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Section 11 Introduction In order to meet State requirements for health department re-certification, Illinois Administrative Code requires that every five years, each Local Health Department must assess the health needs of its community through a systematic process known as the Illinois Project for Local Assessment of Needs (IPLAN). IPLAN is grounded in the core functions of public health and ddresses public health practice standards. One of the required documents of the IPLAN process is a Community Health Status Assessment. The Community Health Status Assessment is intended to answer the question, â€Å"What is the health status of the resid ents of DuPage County? † The results of this assessment will provide the IPLAN Steering Committee with an understanding of the community’s health status and ensure that the IPLAN priorities include specific health status issues. The Community Health Status Assessment is developed through the systematic analysis of health status data from primary and secondary sources. The following DuPage County Health Department Community Health Status Assessment is a compilation of data from these sources. The Institute of Medicine defines a community health profile as a set of health, demographic and socioeconomic indicators which are relevant to most communities. It is intended to provide a broad strategic view of the population’s health status, and the factors that influence health in the community. The IPLAN Steering Committee will use this document to identify and support approximately ten health status issues. Methodology The DuPage County Health Department has created this Community Health Status Assessment to identify specific health needs as part of the IPLAN process. Our intent is to develop an accurate, comprehensive picture of health status of DuPage County residents. Content areas covered focus on physical, mental and environmental health. This assessment will follow a structure similar to the U. S. Healthy People 2010 (HP 2010) document, providing the most current data available, and indicating how DuPage County compares to the HP 2010 target whenever possible. Incidence, prevalence and trends are shown when available. Objectives without HP 2010 targets have been included where appropriate based on public health impact. Direct HP 2010 comparisons were not always available. Finding current, comparative data on specific health objectives consistently remains a challenge. Many data sources have been used in an attempt to provide accurate data for analysis. Data reliability must always be considered, as in some instances, occurrence of morbidity or mortality may be so low that a valid rate or percent cannot be calculated or, if calculated, would be meaningless. These occurrences are noted throughout the document. Data derived in the Community Health Profile is a compilation of many sources. Frequently when discussing national health statistics or trends, direct HP 2010 text was quoted. The IPLAN Data System was a primary source for Illinois and DuPage County specific indicators, as this system contains a wealth of data on births, mortality and chronic illnesses. Illinois Department of Public Health birth and death files were frequently used as a data source, along with sources from specific DuPage County Health Department service areas. Other data and information sources include Access DuPage, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Psychiatric Association, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, DuPage County Environmental Committee, DuPage County Sheriff’s Office, DuPage Federation on Human Services Reform, Family Shelter Services, Illinois Attorney General, Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Illinois Department of Employment Security, Illinois Department of Public Health, Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Illinois State Board of Education, Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, Kaiser Family Foundation, National Adolescent Health Information Center, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Cancer Institute, National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institute of M ental Health, National Institutes of Health, National Osteoporosis Foundation, National Safety Council, National Stroke Association, Nationally Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Safe Kids USA, SEER*Stat (Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results statistical software), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Suicide Prevention Resource Center, The Alan Guttmacher Institute, The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, U. S Census Bureau, U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U. S. Department of Commerce, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U. S. Department of Justice, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, and World Health Organization. Section 1: Leading Causes of Death and Mortality in DuPage County A good place to begin our study of the health status of the population is by reviewing the leading causes of death in DuPage County residents. Presenting, ranking, and comparing leading causes of death data is a common method of showing mortality statistics, and is useful for illustrating the relative burden of disease-specific mortality. The DuPage County death data presented in this section were obtained from death files provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health. In 2006, there were 5,703 deaths in DuPage County and 102,122 deaths in Illinois (1). Ninety-four percent of DuPage deaths were White, three percent were Asian, and two and one half percent were Black. Three percent of DuPage deaths were Hispanic. Minority Health will be addressed in Section 10 of this Community Health Profile. See Table 1. 1 for a comparison of the 2006 Top Ten Leading Causes of Death in DuPage County and Illinois (2)(3). See Table 1. 2 for the 2004 and 2005 Top Ten Leading Causes of Death in DuPage County (2). Table 1. Top Ten Leading Causes of Death in DuPage County with Illinois Comparison, 2006 DuPage County Rank Cause of Death All Causes 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 Illinois Number of Deaths 102,122 27,002 24,052 5,974 4,725 4,401 2,792 1 Number of Deaths 5,703 1,419 1,384 347 260 192 183 158 109 107 93 Percent of Deaths 100. 0 2 4. 9 24. 3 6. 1 4. 6 3. 4 3. 2 2. 8 1. 9 1. 8 1. 6 Percent of Deaths 100. 0 26 24 6 5 4 3 1 Diseases of the Heart Cancer Cerebrovascular Disease Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease Accidents Alzheimer’s Disease Pneumonia Diabetes Mellitus Nephritis and Nephrosis Septicemia 2,794 2,501 2,001 3 2 2 Pneumonia is not in the top ten leading causes of death in Illinois Source: Illinois Department of Public Health (2) (3) 1-1 Table 1. Top Ten Leading Causes of Death, DuPage County, 2004-2005 2004 Percent of 2005 DuPage Total DuPage Deaths Deaths Deaths All Causes 5,444 100. 0 5,761 Diseases of the Heart 1,326 24. 4 1,455 Cancer 1,395 25. 6 1,440 Cerebrovascular Disease 385 7. 1 388 Chronic Lower Respiratory 252 4. 6 274 Disease Accidents 208 3. 8 181 Pneumonia 137 2. 5 177 Alzheimer’s Disease 166 3. 0 179 Nephritis and Nephrosis 116 2. 1 138 Diabetes Mellitus 119 2. 2 116 Septicemia 102 1. 9 89 Source: Illinois Department of Public Health (2) Percent of Total Deaths 100. 0 25. 3 25. 0 6. 7 4. 8 3. 1 3. 1 3. 1 2. 4 2. 0 1. 5 Since 1908, Diseases of the Heart has been the first or second leading cause of death in the United States (4). Since 1921, Diseases of the Heart has remained the number one cause of death (4). While DuPage County historical mortality data dating back to 1921 is unavailable, one can extrapolate national patterns to County mortality. The increase in 2004 total Cancer can be seen as an anomaly. The transposition between Diseases of the Heart and Cancer in 2004 should be monitored. Crude Mortality Rate Table 1. 3 Crude Mortality Rate, DuPage County and Illinois, 2000-2006 Year DuPage County Illinois 2000 617. 1 855. 8 2001 620. 6 840. 1 2002 616. 1 842. 9 2003 615. 6 829. 2 2004 586. 3 805. 0 2005 618. 0 812. 1 2006 611. 3 795. 8 Source: Illinois Department of Public Health (2) 1-2 Crude Mortality Rate in DuPage County and Illinois 2000 – 2006 Rate per 100,000 Population 1,000 800 600 400 200 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Illinois 2005 2006 Year DuPage County Graph 1. 1 Source: Illinois Department of Public Health (2) As can be seen from Graph 1. 1, between 2000 and 2006 the DuPage County and Illinois mortality rates remained relatively stable. The DuPage County crude death rate ranges from 586 deaths per 100,000 population to 620 deaths per 100,000 population. The Illinois mortality rate is higher and has a greater range than DuPage County. It ranges from 796 deaths per 100,000 population to 843 deaths per 100,000 population (2). Top Ten Leading Causes of Death by Gender Table 1. DuPage County Leading Causes of Death, All Ages by Gender, 2006 Male Female Rank Cause Number Rank Cause 1 Cancer 681 1 Heart Disease 2 Heart Disease 661 2 Cancer 3 Accidents 130 3 Cerebrovascular Disease (CVD) 4 Cerebrovascular Disease 128 4 Chronic Obstructive (CVD) Pulmonary Di sease (COPD) 5 Chronic Obstructive 99 5 Alzheimer Pulmonary Disease (COPD) 6 Pneumonitis 81 6 Pneumonitis 7 Diabetes 51 7 Accidents 8 Nephritis 47 8 Nephritis 9 Alzheimer 44 9 Diabetes 10 Septicemia 43 10 Septicemia Source: Illinois Department of Public Health (2) Number 758 703 219 161 139 77 62 60 58 50 1-3 Gender Differences The 2006 top ten leading causes of death are the same for oth males and females, though the ranking of causes varies by gender. The first and second cause of death for males is Cancer, followed by Heart Disease. This order is reversed for females. Accidents (Unintentional Injuries) are the third leading cause of death for males, but the seventh leading cause for women. This category includes motor vehicle accidents and any other unintentional injury death that occurs as a result of a fall, drowning, firearm or other accidental cause. In DuPage County, the number of male Accident deaths is more than twice the number of female Accident deaths, which is attribut ed primarily to higher numbers of male motor vehicle deaths. This discrepancy between male and female accident deaths is a trend that is also seen nationally (5). CVD and COPD are the fourth and fifth leading causes for males, but the third and fourth causes for women. Alzheimer’s disease is the fifth leading cause for women, but the ninth cause for men. Pneumonitis is the sixth leading cause of death for both males and females. Diabetes was the ninth leading cause of death for females and the seventh in males. Nephritis was the eighth leading cause of death in both females and males and Septicemia was the tenth leading cause of death for both genders. Top Five Leading Causes of Death by Age Groups Table 1. 5 Five Leading Causes of Death by Age Group in DuPage County, 2006 Rank How to cite Dupage County Needs Assessment, Essay examples

The Relationship Between Language and Content in Poetry Essay Example

The Relationship Between Language and Content in Poetry Essay Many tallented poets describe words as tools of verbal language used to build an image in peoples mind and to move an emotion or win a certain cause. David Waggoners Their Bodies, Langston Hughes Share-Croppers, and Ruth Collins The Song of the Factory Worker is three particular poems that were analyzed in comparison styles and the deliverance of words. The three poems have certain features in common. The features between the three poems relates to ethnicity, gender, age, labor and the relationship between lifes trials. The author Ruth Collins analyzes the obstacles women faced working in a factory. The Red brick building with many windows is an analogy to jail or prison walls. For example, prison walls or jail walls are built with bricks. Youre like a vampire, for wherever I go, you know Im coming back to you is an analogy of every route prisoners take in the prison system reverts back to bricks with no chance to escape. This particular poem describes the tremendous sounds that exist in the factory. Some sounds were The whir, whir of the machinery and The click of the tacker. However, the most interested line in the poem that stuck in the mind of the reader was the tired-eyed ones. This particular line is an example of every person having a long, tiresome, and busy day on the job. For example, if Bradley Jordan has a great deal of work orders to complete at work, the characteristics of his physical appearance at the end of the day is slow walking and tired-eyes. The reader most memorable line was the red-haired girl, when the sun sets her head aflame. This line describes the characteristics of a particular woman, working in a factory, maintaining her beauty. We will write a custom essay sample on The Relationship Between Language and Content in Poetry specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Relationship Between Language and Content in Poetry specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Relationship Between Language and Content in Poetry specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The female factory worker will sew until she becomes a tired eyed one. In Langston Hughess poem, he delivers a much more angry approach. In the beginning of the poem, he states Just a herd of Negroes Driven to the field. This particular line describes Negroes as silent farm animals, like oxens or donkeys. They were required to go and work in the cotton field without any recognition of intelligence or individual worth. Langston Hughes openly expresses his opinion in this poem. The reason behind the abuse was the skin color. Hughes is clearly angry and upset because of the slavery with African American workers. The abuse had no clear beginning and the end will not be merciful. David Wagoners poem, Their Bodies, is a great and bittersweet piece of work. Wagoner use of metaphors dissected subjects and expressed dignity for the individual. He also made mention to the reader that each procedure was innocent or once a parent. David explains that bodies should be handled truly and politely. The three poems reminded the readers through metaphors that an individuals value is particularly not determined by age, sex, or race. Why the individuals in these particular poems fight back against the agony, pain, and suffocation? In the poem The Song of the Factory Worker, Collins described the red brick building as a bad drug habit. The individuals want to leave, but they are brought back because of their happy bondage, the happy laughter and the songs they sing. This description is just like drug addict wanting to quit drugs. Individuals using drugs want to quit, but the bondage of a feel good high keeps them coming back. Langston Hughes expresses a great deal of anger toward repression and racism. He is an African American writer, who is angry with himself and his brothers. Hughes does not describe attractive elements of a woman or beautiful colors in a butterfly. Year by year goes by and we are nothing more, the reader could visualize the Negroes pains and understand why they thought there was not any hope. The sweet and settle poem was the Their Bodies. This particular poem rebels against individuals that acquire knowledge from experience. The body is a dynamic vessel that has a name, past, and family. The old man is described as scars of steel-mill on the backs of his hands, on the nape of his neck, on his arms and sinewy legs. Assuming that this is not a spiritual work of Jesus, the dead body is a miracle. The readers are reminded to their best to learn truly and politely. The three poems are written with fantastic, superb, and great metaphoric language. Although the positions are different, the plot of each poem relates working. Whether white or black, old or young, female or male, the poems display dignity for individuals.

Problems with Euthanasia essays

Problems with Euthanasia essays FINAL ESSAY: 3 TEAM: 2 Esther Quintana Martà ­nez de Iturrate 27-12-03 PROBLEMS WITH EUTHANASIA AND ASSISTED SUICIDE Euthanasia is one of the most debatable issues worldwide nowadays, the debate is so controversial and the opposing viewpoints are so many that the term is hard to define. If we go back to the origin of the word we find that it comes from the two Greek words: eu and thanatos which mean easy death. According to the Collins English Dictionary the definition of the term is: The act of killing someone painlessly, especially to relieve suffering from an incurable illness. Also called mercy killing. Euthanasia and assisted suicide are exchangeable terms that have been used in many countries such as Holland, Switzeland and New Zealand to pass legislation in order to provide some kind of psycological or physical benefit for terminal or incurable patients and their families. The reasons that push people to end their life vary, one of the most common reasons is to end the pain of the person (physical or psychological), another common reason is to guarantee a dignified death and to have contr ol over the process. The issue involves the decisions of the patients and the doctors as well as of the families. Sometimes these decisions are hard, especially when the patients are not able to decide by themselves. In this case, doctors and family have to decide for them, and this is the point where they have to face economic, legal and personal factors which can put a lot pressure on the decision to be made. While advocates of assisted suicide suggest that this would provide people with autonomy and personal control, the opponents would disagree saying that people with illnesses and disabilities would have these decisons made for them and imposed on them. In this essay I am going to discuss these factors and the problems with assisted suicide and I am going to argue that in my view, euthanasia sho...

What Is the New SAT Like Student Reactions to the Test

What Is the New SAT Like Student Reactions to the Test SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The newly redesigned 2016 SAT debuted on March 5th. If you haven't taken it yet, you may be wondering what to expect: What is the New SAT like? What did students think of the exam? Was it easier or harder than the old SAT? How did it compare to the ACT? In this article, I’ll discuss the reactions to the new SAT and talk about what it means for you. How Is the New SAT Different? If you’re already familiar with what changes were made to the SAT, feel free to skip this section. If you’re completely unfamiliar with the changes, I highly recommend reading our full in-depth analysis of the changesbefore continuing this article. I’ll describe the new major changes in brief.The new SAT has a 400-1600 scoring scale, instead of the 800-2400 scale.There are two sections (graded from 200-800) instead of three: Math and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing.The Essay is now optional and no longer counts towards your over 400-1600 score but instead receives its own score.There is no longer a penalty for guessing which means answering a question incorrectly or skipping the question will result in the same score. The Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Section is composed of two parts: the Writing Test and the Reading test.Also, the Reading no longer has vocabulary sentence-completion questions and instead consists of five passages: one passage in US and World Literature, two passages in History/Social Studies, and two passages in Science.The Writing test no longer asks individual sentence questions but instead asks questions related to 4 passages.In the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Section, you’ll need to be able to read graphs, tables, and other scientific data to answer certain questions. The Math Section is divided into two parts: non-calculator test and calculator test.There has also been a content shift: focus on algebra, decreased focus on geometry, the addition of a few trigonometry and imaginary number questions. What Is the New SAT Like? Survey Results The College Board conducted a survey of 8,089 students who sat for the March 5th new SAT.However, the College Board didn't publish the results of the entire survey. They simply chose the data they wanted to publish on their site.Therefore, I’d recommend you view the findings cautiously since the College Board has a lot to gain by saying the new exam is better than the old. According to the College Board’s survey, 71% of students said the new SAT reflected what they’re learning in high school. By a 6 to 1 margin, students said they preferred the new SAT over the old SAT. 75% of students said the Reading Test was the same as or easier than they expected. 59% of students said the Math section tests the skills and knowledge needed for success in college and career. From the survey results, we can see that students heavily prefer the new SAT to old SAT, which makes me think this new test is a lot easier than the old test.The majority of students seem to have thought the Reading Test was easy, which aligns with the student reactions(which I'll discuss below). For the Math section, the College Board didn’t say how students felt about it, but rather shared that 59% of students felt the Math section tested important skills (which is not very helpful for us to know).The absence of a statistic about how students felt about the Math section makes me wonder if students thought the math was extremely difficult. If the Math section is more difficult, that would align with the student reactions (which I show below) and would be bad for the College Board since their goal in creating the new test was to create a test that more accurately reflected what students learned in school and matched up to that difficulty but did not exceed it. Kaplan also conducted a survey; however, they only surveyed 521 studentswho sat for the March 5th new SAT, so it was a much smaller sample size than that of the College Board (8,089). Like the College Board,Kaplandidn't publish the results of the entire survey. Instead, they chose the data they wanted to publish on their site.I’d recommend you view the findings of this survey cautiously since Kaplanhas a lot to gain by saying the new exam is challenging to draw more students to their prep program. According to Kaplan's survey, 16%of students responded that the new SAT â€Å"very much†reflected what they’re learning in high schoolwhile 56% responded â€Å"somewhat,† 23%responded â€Å"not too much,† and 5% responded â€Å"not at all.† 59% of students said thequestions were straightforward and easy to follow though 58% also said they found the length of the sections tiring. 48% of students said the test was about as difficult as they expected, 30%thought it wasmore difficult than expected, and 22% thought it wasless difficult than expected. 41% of students found the Math section more difficult than expected.56% of students said they felt comfortable doing math without a calculator. If you group the "very much" and "somewhat" responses, about 72% of students felt the test reflected what they're learning in school, which matches up with the 71% of students in the College Board survey. Otherwise, the Kaplan results vary from the College Board results because the questions students were asked in each survey was different. The results of Kaplan's survey seem pretty non-conclusive. Most of the percents are around 40-50% which means about half of students felt the opposite: 59% of students found the test straightforward, but that means 41% didn't find the test straightforward. 58% of students found the length of the sections tiring, but that means 42% didn't find the length tiring. For the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section, Kaplan didn't provide any survey results.The absence of a statistic about how students felt about this section makes me wonder if students thought thesection was relatively easy. If theEvidence-Based Reading and Writingsection is not very difficult, that would align with the student reactions (which I show below) and wouldn't be greatfor Kaplanto advertise since they want students to buy their SAT prep materials. What did the students really think? Student Reactions to the New SAT For those who took the first session of the new SAT on March 5th, how did they feel? Here are some reactions from students on Twitter andthe College Board survey: Math Section Reactions @CollegeBoard need more time on no calculator part. I'm fast at math, but not that fast. - Serena (@cheeselover012) March 5, 2016 @CollegeBoard there was not enough time for the math portion. Especially the first section!! 25 minutes is wayyyy too short😒 - Delaney Schindler (@Laney_Schindler) March 6, 2016 @CollegeBoard You can't expect me or any math wizard to finish the math sections so fast. No one in my class finished it completely! - Tyler Iacona (@tyleriacona) March 5, 2016 @CollegeBoard the no calculator portion of the math portion, as many other people have also testified to, was nearly impossible to finish. - chlà ¸e (@pointe314) March 5, 2016 @CollegeBoard absolutely no way for me to finish the no calculator section that's saying a lot seeing as I can finish the ACT math section - Sabrina (@sabrinaelena98) March 5, 2016 Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Section Reactions @CollegeBoard I absolutely ADORED the articles in the Reading section. There were some really scrumptious pieces - especially in science. - Lucia Stark (@LuciaStark8) March 5, 2016 â€Å"I felt like I had a good amount of time to completely read through the passages and select my answers as well as review some of the ones that were difficult for me.† –Elizabeth, 17, WA Overall New SAT Reactions @CollegeBoard pros: writing section was less arcanecon: it's not possible to complete that 25 min math section in 25 min - Fassih Sherazi (@fxuzzy) March 5, 2016 @CollegeBoard Pro- similar to the ACT making it easier to study strategies for both together. - Elizabeth Yousey (@YouseyElizabeth) March 5, 2016 What Does This Mean for You? I’m going to base my advice here off of both student reactions and the College Board Kaplan survey results.However, my advice is more heavily swayed by the student reactions since I think their reactions are more honest and insightful than the survey results. Math Section: Practice Practice Practice Students felt the Math section was very challenging (if not impossible) to finish. Some thought it was more challenging than the ACT Math section which is notoriously hard to finish. This means you must must must drill the pacing of the SAT Math section.Take advantage of every free new SAT Math question available, and practice each one with the accurate timing. Obey the rules of the new SAT Math sections: only use your calculator on the calculator section.Many students struggled on the no calculator Math section.You need to drill your mental math.It’s likely a skill you don’t often use since most high school math classes allow you to use your calculator.Work your mental math muscles.Practice multiplication and finding square roots without a calculator.These are two of the biggest mental math struggles for students. Make sure you know every single concept that is tested on the new SAT Math section.Review the math topics in depth.Practice thehardest SAT math questions. You don't want any confusion on test day! Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: Still Practice In general, students seemed to think the Reading and Writing tests were easier. However,we don't have any data on how students actually did yet just because the reading/writing felt easier doesn't mean it actually was.Students commented that the new SAT passages were more interesting than the often very boring old SAT reading passages.Also, students felt they had enough time to answer all questions related to the passages. While the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section may have seemed easier to students, you still need to prepare for it.You’ll definitely want to get in practice tests while keeping accurate timingto make sure you'll be able to finish the sections. If you're notreaching your target scorefor theEvidence-Based Reading and Writing section on your practice tests, you should check out some of our in-depth strategy guides for the SAT Reading test and the SAT Writing test. Overall New SAT Study Advice Based on the student reactions and survey results, I’d recommend you spend 60% of your SAT study prep on Math and 40% of your SAT study prep on the Reading and Writing tests. On the new SAT, your math score counts for 50% of your composite score (when it used to only be â…“ of your composite).Since the Math is so challenging, you need to put greater emphasis on it.You want to know every concept and be able to answer as many questions as possible in the time allotted. Reading and Writing combined count for 50% of your composite score (when each individually used to count for â…” of your composite).You still want to do well on these sections since they count for 50% of your composite score.Take all the practice tests currently available.Read our study tips, but prioritize Math! What’s Next? Need help with your college application? Learn about how to write a personal statement, how to write about your extracurriculars, and what great letters of recommendationlook like. Interested in attending a top college? Learn about how to get into Harvardand how to get into Stanford. Still prepping for the SAT? Here is the ultimate SAT study guide. If you’re taking the SAT soon, I’d recommend you check out our guide to cramming for the SAT. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points?We've written a guide about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Management research method Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Management research method - Assignment Example research topic â€Å"An exploratory investigation of the potential relationship between student learning styles, course grade, cumulative grade point average and selected demographics in on-line undergraduate business courses† is a well-structured and articulate topic, which is relevant to the current learning needs globally. With the current educational trend, online learning has become on the rise hence it would be viable to determine the effectiveness of online learning through a comparison to the traditional teaching method especially in relation to the business courses. The research was designed based on three critical hypothesis that were meant to be tested at the end of the research. Basing on the assumption that there is a significant effect of the learning style on the student achievement; in relation to the online versus the enrolled on-fine courses as well as there is a significant relationship between the learning style, age, gender and ethnicity of the students. The hypothesis used in designing the research is significant as it helps to validate the research topic making the testing of hypothesis the ultimate benchmark for research outcome. In the conduction of the research, data was collected through the use of a WebCT courseware to collect information from all the online courses examined in the study, while the learning style survey for college (LSSC) was employed to collect data for determining learning style of the college students. LSSC employed the use of 32 questions in the questionnaire to assess the learning style preferred by the students with a student data form used to collect the learning style, as well as other demographic information. The final grade for the semester was then used as a tool for assessment of the effectiveness of the various learning styles preferred by the students. Seventy-two participants were then sampled to represent the entire group of the learners thus providing the research with a good sample size that would

Place attachment Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Place attachment - Research Paper Example The paper outlines all the thoughts from different books about the place attachment of people. There are various factors that contribute to create a bond between individuals and their living places. Apart from cultural and social values religion plays a vital role to build up a relationship of people with their living region. In 2004 Mazumdar and Mazumdar presented a study of sacred places to show relationship between place attachment and religion. Religion strongly influences people`s lifestyle, and their daily practices specifically worship places and communal gatherings help people develop a strong bond with the area and other people living in the same community. The study shows that religious people like to live near their worship places, which facilitates them during worship and consequently an attachment is developed with the place mainly for religious purposes. Additionally, when a strong relation is formed with the other people come for collective prayers place attachment increases. This study explores that religion attachment also contribute to build an attachment with the new place which seem more attractive and religious to people with respect to their own religious rituals and practices. Architectural fame and popularity of the religious places has significance importance on other hand that attracts people from regions to visit or migrate to particular locations. Researchers highlighted examples from different religions including Islam, Hinduism and Christianity to view place attachment from a wider spectrum.

Is Sexual Orientation Genetic Sociology Essay

Is Sexual Orientation Genetic Sociology Essay In this modernised world sex and relationship plays an important role as sexuality is part of who we are as humans. Sexuality defines how we see ourselves and how we physically relate to others beyond having the ability to reproduce. Sexuality is made up of three components which include biological sex, gender identity, and social gender role. In a less brief context, biological sex is the anatomical, physiological, and genetic characteristics associated with being a male or female, gender identity means the physiological sense of being a male or female and social gender role is the cultural norms that define feminine and masculine behaviour (1). Sexual orientation is known as an enduring pattern of emotional, romantic and sexual attractions to men, women or both sexes besides also referring to a persons sense of identity based on those attractions, related behaviours and memberships in a community of others who share those attractions which may or may not be evident in a persons appearance or behaviour. People may choose not to act on such feelings as having attractions to people of the same sex or opposite sex. For example, a bisexual who can be attracted to members of either sex may choose to have a one partner relationship with one gender, therefore, choosing not to act on the attraction of another gender (1). Three commonly recognized aspect of sexual orientation are heterosexuality, bisexuality, homosexuality and one uncommon aspect is asexuality which is when a person has no sexual attraction or interest in sexual activity. Therefore, sexual orientation differs from sexual behaviour in that it involves an individuals feelings and perception of their own sexuality. According to current scientific and professional understanding, the core attractions that form the basis for adult sexual orientation typically emerge between middle childhood and early adolescence. These patterns of emotional, romantic, and sexual attraction may arise without any prior sexual experience. Heterosexuality is the attraction to individuals of the other gender which is the cultural normality for the behaviour of males and females. For example, males and females being attracted to individuals of the opposite sex. Bisexuality is the attraction to members of either gender, as an example a male having a sexual relationship with another male partner as well with a female partner. On the other hand, homosexuality can be defined as the attraction to members of the same gender, are not completely understood by scientists. Scientists have pondered the theory for many years that sexual preference is a learned behaviour that is developed during early childhood. There are many theories regarding how a particular sexual orientation develops. Some scientists share the view that sexual orientation is shaped at an early age through interactions of biological, psychological and social factors. Other psychologists, psychiatrists and mental health professionals agree that homosexuality may be genetically predetermined. Research over the past thirty-five years has determined that homosexuality is not an illness, mental disorder or emotional problem. Other objective research shows that homosexual orientation is not associated with emotional or social problems. Because sexual orientation develops in early adolescence, without any prior sexual experience, it is believed that it is not chosen. It has been reported that some people try diligently to change their sexual preference from homosexual to heterosexual with no success. For this reason, psychologists do not consider sexual orientation to be a conscious choice that can be voluntarily changed. An untrue stereotype about homosexuals is the belief that gay men have more of a tendency than heterosexual men to sexually molest children. There is no evidence of this. Instead, recent studies have shown that homosexual parents are quite capable of rearing developmentally secure children who are intelligent, as well as being psychologically well adjusted. There is no evidence that homosexual parents are less capable of parenting than heterosexual parents. Because therapy cannot change sexual orientation, it is important for society to become better educated about homosexuality, thus diminishing anti-gay prejudice. Accurate information for young people struggling with their own sexual identity is especially important. The belief that such information when given to young people will affect ones sexual orientation is not valid. The people who have the most positive attitudes toward gay men and lesbians are those who say they know one or more gay persons well. For this reason, psychiatrists believe that discrimination against homosexuality is based on his or her lack of knowledge concerning gay people. Therefore, educating all people about sexual orientation and homosexuality is likely to diminish anti-gay prejudice. Homosexuality was once believed to be a mental illness, due to the unfortunate fact that mental health professionals furnished society with incorrect information. Most studies about homosexuals only involved gay men and lesbians who were in therapy. They were seeking help for their problems, just as straight men and women do. These studies, and the misunderstanding of homosexuality, seriously damaged the acceptance of gay men and lesbians. The theories of homosexuals by psychologists, psychiatrists and other mental health professionals, painted an untrue portrait of gay men and lesbians. This unfair portrayal directly attributed to the un-acceptance of homosexuals. In 1973, the American Psychiatric Association confirmed that homosexuals were not mentally ill, and it was not until two years later in 1975, that the American Psychological Association passed a resolution supporting this confirmation. Both associations urged all mental health professionals to help dispel the stigma of mental illness that had been associated with homosexual orientation. Since this original declassification of homosexuality as a mental disorder, this decision has been reaffirmed by additional research findings and by both associations. However, when one is reared to believe a certain way, it is not easy to change his or her opinion. Psychiatrists, psychologists and the Lord above could urge one to rethink a learned fact; however, to dispute a theory learned early in life is sometimes impossible. This unfair discrimination against homosexuals is an obstacle to their leading a normal, happy and productive life, which is the desire of gay men and lesbians, just as it is the desire of straight men and women. Research has shown a high rate of violence, as well as discrimination, against homosexuals. Just as it is with straight men, the more positive the gay male identity, the better ones mental health will become and the higher ones self-esteem will be. To accomplish this, the acceptance of gay men and lesbians as productive citizens, without prejudice, is necessary. Protection against violence and discrimination would not be necessary if one understood that gay men and lesbians are just like you and me; the only differ ence is their sexual preference. Most scientists today agree that sexual orientation is the result of a combination of environmental, hormonal, and genetic factors. In other words, there are many factors that contribute to a persons sexual orientation, and the factors may be different for different people. In other words, we intend to research in depth on each factor stated and how does it affect a persons sexual orientation then come to a conclusion if sexual orientation is genetic relating back to our topic. This is the prime objective of this project. To arrive at our objectives, we have to research about the other factors affecting sexual orientation. Therefore, we have divided each factor into 3 subsequent chapters. Chapter 2 will be a detailed explanation on how genetic factors contribute to sexual orientation. Chapter 3 consequently will be discussing on environmental and emotional factors in relation to sexual orientation. Besides that, Chapter 4 is on the role played by hormones in determining a persons sexual orientation. All these 3 chapters will be discussing sexual orientation on homosexuality and bisexuality. The final chapter will relate back to our main topic which is Is Sexual Orientation Genetic? A conclusion will be brought about based on the research, studies and evidences done on the previous 3 chapters. Chapter 2 : Genetic Factors Chromosomes in humans can be divided into two types which is autosomes and sex chromosomes. The sex chromosomes contain certain genetic traits link to a persons sex. It can be XX with phenotype female and XY with phenotype male. On the other hand, the autosomes contain the rest of the genetic hereditary information. Both autosomes and sex chromosomes act in the same way during cell division. There are 23 pairs of chromosomes of which 22 pairs of autosomes and 1 pair of sex chromosome giving a total of 46 per cell for one human. A persons sex is determined by the sex chromosome (wiki chromosome). Based on a research conducted by scientists on November 8th 2007, new evidences have been uncovered showing genetics has a role to play in determining whether an individual is homosexual or heterosexual. Dr. Sandra Witelson, a neuroscientist in the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University, and colleges at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto conducted the research on studies of the brains of healthy, right handed, 18 to 35- year old homosexual and heterosexual men using magnetic resonance imagining (MRI). About 10 years ago, which is now accepted as fact, studies have demonstrated that there is a higher proportion of left-handers in the homosexual population than the general population. Consequently, in other research it was found that left-handers have a larger region of the posterior corpus callosum which is the thick band of nerve fibres connecting the two hemispheres of the brain compared to the right- handers. Furthermore, the posterior part of the c orpus callosum is larger in homosexual than heterosexual men. The size of corpus callosum is largely inherited suggesting a genetic factor in sexual orientation. A correlational analysis by researchers which included size of the corpus callosum, and test scores on language, visual spatial and finger dexterity tests. Prediction on sexual orientation in 95 per cent of the cases was done by using all these variables. A report by the National Cancer Institute researchers states that the appearance that many homosexual men inherit a gene from their mothers that influences sexual orientation. It was suggested that inherited genetic factors at least play a role in determining sexual orientation. The studys lead author Dean Hamer, chief of the cancer institutes section on Gene Structure and regulation concluded that it is basically not a choice or a decision to be a gay. However, people have no control over the genes inherited and there is no way to change it. The family histories of 114 gay men were studied and it was found that more homosexual brothers, uncles and male cousins than would be expected in the general population whereby some families had three generations of homosexual relatives. It was suggested that something inherited was going on since the uncles and cousins were not raised in the same household but do share genetic information. Following up another studies was made on the DNA from 40 pairs of homosexual brothers and it was found that 33 of them shared same genetic markers on the X chromosome in a region known as Xq28. The X chromosomes are always inherited from mothers. Genes consist of tiny coils of DNA, deoxyribonucleic acid, which carries the instructions to manufacture a particular body substance. No such similar sharing was present in the same region among heterosexual men. It is expected that this region will be important for both heterosexual and homosexual development providing very small and subtle difference between the genes of each group. However, the finding does not explain all homosexuality. Seven out of 40 pairs of homosexual brothers studied did not have the common genetic factor. Part of the studies state that the cancer Kaposis sarcoma unusually afflicts large numbers of homosexuals. Further study is being conducted to determine whether a similar genetic link occurs in families of homosexual women hoping to identify the specific gene involved in sexual orientation. Gregory King, spokesman for the Human Rights Campaign Fund, a gay and lesbian activist group, said he hoped from the studies it would help Americans understand that most lesbian and gay people do not choose their sexual orientation. Despite, concerns are there among people who are lesbians and gay that this discovery will be misused to suggest that homosexuality is something that needs to be corrected. According to the variation in sexual orientation, heritability studies have differed on the precise contribution of genetics, though a few linkage studies have indicated a possible role for certain genes on the X chromosome. However, the strength of that evidence is limited due to the conflicting nature of the reports and small sample sizes. Some of the questions in relation to the possible genetic underpinnings of sexual orientation have been clarified by a more recent study conducted by the first ever genome-wide association study (GWAS) on sexual orientation. It is also in relation to the release of a web-based survey to the large 23andMe database of over 180,000 individuals. Furthermore, the other non-genetic phenotypes associated with sexual orientation are also explored. The objective is to understand the relationship between sexual orientation and non-genetic phenotypes as the data collected was extracted from dozens of 23andMe surveys taking into consideration thousands of conditions and trait. Research has shown that lesbians are more likely than heterosexual women to have alcoholism and alcohol-related problems (3). A number of studies have also found that women with same sex partners are more likely to have psychiatric disorders, including major depression (4) and men with same sex partners are more likely to have anxiety and mood disorders (5). Phenotype analyses were conducted using linear or logistic regression. In statistics, linear regression is the relationship between a scalar dependent variable Y and one or more explanatory variables denoted X as the data modelled using linear predictor functions, and unknown model parameters are estimated from the data. Logistic regression is a type of analysis used to predict the outcome of a categorical dependent variable based on one or more predictor variables that is used in estimating empirical values of the parameters in a qualitative response model(wiki). The reported betas are the change on the sexual identity scale per unit of the other phenotype. Both the phenotype analyses and GWAS analyses controlled for age, the first five principal components, and attitudes towards homosexuality as collected in the Sexual Orientation Survey. GWAS analyses were conducted in individuals of European descent. The questions asked for this study to over 23,000 individuals 23andMe database is as follows: The survey counts based on the questions asked were as below: They have examined the correlation between sexual identity and ~1000 phenotypes already characterized in the 23andMe database through other surveys. These analyses were preliminary as outliers or confounders beyond what is listed in the methods were not checked. Previous  ¬Ã‚ ndings were replicated showing a positive association between lesbians and alcoholism, and between lesbians and gay men and several psychiatric conditions. Chapter 3 : Environmental and Emotional Factors On the development of human sexual orientation, another possible factor is the environmental and emotional influences. Many influences or factors lead to sexual orientation but no findings have emerged that permit scientists to conclude that sexual orientation is determined by any particular factor or factors. Therefore, a great deal of people thinks nature and nurture both play complex roles (wiki environment sexual orientation). Environmental factors are associated with family influences. Evidence have been provided by researches that gay men report having had less loving and more rejecting fathers, and closer relationships with their mothers, than non-gay men. Some researchers think this may indicate that childhood family experiences are important determinants to homosexuality, or that parents behave this way in response to gender-variant traits in a child. Both possibilities might be true in different cases (wiki). Childhood factors do affect marital choices as children who experience parental divorce are less likely to marry heterosexually than those growing up in intact families. In a broad point of view, heterosexual marriage was significantly linked to having young parents, small age differences between parents, stable parental relationships, large sibships (a group of offspring having the same two parents) , and late birth order. For men, homosexual marriage was associated with having older mothers, divorced parents, absent fathers, and being the youngest child. On the other hand, for women, maternal death during adolescence and being the only or youngest child or the only girl in the family increased the likelihood of homosexual marriage. Childhood family experiences are important determinants of heterosexual and homosexual marriage decisions in adulthood (http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10508-006-9062-2). Consequently, parental sexual orientation may affect child development. Studies were focused on an early research on children with lesbian and gay parents in which the children had been born in the context of a heterosexual marriage. The developments among children of divorced lesbian mothers were compared with children of divorced heterosexual mothers and few significant differences were found. Children in the research who had been born into homes with married mothers and fathers have no obvious reasons to understand on their healthy development as the children faced early exposure to apparently heterosexual male and female role models which mainly contributes to the healthy development. In comparison, a study conducted by Charlotte J. Patterson from University of Virginia on lesbian or gay parents who rear infants and children from offspring and it is important that the children had never lived with heterosexual parents. The study was on a group of 4 to 9 year old children who had been born to or adopted early in life by lesbian mothers. Results from in-home interviews and also from questionnaires showed that children had regular contact with a wide range of adults of both genders, both within and outside of their families. The childrens self-concepts and preferences for same-gender playmates and activities were much like those of other children their ages. Moreover, standardized measures of social competence and of behaviour problems, such as those from the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL), showed that they scored within the range of normal variation for a representative sample of same-aged American children. Therefore, it was clear from this study and others like it that it was quite possible for lesbian mothers to rear healthy children. Consistent with earlier findings, results from the study revealed few differences in adjustment between adolescents living with same-sex parents and those living with opposite-sex parents . There were no significant differences between teenagers living with same-sex parents and those living with other-sex parents on self-reported assessments of psychological well-being, such as self-esteem and anxiety, measures of school outcomes, such as grade point averages and trouble in school, or measures of family relationships, such as parental warmth and care from adults and peers. Adolescents in the two groups were equally likely to say that they had been involved in a romantic relationship in the last 18 months, and they were equally likely to report having engaged in sexual intercourse. The only statistically reliable difference between the two groups is that those with same-sex parents felt a greater sense of connection to people at school compared to the youngsters living with same-sex c ouples. There were no significant differences in self-reported substance use, delinquency, or peer victimization between those reared by same or other-sex couples. Although the gender of parents partners was not an important predictor of adolescent well-being, other aspects of family relationships were significantly associated with teenagers adjustment. Consistent with other findings about adolescent development, the qualities of family relationships rather than the gender of parents partners were consistently related to adolescent outcomes. Parents who reported having close relationships with their offspring had adolescents who reported more favourable adjustment. The fact that children of lesbian mothers generally develop in healthy ways should not be taken to suggest that no challenges were encountered. Many investigators have remarked upon the fact that children of lesbian and gay parents may encounter anti-gay sentiments in their daily lives. For example, in a study of 10- year-old children born to lesbian mothers, Gartrell, Deck, Rodas, Peyser, and Banks (2005) reported that a substantial minority had encountered anti-gay sentiments among their peers. Those who had such encounters were likely to report having felt angry, upset, or sad about these experiences. Children of lesbian and gay parents may be exposed to prejudice against their parents in some settings, and this may be painful for them, but evidence for the idea that such encounters affect childrens overall adjustment is lacking. Another study, published in the October 2006 issue of Archives of Sexual Behaviour, authored by Danish epidemiologist Morten Frisch and statistician Anders Hviid, reports the analysis of data from over two million men and women. It is the first study to examine an entire group of homosexuals for environmental factors in their decisions to marry homosexually. The research suggests a link between environmental factors such as geographic birthplace and family relationships and the probability of marrying a same-sex or opposite-sex partner. The massive study also finds that the number of brothers and sisters increases the probability of marrying heterosexually. This finding questions a recent, widely touted Canadian study of birth order that found the number of older brothers increased the probably of homosexuality in men. The researchers found for each additional year ones parents stay married, the probability of heterosexual marriage in the children increased by 1.6% among sons and 1.0% among daughters. In contrast, the rate of homosexual unions decreased by 1.8% among sons and 1.4% among daughters for every year of intact parental marriage. Summing these effects over years of childhood and adolescence contributes to a noteworthy impact. Regarding homosexual marriages, researchers have also found that birth place relates to the sexual orientation of marriage partner. Being born in urban settings increased the probability of homosexual marriage and decreased the probability of heterosexual marriage. This study was said to be the first to show that birth place or some correlate thereof influences marital choices in adulthood. The researchers also confirmed previous research suggesting that children who experience parental divorce are less likely to marry heterosexually than children reared in intact families. For men, unknown paternal identity, parental divorce, short duration of cohabitation with both parents, and long duration of father-absent cohabitation with mother were all associated with increased rates of homosexual marriage. For women, homosexual marriage rates were elevated among women whose parents were married briefly, and those who experienced long periods of mother absence due either to abandonment or death during the teen years. Taken together, the studys findings suggest that intact parents bearing multiple children and living in rural areas increase the probability of heterosexual pairings in their children. The study was not designed to examine all possible contributions to sexual orientation nor does it account for individual situations. We know, for instance, that gays and straights come from all kinds of families and locations. However, the study raises the possibility that family and social factors function to help shape adult sexual orientation. Chapter 4: Hormonal Factors Hormones are your bodys chemical messengers. It is released by one or more cells which travel through the bloodstream that affects cells in other parts of the organism. Only a small amount of hormone is required to alter cell metabolism. In relation to sexuality following up the hormonal theory, exposure to certain hormones plays an act in fetal sex differentiation. Besides that, this exposure also influences the sexual orientation that emerges later in the adult. Hormones which interact with the developing brain cells coming from the differences in brain structure are accredit to be the basis of sex differences in countless behaviour, including sexual orientation. The interaction of these hormones on the developing brain is affected by prenatal factors that can influence later the sex-typed behaviour in children. Factors hypothesized in contributing to sex-typed behaviour concerns the same as those hypothesized to contribute to sexual orientation. Higher rates of sex-atypical behaviour in childhood and adulthood are seen in homosexual men and women compared to the same sex heterosexuals. Early hormones have been suggested to influence both sexual orientation and related childhood sex-typed behaviours. Recent studies, however, have provided evidence in support of prenatal androgen exposure influencing childhood sex-typed behaviour. An example of the study is Early Hormonal Influences on Childhood Sex-Typed Activity and Playmate Preferences: Implications for the Development of Sexual Orientation. The hormonal influences on activity and playmate preferences in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) are examined. The children were in the range of ages between 2.5 to 12 years. It is observed that CAH girls preferred boys toys and activities and had greater preference for boy playmates than controls. On the other hand, CAH boys did not differ significantly from controls and activity and playmate preferences were not related. From this it was concluded that early androgen has a major effect on childhood activity preferences but only a weak influence on playmate preferences. Besides that, sex segregation does not arise from sex-typed activity preferences, activity and playmate preferences may be differently predictive of sexual orientation and hormonal influences on sexual orientation are likely to be comp lex. Consequently, prospective and retrospective studies of childhood gender role behaviour reveal homosexual males to be more likely than heterosexual males in the sense of participating in girls games, to experiment with cosmetics and jewellery and to be less likely than heterosexual males to participate in sports. In the same way, lesbians analytical report shows that they were more likely than heterosexual females in the manner of participating in sports, to be called a tomboy and to be less likely than heterosexual females as in experimenting with or using cosmetics and jewellery or even to wear dresses. From reports by Bailey Zucker, it was also known that homosexual men and women played with opposite sex playmates in childhood more that did heterosexual men and women. However, the differences between homosexual and heterosexual individuals may not be confined to childhood activities. For example, in another report by McCormick Witelson, it is stated that heterosexual men have higher spatial ability and lower verbal ability compared to both homosexual men and heterosexual women. Besides that, a higher rate of left-handedness has been noticed in both homosexual men and women than heterosexual comparisons. Nonetheless, it is important to note that there are a few other sex-typed behaviours not related to sexual orientation. This is identified as most homosexual men and women have typical gender identity and are similar to same sex heterosexual individuals on aspects of mating psychology related to sexual selection that show sex differences, for example, interest in uncommitted sex. These comparisons are useful because sexual orientation differences that parallel sex differences suggest that some of the factors that cause sex differences also cause differences between homosexual and heterosexual individuals of the same sex. This is because some homosexual individuals are as sex-typical as most heterosexuals, there may be more than one cause of sexual orientation. On the other hand, when sexual orientation differences do not parallel sex differences, different etiologies are likely. Gonadal hormones have been hypothesized to play a main role in the development of sex-typed behaviour and sexual orientation. Thus, high levels of androgen during sensitive periods of development have been suggested to produce masculine-typical behaviour, including childhood activities, cognitive abilities, and sexual orientation directed to women, that is, male heterosexuality and female homosexuality, whereas very low levels of androgen during those periods are hypothesized to result in female typical childhood activities, cognitive abilities, and sexual orientation directed to men, that is, male homosexuality and female heterosexuality. Human sex-typed behaviour is also affected by early exposure to hormones. Thus, female participants with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), who have high levels of androgen during the prenatal and early postnatal periods, have greater preference for traditionally masculine toys and activities, higher spatial ability, and greater rates of homosexual or bisexual fantasies than controls. Similarly, female participants exposed to high levels of masculinizing or defeminizing hormones as a result of maternal ingestion during pregnancy have been reported to be more aggressive and to have higher rates of homosexual or bisexual fantasies than controls. These increases in male typical behaviour which occur in the presence of female gender identity in both CAH girls and women and those with exogenous hormone exposure. Unusual hormone exposure in boys and men has complex relationships to behaviour. In relation, low androgen seems to result in reduced male typical behaviour. Male adolescents and adults with deficient androgen beginning early in life have shown reduced spatial ability compared with controls. High levels of masculinizing hormones have been associated with increased, decreased, and unchanged masculine typical behaviour. Male participants exposed to androgenizing progestin have been reported to be more aggressive than their brothers, but male participants with CAH and thus high levels of androgen generally show male typical behaviour. There are few systematic studies of sexual behaviour in men with unusual early hormone exposure, but homosexuality may be more common in men who are assumed to have low prenatal testosterone, for example, XXY men. There is evidence especially in female individuals that early hormone exposure affects both sexual orientation and some of the behaviors that are related to it, providing indirect support for the hypothesis that sexual orientation typically is influenced b