Add Media

No PSYCHOLOGY REVISION- MRS DAWSON Models of addiction There are different models of addiction, these are the biological model, the cognitive model and the social learning model. Initiation – this refers to the process where individuals start to become addictive Maintance – this is the process whereby people continue to behave addictively even in the face of adverse consequences Relapse – this is the process whereby individuals who have managed to give their addictive habit start to show signs and symptoms of the behaviour again. BIOLOGICAL MODEL They say that it is an illness.Addiction is an illness therefore the problem is within the person. Because it is an illness, it can be cured. We are born with something and that something is triggered off. More likely to be addicted to it. If a person quits their addiction, a biological predisposition makes relapse more likely. The role of dopamine in addiction Initiation- Research shows addiction always stimulates the r eward circuit in the brain. Rewarding experiences triggers the release of dopamine and effectively tell the brain to ‘do it again’. Maintance – Drugs eventually result in a reduction in the activity of positive reward circuits in the brain.The negative state then become in dominant driving force in the drug calling. The individual doesn’t take the drug for pleasure, but takes it to avoid unpleasement. Because of this, they need more of the drug. Relapse – Eventually the desire for the drug may assume more importance than more other desires. The frontal cortex has become less effective at making decisions and judging the consequences of action. Imminent reward that forces the addict to take the drugs. The endogenous opiod system This is a type of addiction. It also includes the brain. Transmitters in the brain include enkeohain and the endorphins.They are activated in pleasure. Naltexrexone – this is an alcohol treatment, which prevents opiod receptors, and this also prevents effects of alcohol. Neurodaptation KOCH AND LE MOAL says drugs dependence is to do with neuroadptations. They state that psychoactive drug’s change the brains wiring. If stopped, the changes are no longer needed and causes disruption. Genetics Good way to research this is to study twins. Family studies then to illustrate environmental factors in the development of addiction as well. Need to see if it is environmental or genetic.Agravel & Lynsky 2006 – genetic influence with heritability estimates ranging between 45% -> 79% Kender et all (1998) – 1934 female twins. Drug addiction was mainly due to genetic factor. Blum et al (1991) – addictive off springs had the A1 gene showed that they had fewer dopamine receptors. Those who have these gens are more likely to be addicted to drugs which will produce more dopamine. But this could be because they have fewer dopamine. EVAULATION OF BIOLOGICAL MODEL X range is too wide X an imals are not humans so cant verify. v explains why some people are addicted X BUT sometimes it depends on the environmentX neurotransmitters have complex effects. Not fully understood X neglects social situations X too reductionalist – US soldiers took drugs while they were away but once they were home they didn’t. X some people may be experimenters ? chicken or the egg X very correlation. Can’t connect them in a cause and effect way. X need more research in to it X people may indulge but not addicted X animal studies LEARNING THEORY OF ADDICTION Acquires habits, which are learnt according to the principles of SLT. Things can be unlearned. There are different degrees of addiction. Bandura – Bobo doll Children learnt via observationSome one who is reinforced (operant) their behaviour is more likely yo be limited Vicarious reinforcement – reinforcement received indirectly by observing someone else and being reinforced Imitating someone we admire Cog nitive labelling model An alcoholic walks pass a pub. The cue, associated with the drinking gives a psychological response and actives a memory of drinking. The sign of a high heart rate tells the person they need a drink. Outcome expectancy model Someone who has an addictive behaviour, when they are confronted with a cue for the drug, it might trigger thoughts of excitement and would do it againClassical conditioning Addictive behaviour is also seen as being explained by classical conditioning. Drug abuse became associated with certain environmental factors until these factors alone produce a high. Intuition, maintance and relapse are due to learning experiences involving environmental. The cue-reacting theory Carter and Tiffany (1999) – addicts associates things, which were similar to their addiction. Explained via classical conditioning. The cues become able to elite conditioning responses even in the absence of the action smoking or gambling behaviour. Operant conditionin gPositive reinforcement Pleasant consequences Negative reinforcement Something unpleasant (likely to be repeated) Punishment Unpleasant consequences. Less likely to be repeated. Addicts change their behaviour in response to rewards and punishment. Bring about change in mood and material changes. Skinner – worked with animals. Greater behaviour changes when he gave less reinforcement or when they are unpredictable. Can explain why gamblers may get addicted. They are not winning all the time, makes compulsion strange. Learning Model Initiation – initial rewards shapes future behaviourMaintance – continues rewards reinforce and maintain behaviour Relapse – person giving up, relapse might be less likely if they have ‘relearnt’ the addictive behaviour all individuals are equally suspicious EVAULATION X animals X learning theories are reductionalists v can explain differences COGNITIVE MODEL OF ADDICTION Cognitive is thinking. This emphasises the h abitual ways people deal with life events may lead to addicitive behabviour. A person can rely on drugs or even gambling as a way of coping with life's problems. But these may create more problems than causes.Beck et al ‘the vicious cycle' Low mood -;gt; using smoking/ gambling -;gt; finacial, medical or social problem -;gt; the cycle continues Low mood can be relieved by addictive behaviour. Addiction can lead to problems. These problems lead to low mood. The cycle begins again. Coping : self mediciation model Initation – indivduals uses the addicitive behaviour to copy with stress/psycholoigcal problems. It is not choosen at random, it has been selected to help with a particular problem. Helps fulfil the 3 main functions – mood regulation – performance management – distractionMaintance and relapse – many smaller mention stress relief as a major reason why they keep to their habit Self efficacy theory BANDORA – This refers to one bein g organised and control any actions required to meet particular goal. This plays an important part in whether or not a person will start to engage in addicitive behaviour (initation). Whether they believe they can do anything about it once established (maintance and relaspe) FAULTY THINKING – Addicters lie to themselves because they think that it may bring them luck. But not all things are luck but people believe that whhat they are doing is correct.EVALUATION OF COGNITIVE MODEL Strenghts. – v cognitive explanations help explain individuals differences. Not everyone is addicitive X relative success of cognitive treatment of addicition support there is some cognitive basis Weaknessess – X publication bias – studies show a link between positive expectations and drinking behaviour. But not all studies are publlished so we get an unrepresentative view EXPLANATIONS FOR SPECIFIC ADDICTIONS Smoking – Smoking produces a phsyical addicition to nicotine, inf luencing dopamine production and the brain reward system. The WHO (world health organisations) estimates there are 1. billion smokers worldwide and they smoke 6 trilliopn cigarettes a year. Bad for you Smoking leads to high blood pressure, heart disease, lung disease, cancer and strokes. Pregnant women who smoke are more likely to have premature babies. The fact peoe still smoke knowing the facts shows how addicitve it is. Nicotine There are about 3000 chemical components in cigarette smoke but nicotime is the addicitve chemical. HILTS (1994) compared nicotine with heroin, cocaine, alcohol,m caffeine and cannabis. He ranked nicotine lowest in terms of effect but highest in terms of dependence.Smokers why try to give up have a relapse rate of 70%. Quickly Addictive DIFRANZA (2007) found teenage smokers had strong craving cigarettes two days after staring, suggesting how quickly people became addicted. Reasons to smoke – biological model Nicotine in cigarettes is seen as affect ing production of the neurotransmitters dopamine and acetylcholine, producing a reward effect. Genetics have more vulnerabilty to smoking addicition. SHIELDS (1992) looked at 42 twins pairs who had been reared apart. Only 9 wre discordant for smoking (one was and was a non smoker, which suggests that genes may play a part) Social FactorsMost people start smoking in their childhood or adolescence. Operant conditioning does not explain this because the first few cigarettes taste horrible. So OC says that they get rewards from peers. Social Learning Theory Children copy their role models because they think it is all right to smoke. Parents But one main influence is the parents. LADER AND MATHESON (1991) said if parents smoked, children were twice as likely to smoke. Cognitive model The cognitive model suggests that teenagers have strategies for not smoking even when pressurised by peers.But there was a group who were ready to smoke (MITCHELL and WEST 1996) Individual differences In a U S study, it suggests strong links between smoking and poor school records, low self-esteem no sport, and other illegal drug taking. Cognitive factors Smokers are seen as possessing irrational thoughts for instance that smoking improves cognitive functionoing or calm nerves. Such dysfunctional ideas can be self-fulfilling AO2 The fact that biological therapies help people quit supports the biological theory. Many people quit nicotine replacements suggesting social and cognitive factors. Supporting evidenceNIDA (2005) found that 90% of American smokers started as teenagers, mainly as a result of copying peers, suggesting SLT as a cause of initiation of smoking. A recent Canadian study (Khaled 2005) found that there was a link between depression and nicotine where depression was higher in smokers and even higher in smokers who wanted to give up. PATHOLOGICAL GAMBLERS Need to meet 5/10 to be problem gamblers. More than 5, you are a pathological gambler. 1/ preoccupation with gambling 2/ need to gamble with increasing amount of money in order to achieve the desired excitement 3/ repeated unsuccessful efforts to control/out back or stop gambling. / restlessness or irritability when trying to out down on gambling. 5/ use of gambling as means of escaping from problems or relieving dysphonic mood. 6/ return to gambling even after losing money, in the hope of winning it back 7/ lying to family members, therapists or others to conceal the extent of gambling 8/ committing illegal acts such as forgery, fraud or theft to financial gambling 9/ jeopardising or losing significant relationships/jobs/educational opportunist as a result of gambling 10/ reliance on others to produce money to relieve a desperate situation caused by gambling Getting a ‘high’One of the motivators is the ‘high’ they experience when they are close to winning. Raised levels of dopamine and noradrenalin have been found in people after episodes of gambling and in serious gamblers . These neurochemicals can be raised with the thought of gambling. Biological Stopping gambling seems to result in the same kind of withdrawal symptoms associated with stopping drugs. ROSENTHAL ET AL (1992) found that over 60% of pathology gamblers, reported physical withdraw and these could be compared with withdrawal of drugs. A number of studies have shown a link between potential brain abnormalities.It is linked between front lobe dysfunction and problem gambling (CAVEAINI ET AL 2002) Genetics There is evidence from studies that gambling could be inherited. Results of a twin study from SHAH (2005) found evidence of genetic transmission of gambling in men. Behavioural/sociocultural factors You are more likely to gamble if you are near a gambling area Alcohol It has been suggested that drinking increasing gambling, particularly in problem gambling. Young, game-machine gamblers stay on the machine longer when drinking. (POLS ET AL 1991). However, regular casino gamblers drink less when they are gambling.Behavioural SLT says that people copy from others. Operant says that people do it for rewards and getting high. Classical says that people associate the winning with the pleasure. Cognitive ZUCKERMAN (1979) claimed there are individual differences in the need for sensation seeking. They look for varied and new experiences. They have a low appreciation of risk and look forward to the ‘buzz’ more than low sensation seeks. Vulnerability of addiction Self esteem Teenagers are more likely to be linked with low self esteem and have addictive behaviours. Higher rates of depression and suicide – DEVERENSKY 2003LEVY 2009 – low self esteem increase the chances of developing addiction. Genetic vulnerability. Several factors might be required have an addiction. AO2 – Cause and effect – addiction because of low self esteem or low self esteem causes addiction. GREENBERG ET AL (1999) found that in a sample of 129-addiction student, no ne had issues with low self esteem. Psychological therapies based on realizing self esteem levels in addicts may stop them relapsing. Attributions Explanations people give for their own behaviour. Cognitive behaviour can play a part in addictive behaviour.MOORE ET AL (1999) says that young male problem gamblers sometimes have unrealistic ideas about their chances of winning and of their ability to make things happen. People with addictive behaviour often have poor self efficacy (blame the outside world) and an external locus of control. They don’t blame their selves. SENEVITNE ET AL (2000) used a questionnaire and 70 alcoholics. The found that alcoholics saw other relapse because they have poor will power while their own relapsed were beyond their control and not their fault. AO2 May have more to do with responsibility of the addict.Therapies focus on positive beliefs on the addicts own power can lead to better success rates. Fast successful quitters in clinics often relapse on the outside as they blame outside cues to starting again. Personality EYSENCH (1997) – psychological resource model which has 3 dimensions which are inherited P (psychoticism) Aggressive, coldness, impulsivity and egocentricity N (neuroticism) Moodiness, imitabilty and anxiety E (extraversion) Optimums, liveliness and sociability There is little evidence to support a link between E and drug dependence. N and P have links with addiction to heroin, alcohol and nicotine.There is a correlation between alcohol addiction and anti social personalities. Gender Men are more likely to gamble because they are more competitive. Recent evidence has shown that there is an increase of women gamblers. With females, they are more likely to be addicted to smoking because of the risks of the consequences. (FOX 1994) However, in gambling more boys are regular gamblers than girls. JACOBS 2001 says boys start gambling earlier, spend more money and enjoy competitive skill based games. Social con text Social context can influence vulnerability to dependency in many ways.Parents can be influenced through their own names to addictive behaviours. Drinking and to a lesser extent, smoking are not seen as sociability acceptable behaviours. CICCHETTIC 1999 states getting drunk and being anti-social can lead to drug abuse as can being depressed or anxious as a teenager. WAGNER ET AL 2002 found cannabis users were more likely to take cocaine so the social context can act as a ‘gateway’ to harder drugs. AO2 LESHNER 1998 believes that treatment must include social context otherwise if cue addict returns to the same social context, they will relapse.KUENTZEL 2008 found that pathological gambler give socially acceptable answers in self reports, playing down their addiction, suggesting data could be invalid. Family influence Teenagers copied off other – SLT. It also shows that a liberal attitude to drugs, poor bonding and dysfunctional relationship can lead to addictiv e behaviour. Parents are unconcerned about their children. Sociocultural background HALL 1990 found people in lower socio economic backgrounds were more likely to take drugs. Poor education + live in areas = high crime VITARA (2001) linked between alcohol abuse and problem gambling particularly in males.The role of media in addictive behaviour The media has influence on addictive behaviour. Advertising This can be used to encourage sales of alcoholic drinks and the lottery etc. or by the government to start anti-smoking campaigns etc. Alcohol and cigarettes CHAPMAN ET ALL 1982 found underage smokers preferred the more adverting brands. ATKIN ET AL 1984 found that 12-17 years old who had watched more adverts on drinking alcohol were more likely to approve of underage drinking. Banned on advert for cigarettes Cigarettes’ adverting is now banned in the UK as evidence as shown people are influenced by the advert they see.Role models Alcohol seems acceptable because of TV and film s. SLT suggests we learn what we see which means TV characterises may influence the audience. Smokers, gamblers or drinkers as long as they are ‘loveable rogues’ could be seen as role models. CHARLTON 1986 seeing adverts made children associate smoking with looking grown up GUNSEKA 2005 found that drug taking in films to be portrayed in positive fashion with little reference to negative outcomes. AO2 Media can be positive influence on addictive behaviour. Media create moral panics which would stop addicts.The impact of media on addictive behaviour is hard to assess as research is correlation so don’t know what other variables are in place. Models of prevention of addiction Addiction = bad for a person and society Behaviour can stem from biological behaviour and cognitive factors with the addictive behaviour/addiction. It is in our interest to help prevent them before they even being or help to stop someone intending to begin an addiction TRA – THE THEORY O F REASONED ACTION AJZEN AND FISHBEIN 1975 There are three general components, attitude, subjective norms and behavioural intention.This theory states the factors that are involved when people decide on their actions. People behave based on their attitudes of the behaviour and the interaction of what others will think of their behaviour. Essentially this model believes that if you have an intention to engage in a behaviour it can predict that you make a decision to carry out the behaviour. CRANO ET ALL 2008 used TRA to estimate teenager’s vulnerability to inhalant abuse, by assessing intention to use or avoid drug taking and actual behaviour. The model was found to be accurate as a predictive toll and thus useful in helping addicts to abstain.AO2 of TRA Critics see TRA as deficient in explaining behaviour of those who have little control over their behaviour, such as addicts. TRA does not consider personality and cultural factors or demographics that shape addictive behaviour. Addicts are often aware of their behaviour and that it is not rational but they cannot help their addiction. THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOUR – TPB TRA was modified to produce TPB, adding a new component, the influence of perceived control. The theory of planned behaviour ‘perceived control’ – this is similar to Bandura’s concept of self-efficacy.According to TPB behavioural intentions are the outcome of the following beliefs. Attitude this can be a positive or negative evaluation of behaviour combined with beliefs about the outcome (e. g giving up smoking will be hard but will improve health). Subjective norms, perception if social norms ‘my friends will approve of my attempt to give up smoking’. Perceived Behaviour Control: a belief that someone can give up. AO2 of TPB The model assumes behaviours are conscious reasoned and planned, which may not be the case with addicts.As with TRA, TPB often used questionnaires to gather data, which can have issues with self report and social desirability. Most research is western countries cultural bias as individuals might not be as important in eastern cultures. Types of intervention Stages of changes model PROCHASHA AND DICLEMENTE said there were 5 stages that have to be overcome to beat addiction Pre-contemplation – before you start thinking about quitting the addiction. Contemplation – when you start to quit your addiction. Preparation – seek methods to stop addiction. Action – is starting the stopping to the addiction Maintance.People sometimes switch backwards and forwards and this is called ‘the revolving door phenomenon’. People in the preparation stage were more likely to attempt to give up an addiction than those in the contemplation stage. Psychological interventions Aversion therapy Contingency contracting Cue exposure self management technique Aversion therapy Punishment rather than reward. Been used to break smoking and alco hol addiction. Electric shocks every time the individual took addiction but was not successful. The addicts have been given a drug called Antabuse, when they drink alcohol, they are sick. They will link between the two.LANG AND MARLETT – TWO LIMITATIONS X not everyone was willing to take the drug. X doesn’t explain why they become addicted to the behaviour. With smoking, therapy was successful. Had to puff every 6 seconds, made the individual feel ill and nausea, assisted the two – SPIEGLAR AND GUEVREMONT. However, not been consistent across studies and a higher risk associated with this treatment for people who have heart problems. Didn’t focus on the act of smoking rather than causing the underlying addiction. Contingency contracting Individual to identify the environmental factors that are associated with smoking/drinking.The therapist aim to gradually expose the client to different cues and helps them to develop coping strategies to deal with the cues without resorting to smoking/drinking. Reduces the patients physical dependence on alcohol. but it does not teach them to deal with cues when they return to every day life. Cue exposure Addictive behaviour are often caused in the pressure of various stimuli. Cue exposure involves presenting the cue to the individual and helping them t control their reaction to it. In this way the response of ‘smoking’ in the pressure of alcohol fades away or exiting wishes.This is thought to be more effective than simply trying to avoid the cues. For example more drinking. Self-management technique This involves a variety of behavioural techniques. The individual is usually monitored by a therapist. The individual is asked to keep a daily record of their addictive habits and the changes to try and become aware of the things that make them become addictive. The individual should question the effects of the addiction. HALL ET ALL said that techniques can be used as a broader treatment pr ogramme, but they do not seem to be particularly effective on their own. EVAUALTIONWhile these behaviours based can be effective, they all share the problem that they do not really address the underlying reason why people have become addictive in the first place. Often short term With all therapies for addiction, they work better if they are mixed with other therapies based on other treatment. Different ways/treatment to smoking/drinking/drugs Biological interventions have been widely used to help people give up on smoking. There have been different way of tackling with people’s smoking addiction. There are different types of treatment†¦ Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT)This type of treatment involves nicotine gum, patches and nasal spray and others. These are effect because they help smokers stop their addiction in several ways. While the smoker take one of these replacement therapies, they are helping to withdraw the symptoms of smoking. These have also shown that the se can have positive reinforcement with the person who is trying to give up. this meaning that the person is more likely to not do it again because they have something to distract them from the actual smoking. With this the client will used varies of different formulations and will slowly used smaller formulations as gum.Even though the client will have an urge to have a cigarettes, there are other ways to come about this. Nicotine patches help because they gradually emit nicotine throughout the day. If the client has a cigarette during the treatment, they are more likely to not repeat this again because the cigarette will be less satisfying. Bupropion Another way of helping with the addiction of smoking is bupropion. This drug works by increasing the brain levels of dopamine and norepinephrine, this simulates the effects of nicotine of these neurotransmitters. This is an effect treatment because it helped to block out the nicotine receptors.This means that the client is less likely that the client will relapse and have a cigarette. It has also bee proven my psychologists WATTS that it is successful. Varenicline This type of drug released dopamine in the brain. It also blocks effects of any nicotine added to the system. Trials have found that varenicline is superior to bupropion in helping people to stop smoking. Also it has helped smokers reduce the amount of cigarettes they have after a 12-week trial. Nicotine vaccines This is a new clinical trial, which is still undergoing at the moment.The type of trial is trying to help produce anti-bodies to the nicotine. The anti-bodies bind the nicotine so it takes longer to go to the brain. This therefore reduces the effect of the cigarettes smoke. EVALUTION Nicotine replacement therapy delivers nicotine into the bloodstream much more slowly than cigarette smokers does. But then it doesn’t satisfy the smoker completely ad maybe the client will give up on the therapy and relapse. Other research has shown that it ’s the nicotine rather than other components that underlines the addiction and this maintains the cigarettes smoking.This therefore doesn’t rid the client the nicotine addiction. There also have been issues with health and safety with the nicotine. Some research has shown that it could cause cardiovascular, cancer, reproductive disorders and delayed wound healing. Because the body is still being supplied with nicotine, this could increase heart rate, coronary blood vessels and temporarily increase bloody pressure. There are quite a few side effects to take just nicotine and because of this, it is advised not to take it during pregnancy but then again it is safer to take nicotine than to smoke in pregnancy.

Google Stock Section - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 10 Words: 2938 Downloads: 8 Date added: 2017/09/18 Category Business Essay Type Argumentative essay Level High school Tags: Google Essay Did you like this example? A top-down approach to stock valuation for Google Stock Section 1: Investment summary I would recommend the buying of Google stock. The company’s current strategy would probably increase their chances of gaining strategic alliances, and make them a more attractive partner. As other companies see that Google is no longer going head on with partners, they may be more willing to cooperate with Google as well. Especially in developing markets, such strategic partners can offer Google a huge advantage, which will translate to increased value of Google’s stocks . Section 2: Overview of the company Google inc. s a company that offers a wide range of products and services to online users. The most popular service the company renders is their search engine named Google. The Google search engine uses PageRank, Algortihms, Link Measurement, and Profiling as part of its objective to deliver the most accurate and most relevant results to the searcher. Google also offers a ve ry successful email product called Gmail. Gmail is unique in that it allows the email account holder much more free space (7GB) than the average free email client. In my experience, Gmail is an exceptional email client as it provides many more services than the standard email. Google Maps is another successful application in that it is not just an average web mapping system. This advanced mapping system offers satellite imagery of most urban cities in the US and around the world. It also can be integrated with many mobile phones, which allows for a GPS mapping system directly on the phone. These features allow its users to find information and easily share it to anyone in the world. With the amount of traffic Google receives on a daily basis, Google has to have some kind of strategy to generate its revenue. One of Google’s main sources of revenue is advertising. In 2007, advertising accounted for 99% of Google’s revenues. Google implements two main advertising pr oducts which are AdSense and AdWords. AdWords is Googles flagship advertising product and main source of revenue ($16. 4 billion in 2007). AdWords offers pay-per-click advertising, and site-targeted advertising for both text and banner ads. The AdWords program includes local, national, and international distribution. Section 3: The macroeconomics Google competes to attract and retain relationships with users, advertisers and Google Network members and other content providers in different strategies. Google competes to attract and retain users of its search and communication products and services. Most of the products and services that Google offer to users are free, so they do not compete on price. Instead, they compete in this area on the basis of the relevance and usefulness of their search results and the features, availability and ease of use of their products and services. Google has been an outstanding company in the marketplace ever since its inception and it continues to be and deliver exceptional service to the global market. The move into public ownership brought about more benefits to its employees as well as present and future shareholders. The founders of Google felt that the standard structure of public ownership might jeopardize the independence and focused objectivity that has been apart of Googles past success. Googles leadership team wanted to preserve this aspect of the organization, so they implemented a corporate structure that is designed to protect Googles ability to introduce and retain its most distinctive characteristics. In 2007 and 2008, cash from Google’s financing activities totaled $403. million and $87. 6 million (Google Inc. 2009). Cash from financing activities is cash flow that takes place between organizations and stockholders and includes loans from bondholders and other creditors (Financial Education 2007). According to Google’s numbers, the company is under no risk since the company does not rely solel y on outside sources to generate its cash flow. Cash flow from Google’s investing activities negatively increased in 2008 as it did in 2007. In 2007, the company had net investing activities of ($3. 68) billion and ($5. 32) billion in 2008 (Google Inc. 009) a negative increase of $1. 6 million. Based on Google’s history and the company’s ability to generate cash flow, the negative increase in investing activities may be attributed to long-term investments and purchases that will ultimately generate cash flow. In comparing the 2007 and 2008 fiscal year of Google to Yahoo! , it appears that Google still remains Yahoo’s top competitor as in past years. Over the past two years, 2007 and 2008, Yahoo! has managed to generate its cash flow from its operations. The company’s cash flow from financing ctivities of $322. 4 in 2008 million and $1,442 million in 2007 compared to its cash flow from company operations (Yahoo! Inc. 2008) is an indication that Yah oo! is following the financial pattern of Google and is not depending on it financing activities to generate its cash flow. Business Changes that occurred may have altered the use of cash from one year to the next. The financial statements of Google have showed that the company has had steady growth. Revenue and profits have increased, as well as administrative, research and development expenses. Slight operating expenses have increased from 2007 to 2008. The cash flow statement shows cash from investing activities remained in the negative only greater. Additionally, more taxes were paid in 2008 than in 2007; however, there was no change in net cash. The financial statements of Yahoo! , shows that short-term and long-term investments have drastically increased. The cash flow statement shows that Yahoo! issued or repurchased capital stock. Google and Yahoo! are constantly striving to beat out competitors using innovation and new products and services. Therefore, both companies invest heavily in research and development. Discussion of Cash Generated in a Sustainable Manner. The use of ratios and trend analysis alerts viewers of Google’s financial health. Google has maintained its profitability in the double-digit percentiles, although it slightly increased its debt. In order to Improve Cash Flows Keeping track of any cash that flows of any company is important if managers want to achieve financial goals. While the task may require a daily count of receipts, there are several recommendations a company can improve its cash flows. Before any company tries to improve its cash flow, it is important that managers determine how cash flows through the company. Inflows are cash collections added to the company’s existing cash while cash leaving the company are its outflows (Toolkit Media Group, 2009). Cash flow will improve when companies collect cash owed to them. The longer cash stays uncollected, the less cash the company has to reinvest. Compan ies can offer incentives such as free specialized services or discounts on products. This move will encourage consumers to pay debts on time and as agreed. The founders of Google wanted to make sure that in the transition process to public ownership it would be difficult for outsiders to take over or influence Google. The corporate structure would make it easier for the management team to follow the long-term innovative approach. The Googles stock was distributed with Class A common stock having one vote per share and the Class B common stock held by the current shareholders has 10 votes per share. The purpose of this structure has left the Google team of Sergey and Page with increasingly significant control over the companys decision and fate, as Google shares change hands. With the completion of the IPO, Brin, Schmidt and Page will control 37. 6% of the voting power of Google, and the executive management team and directors as a group will control 61. 4% of the voting power. This move will give new investors access to full share in Googles long-term economic future. However, they will have little ability to influence its strategic decisions through their voting rights. The move to dual voting structure was considered unusual for technology companies however; it is common among media businesses and has proven to be very successful. The owners of Google believe that a dual class voting structure enables Google, to continue its success as a public company. They have been successful as a private company and they expect this to continue. Investors were concern that this type of voting structure would only be of benefit to Google, but the corporate team made this decision after thoughtful consideration and has confidence that it would be in the best interest of all Googles shareholders. The Google executive team has also expanded the board of directors to three additional members and they are of the view that the team at Google is a world class management team. This team is expected lead the organization forward into the future. The management team has stability and looks forward to retaining its cultural uniqueness while attracting and retaining talented persons that will affect the growth of the organization. The Googles organization thrives on taking the unusual approach to business and in the course of the IPO process demonstrated this once again by taking the an auction approach to distribute their stocks. The risk in this approach was that if there were not enough bidders or if people bid lower the IPO price will be low External and Internal Factor Evaluation The Price/Earnings (P/E) ratio is a companys price-per-share divided by its earnings-per-share. Google’s P/E Ratio (TTM) is 25. 96 meaning it has a relatively high valuation. The Price to Sales (P/S) Ratio is the stock price (total market cap) / total sales (revenues). Generally, the lower the ratio, the more attractive the investment. As easy as it sounds, p rice-to-sales provides a useful measure for sizing up stocks. Google’s P/S Ratio is 5 which is really not so great. Google’s P/B Ratio is 3. 83, which is greater than the industry and sector. Its competitor Yahoo has a P/B Ratio of 1. 57 which is below the industry standard. And Microsoft, another one of Google’s competitors, has a P/B Ratio of 4. 43 which is above the industry standard. The Growth Rates in terms of Sales TTM vs. TTM 1 year ago for Google is 31. 35. This is a healthy number in terms of growth; it means that sales have gone up 31. 35% since the same time 1 year ago. The Sales TTM vs. TTM 1 year ago for Yahoo is 3. 43, and for Microsoft is 7. 05. This means that Google has had the most growth in sales within a 1 year TTM than its other two main competitors. I think Google should continue to focus its concentration on current markets and also on its current product development strategies. Google remains in an excellent strategic position. Sec tion 4: The industry Google is doing very well financially compared with other competitors such as Yahoo. The current ratio, quick ratio and total assets turnover ratio of Google is better than other companies or at least at par with those for other competitors. Current ratio: At the end of 2009, Google’s Current ratio was $8. 77 million and $8. 49 million at the end of 2008 (Google Finance, 2009). In comparison, Yahoo’s current ratio was $1,705. 02 million at the end of 2009, and $1. 41 million in 2008. (Richardson, Chris 2007) Quick ratio: The financial statements of both Google and Yahoo! show zero inventories for 2008 and 2007. Therefore, since the only difference in the current ratio and quick ratio is inventories, then the current ratio and the quick ratio are equal in this case. (Richardson, Chris 2007) Total assets turnover ratio: The total assets turnover measures the efficiency of a company and its effectiveness to produce income from reinvestments of doll ars back into an organization. In 2008, Google had an estimated total asset turnover of about 69% and in 2009, Google had an estimated total asset turnover of about 59%. For the two-year period combined, Google generated an average of 64% return on its money, which indicates that Google does possess the assets necessary for generating earnings. Moreover, total assets turnover ratio, P/E ratio and book value/share ratio of Google is also better than the other companies. However, Google does have its weakness. As we can see, profit margin on sales of Google is slightly lower compare to the other two. However, Google’s price/CF ratio is slightly lower than Yahoo, but is significantly lower than Microsoft. Google is aiming at maintaining their position as a leading innovator. Source and Application of Funds Google, in preparation for its IPO listed its shares on the Nasdaq Stock market as they provided details for the unconventional IPO process. Charles Schwab and Co. Inc c lients also became qualified for the IPO auction. Google chose to offer its shares in an open auction. Googles initial IPO was targeted to raise about $2. 7 billion for the organization. However, the price of the IPO was reduced substantially prior to the auction taking place. Google envisioned that for one year it would allocate stock-based compensation charges for grants to its employees. This figure is expected to be about $377 million. (Google 2006) Into the Future Despite all the challenges Google faced at the beginning of their IPO, they have overcome these challenges and moved forward with the public confidence. Google continues to be a competitive organization. Although there has been a decrease in its stocks in the last year, predictions are that this will not continue. Googles stock is expected to increase, and the company will remain a viable force in the technology industry. Therefore, those investors waiting for a stock-split will have to wait a little longer. Goo gle will continue to move forward to its long-term goal of services that significantly improve the lives of people who make Google their primary search engine. Section 5: The firm Proposed Valuation Model 1. The target price is determined by the Gordon constant dividend growth model 2. Assumptions ?Retained earnings represent the only source of financing ? The Rate of return is constant Cost of equity remains constant and is greater than growth rate ? The company has perpetual life The closing price of Google as at April 15 2010 was $595. 30 the company has market cap of $189. 29 billion. This stock price fairly reflects the firm’s fundamentals. â€Å"Google Inc (GOOG), the Internet search engine said first quarter revenues rose 23% to $6. 78 billion from $5. 51 billion a year ago. Net income in the quarter rose 41% to $2 billion or $6. 06 per diluted share compared to net income of $1. 42 billion or $4. 49 per share last year. Google Inc revenue rose 23% and net income rose 41%. Intuitive Surgical, Inc revenue rose 74. 4% and net income rose 203. 5%. Google Inc, in the last one year traded as high as $629. 51 in January 2010 and as low as $364. 16 in April 2009. † (Mita Yagnik 2010) (1) ROA=Profit margin X Total assets turnover= (Net income/Sales) X (Sales/Total assets) (2) ROE=ROA X Equity multiplier= (Net income/ Total assets) X (Total assets/Common equity). So, ROE=Profit margin X Total assets turnover X Equity multiplier. Projecting the 2010 financial status, if we holding the profit margin and equity multiplier constant as 2009 (profit margin=0. 3, equity multiplier=1. 59). When we pursue a 50% sales increase in 2010, this will provide us a total sale of 12,418,500,000 USD. After the comparison of the company’s financial ratio analysis to other companies, it can be seen that Google is doing a good job. This can also be seen in the fact that from year 2003 to 2009, Google’s revenue increased from 1,465 Million to 3,189 Milli on USD, which increased 117 percent while there was a 277 percent increase in Net Income. Also, revenue increased 625 percent compared with revenue in 2008, while Net Income increased 300 percent. The company’s current and quick ratios in 2009 are higher relative to its 2008 current and quick ratios. Both ratios are quite high though, which means Google has strong competitive financial position. This valuation model provides the best fit for valuing the firm, as it is quite clear that Google’s strongest service is its search engine. Besides, all Google’s services, except for search not being used much, they hardly bring in any revenue. Google is investing in these services though, making them dogs, according to the Boston consultancy matrix. Therefore, Google may be better off eliminating these services, and fully focusing on its search engine. If the company does this, they would be best off using a concentration strategy, and redirecting all resources to the improving of the search engine. They could go into horizontal growth, forming strategic alliances with other large websites. Functional strategies must also be changed in order to follow such corporate and business strategies. For example, the research and development department would no longer be able to use its hit and miss strategy. Rather, researchers would have to focus on one specific task. Also, the company would be better of becoming a technological leader, rather than a follower, since that way there would be less risk of being passed by competitors. The only negative effect such a strategy might have is on the culture; it may become less innovative. Because Google would start to cooperate with other websites, the need for any innovation outside of the search engine may become less necessary. If the company thinks a new service may be needed, they could just join forces with another company, rather than creating the new service by themselves. Since Google’ s culture relies heavily on innovation, which stimulates employees, the loss of the innovation may make Google a less attractive place to work. However, If Google continues to stimulate innovation, they may be able these innovations to their strategic partners. Works cited Brealey. R. A. , Myers. S. C. , Marcus. A. J. , (2004) How Corporations Issue Securities Fundamentals of Corporate Finance, 4th edition, pp 366-390 Gibbons R. (2007). Google’s Ghoulish Trick. Retrieved from https://www. fool. com/investing/general/2004/10/27/googles-ghoulish-trick. spx? terms=Google++Trickvstest=search_042607_linkdefaultHistory of Google La Monica, P. R. (2007) Google gets 2. 7 billion IPO. CNNMoney. com. Retrieved from https://money. cnn. com/2004/04/29/technology/google/. La Monica, P. R. , (2007). Google Jumps 18% In Debut. CNNMoney. com Mita Yagnik (2010) Google, Intuitive Surgical Net Rises. DAILY EARNINGS. Retrieved from https://www. ticker. com/? page=daily_earningsstory=Google,%20In tuitive%20Surgical%20Net%20Risesid=37929 Richardson, Chris. (2007) Google IPO Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Google Stock Section" essay for you Create order

Andrew Jackson s President Of The United States - 3226 Words

On many accounts people look back on Andrew Jackson and applaud his terms as president. But those people do not look closer into his term on the huge mistake he made. To appeal his personal feelings and not for the greater good of the country, president Jackson vetoed the bill that would renew the Bank of the United States (BUS) in 1832. Because of this veto, state banks were unleashed from their restrictions and given the freedom they craved so badly. â€Å"He believed the financial sector of the American economy was spoiled, corrupt and bad for the overall health of the nation, and so he destroyed, at great length, great drama and great cost, the Bank of the United States.1 Due to many experiences brought up with him, Andrew Jackson failed†¦show more content†¦He thought they all violated the Constitution. But he was led by the men around him to focus his aversion on the federal Bank, which being the biggest must be the worst and whose regulatory pressure on the state ban ks must obviously be the oppression to be expected from a great, soulless corporation.4 This would cause his decision to veto the bill passed by congress and cause uproar. The president of the BUS at the time, Nicolas Biddle, would put up a long fight to try to save the bank he loved so much.5 One of the challenges faced with the decision to veto the bill was how the American people felt on the issue. Jackson did not take into account how this would affect the country and the people living within it. This was personal misfortune, undeserved and severe. The more important victim was the American people. For with destruction of the United States Bank there was removed from an overexcitable economy the influence most effective in moderating its booms and depressions.6 In spite of the American people and their opinion, Jackson acted on his own and in doing so made decisions that were not for him to do without having something to back up his words. In his famous veto message, he declared the bank â€Å"unconstitutional† whereas the Supreme Court would have never decla red the Bank constitution nor Congress if that were the case.7 Even some of the great people from the past supported the very thing Jackson

Topic 1 Mary Parker Follett Has Been Described by...

Topic 1: Mary Parker Follett has been described by Schermerhorn et al. (2011) as an Administrative Theorist within the Classical approach to management. However, others have seen her as ahead of her time, and have even described her as thoroughly modern (Hurst, 1992).What were Mary Parker Follett s main contributions to management thought and practice; how do they relate to Classical management theory; and how are they relevant to practicing managers in contemporary organisations? ‘Classical approach to management mainly concerned with the increasing the efficiency of workers and organisations based on management practices, which were an outcome of careful observation. Besides, administration principles are based on attempts to†¦show more content†¦In other words power should be jointly developed between management and employees and not employed in a coercive way by management. Power is one of the problems in organisation. Follett said that ‘the question of power was the central problem of social relations’ (Follett, 1930, p.12). She did not think that power can be deputed but she believed in giving employees opportunities to gain his or her own power. Follett was only interested in studying how an organisation will give power while the others had been paid attention to the division of power and how to achieve it. She said: ‘So far as my observation has gone, it seems to me that whereas power usually means power-over, the po wer of some person or group over some other person or group, it is possible to develop the conception of power-with’ (Follett, 1940, p.101). Follett announced that only ‘power-with’ was acceptable. She explained this: â€Å"True power then is ‘power-with’ another, not ‘power-other’ another. Until everyone within an organisation realises that they are bound together, each will see only their own situation. â€Å"Power with† can only come from obedience to a single, shared situation(Dynamic Administration (DA), 1965, p.100). Perhaps this is why managers in the 1970s seemed so powerless to implement their strategies. They had ‘power over’ – but the strategies themselves did not generate ‘power with’.(Mary Parker Follett, 1930) ‘Follett’s writings are probably most relevant to us

Virtual Learning Environment In Higher Education Education Essay Free Essays

The usage of Blackboard platform has been adopted by many higher acquisition establishments. But a few surveies have been carried out on its impact on pupils, talks and administrations. This thesis is about the impact of practical acquisition environment package such as Blackboard in higher acquisition establishments ; a instance survey has antecedently shown that the Blackboard package is being used chiefly for administrative maps and non to its maximal capacity. We will write a custom essay sample on Virtual Learning Environment In Higher Education Education Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now Recognition Though merely my name appears on the screen of this thesis, a great many people have contributed to its production. I owe my gratitude to all those people who have made this thesis possible and because of whom my experience has been one that I will care for everlastingly. My deepest gratitude is to my adviser, Dr.William Micheal Gasser. I have been surprisingly fortunate to hold an adviser who gave me the freedom to research on my ain, and at the same clip the counsel to retrieve when my stairss faltered. I am besides grateful to him for promoting the usage of right grammar and consistent notation in my Hagiographas and for carefully reading and noticing on infinite alterations of this manuscript. Many friends have helped me remain sane through these hard times. Their support and attention helped me get the better of reverses and remain focused on my survey. I greatly value their friendly relationship and I deeply appreciate their belief in me. I am besides thankful those who helped me in my research by supplying feedback through the on-line questionnaires. Most significantly, none of this would hold been possible without the love and forbearance of my household. My immediate household has been a changeless beginning of love, concern, support and strength for me. I would wish to show my heart-felt gratitude to my household. My extended household has aided and encouraged me throughout this enterprise. Contentss 1 Introduction 5 2 Introduction to VLE 6 1.1. Problem Statement 10 1.2. Target 10 1.3. Result and Actors 11 1.4. Scope and Scale 11 1.5. Ethical issues 11 1.6. Purposes and Objectives 12 1.7. Thesis Outline 13 2 Research Methodology 13 2.1 Library Search 14 2.2 Online Journal Articles Search 14 2.3 Open Access Online Journal Articles Search 14 2.4 Web Search 15 2.5 Extra Literature 16 3 Impact of Using Blackboard Software on Students and Lectors 16 3.1 Students 16 3.1.1 Students ‘ perceptual experience 17 3.1.2 Students Evaluation of VLE Components 18 3.1.3 Blackboard versus Face to Face Teaching 19 3.1.4 Impact on Learning 20 3.1.5 Impact on Learning Outcomes 21 3.1.6 Impact on Society 22 3.2 Lectors 22 3.2.1 Lectures ‘ perceptual experience 23 3.3 Impact on IS Strategy 25 3.4 Students perspectives 28 3.5 Lecturers positions 30 4 Decisions 33 5 Bibliography 34 Introduction In recent old ages, the demand for instruction has changed because of an increased demand for a extremely educated work force that will be expected to larn continuously ( Alavi A ; Leidner, 2001 ) . Education has become an un stoping procedure in one ‘s life-time due to which the agency of instruction are besides being transformed in order to run into the outlooks and to maintain the continuity of instruction traveling. The acquisition which was ab initio done in a face to confront environment, is going into an environment mediated by computing machines and digital engineerings. In 1886, the first president of the University of Chicago, William Rainer Harper wrote: â€Å" the pupil who has prepared a certain figure of lessons in the correspondence school knows more of the topic treated in those lessons, and knows it better than the pupil who has covered the same land in the schoolroom † ( Harper, 1971, p. 12 ) . Since the 1970s, the Open University of UK, has pioneered the construct of modern distance acquisition by supplying blended learning environments of face-to-face tutoring and class bundles including audio- and video-based class stuff. Since the reaching of the Internet, educational net-based engineering is germinating quickly at universities worldwide ( Mason, 2003 ) . However, the demand of practical acquisition has of all time so increased today, that we barely find a student/tutor who does n’t utilize or cognize how to utilize the practical acquisition packages available. Some research has been done on acquisition by Virtual acquisition environments, and they show a variable perceptual experience of VLEs for both pupils and academic staff. In an rating of on-line distance instruction, Westerberg and Marald ( 2004 ) found that university directors and instructors perceived this sort of instruction as a agency of making out to a higher figure of pupils. Students, on the other manus, appreciated the chance to analyze in a mode more independent of limitations of clip and infinite, than traditional instruction on campus. Teachers experienced a heavy work load and high outlooks to be accessible to pupils, while pupils perceived the pedagogical quality of online classs being lower, compared to classs on campus ( Westerberg A ; Marald, 2004 ) . The findings of high outlooks of being available to pupils are confirmed by Zhang and Nunamaker ( 2003 ) , who found that scholars perceive more chances for communicating with teachers in a practical acquisition environment than in a traditional schoolroom. With these differing sentiments in head, it could be sensible to inquire if learning by agencies of practical acquisition environments is a phenomenon truly accepted by instructors and pupils. This thesis is being carried out to happen out the factors act uponing the impact of practical acquisition environment for both the pupils and the teachers/turtors. Introduction to VLE AA practical acquisition environment ( VLE ) A is aA softwareA system developed to back up acquisition and instruction in an educational environment. A VLE can work within an administration via Local Area Network ( LAN ) , over the Internet as Wide Area Network ( WAN ) and supply a aggregation of educational tools in order to ease assignments, communicating, contents direction and attendings. VLEs can be used for distance acquisition or supplement traditional face to confront schoolroom activities. A web page is a front terminal interface that is browsed by pupils and academic staff, the back terminal can represent databases, web waiter and other relevant hardware and package tools. Blackboard ( c.f. , Figure 1 ) is VLE package that supports and facilitates on-line acquisition and teaching.A A It enables, Course content stuffs, such as talk notes and talk slides to be uploaded on the Blackboard site for easy entree and downloads by pupils Online communicating between lecturers/tutors and pupils by the usage of forums and treatment boards Online capable presentation and tutorials in a practical schoolroom Groups direction in order to ease treatment and exchange of educational stuffs Uploading and taking on-line assignments that involve automatic marker and feedback strategies Posting proclamations on a site and e-mailing pupils enrolled on a peculiar class Scheduling class and assignment deadlines Tracking pupils activities on a site and Course work entry and its automatic recognition. Blackboard package is used by over 3700 instruction establishments in more than 60 states Smith ( 2009 ) . Figure 1: Blackboard screenshot Many researches have shown that pupils ‘ activities under Virtual Learning Environment are largely based on administrative maps such as subjecting assignments and reading messages in forums or newssheets. It has been found that pupils are merely active and engage themselves in collaborative and synergistic activities in ain environment such as in societal networking ( e.g. , Facebook and Myspace ) . A survey in Smith ( 2009 ) showed that although pupils value resources placed on VLEs such as Blackboard, they value more face to confront contact with their lectors or coachs. Lectors play a really critical function in how pupils engage themselves with VLEs. Research in Smith ( 2009 ) has shown that bulk of lectors are replacing the bing methods alternatively of introducing new methods that will promote pupils to bask collaborative and synergistic acquisition methods. Another research has shown that some lectors ‘ usage of Blackboard has enhanced their appraisal of pupils work capablenesss in the face to confront schoolroom scenes ( Woods et al. ( 2004 ) . In most of least developed states, VLEs are regarded as inferior to face to confront schoolroom scenes. If engineering is suitably used so it normally has important benefits to our day-to-day life. The same chief applies to the usage of Blackboard. Appropriate usage of Blackboard has shown to hold important benefits to both pupils and their lectors. Some of these are outline below. Traditional methods ( face to confront learning ) were compared with the usage of Blackboard package for sociology pupils. It was revealed that pupils ‘ rating compared favorably in the group that was utilizing Blackboard with important addition in perceptual experiences of lector relationship and rating Koeber ( 2005 ) The research in Campbell et Al. ( 2008 ) found that participants on on-line treatment attained higher Markss in their tests than those with face to confront method. This showed that VLE was linked with greater accomplishments. It was shown in Hepworth et Al ( 2000 ) that VLEs promote significantly greater critical thought among pupils than traditional method of face to face schoolrooms. It was revealed by APLU ( 2009 ) that larning results via Blackboard were better than face to face instructions. It was found that 56 % of talks ( with and without on-line experience ) recommended on-line plans to at least one pupil. It was shown that over 80 % of lectured with on-line talking experience recommended on-line plans. Farquarson ( 2007 ) found that there was an impact on pupils ‘ societal experiences at universities by take parting in on-line activities. It was suggested that this could be used as keeping scheme since supportive equal groups are an facet of pupils ‘ battle. There is clear indicant of the effectivity offered to pupils and their lectors through the usage of VLEs such as Blackboard. This is much derived from the facets such as administrative acquisition and instruction undertakings, for case, managing and accessing content stuffs, communications or proclamations such as forums or intelligence, scaling, attendings, assignments and feedbacks. With VLEs there are benefits of flexibleness and convenience of entree at anytime and from anyplace, there is flexibleness of communicating and coaction environment, this means that there is a big degree of control passed to the pupil. Problem Statement How does Virtual Learning Environment impact pupils and academic staff in Higher Learning Education? Virtual environment for acquisition can be considered as an sweetening of our traditional face to confront schoolroom environment, nevertheless the impact of both is wholly different from one another and this thesis is being carried out to foreground the positive and negative facets every bit good as the impacts on pupils, teachers/tutors and over all higher larning instruction system. Target Given the job statement in this survey, the mark audience is academic staff, pupils, VLE package proprietors and any research workers interested in VLEs and their impacts in HLE. The end is to hold a list of factors that VLE impacts pupils and academic staff in HLE establishments. The list will so be good for future support and sweetening of VLE package such as Blackboard. Outcome and Actors The chief result of this survey will be the list of impacts of VLE on HLE institutes that can be used to advance and heighten VLE in larning establishments. The histrions in this survey are Blackboard package users i.e. , pupils and academic staff. Scope and Scale The range of this survey will be limited to UK pupils and academic staff with experience of utilizing Blackboard package. About 150- 200 participants will be consulted online in order to carry on questionnaire exercising. Ethical issues Ethical issues were taken into consideration in this survey. There was no hazard of exposing topics to any hazard as the lone topics were Blackboard users who were merely asked inquiries about their experiences utilizing Blackboard and those who took portion in the study were good informed and were good cognizant of the intent of the study. No private or confidential informations was required from clients during interviews or when their feedbacks were obtained from on-line signifiers. Still whatever informations collected during this thesis was kept confidential and used strictly for study and extraction of impacts of the use of VLEs. Purposes and Aims The purpose of this undertaking is to look into the impact of a Virtual Learning Environment ( VLE ) in Higher Learning Education ( HLE ) . The involvement is in the ways by which the VLE provides pupils ‘ and lectors ‘ demands and agencies of back uping communicating and the sharing of resources in HLE. The undertaking aims will be supported by the undermentioned aims: – To reexamine the province of the art of VLE package and applications and its related engineerings. To reexamine the execution of VLEs and associated experiences of the stakeholders in the context of policies, schemes and precedences. To analyze the impact of VLEs solutions execution from the position of the pupils, research workers and lectors. To analyze the current arguments and future waies of VLE such as societal media and the impact of Web 2.0 Show the findings of this undertaking as an MSC thesis to the University of Gloucestershire Thesis Outline The balance of this thesis is organised as follows. Chapter 2 out lines the research methodological analysis used in this survey. The impact of Blackboard package on pupils and lectors is described in Chapter 3. Chapter 4 nowadayss instance survey and decisions are given in Chapter 5. Research Methodology The purpose of this undertaking is to look into the impact of a Virtual Learning Environment in Higher Learning Education. The involvement is in the ways by which the VLE provides pupils ‘ and lectors ‘ demands and agencies of back uping communicating and the sharing of resources. Primary informations spotlight aggregation activity has been through questionnaires and through research by utilizing resources such as the Internet, diaries, and library. The questionnaires were conducted to pupils and talks on their usage of VLE package such as Blackboard. The questionnaires were merely through on-line via a web site. Below are the sorts of initial article searched and conducted in the class of this survey: – Library Search A library hunt was conducted utilizing an advanced hunt in the ICT, societal scientific disciplines and instruction subdivisions. The keywords entered for the hunt are: Blackboard WebCT VLE The hunt consequences were read and relevant 1s were selected for farther rating. Online Journal Articles Search A methodical hunt was conducted, shoping equal reviewed articles published in the undermentioned on-line diaries but non limited to: Computers and Education British Journal of Educational Technology Open Access Online Journal Articles Search A methodical hunt was conducted by shoping unfastened entree online diaries, related to VLE utilizing keywords such as: – Virtual acquisition environments ( VLE ) Course Management Systems ( CMS ) Learning Management Systems ( LMS ) Blackboard/WebCT Blended acquisition The undermentioned diaries were accessed: – The Electronic Journal of e-Learning ( United Kingdom ) The European Journal of Open, Distance and E-Learning ( EURODL ) ( Europe ) The Journal of Distance Education ( Canada ) Australian Journal of Educational Technology Australian The International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Society Web Search The undermentioned keywords were entered into a web hunt engine ( google.com ) Distance acquisition Blackboard/WebCT VLE E-learning Mobile larning Web 2.0 Social media Social package Personal web Personal acquisition environment Open educational resources Open beginning Extra Literature In add-on, articles recommended by friends and supervisor were studied and relevant stuffs were extracted and used. Statistical package such as Microsoft Excel was used to analyze informations obtained from questionnaires. Impact of Using Blackboard Software on Students and Lectors Students A two twelvemonth study in Midwestern University in USA by Lonn and Teasley ( 2009 ) found that 95 % of pupils at the campus were utilizing Blackboard and 95 % of their activities in the Blackboard were based on communicating and document direction. Merely 5 % were on synergistic activities such as Wikis, chat and treatment boards. In New Zealand, it was found by Santhiveeran ( 2006 ) that the Blackboard was accessed 23 hours a twenty-four hours. The most popular environment was paperss country where pupils could download talk notes, slide and assignments. A research conducted by JISC in UK revealed that pupils are merely interested with Blackboard features that run into their demands and sometimes merely when they suit them ( JISC ( 2007 ) ) . Students ‘ perceptual experience Many pupils in HLE institutes were either born or have grown up during the digital age. This coevals of pupils are excited by engineering and perceive that VLE engineering such as Blackboard package will ever assist in the instruction enterprise. These pupils do non believe that Blackboard will of all time perplex their acquisition curve MORI ( 2008 ) . There are few surveies that have researched on pupils ‘ perceptual experience looking at personal features and how these affect pupils ‘ easiness of utilizing VLEs such as Blackboard. Sun et Al. ( 2008 ) found that larning anxiousness on computing machines have negative influence on VLEs satisfaction. Lecturers ‘ attitudes on VLEs will hold positive influence on pupils ‘ VLEs satisfaction. Research conducted by Liaw ( 2008 ) found that sensed usefulness and satisfaction were the major factors that contribute to pupils ‘ behavioral purpose to utilize VLEs such as Blackboard package. It was concluded that effectivity of VLEs can be influenced by a figure of factors such as multimedia bringing, quality and synergistic activities of VLEs. These findings besides suggested that pupils ‘ perceptual experiences was that inappropriate usage of VLEs package such as Blackboard is worse than non utilizing the engineering at all to back up VLEs. Students Evaluation of VLE Components Sharpe et Al. ( 2006 ) learned the usage of VLE package such as Blackboard was positively overpowering with regard to accessing class stuffs and as a addendum to traditional face to confront schoolroom apparatus. The survey by Mori ( 2008 ) showed that two tierce of pupils accessed class stuffs via the VLE and were really satisfied. Students besides valued the usage of treatment board found in the Blackboard and were satisfied by lectors who played important axial rotation in modulating them. At that clip it was found that pupils were non much exposed to Wikis and were less comfy with societal networking site such as Facebook with their lectors or coachs in them. My research conducted in UK with 50 pupils informally interviewed, all of the 50 pupils acknowledge the usage of Wikis and hence it was concluded that, now pupils are familiar with wikis but still non comfy with talks in the societal networking sites. The survey my Morgan et Al ( 2006 ) established that the usage of confab and bulletin board in Blackboard was effectual in exciting brooding acquisition in nursing pupils. Students said that they developed more brooding accomplishments by the usage of Blackboard than a face to face schoolroom. Bridge and Appleyard ( 2008 ) found that assignment entry via Blackboard and feedback was positively received with 88 % of pupils interviewed pinpointed that subjecting class work via the VLE was clip and fiscal economy and 93 % preferable feedback via the Blackboard package. Blackboard versus Face to Face Teaching The survey conducted by Oladiran and Uziak ( 2009 ) in Botswana found that the usage of Blackboard was non preferred as entirely usage of learning method. Students preferable Blackboard as a compliment to face to confront learning in a schoolroom. The recognised the power of IT in the acquisition, they accepted that the usage of Blackboard farther enhanced their IT skills and made them more independent in their thought. In general it was found that the usage of Blackboard improved the quality of their surveies, this was perceived by 75 % of the pupils interviewed. Two decisions were derived by the survey of Benoit et Al ( 2006 ) : – VLE is non by and large superior to traditional face to confront schoolroom apparatus, based on the sum of acquisition, and Students are systematically more satisfied the traditional schoolroom apparatus than with VLE. This is besides supported by the research conducted by MORI ( 2008 ) who revealed that pupils still value face to VLEs schoolroom apparatus. But pupils are motivated to utilize VLE because it us flexible, can be accessed at anytime from anyplace and saves clip. The survey conducted by McGill A ; Hobbs ( 2008 ) proved that the VLE usage is suited in HLE institutes but non needfully better than traditional face to confront schoolroom apparatus. Impact on Learning The research by Benoit EL Al. ( 2006 ) found that utilizing VLEs were systematically non really effectual compared to traditional face to confront direction in footings of larning publicity and pupils preferred face-to-face instruction. The survey conducted by Arbaugh ( 2004 ) on an MBA programme showed that while there was minor alteration in pupils ‘ perceptual experience of larning between their first on-line class on VLE and attendant classs on VLE, there were major positive alterations in their learning satisfaction with the VLE as a bringing medium, their perceptual experiences of pupils interaction, and the convenience and easiness of usage of the Blackboard. These findings imply that as pupils obtain movable accomplishments and cognition in VLE, their perceptual experiences of the VLE as a positive acquisition medium better. Most of the major alterations in these perceptual experiences happened between the first and 2nd period that the pupils attended in the VLE classs, which implies that pupils need to analyze at least two classs via VLE before reasoning sing classs bringing medium. Therefore, academic staff should pay particular attending to first clip pupils choosing for a class via VLE in order to promote their engagement in following classs via VLE. The survey by Lonn A ; Teasley ( 2009 ) , Attwell ( 2009 ) and Bricheno, Higginson A ; Weedon ( 2004 ) showed that in footings of impact on acquisition, VLEs showed some accomplishment in footings of heightening communicating, the countries of larning where VLEs had small impact were collaborative and synergistic acquisition. In a research conducted in 20 educational establishments, Bricheno ( 2004 ) found that collaborative and synergistic acquisition did non look to hold major alterations in several establishments. † Impact on Learning Outcomes The correlativity between the usage of VLEs and pupil classs has been researched really widely. Percival and Muirhead ( 2009 ) studied two groups of concern and IT pupils at the University of Ontario in the Institute of Technology. One group was trained by traditional face to confront method and the other one by VLE. Both groups were evaluated by the usage questionnaires and there were approximately 40 % of respondents to the questionnaires by both groups. The purpose of the rating was to determine participants ‘ usage of VLE package such as Blackboard and measure the impact of VLE on overall classs. Just a little figure of participants in both groups listened to the on-line pre-recorded talk. Participants who listened to pre-recorded talk obtained much better classs than those who did n’t. VLE learning pupils made more usage of electronic books and talk notes, podcasts and treatment boards. Percival and Muirhead ( 2009 ) concluded that although today ‘s pupils are familiar with cyberspace engineerings, it can non be taken for granted that these pupils will automatically go accustomed to utilizing these new engineerings for larning. Students are required to familiarise themselves with the benefits of engineering to their acquisition in order to do smooth passage from traditional schoolroom to online acquisition. Impact on Society Farquharson ( 2007 ) conducted an probe on the impact of different manners of tutorial treatment on making societal relationships among pupils. Three manners of treatment were selected for comparings: Blackboard online treatment package, Blackboard electronic mail package and traditional face to face tutorials. The group with Blackboard treatments and electronic mail were more expected to increase friendly relationship webs amongst their equals. In add-on, older pupils reported a larger figure of friendly relationships. The findings suggested that, on-line engagement in Blackboard activities might hold an impact on pupils ‘ societal experience in HLE ( Farquarson, 2007 ) . This could perchance be used as a strategic attack to better keeping rates, since supportive equal webs are an of import facet of pupil battle. Lectors The Association of Public and Land Grant Universities in the USA published a papers on the usage of VLE such as Blackboard by module members ( APLU 2009 ) . In their survey of module members at US universities, about a one-fourth of all modules who responded were talking at least one on-line class via VLE at the clip of the study. Over a 3rd of module members indicated that they have lectured online. Furthermore, the most experient module members, those with more than 15 old ages of talking experience, are giving talks online at a rate equivalent to faculty members with less lecturing experience. About a ten percent of all module members reported that they were in the procedure working on developing on-line talks. The per centum of module members who have developed on-line talks is about the same as the per centum of module members who have lectured on-line classs. Forests et Al ( 2004 ) showed that module members chiefly use the Blackboard package as a class direction or disposal tool to do class material readily available to pupils and manage class classs and attendings. Lectures ‘ perceptual experience Forests et Al ( 2004 ) established that module members ‘ attitudes were really positive when it came to the schoolroom administrative maps of the Blackboard package but their ideas were impersonal in footings of its instructional and psychosocial benefits. It was found that females had more positive attitudes than males in footings of the Blackboard package ‘s capableness to better schoolroom disposal and advance a positive relational environment. Across all module members, 34 % used Blackboard package to beg a greater diverseness of pupil sentiments than is otherwise possible in the face-to-face environment and 60 % agreed that certain characteristics in the Blackboard system enhanced or elevated their appraisal of pupil work and instructional capablenesss in the face-to-face schoolroom scene. It was besides revealed that a sum of 80 % agreed that the Blackboard package helped them to clearly and expeditiously pass on information about talk demands, and 60 % agreed that the Blackboard package helps them better to run into the acquisition demands of pupils. It was besides revealed that 62 % agreed that the Blackboard package helped them to break their clip direction in disposal affairs and 64 % agreed that Blackboard package improved their pupils ‘ ability to derive cognition of class stuffs. It was found by Lonn and Teasley ( 2009 ) that both male and female lectors believed that the VLE engineering improved instruction and acquisition but were more positive on the consequence of it on their instruction than on pupils. Lectors perceived that the finest advantage of the Blackboard package was how it enhanced and better their communicating with their pupils. Very few female and male lectors chose learning or larning betterments as the most of import advantage from utilizing Blackboard package. A survey conducted by Mitchell and Geva-May ( 2009 ) explored attitudes towards, and attitudes impacting, VLE execution. In recent old ages at that place has been greater credence of VLE by institutional determination shapers, as evidenced by high degrees of larning establishment engagement, but greater module members ‘ credence still lags behind. This spread affects the permeant acceptance of VLE. Mitchell and Geva-May ( 2009 ) proposed that module members credence of VLE is influenced by attitudes related to four factors: – Intellectual reluctance, such as the concerns that pupils ‘ perceptual experiences that VLE is inferior to traditional schoolroom apparatus. Support, such as preparation, clip and aid. Change, in peculiar with respect to doubts the construction and operation of the educational establishments will alter and hence threatens their stations. Economy, where the greatest uncertainty was with the perceptual experience that more support would be needed to back up VLE. Impact on IS Strategy Internet entree connectivity has revolutionized the instruction sector peculiarly on VLE. This is really of import as the connexion should be good plenty to be able to make a practical environment such that information can be accessed and shared without any hold or job and firmly. Effectss Likelihood Low Medium High Negative Avoid Favorable Beneficial Table 1 Internet Access Since VLE such as Blackboard package depends much on internet entree, any dislocation will hold all activities that involve the information flow between talks, pupils and institutional direction. The likeliness of this to go on is medium but the effects are really negative and therefore any learning establishment should avoid this to do negative effects by holding a backup communicating scheme, this can be done by holding more than one cyberspace entree suppliers and an automatic switch over one time one entree is lost. Effectss Likelihood Low Medium High Negative Avoid Favorable Beneficial Table 2 Security Modern communicating like high velocity cyberspace connexion comes with drawbacks. Security is the major drawback, privateness, confidentiality and unity of private informations fluxing over the cyberspace between lectors, pupils and instruction staff offices poses security breach. With wireless internet entree in about every place in developed states, the security issue becomes more important. The likeliness of this to go on is high, its consequence is really negative and therefore any larning institute with VLE as the manner of acquisition and learning bringing should guarantee strong encoding tools and sensings are in topographic point at all sides of communicating. Effectss Probability Low Medium High Negative Favorable Beneficial Encourage Table 3 Software Collaborative VLE package plays a major function on the efficiency in instruction sector for maintaining pupils and lectors together. With these package, about everything is automated, scheduling, presentment and even instant messaging. The traditional message flows in an office is expeditiously organised. These package bundles are going really sophisticated as new engineerings in processing and storage capacities of personal computing machines are improved. The likeliness of these bundles to better is medium and hence increased productiveness in instruction sector, but its consequence is really good, therefore any establishment with VLE deployment should promote any kind of design or development of the collaborative educational package. Case survey Students positions The intent of this chapter is to supply an in depth position of of import findings that have already been reported in recent old ages. Students ‘ position for VLE was studied by Stephen Lonn and Stephanie Teasley in 2009. This survey does non concentrate entirely on pupil perceptual experiences but besides cover academic staff perceptual experiences. It makes peculiarly exciting reading as the survey is focused on an organizational execution of an unfastened beginning VLE, and so it is interesting to see whether the perceptual experiences of pupils and academicians are traveling to be different than those found in the usage of commercial VLEs. The survey makes a point that VLEs are used chiefly for the distribution and storage of class stuffs though they can be used for heightening coaction and interaction via tools such as treatment boards, confab suites, wikis and web logs. It farther points out that these tools permit VLEs to back up constructive methods for acquisition and instruction. A cardinal issue nevertheless is achieving pupils and academician ‘s acknowledgment of the chances provided by the tools. It reports that at the University of Wisconsin ( Morgan, 2003 ) academicians reported that one time they have had used the VLE they did commence to reconstitute their classs and eventually their pedagogic attack. It besides disputes that there are a figure of other related surveies but there has been a short of longitudinal surveies which might descry how pupils and academicians change their beliefs and methods to the effectual utilizations of VLE in acquisition and instruction. The survey is conducted at the University of Michigan where they found that academicians ‘ development on VLE is voluntary and the usage of the VLE is non obligatory over most of the establishments. They addressed a figure of cardinal inquiries: Does IT better instruction and acquisition? No major difference between pupils and academicians in footings of IT expertness. Major difference with respect the usage of IT. Students reported preferring a high degree of IT usage than academicians. Which of the following net incomes from utilizing information engineering in your faculties was most valuable to you: Contented sharing, Assignments ; confabs, proclamations ; agenda, treatment, wiki, course of study? There was a major difference between academicians and pupils. The most popular reply from academicians was that it enhanced their communicating with pupils, and for pupils the most popular reply was that it saved them clip i.e. , it was more efficient. The top four maps selected by pupils and academicians as ‘very valuable ‘ were the same, if in a slightly different order, covering content sharing, proclamations, course of study and agenda. When analyzing system event log files this seems to fit the questionnaire statistics with 95 % of activities being correlated to content, assignments, proclamations, agenda and course of study. Merely 5 % of events were associated with synergistic and collaborative tools, treatment board and wiki. For efficient communicating, instruction and acquisition activities. Students and lectors were asked to rate specific activities categorised as either ‘efficient communicating ‘ or ‘supporting acquisition and learning ‘ . Lectors tended to rate ‘efficient communicating activities ‘ as ‘very valuable, ‘ more than pupils. Teaching and larning activities tended to be rated as ‘valuable ‘ instead than ‘very valuable ‘ by both pupils and talks. In general, the survey noted that both lectors and pupils agree that IT heighten instruction and acquisition. However lectors agree more strongly than pupils that IT can better instruction and acquisition. The survey suggests that pupil responses are perchance based on how the VLE tools have really been used. The perceptual experiences raised in this survey of a non-commercial VLE such as MOODLE by pupils and lectors are no different to the types of perceptual experiences raised sing the usage commercial VLEs such as Blackboard. Lectors positions The article of Woods et Al. ( 2004 ) explored how far the Blackboard package aids and supports a blended acquisition method by analyzing its usage and impact on three countries of instruction and acquisition: The Blackboard package as a class direction platform, used as an country to supply talk notes, assignment, slides and other helpful larning stuffs as reading lists, course of study, auxiliary readings and external links. Besides the usage of the class system, the trial director and the appraisal tools belong partially excessively this country. The Blackboard package as an assignment tool. How far does the Blackboard package encourage diverseness, and animate critical thought and advance different larning manners before or after a face to confront schoolroom session? Specific features in this country are the treatment boards and trial directors. The Blackboard package as a tool for schoolroom society. How far does the Blackboard package encourage set uping relationships and interaction between class pupils and lectors? In order to react to these inquiries a study was carried out and sent to 50 colleges and universities in 2003 in a Midwest province of the USA ( all acquisition establishments addressed were utilizing Blackboard ) . The study was done by 862 module members from 38 establishments ; 59 % of the respondents were male, and the bulk of all respondents considered themselves as really computing machine literate. Almost half had taught with VLE such as Blackboard package and a important bulk ( 83 % ) had received preparation or assist on how to utilize the Blackboard package. The chief grounds specified for utilizing the Blackboard package were: Professional involvements ( 65 % ) Encouraged by co-workers ( 27 % ) Encouragement of pupils ( 11 % ) The survey indicates that the dominant usage of the Blackboard package is in the country of class administrative affairs. For case: 75 % on a regular basis published their course of study 81 % sent legion or sporadic electronic mails to the whole category 59 % used the class systems Less common usage was made of the assignments tool ( 28 % ) . However 41 % of respondents had conducted a quiz and 45 % had used a treatment board to promote argument and coaction. The Blackboard package was used less normally as a pedagogic application. For case, participants pointed out occasional usage of the treatment board to go on in category treatment or to back up treatment prior to a face to confront schoolroom session. 22 % used the group tools to partition pupils into treatment groups and about 6 % used the unrecorded confab or practical schoolroom characteristics to discourse class content online. The bulk of the letter writers are to some extent impersonal towards the outlook that the Blackboard package can promote a schoolroom society. About 11 % indicated that the Blackboard system was used to develop a stronger sense of schoolroom society and the bulk ( 60 % ) pointed out they ne’er used the Blackboard package for this intent. In decision, the Blackboard package seems chiefly to be used as an disposal and direction tool as portion of a blended acquisition method. The large figure of the participants ne’er used Blackboard package for more synergistic class functionalities such as formative appraisal and for practical office hours. The survey suggests that the Blackboard package seemed to be used to supplement traditional face to confront schoolroom apparatus. Decisions This thesis has presented the impact of VLEs on pupils and lectors in larning establishment. The instance survey presented has shown that the Blackboard package seems chiefly to be used as an disposal and direction tool as portion of a blended acquisition method. The bulk of the participants ne’er used Blackboard package for more synergistic class functionalities such as formative appraisal and for practical office hours. The survey suggests that the Blackboard package seemed to be used to supplement traditional face to confront schoolroom apparatus. The survey besides concludes that both lectors and pupils agree that IT heighten instruction and acquisition. However lectors agree more strongly than pupils that IT can better instruction and acquisition. The survey suggests that pupil responses are perchance based on how the VLE tools have really been used. The perceptual experiences raised in this survey of a non-commercial VLE such as MOODLE by pupils and lectors are no different to the types of perceptual experiences raised sing the usage commercial VLEs such as Blackboard. How to cite Virtual Learning Environment In Higher Education Education Essay, Essay examples

Is Morality Relative Benedict And Rachels Essay Example For Students

Is Morality Relative? Benedict And Rachels Essay Is morality relative? Ruth Benedict and James Rachels have opposing views on this conroversial question. Benedict, a foremost American anthropologist who taught at Columbia University (Pojman 370) believes that morality is relative to ones culture and that ones behavior which is deemed moral or immoral is dependent upon cultural norms. Her argument is as such:1. Different cultures have radically different moral codes2. There are no objective moral principles i.e. all moral principles are culturally relativeRachels, a professor at the University of Alabama (Pojman 375) disagrees with Benedict and believes that morality is not relative. Furthermore he holds Benedicts Cultural differences argument to be invalid. One who sides with Bendedict would also agree with a quote from her book Patterns of Culture that morality differs in every society and is a convenient term for socially approved habits. This quote seems logical, simply stated it means cultures approve of rituals and beliefs that the entire society shares. Society defines what is moral at a certain point in time. Morality is adaptive and can shange over time, however it is still dependent upon its culture to decide whether it is accepted or not accepted. For example, in the early twentieth century, pre-marital sex was considered a huge sin and looked down upon with disgrace. A persons entire character was jeopordized if they had participated in pre-marital sex. Today however, although pre-marital sex is not considered virtuous, society does not cast aside those who have sex before marriage. It is considered normal as a matter of fact to have several partners before marriage, that is , if you even decide to get married (another topic that has lost importance over time). Certain cultural norms may change over time, however using the same example (pre-marital) some cultures are just radically different. For instance, some African tribes are known to sew a womans vagina closed when she is young to prevent her from being able to have intercourse before she is married.; If she is not sytill sewn shut on her wedding night, she is cast out and considered a filthy whore. To our culture, this seem entirely too drastic, but to those tribes, this is a ritual that has been practiced throughout their history and is considered a rite of passage when a girl reaches puberty. Benedicts also gives an example to further prove her point that morality and or normality is culturally relative. She gives the example of a man in a Melanesian society who was referred to as silly and simple and definitely crfazy because he liked to share and to help people and do nice things for them. In the United States , these are virtuous qualities. If you are stingy and not helpful you are looked down upon, but in this contrasting society, to share and be helpful is so disgraceful that one is ridiculed for possessing thaose traits or even condemned for them. One who believes that morality is relative could give further example of traits that are despised in one culture but admired in a different culture. History and evolution provide codes of what is accepted in a culture, things such as sorcery, homosexuality, polygamy, male dominance, euthanasia, these things are completely dependant upon its society to define its morality. One who opposes the Cultural Differences Argument would believe that morality is not relative and is shared throughout all cultures. He/she would agree with Rachels, stating that the Cultural Differences Argument is invalid becasuse premis number one, which states that different cultures have radically different moral codes is wrong because the differences are not radical, and there are universal truths. One could point out that all societies have an inate tendency to care for their young and other young in general, or that murder is not accepted in any culture. .u9591791de5946bdd441cfa0b062ce0ba , .u9591791de5946bdd441cfa0b062ce0ba .postImageUrl , .u9591791de5946bdd441cfa0b062ce0ba .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u9591791de5946bdd441cfa0b062ce0ba , .u9591791de5946bdd441cfa0b062ce0ba:hover , .u9591791de5946bdd441cfa0b062ce0ba:visited , .u9591791de5946bdd441cfa0b062ce0ba:active { border:0!important; } .u9591791de5946bdd441cfa0b062ce0ba .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u9591791de5946bdd441cfa0b062ce0ba { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u9591791de5946bdd441cfa0b062ce0ba:active , .u9591791de5946bdd441cfa0b062ce0ba:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u9591791de5946bdd441cfa0b062ce0ba .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u9591791de5946bdd441cfa0b062ce0ba .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u9591791de5946bdd441cfa0b062ce0ba .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u9591791de5946bdd441cfa0b062ce0ba .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u9591791de5946bdd441cfa0b062ce0ba:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u9591791de5946bdd441cfa0b062ce0ba .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u9591791de5946bdd441cfa0b062ce0ba .u9591791de5946bdd441cfa0b062ce0ba-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u9591791de5946bdd441cfa0b062ce0ba:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The new poor law EssayOne could also argue that using the prusit of truth as an example will show that morality is not relative. Instead, universal morality exists, but not all cultres are aware of it. Rachels gives the example that some societies believe thayt the earth is flat, however we bleieve that the earth is round. Rachels uses this to show that the underlying fact is simply that they disagree. He further states there is no reason to thing that if the world is round everyone must know it. Similarly , there is no reason to thing that if there is moral truth everyone must know it. Philosophy Essays