Research Proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Research Proposal - Essay Example Since climatic changes such as lower heating demand and higher cooling demand can directly influence the energy consumption in any economy therefore, this research study will evaluate its effects on energy consumption in Sacramento, California. This research will also assist the policy makers to analyze the extent to which the weather conditions can affect the energy consumption in Sacramento. Therefore, it will be very useful to meet the challenge of energy consumption demands in Sacramento. After conducting this research study, the answers to various questions will be achieved such as, what is the impact of weather conditions on electricity consumption? What are the affects of global warming on electricity consumption? The forecasts of electricity demand in an economy are made in consideration to the factors such as technological changes, income of consumers, population growth and prices. However, researchers have found that weather conditions variables should be also used to forecast electricity demand. A huge literature work has been done to study this relationship. In California, the population growth in the hotter interior regions of the state is causing growth in cooling demand, which ultimately affects the electric power system (Sanstad and Franco).1 Hor et al. investigated the affects of weather (Temperature, wind spread, rainfall, relative humidity and sunshine), GDP and population growth on monthly electricity demand in England and Wales. Weather conditions affect the electricity industry in terms of electricity consumption and operation of the network infrastructure (Hor et al.).2 Donovan and David discovered the use of the shade trees for reducing electricity use and they demonstrated t he importance of location of tree cover to reduce summertime electricity use.3 Lillard and Aigner demonstrated the impact of temperature level variations on time of day (TOD) electricity consumption and air conditioning.4 They found a positive relationship

Final A for ANTH100 D002 Spr 13 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Final A for ANTH100 D002 Spr 13 - Assignment Example As the societies changed, many misperceptions developed. People started to think that those groups of people who survive on hunting and gathering are usually weak, poor and malnourished. The research shows that these hunters and gatherers rather suffer less starvation and are better nourished than many of the agriculturalists. They also tend to face infrequent famines and obtain a greater variety of foods. Many years ago these hunters and gatherers in foraging societies lived in different geographical areas as they changed their places seasonally. They lived in places like tents or small huts and moved as soon as the supplies of food started to exhaust. These hunters and gatherers never had a relatively respectable place in the society ever since the people divided into geographical and cultural locations. As many developments took place, there were lesser locations which consisted of wild plants and animals that could be hunted and gathered, thus these groups of people left for the wild areas. For hunting and gathering the hunters require a large area of land thus in developed societies they could not form their forage societies (Nanda, 2013). 2. Larger societies include groups whose organization can be categorized as bands, tribes, chiefdoms, and states. What type of organizational structure would you argue that the Hutterites fall under? Please explain your reasoning. The Hutterites are communities of a group of religious people who follow their traditions and sacred cultures and fight the modern cultures of the world outside. Almost all of these people are related to one another and they hold on to the old traditions of their ancestors. Their basic source of income is through their farming practices but their people have now started to rely on manufacturing work as surviving on farming alone is hard. The Hutterites’ colonies can be classified as tribes in the organizational structure. This is because these groups of people have a common culture, comm on tradition, common ancestors, are related to one another, common language, a political organization and a definite territory. Hutterites may not be classified as bands as they consist of no more than 100 members of the same family. Chiefdoms have positions and ranks of people which direct the highest ranked member of the society and the lowest ranked member; however there is no hierarchy of power in Hutterite colonies. States must have their own economy and a centralized government which is absent in the Hutterite colonies. Thus, these colonies can be regarded as tribes as they have all the features of a tribe; common religion, tradition, language, name and ancestors. The Hutterite colonies consist of elected members who are the ministers, trustees and directors. They are the permanent leaders of the colonies and direct the members to act accordingly to avoid conflicts. These colonies are self sufficient and do not contract outsiders for their labor or other work (Stahl, 2003). 3. What kinds of evidence have been examined to try to determine the time of origin of modern human language? What answer to this question do these suggest? The origin of the modern human language is subjected to discussions since several centuries and yet no conclusion has been made. The scholars fail to agree on a specific time or age in which the modern human language originated. The main reason why this topic has become a

Women And Their Adversities Essay Example for Free

Women And Their Adversities Essay Woman, half of the population is made up of us. Woman is the mother of life. If we are not here, there will be no father, no sons, no husbands, and no human beings. Adversity is a very difficult situation or problem that you face in lifetime. Every day women around the world face their adversities because of their sex, their colour, their religion, and what they wear. Good morning, everyone! I am Alice Walker. I am a black woman. From my experiences I have to say being a woman in a patriarchal society is not easy, and being a black woman is even harder. I lost one of my eyes when I was eight. It was the one of the major adversities in my life. And I overcame it by working to my full potential in school. Education plays a big part in my life. I overcame many adversities by education. The education I am talking about is not just going to school and learn the thing in the textbook. It can also mean watching TV, read book, and learning new things and skills. I believe that the quickest way to learn new things is through the media. One of my favourite movies is called Paradise Road. It based on a true World War II story. It tells a group of women with different background who were held captive in Singapore by the Japanese in 1942. With the support from one another and their incredible courage they survived the inhumane conditions in the concentration camp. They formed a music band with their voice, which expressed their unbreakable spirit of survival. The strong bonding developed among them and their courage touches me and inspires my writings. I also like to read novels and poems. In the poem Legend by famous Australian poet Judith Wright, the adventure of a blacksmiths boy was described. It shows the aspects of the human journey of transformation and growth through adversities. I always believe that the Blacksmiths boy in the poem symbolise all of us, especially those willing to climb mountains on their both physical and psychological journey of life. It gives me strength and courage when I am in face of my adversity, if a young boy can do it, so can I. Once I read a novel called The Cage of Butterfly by Brian Castle. Some people said it is a novel for children. But I think it suits everyone in todays society, just like the poem Legend does. It talks about how a group of young people helped other five children to escape from the lab in which they were used as lad rats. It explores the power of love, unity and friendship among these young people. It shows me that no matter how weak you are, with true love and true friendship everything is possible in life. Ive gained knowledge and inspiration from others work, and used them as sources for my own writings. My novel The Colour Purple tells the life story of a black woman Celie. From the beginning of her life, because of her gender and her colour, she experienced environmental adversities in patriarchal society, such as the discrimination from the white people and also from her people who had lighter skin. She also experienced physical adversity caused by her stepfather who raped her and sold her two children. Because of the lack of education and poverty, which were the other two adversities faced by her, she developed a low self-esteem and a negative feeling towards men and it soon became the psychological adversity for her. After she married Mr.__, her life was miserable filled with slavery and abuse from her husband. But thankfully she met a series of other black women who became her salvation: Nettie, her beloved sister; Shug, a woman with free spirit; Sofia, the strong-willed daughter in law whose strength and courage inspire her; and Squeak, who goes through awakenings of her own. In the process of escape from the cage of abuse and discrimination, the strong relationship between these women gave her inspiration and both emotional and physical support. Celie finally found the new meaning of life. My experiences of racism and sexism and the things I saw and heard about sex abuse, low education and poverty has influenced my writing deeply. The life of Celie was common in her time, and we know, it is still happening in the society today. May be less, but there are cases like this. Probably those women are sitting with us in this room now. They need our support and love. If we dont help them, no one can. Remember we are all women, black  women. We are meant to be free and live happily in the sun. We are not nothing; we are everything that we want be.

Principles-Based Accounting Advantages

Principles-Based Accounting Advantages The primary advantage of principles-based accounting rests in its broad guidelines that can be applied to numerous situations. Broad principles avoid the pitfalls associated with precise requirements that allow contracts to be written specifically to manipulate their intent. A 1981 study sponsored by FASB found evidence that managers purposefully try to structure leases as operating leases to avoid incurring additional liabilities. Providing broad guidelines may improve the representational faithfulness of financial statements. Principles-based accounting standards allow accountants to apply professional judgement in assessing the substance of a transaction. This approach is substantially different from the underlying box-ticking approach common in rules-based accounting standards. FASB Chair Robert Herz has stated that he believes the professionalism of financial statements would be enhanced if accountants are required to utilize their judgment instead of relying on detailed rules. A principles-based system would result in simpler standards. Herz has claimed that a principles-based system would lead to standards that would be less than 12 pages long, instead of over 100 pages (BusinessWeekÂÂ  online, 2002). Principles would be easier to comprehend and apply to a broad range of transactions. Harvey Pitt, former SEC chairman, explained this as follows: Because standards are developed based on rules they are insufficiently flexible to accommodate future developments in the marketplace. This has resulted in accounting for unanticipated transactions that is less transparent. The use of principles-based accounting standards may provide accounting statements that more accurately reflect a companys actual performance. It can be proved by the statement made by Australian Securities and Investments Commission Chair David Knott an increase in principles-based accounting standards would reduce manipulations of the rules (Nationwide News, 2002). Financial statements that are prepared under accounting standards that clearly state the accounting objectives, have few, if any, exceptions, and do not include bright-line tests should benefit users. They should be easier to understand, more meaningful and informative, are likely to result in similar transactions and events being accounted for similarly, and more likely to reflect the economic substance of a transaction, in part, because there will be less opportunity for financial engineering. (Heffes, Ellen M ,2004) http://www.allbusiness.com/accounting/258377-1.html Disadvantages: A lack of precise guidelines could create unreliable and inconsistent information in the application of standards across organizations and make it difficult to compare one entity to another. For example, companies are required to recognize both an expense and a liability for a contingent liability that is probable and estimable. On the other hand, a contingent liability that is reasonably possible is only reported in the footnotes. With no precise guidelines, how should companies determine if liabilities are probable or only reasonably possible? The lack of bright-light standards would reduce the financial statements comparability and consistency. For example, how much income willÂÂ  General ElectricÂÂ  actually recognize on a multiyear defense contract under the percentage of completion method of accounting? Will this be comparable to the income reported by its competitors? And most importantly, will the auditors, many of whom have been caught behaving badly recently, abuse their trust and fail to apply the principles in good faith consistent with the intent and spirit of the standards. Principles-based accounting system generally requires preparers and auditors to apply professional judgment to implement and interpret the standards in the absence of sufficient guidance to exercise that judgment. There is a danger because they can be used to manipulate financial results. Since they have often set low standards for themselves in this regard (even failing to meet those), it is a big question if they will rise to the occasion. Advantages and Disadvantages of Rules-based Accounting Standard: Advantages: Rule-based standards are generally considered easier to audit for compliance purposes, and may produce more consistent and comparable financial reports across entities. Requirements are set out in detail and compliance with the rules can be more easily monitored and enforced. Disadvantages: Entities may search for loopholes that meet the literal wording of the standard but violate the intent of the standards. Rules-based accounting has not worked in practice. Critics argue that the present U.S. system does not produce accurate reporting. It focuses on checking the boxes more than portraying an underlying economic reality. It filled with specific details in an attempt to address as many possible contingencies as possible. This has made standards longer and complicated, and has led to arbitrary criteria for accounting treatments that allows companies to structure transactions to circumvent unfavourable reporting. For instance, lease accounting contains hundreds of pages of rules and interpretations while almost no leased assets appear on corporate balance sheets. The system has created an industry of financial engineering and structured transactions designed to circumvent the rules. Many believe that rules closing structuring loopholes will only result in more elaborate ways to evade them. (Raymond Thompson, 2009) http://www.picpa.org/Content/40856.aspx

Bog Plants and Their Use in Medicine :: Research Biology Medicine Essays

Bog Plants and Their Use in Medicine Although most of the modern world does not often resort to bog plants for medicinal uses when there are more widely accessible forms of medicine to treat certain health needs, there exists numerous medicinal uses for bog plants. The various medicinal uses of different bog plants have developed and changed over the course of history. Bog plants were more commonly used by Native Indians as medicine such as the Ledum groenlandicum (Labrador tea) for sore throats and colds. The leaves of Gaultheria procumbens (Wintergreen), also processed into tea, treat aches and pains in native North American medicine. In the olden days, not long after the Native Indian civilizations, Wintergreen leaves were used in perfumery with woody notes. Other bog plants that are used as tea leaves include the Scutellaria lateriflora, which is tea for anxiety, nervous exhaustion and pre-menstrual tension, and the Valeriana officinalis, which promotes soothing sleep. During the Middle Ages, Potentilla palustris (Marsh Cinquefoil) were regarded as having healing properties for almost any ailment and were widely collected. The genus of the cinquefoil’s Potentilla from Latin meant â€Å"powerful† was derived from its reputation as powerful cure-alls. In particular, the Potentilla erecta (Tormentil) was used as an antibiotic and an astringent (causing tissues to contract). Another bog plant, the Cladonia species was classified as an effective medicinal herb in the Middle Ages, but is only used today as fabric dyes. Some bog plants such as the Osmunda regalis (Royal Fern) were used during the colonial times for treating coughs, but this practice is now obsolete. As one of the most widely known plants from bogs, the Vaccinium species or the Bog Cranberry is the most edible and digestible plant from the bog. It produces cranberries which are most effective in treating diseases or infections in the urinary systems for both genders. Si nce cranberries have a low spoilage factor and a high Vitamin C content, they were extensively by all generations in American heritage as a food source for long journeys in preventing scurvy. Throughout the course of history, there have been some extraordinary medicinal uses of bog plants by various ages and by various civilizations. The Lycopus europaeus (Gypsywort) was used both as a sedative drug and as a dye plant (black). It was once used by Gypsies to colour their skin, and hence the common name, Gypsywort.

James Vance Marshall based his novel walkabout on this.In this novel Es

James Vance Marshall based his novel walkabout on this.In this novel Mary the eldest of the two children is a very complicated and interesting character Walkabout Two American Children were stranded in the middle of the Australian desert due to an airplane crash. The children were stranded all by themselves or so they thought. The only reason they survived is because they met an aborigine boy. James Vance Marshall based his novel walkabout on this. In this novel Mary the eldest of the two children is a very complicated and interesting character. Throughout the novel we have very different reactions towards her and is one to whom we respond with a variety of different emotions. Before Mary and Peter meet the bushboy, Mary is the leader. She decides where they are going and what they are doing. There is a lot of responsibility being passed on to Mary as at thirteen she has to look after young Peter. I admire her for willingly taking control of both their fates. I feel this way because they are marooned in the middle of nowhere. Mary and Peters luc...

Common Criticisms in Psychology Paper

The artificiality of inventive conditions in experimental environments is a repeated concern. How real can laboratory-based research be? This paper will explain the criticism of artificiality in the discipline of psychology and apply this criticism to at least three sub disciplines within psychology. This paper will also compare and contrast the breakthrough model of scientific research and the principle of connectivity in explaining events and outcomes; finally ending with comparing and contrasting the concepts of the single cause explanation and the principle of multiple causation in explaining events and outcomes. Criticism of Artificiality Long gone are the days of William Wundt but what remains at the fore front is the expostulation of experimentation from critics that confining psychology to the laboratory spontaneously confines the mental phenomena it can analyze. An appropriate estimation of the artificiality criticism requires distinctively several intentions experimentalists follow. The discipline of psychology’s laboratory studies are seen by some as bizarre. Viewing psychology as an inadequate science by the public stems from belief that evidence cannot be acquired unless natural circumstances are examined (Stanovich, 2007). Social Psychology The college sophomore problem and criticisms of representativeness are most often aimed at social psychology, which makes frequent use of college subjects in laboratory paradigms in an attempt to develop theories of social interaction, group behavior, and information processing in social situations† ( as cited in Stanovich, 2007, page 114). Bio-medical research is correspondent in today’s state of social psychology, and many of times founded on problem searching and very well may be funded on the footing of the problem it intends to alleviate (Krueger, 2003). Popular and political interest plays a role in the search for a particular cure of disease. More over it is the methodical, theory based research of fundamental physiology that deciphers the operations of the human body’s functions as well as how under certain conditions it malfunctions (Fields, 1994; Skalka, 1993). In a correlating style, fundamental, â€Å"theory driven research on social psychological processes† will completely enlighten the distinctive defects and the adaptable successfulness of the social creature (Krueger, 2003). Abnormal Psychology In discussing the artificiality criticism within abnormal psychology, it has been shown that as a laboratory science, it has many times had to deal with solitary and maybe abnormal section of human behavior, more specifically college students; therefore inefficient of considering any ample warmth, richness, and inventiveness of human behavior. More concerns include the kind or representativeness of subjects participating in academic research. A quote taken from William Robinson (2007) sums up the artificiality criticism saying â€Å"If our interpretation of the human mind is based on the behavior of American college sophomores in artificially contrived situations and interpreted in terms of laws derived from domesticated rats and pigeons, then our psychology is truly culture bound† (Robinson, 2007). Organizational Psychology As the field of Organizational psychology has evolved and grown, so has the array of topics and important research questions needing answers. A common systematic approach implemented to start understanding work related psychological issues can be investigated. â€Å"Theory-driven and research-based human resource and organizational improvement efforts can be evaluated using state-of-the-art evaluation science approaches, and evaluation findings can be used to continually improve and institutionalize positive change efforts† ( Donaldson & Bligh, 2006). Connectivity and Convergence When a new theory in science touches upon previously verified empirical facts, this is definitive of the connectivity principle (Stanovich, 2007). Consideration as an advance is contingent upon explaining new facts while accounting for old ones. It makes no difference if the theory explains old facts differently from the earlier theory, just that they are explained. This necessity guarantees the accumulative development of science. Despite a new theory explaining new facts, if there is no explanation for the old ones then there are no considerations of finalized advancement and no immediate replacement of them (Stanovich, 2007). What will occur will be both the old and new theory coexisting as probable ideas until a new theory abdicates them null and void? Leading us astray is the breakthrough model of scientific research by suggesting that new findings violate the principle of connectivity (Stanovich, 2007). This suggestion deems risky because by abandoning the connectivity principle, the primary beneficiaries are purveyors of counterfeit science and incredulous theories. Notorious are headlines that lead off with â€Å"New Breakthrough. † Theories such as these acquire most of their interest and publicity by claims that they are astoundingly new. The next deception is to cast out past information by asserting them impertinent. The reason being given, that such information does not yet exist due to the newness of the theory. This breeds an environment of pseudoscience. Better explained is by the evolutionary theory the ghost of creationism, with its connectivity display of such different areas of science as morphology, biogeography, paleontology and many more. With the universe and earth estimating at around 10 thousand years in age, then many modern sciences of physics, chemistry, astronomy, cosmology, paleontology and beginning human history are entirely abolished (Unspoken Bible, n. . ). Darwin’s theory called pangenesis, abandons the principle of connectivity to illustrate the means heredity correlating with natural selection (Unspoken Bible, n. d. ). Where the problem lies is creationism proving no connectivity among any other things in science like in geology, genetics, ecology, chemistry and biology (Unspoken Bible, n. d. ). The utmost connectivity is proven with all the other sciences by evol ution (Unspoken Bible, n. d. ). Single Cause Explanation and Principle of Multiple Causation Even though a cause of behavior may be determined does not imply the only or most important cause of behavior (Stanovich, 2007). Causal analysis stems from the event explained as extreme, negative or unexpected. Preferences in single cause explanations may happen, such as when not enough time has been made looking for other possibilities, or a lack of cognitive resources. On the other hand, where constraints are lacking consideration in real effort may be given on a multitude of feasible causes for the event in question (Chu & Shaw, 2005). In providing a complete abdication of a specific behavior the weight of many different variables must be studied by the researcher as well as mixing the results of the studies in order to give a thorough snapshot of all the causal associations (Chu & Shaw, 2005). Despite an outcome having numerous different variable determinants this does not minimize the significance of a causally related outcome by one variable, this being the case for variables accounting for a mere percentage of the outcome. In considering multiple causes, explanations are often based on past experiences or intuitive theories (Chu & Shaw, 2005). This resulting in the accepted explanation that is most approachable or believable. Even though individuals understand and credit the existence of multiple causes they many times conduct themselves more along the lines of unitary beliefs (Stanovich, 2007). Complex behaviors are multiply determined. A multitude of factors perform to generate their occurrence. Mitigating a difference in the effect of acting together variables than what can be due easily studying them separately. Don’t fall prey to thinking that there is a single cause to a particular behavior. Conclusion In conclusion this paper has explained events and outcomes through compare and contrasts of both the breakthrough model of scientific research and the principle of connectivity and the concepts of single cause and the principle of multiple causation. A mutual consensus because psychology experiments are not like real life, this should be looked upon as a strength and not a weakness. No lone experiment is conclusive but instead gives leave of some alternative explanations, perpetuating the ability of zeroing in on the truth. References Chu, Y. & Shaw, J. (2005). Causal chaining: Effects of behavioral domain and Outcome valence on perceived causal structure. Retrieved August 10, 2009 from http://www. uiowa. edu/~grpproc/crisp/crisp10_14. pdf Donaldson, S. I. & Bligh, M. C. (2006). Rewarding careers applying positive psychological science to improve quality of work life and organizational effectiveness. In Donaldson, S. , Berger, D. & Pezdek, K. (Eds. ) Applied sychology: New frontiers and rewarding careers. ( pp. 277 – 295). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Fields, B. N. (1994). AIDS: Time to turn to basic science. Nature 369: 95 – 96. Krueger, J. (2003). Towards a balanced social psychology: Causes, consequences and cures fro the problem-seeking approach to social behavior and cognition. Retrieved August 10, 2009 from http://www. scribd. com Robinson, W. (2007). Is 531: Psychology. Retrieved August 10, 2009 from http://www. web. utk. edu Skalka, A. M. (1993). Lobbying for research dollars: as more money goes into specific diseases available for basic research diminish. Washington Post (June 22) WH6 Stanovich, K. (2007). How to think straight about psychology. (8th ed. ). Allyn & Bacon: Pearson Education Company. The Unspoken Bible. (n. d. ). The scientific method. Retrieved August 10, 2009 from http://www. usbible. com