Thinking Made Easy

It is a dark and stormy night. An old woman is alone in the house. Everything and everyone around her appears dead. Suddenly there is a knock at the door…

It is a dark and stormy night.  An old woman is alone in the house.  Everything and everyone around her appears dead.  Suddenly there is a knock at the door…

The old woman went to get it, but upon opening, she finds no one at the doorstep. “Stupid weather this is. Gets at me old bones, I wish somebody’d come and fix the furnace”, she mutters to herself. A gust of chilly air swept inside the house, scattering wet leaves on the living room rug. The lights went on and off, then on again for a couple of seconds, at which time it has surrendered in defeat, and stayed out. “Oh, dear, what now?” Just then, the back of her neck stands up, maybe from the cold, maybe for some other reason. She shivers and holds her housedress closer to her frail body then closes the door. Turning around, she was stricken with horror at the figure lying in the center of the room. Who, or what, she could not figure out from where she was standing. Furniture around the dark room casts eerie shadows on the hulking form she is staring at. Heart hammering in her chest, she slowly edges closer to it, fear warning her to stay away, but curiosity getting the best of her. Inching her way to the figure, she still wasn’t sure what to make of it, when a lightning strikes and lights up the whole room. Dazed, she stumbles a little. After the brightness was gone, she was seized with terror upon sewing that the figure on the floor is crawling its way to her. Shrieking but unable to move, she stands rooted to where she was standing. The figure was getting closer and closer now, its vile eyes staring hollowly at her. A clap of roaring thunder was heard by the neighbors. What they did not hear was the blood-curling scream of the old woman as the figure lunged at her.

Sample Essay 'The Greatest Journey' talks about how science of genetics can help answer questions about evolution of man

“The Greatest Journey”

 

Summary of the article

            “The Greatest Journey” in the March 2006 issue of National Geographic talks about how the science of genetics can help answer questions about the evolution of man. The article begins by the statement that “Genetic trails left by our ancestors are leading scientists back across time in an epic discovery of human migration.” It is based on a group of hunter-gatherers in Africa which were once just few hundred and after 200,000 years has descendants of more than six billion.

Questions like ‘where do we all come from’ and ‘how did we get to where we are now’ can be answered be traces of evidence found in our human body. The article also talks about what accounts for individual differences: why each of us is different in one way and at the same time the same when it comes to ancestry. By comparing markers in many different populations, scientists can trace their ancestral connections.

Somewhere along the way, mutations could occur causing differences in individuals even if they came from one ancestor. This was explained in the article and how this figures in the story of the Africans which now have billions of ancestors all over the world, comprising of different races. People of different races have some similarities in their genes and Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA). For scientists, this is very helpful since this provides a link as to where these races come from. Scientists could point out the descendants of a certain race by examining their genetic make up. In the process, pieces of history that were once missing could be provided from the discoveries made by scientists through the genes. In a way, these discoveries are more like the “missing link” which completes the whole picture.

           

Reason for choosing the article

            The article used for this paper may be a bit long but it is certainly interesting, intriguing, and educational. Genetics is a very interesting branch of biology. Dealing with heredity and genetic variations, the science of genetics gives us a closer look on an individual’s genetic make-up, thus explaining why an individual looks or acts this way. Genetics involves more that just what you see. It answers questions like why an individual has blue eyes, why an individual has Down’s syndrome, why Africans have dark skin and why Americans have lighter skin, why a daughter has brown hair when both her parents have blonde hair, and why parents with both type AB blood cannot have a child with a type O blood. These are just some mysteries that only the science of genetics can answer. 

            In this article chosen, it answers the question of the ancestry of different races, explaining how these things are possible. Anybody who wants to know where we came from would definitely want to read this article. Being a curious person myself who like to continually feed the mind with information, I cannot help but choose this article for this paper.

 

Opinion of the article and how it relates to biology

            The article is very well done, although it is a bit long. You have to be really interested or have much time in your hands to be able to read the article. Starting with the title, the author, Mr. Shreeve, came up with what I would call the perfect title. Since the article talks about how a group of hunter-gatherers from Africa produced after 200,000 years billions of descendants spread all over the world, their story is indeed “The Greatest Journey.”

            In some parts of the paper, the terms used are terms used in genetics and there could be a tendency for some readers not to understand them completely. I suggest that a reader who is not familiar with words like genetic code, mitochondrial DNA, and mutations among others, keep a science dictionary handy while reading the article. The author cannot put these words to layman’s terms since there are simply no layman’s terms for these words. These are the words of science.

            The article offers vast information. Reading it makes you picture out how this so-called journey happened. It makes you wonder and at the same time be in awe of these ancestors who thousands of years ago have traveled and migrated to other parts of the world, probably by foot or small boats. At present we travel to other parts of the globe at the leisure of a plane. It makes one be thankful that we are “modern humans.”

            Aside from being in awe of our ancestors, the article also makes one be in awe of these scientists. From the DNAs they found in fossils, they were able to put answers to many questions that have been baffling scientists and many of us. We learn many facets from the evolution of man, we realize that in a way we are all interconnected. Some of the genetic material that makes up my body could possibly have similarities with another person that is living on the other side of the globe. We may not have the same skin color, we may look like night and day, but the genetic make-up within us shows that in the past, we may have come from only one ancestor. It may be shocking to realize that we all come from a group of people in Africa, but it is also like discovering a miracle at the same time. Where once we continually wonder about how we humans have evolved, now we have answers which have been thoroughly explained. It is like a puzzle in which the parts are slowly being put into the right place.

            The article is indeed an amazing read. It is like reading about science and how important it is in one’s life. The article may talk about archeology because of excavation, the plight of these Africans and how they have survived through the years and now take different faces in all the parts of the globe, yet this mystery was discovered through the use of the principles of genetics, a branch of the biological sciences dealing with the genetic makeup of an organism or group of organisms. The science of biology plays an important role in explaining many things about the life and the world we live. To end this paper, let me quote excerpts from the last sentence in the article. Indeed true that perhaps the most wonderful of the stories hidden in our genes is that, when unraveled with the use of the principles of science, the tangled knot of our global genetic diversity today leads us all back to a recent yesterday and makes us realize that we are all interconnected.

PRACTICAL Sample Essay Paper

Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport & The Regions & Another  v  Skerritts of Nottingham Ltd.

Write a case report on the above case (reproduced in the ‘Module Documents’ section of Blackboard) for ‘The Commercial Property Lawyer’, a (fictitious) new legal journal. The report should analyse the importance of the case as a matter of law, showing its significance as a precedent and its impact upon practice.

            Maximum word limit:                2,500 words

(The word limit excludes the facts of the case and any footnotes)

Where to draw the line – the uncertain definition of ‘curtilage’

Skerritts of Nottingham Ltd v Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport & The Regions & another

Introduction

What is or is not included within the curtilage of a particular building has long exercised the minds of property lawyers and has been a recurring question before the courts for many years. The issue has been of importance in relation to such diverse topics as the availability of rate relief, the right to buy a council house, the extent of a listed building and the acquisition of land under the Leasehold Reform Act 1967.

The Court of Appeal appeared to have clarified the position, at least in terms of the geographical extent of a curtilage, in Dyer v Dorset County Council [1]. The case concerned a council tenant’s statutory right to purchase his council house, which he could do unless the house fell within the curtilage of a building held by the council mainly for purposes other than housing [2]. Mr Dyer, the tenant, was employed as a lecturer in animal husbandry by Dorset County Council at an agricultural college owned by the authority. The College consisted of a mansion house and various other buildings (including Mr Dyer’s house, which was located approximately 450 yards from the mansion house) all situated in a 100 acre park. That Mr Dyer’s house was within the curtilage of the college ‘campus’ was accepted. What was contested was whether the house was within the curtilage of another college building or buildings, thus excluding it from the right to buy legislation. Finding for Mr Dyer at first instance the county court judge held that the extent of the curtilage of a building was limited to the immediate surrounding area. The decision was upheld by the Court of Appeal who described “curtilage” as being “some small but necessary extension to that which the word attaches.” [3]

However this element of certainty in respect of the small geographical extent of a curtilage has now been reversed by the Court of Appeal in Skerritts of Nottingham Ltd v Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport & the Regions & another [4]. Whilst holding the decision in Dyer to be correct and expressly approving Nourse LJ’s comment that …”the size of a curtilage may vary somewhat with the size of the house or building”[5] , the Court of Appeal in Skerritts held that the court had gone further than was necessary in Dyer  by expressing the view that the curtilage of a building must always be small, or that there was any inherent notion of smallness in the expression.

Facts

Skerritts of Nottingham Ltd v Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport & The Regions & another was concerned with the extent of a ‘listed building’, which is defined by section 1(5) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (the Act) as:

“a building which is for the time being included in a list compiled or approved by the Secretary of State under this section; and for the purposes of this Act –

(a)               any object or structure fixed to the building;

(b)               any object or structure within the curtilage of the building which, although not fixed to the building, forms part of the land and has done so since before 1^st July 1948,

shall be treated as part of the building.”

Under sub-section (b) the effect of listing on a particular building can potentially extend beyond the building itself to include other objects or structures, so long as they fall within the curtilage of the listed building. This will impose severe limitations on what can be done to the object or structure in question. Section 7 of the Act prohibits the unauthorised demolition, alteration or extension of a listed building that would affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest.

Failure to comply with section 7 is an offence under section 9. In addition the local authority has a discretionary power under section 38 to issue a listed building enforcement notice requiring the restoration of the building to its former state. There is a right of appeal to the Secretary of State under section 39, and a further right of appeal to the High Court on a point of law under section 65.

Skerritts of Nottingham Ltd (Skeritts) were at all material times the lessees of Grimsdyke Hotel, together with its garden, grounds and stable block. The local authority served a listed building enforcement notice in respect of:

            

            “The stable block lying within the curtilage of the Grade II* listed

Grimsdyke Hotel, Old Redding, Harrow Weald, shown edged with a bold black line on the attached plan.”

It was alleged that the contravention of section 7 of the Act was:

“the removal of the existing timber frame windows and the installation of white plastic double-glazed windows, without the benefit of listed building consent.”

Grimsdyke, a large country house designed by architect Norman Shaw, was completed in 1872. It is set in extensive landscaped grounds surrounded by woodland. The building has since 1975 been used as an hotel and is listed Grade II*. As well as the stable block there are various other buildings in the grounds, the only one of which having a separate listing being South Lodge which is listed Grade II. The stable block in question lies approximately 200 meters to the east of the Hotel and contains bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens for the Hotel staff as well as offices.

 

Appeal to the Secretary of State

An appeal to the Secretary of State against the enforcement notice, which was dealt with by written representations, was dismissed (except to the extent that the time for compliance was extended from six months to nine). The inspector considered the tests set out in Planning Policy Guidance 15 (PPG 15) as to whether a structure is within the curtilage of a listed building, namely:

·        The physical layout of the surroundings to the listed building and the relationship between the structures on the land.

·        Past and present ownership.

·        Whether the structure forms part of the land.

·        The use or function of the structure and whether it is ancillary to the principal building.

The inspector found that the stable block was “almost certainly” designed by Norman Shaw and “probably” constructed at the same time as Grimsdyke. The buildings were linked by a track and although the use of both had changed over time, that of the stable block had at all times been ancillary to that of Grimsdyke. Based on these findings the inspector held that the stable block lay within the curtilage of Grimsdyke.

Appeal to the High Court [6]

On appeal to the High Court counsel for Skerritts argued that PPG 15 was incomplete as it did not refer to the principle that the curtilage of a listed building is confined to a small area around the building.  This was alleged to have been established by a line of case law, the most important being the Court of Appeal’s decision in Dyer [7]. If this was the case the inspector, in following the guidance in PPG 15, had by implication left a material consideration out of account.

In finding in favour of Skerritts his honour Judge Bartlett QC held that “In my judgment the decision in Dyer is so clear that it will amount to an error of law to determine whether a structure separated by some distance from the listed building is within the curtilage of the building without having regard to the concept of curtilage as a small area about a building.”[8]

Appeal to the Court of Appeal [9]

Whilst the Court recognised Dyer to be the most important authority a large proportion of Lord Justice Walker’s leading judgment was spent helpfully considering the historical development of the case law relating to curtilages, including two cases not considered in Dyer[10].

Methuen-Campbell v Walters[11] was a case concerning the meaning of “appurtenances”. However it was found to be of some assistance in that the meaning was held not to extend beyond the curtilage of the house in question. The case concerned whether a paddock adjacent to a house was part of the appurtenances occupied with the house for the purposes of the Leasehold Reform Act 1967. Buckley LJ, who treated the question as a mixed question of fact and law said:

“In my judgment, for one corporeal heraditament to fall within the curtilage of another, the former must be so intimately associated with the latter as to lead to the conclusion that the former in truth forms part and parcel of the latter. There can be very few houses indeed that do not have associated with them at least some very few square yards of land, constituting a yard or a basement area or passageway or something of the kind, owned and enjoyed with the house, which on a reasonable view could only be regarded as part of the messuage and such small pieces of land would be held to fall within the curtilage of the messuage…To the extent that it is reasonable to regard them as constituting one messuage or parcel of land, they will be properly regarded as all falling within one curtilage; they constitute an integral whole.”[12]

Attorney-General (on the relation of Sutcliffe) v Calderdale BC [13] was concerned with whether the listing of a large five-storey mill at Hebden Bridge included a crescent shaped terrace of fifteen cottages linked to the mill by a stone and brick bridge. The legislation in question, s.54(9) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971, being almost identical to s.1(5) of the current Act.

The Court, in a move away from the somewhat ‘narrow’ definition of curtilage in Methuen-Campbell, held that the cottages fell within the curtilage of the mill and identified three relevant factors in determining whether a structure fell within the curtilage of a listed building (now forming the basis of the tests in PPG 15):

“(1) the physical ‘layout’ of the listed building and the structure, (2) their ownership, past and present, (3) their use or function past and present. Where they are in common ownership and one is used in connection with the other, there is little difficulty in putting a structure near a building or even some distance from it in its curtilage.”[14]

Whilst Buckley LJ’s judgment in Methuen-Campbell  was considered by the Court they preferred to emphasise his reference to an “integral whole” rather than a “small piece of land”.

This approach, whilst not overruled, was somewhat reined back in the case of Debenhams v Westminster City Council [15],  a case also concerning s.54(9) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971, but in relation to exemption from rates for an unoccupied listed building. The definition in question was that of “structure” as opposed to “curtilage”, however the decision in Calderdale was approved, subject to a requirement that for a separate building to fall within the curtilage of a listed building it must be ancillary to the listed building:

            

            “All these considerations, and the general tenor of the second sentence

of section 54(9) satisfy me that the word “structure”  is intended to convey a limitation to such structures as are ancillary to the listed building itself, for example the stable block of a mansion house, or the steading of a farmhouse, either fixed to the main building or within its curtilage. In my opinion the concept envisaged is that of principal and accessory. It does not follow that I would overrule the decision in the Calderdale case, though I would not accept the width of the reasoning of Stephenson LJ. There was, in my opinion, room for the view that the terrace of cottages was ancillary to the mill.” [16]

Despite the Court’s reservations it is interesting to note that there was no express criticism of Stephenson LJ’s view in Calderdale that an ancillary building some way from the main building could still fall within the curtilage of the main building.

Having considered the previous cases the Court turned to Dyer. While holding that the decision itself was plainly correct the Court was of the opinion that his honour Judge Bartlett QC had been mistaken in treating Dyer as having the clear force which he thought it had. In contrast to the present facts Dyer had been concerned with dispropriatory legislation. As mentioned previously neither Calderdale or Debenhams had been cited and, on the facts, the courts finding as to smallness were not necessary to the decision.

The Court of Appeal held that, whilst in the nature of things the curtilage within which a mansion house’s ancillary buildings are to be found is bound to be relatively limited, the concept of smallness is so completely relative as to be almost meaningless. In relation to a substantial listed house such as Grimsdyke, the curtilage will in all probability extend to what are, or were, ancillary buildings, provided the tests as to ownership, function and physical layout can be satisfied. The Secretary of State did not therefore err in law in making no reference to smallness and PPG 15 was not incomplete.

Conclusion

Despite the best efforts of the Court of  Appeal in Dyer and his honour Judge Bartlett in this case to give some certainty to the definition of “curtilage”, if only by limiting geographically the area that could be included in the description, it is now clear that there is no additional test of size. The situation that we are left with today can be aptly summed up in the words of Robert Walker LJ in his leading judgment in this case:

“I also respectfully doubt whether the expression ‘curtilage’ can usefully be called a term of art. That phrase describes an expression which is used by persons skilled in some particular profession, art or science, and which the practitioners clearly understand even if the uninitiated do not. This case demonstrates that not even lawyers can have a precise idea of what ‘curtilage’ means. It is, as this court said in Dyer, a question of fact and degree.”

Free Essay Sample Ways To Spend Money

The Money

Introduction

            We live in economic society. Today’s economic world could not exist without money. Our civilization is, materially, a cash and credit system, dependent on people’s confidence in the value of money.  

            Money comes to be as necessary in the exchange of goods as language in the exchange of ideas. People everywhere weighed, counted and measured money. But, what is money? What is its importance in our lives?

Body Paragraph

            Money is a tool which easily enables us to buy and exchange services and products. It is simply one kind of wealth which is taken, not for itself, but to be passed along. Further, it serves as the general instrument of exchange, as a measure and medium in the sale and purchase of other commodities and as a common denominator in comparing values.

            Money reinforces our economic pursuits with commitment to basic human values that gave us a reason to work hard since we expect that the work will pay off. Money also contributed to the realization of personal, family, community and spiritual values and dreams. Moreover, human interests, ambitions and activities tend to descend around money.

            We invest a great deal of effort in creating money designed to manage a complex social relations that expresses not only intimacy but also inequality, love but also power, care but also control and solidarity but also conflict. Hence, we used and absorbed money, transforming it to fit our variety of values and social relations.

            Money brings disputes and misunderstanding among people. Women, men and children often lied, stole or deceived each other to protect and get money. Money gifts also become controversial currency especially when it came to exchanges between strangers.

             Further, it symbolizes the disparity of particular social relation.  On the other hand, money given to poor people balanced precariously between gift, tip, rightful benefit and payment for services.

            However, we can reshape money in other positive form, that of a sentimental gift, expressing care and affection. At Christmas, weddings, christenings, or other religious and secular events, money becomes a dignified, welcome gift, almost unrecognizable as market money.

            Money is a powerful and visible symbol of our social relations and meanings. It directly affects our social practices. We turned spending money not only in our central economic practice but also in our dynamic, complex cultural and social activities.

             We do not only think of our money per se, but also on how we will spend and save it for different purposes and for different people. We also think of what should money buy, when and how often.

Spending Money

            Having money provides a margin of comfort. We can buy what we want to satisfy our needs and desires. We can eat what we wanted. We can also go to any places for enjoyment and relaxation. However, money can lead to more stress since we overestimate the pleasure we can get from having money and that we are never satisfied when good fortunes comes our way.

            While earning more makes us happy in the short term, we quickly adjust to our new wealth and everything it, we buys. Even though stuff seldom brings us the satisfaction we expect, we keep returning to the mall since we are not contented. The big salary we pull in from our high-paying job may not buy us much in the way of happiness. But it can buy us a spacious house in the suburbs. Trouble is that it also means a long trip to and from work.

            However, money spent wisely can contribute greatly to happiness. Money can help us find more happiness, so long as we know just what we can and can't expect from it. If we want to know how to use money for us to become happier, we need to understand just what it is that brings us happiness in the first place.

            One secret of happiness is people. Our friends and family are the major source of our happiness. Moreover, innumerable studies also suggest that having friends matters a great deal. Compared with the happiness-increasing powers of human connection, the power of money looks weak indeed. So throw a party, set up regular lunch dates, and invite them to see a movie and whatever it takes to invest in friendships while spending the money.

            If we really want to be happy in spending our money, then we must do generous works. We can buy things that could help charitable institutions in any ways. We could also donate cash amount to these institutions. Further, giving alms to the beggar and poor will also bring us happiness in spending our money.

            We must spend money toward things that promotes and gives us the components of happiness. Loading up on stuff though gratifying for a moment is not a lasting source of happiness. Instead, spend our money on our relationships, our health and our experiences.

Conclusion 

            Money is very important in our lives. It is one of the primary needs in purchasing goods and services. It can bring us happiness and satisfaction. It can also cause disputes and misunderstanding. Money affects and influences our daily economic and social activities. Moreover, it symbolizes inequality in social class.

            We have different purpose in spending our money. We spend it to buy things and services that provide our basic needs. We also spend it to satisfy our needs and wants. Furthermore, we spend it because we really just want to spend or waste it.

            We spend money depending on our values. Values are personal beliefs about what is important to a one person. Our values may be the same or different than those of our family or friends. Some values are more important than others at different times in our life. We will be happier with the way we spend our money if we spend it on things that are important to us.

Writer’s Note:

I did not enumerate the usual ways of spending money since it is already very common. Instead, I wrote it in such a way that it will teach a lesson or somehow will give insight to the reader. I hope you’ll like the paper. Thanks.

Free Essay Sample THE “DEVIL” IN MY MIND

THE “DEVIL” IN MY MIND

 

 

 

 

 

 

            There were times in the past when I was what you can call the greatest pessimist on earth.  I had this fear inside me that I was not capable of doing something.  I was afraid to lose or to try sometimes.  I thought of myself as not measuring up to other people’s standards.

            I grew up in an average family and everything around me was mediocre.  We didn’t have much money to get me the things I wanted.  My parents lived in simplicity and we feasted in modest luxuries as long as the family was together.  My parents never hindered us to test our strengths and to explore ourselves.  But there were times when I was actually afraid that I would never get what I wanted because I was a coward. This fear has been the constant “devil” at the back of my mind.  When I was growing up I decided to battle the “devil”.  I wanted it out so I can spread my wings and be the kind of person that I am capable of becoming.  I established my personal standards and bowed to myself never to please anyone.  That way I wouldn’t feel scared if I lose.  I learned to think that everything can be done by working hard and keeping faith harder.  I learned to believe in determination.

            Now, hard work and determination keep me going.  I have my fair share of sad stories in life.  Those stories that come up when you lose something or not get what you want or is betrayed by someone you trust.  I have those too.  I have things that I wanted but never seem to get.  Some of them even slipped out of my grasp in front of my eyes.  And I couldn’t do anything.  I am at the stage of my life where I have plans, dreams that I want to achieve, things that I want to have.  I want to have the typical sought-after stable job that pays well, have my own house, meet the girl of my dreams, marry her and raise a family, save up and enjoy luxurious trips around the world when I retire.   Though right now the future stills looks vague, I don’t panic.  I have faith and I work hard.

            I may not get everything but I will be the best person that I can be by believing in myself and the power of hard work.  I may not be a Nobel Prize winner or be at the list of the wealthiest people that ever lived the world but I will be ME.  I will do things my own way, around my own standards of success and I will win.  Years from now, as I sit in my rocking chair and look back in my life, I would be satisfied.  I would know that I have lived.

Research Paper on Infusion with Studies Pertaining to Change

I.       Introduction

Organizational studies have become one of the major pillars in management and education. Research pertaining to certain conditions of the modern organization has similarly been helpful in establishing new theories and approaches in conducting the operations of an organisation. This study will be discussing the use of qualitative approaches in these organisational studies. Specifically, the study will be looking into the use of ethnographic and case studies with particular mention on their potentials and drawbacks upon employment in research studies.

For the purposes of these discussions, the study will be focusing on the studies centring on change in the organisation. Particular notice will also be given on the existence of resistance among the personnel once change is introduced in the organisation. The analysis will be based on five articles on organisational change acquired from the existing literature on management and organisational development. In the same manner, this analysis will be the basis for the conclusion regarding the use of qualitative research methods and the introduction of new ideas of organisational studies employing such research methods.      

II.    Review of Research Methods: A Close Look on Case Studies and Ethnographies

The organisational studies in the existing literature have acquired several ways of acquiring and analysing their data. Qualitative and quantitative approaches have been used left and right to test hypothesis and analyse existing theories on organisational change and the constant resistance to it. The following discussions will focus on the use of qualitative research approaches, case studies and ethnographic studies, particularly with regards to their qualities and contributions in organisational research. 

A.   General Ideas of the Ethnographic and Case Studies

The discussions in this part of the paper will essentially constitute a description of the qualitative studies: ethnographic and case studies. An ethnographic study is basically a type of qualitative method using field research to establish the “life and activities of a group of people.” (Feagin, Orum, Sjoberg, 1991, 4) This type of approach is usually used by anthropologists in their studies.

On the other hand, case studies are characterised as the “examination of life histories, or partial or total biographies of individuals.” (Feagin, Orum, Sjoberg, 1991, 4) Basically, social sciences have similarly been using case studies to acquire fundamental insights on specific conditions of society. In the definition provided, case studies are basically biographies of individuals or organisation in relation to a condition of a particular social setting. This means that the use of observation on an individual plane is regarded in relation with an existing social issue or problem.   

B.   Strengths of Each of the Approaches

In looking at the existing literature in organisational studies, the use of qualitative studies has similarly been frequent. Basically, using such methods manifests certain strengths and advantages on such studies. For instance, ethnographic studies tend to establish systematic presentation of observable data acquired by the researchers. Moreover, in using an ethnographic approach in such studies, the readers would be assured that the actual social conditions as well as the genuine reactions of the individuals on the said conditions. Moreover, based on the definition above, using such an approach tends to ensure that the study will be able to use a comprehensive range of data with the long-standing interactions required as well as the personalised acquisition of data through participant information.

In the context of case studies, the discussion in such approach tends to show a level of exhaustive and meticulous presentation and interpretation of the acquired data. Moreover, it has also been noted in certain studies that some of their research studies tends to come from the findings of prior qualitative studied using case study as its methodology. This means that the use of a case study offers an impetus for future and further research. Another study pointed out that the small amount of the respondents or the limited area often taken by case studies provides a discussion and interpretation of quantitative data in a more detailed fashion. The results could be deemed in accordance with certain pre-existing theories and models of the organisation.    

C.   Limitations of Using such Approaches

As with any research methodology, these qualitative approaches are not applicable to everyone. There are certain limitations that the researcher could encounter in using this type of method, which in turn may affect the outcome and interpretations of certain studies. For instance, ethnographic studies tend to demand and consume a considerable amount of time and resources once a researcher has decided to immerse to this type of approach. Given that the researcher has to immerse himself/herself in the environment for a considerable length of time, issues on ethics tends to arise. This could be manifested in the blurring of the line separating the views of the researcher and the actual views of the respondents of the ethnographic study. This makes the constant distinction pertaining to the transition of perspectives within the discussions in these types of approaches.

In terms of case studies, like ethnographic studies, tend to consume a lot of time in its completion. Similarly, the acquisition of data on its own is not only time consuming but also requires a lot of effort. In the same regard, acquiring data alone has a level of risk involved. There are instances that face-to-face interaction with the respondents opens the researcher in physical risk. This is especially true in studies involving psychiatry and other volatile groups that could get violent in the least of provocations. In the context of interpretation, the study is also open to risks because the researcher could see the data in a subjective manner without the consideration of possible bias or preconceived notions. This means that in using case studies, both the data and its interpretation are questionable to a certain degree.    

III.  Infusion with Studies Pertaining to Change

Organisational studies and management books discussing organisational development almost always look into the context of change as an essential tool to actually realise genuine development. In relation to the discussions above, the following discussions will look on how organisational studies using qualitative approaches contributed new ideas on the issue of organisational change and resistance. The discussions will revolve on the analysis of seven studies which employed both ethnographic studies and case studies in analysing certain conditions of an organisation.

A.   How these approaches were applied

The following discussions are based on the analysis of the five papers acquired for this study. These are summarised in the Appendix below. Based on the said table, the studies made it a point to use qualitative approach using existing works and findings in literature pertaining to organisational change. In the same regard, most of these studies have apparently provided a discussion using a case study approach with much regard on review of literature and theoretical research. (Desplace, 2005; Del Val and Martinez-Fuentez, 2003; Waddell and Sohal, 1998) It was only the study of Lines (2004) that has provided a clear manifestation of a case study as he used an informant approach in tackling the problem. On the other hand, Smith (2005) offered a semblance of an ethnographic analysis when he used both qualitative and quantitative data in his analysis.

B.   New Ideas Generated on Change

Based on the discussions and analysis of the acquired works, there are certain elements and ideas that appears to be helpful in the discussion of the organisational change. For instance, the work of Del Val and Martinez-Fuentez (2003) maintained a long standing belief in the literature that change could only be managed by dealing with the culture of the organisation. This is reinforced by the claims of Smith (2005) as he noted that empathy on the part of the management could help immensely in the problem of resistance. 

All in all, these studies have provided different ideas on managing change to minimise the level of resistance of the employees. The review of past research used by the authors in these articles emphasises that imposing change in the organisation should be held with care and planned steps in order to maintain a level of continuance in the organisation.

IV.Conclusion

Change has incessantly been regarded as a major ingredient in triggering development in an organisation. The discussions above have presented that this claim is accurate to some level. However, the reality of resistance against such activities in the organisation which induces change does have a great implication on the realisation of organisational development.

With the use of qualitative studies above, certain ideas has been recognised as an effective addition in managing resistance in organisations seeking change. Basically, these studies have indicated that the proper management of change in the organisation is essentially made up of an infusion of certain principles in the company and specific organisational processes that could induce development. Principles like self-efficacy, support from the management, and employee participation tends to highlight the elements needed to improve the management of change in organisations. In the same manner, the infusion of these elements in the organisation’s consciousness will be more effective once it is reinforced by specific activities like training, open communication, and employee involvement. To an extent, it offers a positive contribution to the overall change process of an organisation.

Overall, the sole problem in using the qualitative approaches in organisational studies is the generalisability of the findings. Nonetheless, one must realise that every organisation encounters different kinds of situations when they are instilling change within. In the same time, it must be noted that organisations deals with different kinds of cultures existing within their ranks. Thus, research approaches like ethnographic studies and case studies offers something different as that of qualitative studies. It specifies the differences and pinpoints the individual actions that organisations use to manage change and address the consequent resistance of the personnel. Thus, despite the absence of any possible form of generalisability, such studies provide companies as well as learners of the organisational theories an exhaustive account of a particular condition which has actually taken place in the real world.                     

Sample Essay Prior to Setting out to code non verbal Languages

Coding and Data Analysis

 

Part 1 Coding Scheme  

 

            Prior to setting out to code non verbal languages, several reasons need to be considered such as deciding what movement to code and how to code them. Unlike verbal languages, non verbal languages cannot be translated directly. A word has a specific and defined meaning that always and for everyone who knows the word represents that meaning. On the other hand, non verbal languages can be interpreted differently between cultures. For instance, one could nod to signal yes to a question or nod as a one of the listeners responses to the speaker. The latter does not indicate assent but only that the listener is following the comments of the speaker.  

            The non verbal behaviors displayed between the interviewer and the interviewee are measured through the following: gestures including head movements (nodding yes, shaking no, side tilting), body movements (general hand movements and various hand movements), facial expressions (eye contact, indirect ye contact, blinking, smiling, raising eyebrow and looking down) and paralinguistic (vocal elements such as tone, pitch, loudness, verbal backchannel behavior (hmmm, hmmm, yes, yes). The hand movements will be distinguished in respect to what is touched (own body or objects) and their intensity (low and high intensity movements). Hand movements that support speech will also be recorded.

The coding method for non verbal language will be used to analyze the interaction between the interviewer and the interviewee during the administration of the interview. This method will involve the systematic application of codes to behaviors displayed during the question and answer process. The behaviors relative to speaking and listening of the interacting persons will also be analyzed. The frequencies and duration of each type of the above behaviors will be studied during the speaking turn of the person and the same variables during their listening turn.

One of the ubiquitous characteristics of non verbal cues is their capacity to take on different meanings. That is, given the schema of communicators and the cultural environment to which the behavior occur, most non verbal cues may be interpreted in more than one way. The issue of encoding and decoding non verbal behavior for the purpose of conveying information involves not just the code but also the concept of intention. In verbal communication there is a deliberate attempt to send a message while the notion of intention is less clear in non verbal communication. (1969) distinguished between idiosyncratic and shared meaning of behaviors with the former referring to behavior distinct to a single individual and the latter behavior whose meaning is common to a set of persons (as cited in Harridan et al, 2005, p.140). It is not the action itself which is idiosyncratic or shared but the meaning attributed to it. With this, certain attributions will be given to the specific behaviors displayed.

·                    To assess the degree to which the person exhibits nervousness, the coding scheme for the videotaped interview considers the following behaviors: excessive smiling, playing with the hair or face or hands, rocking back and forth, side tilting, rigid posture, verbal back channel behavior, indirect eye contact and frequent blinking.

·                    To assess the degree to which the person exhibits assertiveness, the coding scheme consider the following behaviors; firm, authoritative voice, speaking clearly and deliberately, the rate of speech conveying confidence, direct eye contact, serious facial expression and body posture

·                    To assess the degree to which the person exhibits attentiveness, the coding scheme will consider the following behavior: eye contact, serious facial expression and nodding.

·                    To assess the degree to which the person exhibits uncertainty or lack of confidence, the coding scheme will consider the following behaviors: blinking, hand movements, side tilting, and raising eyebrow.

Part 2 Data Presentation

The non verbal languages displayed and their frequencies are recorded after the end of each question including follow up questions.

Duration: 0’- 0’38”

Non Verbal Language	Interviewer	Interviewee
Gestures Nodding                     Shaking                      Side Tilting	1   1	2   1
Body Movements Hand movements	1
Facial Expression  Eye contact Indirect Eye Contact Blinking          Smiling                       Raising Eyebrow Looking down	1     1	1 3 2 1 2
Paralinguistic Verbal back channel behavior Tone               Loudness                   Pitch	Low Low	1   Low Moderate

 

Duration 0’39”- 2’00”

Non Verbal Language	Interviewer	Interviewee
Gestures Nodding                     Shaking                      Side Tilting	2 2	1
Body Movements Hand movements	1	2
Facial Expression  Eye contact Indirect Eye Contact Blinking          Smiling                       Raising Eyebrow Looking down	2	1   2   1 1
Paralinguistic Verbal back channel behavior Tone               Loudness                   Pitch	Low Low	3    Low  Low

 

Duration 2’01”- 3’35”

Non Verbal Language	Interviewer	Interviewee
Gestures Nodding                     Shaking                      Side Tilting	2 2	3
Body Movements Hand movements	2	1
Facial Expression  Eye contact Indirect Eye Contact Blinking          Smiling                       Raising Eyebrow Looking down	1	1
Paralinguistic Verbal back channel behavior Tone               Loudness                   Pitch	Low Low	1   Moderate Moderate

 

Duration 3’36”- 5’31”

Non Verbal Language	Interviewer	Interviewee
Gestures Nodding                     Shaking                      Side Tilting		1
Body Movements Hand movements	2
Facial Expression  Eye contact Indirect Eye Contact Blinking          Smiling                       Raising Eyebrow Looking down	2	2       1
Paralinguistic Verbal back channel behavior Tone               Loudness                   Pitch		1     Low

 

5’32”-7’31

Non Verbal Language	Interviewer	Interviewee
Gestures Nodding                     Shaking                      Side Tilting	1 1	2 1
Body Movements Hand movements		2
Facial Expression  Eye contact Indirect Eye Contact Blinking          Smiling                       Raising Eyebrow Looking down		1
Paralinguistic Verbal back channel behavior Tone               Loudness                   Pitch	low	Moderate

 

TOTAL OF NON VERBAL LANGUAGES RECORDED DURING THE INTERVIEW

 

Non Verbal Language	Interviewer	Interviewee
Gestures Nodding to say yes/to agree Shaking to say no Side Tilting	6   5 1	6   3 2
Body Movements Hand movements	3	3
Facial Expression  Eye contact Indirect Eye Contact Blinking          Raising Eyebrow Looking down Smiling Serious Facial Expression	Consistent         4 Inconsistent	3 6 4 3 2 1 Consistent
Paralinguistic Verbal back channel behavior Tone               Loudness                   Pitch	Consistently Low	6    Varies from Low to Moderate

 

Part 3 Data Analysis

           

Based on the collected data, the interviewer ahs consistently elicited confidence and assertiveness throughout the duration of the interview. The number of non verbal body languages displayed is limited to nodding to say yes or express approval, shaking to say no, side tilting, hand movement to support  speech, smiling and consistent eye contact. The paralinguistic which characterizes the verbal elements including, to0ne loudness and pitch is also consistently low.

            Of the observed non verbal language, nodding has shown to have the greatest frequencies next to shaking of head while eye contact is consistent all throughout the interview. This shows the high degree of attentiveness on the part of the interviewer. The frequent hand movements are displayed whenever the interviewer tries to explain or clarify something to the interviewee. Thus, this non verbal language also serves as a means of expressing herself in a better way. The number of non verbal languages is limited primarily due to the need to listen more rather than to speak. Aside from this, the interviewer leads and controls the interview as she is the one throwing the questions. The fact that the interviewee is a child also made the setting more comfortable to the interviewer.

            As compared to the interviewer, the interviewee has displayed greater non verbal languages. This can be attributed to the uncomfortable feeling of the interviewee due to the authoritative stance of the interviewer. All of the non verbal languages listed are displayed by the interviewee. The most frequent of which are nodding (to say yes or express approval/agreement), indirect eye contacts and verbal back channel behavior. The frequency of indirect eye contact coupled by frequent blinking and verbal back channel behavior illustrates the nervousness, uncertainty and lack of confidence on the part of the interviewee. Moreover, other less frequent non verbal languages displayed by the interviewee including raising the eyebrow, looking down and side tilting are attributed to the same reasons.

            Such behavior can be caused by the uncomfortable feeling of the interviewee. Nonetheless, a degree of assertiveness was manifested through the changes in loudness and tone when answering certain questions. Also, the interviewee managed to keep eye contacts at some point of the interview. The seriousness of facial expression, nodding and eye contacts also proves the attentiveness of the interviewer. Hand movements are also used to support verbal messages and express oneself better.

Part 4 Qualitative Approach

 

            The data are not inherently quantitative and do not necessarily have to be expressed in numbers. At some instances, frequency distributions and tables need not be used. This means presenting the data in form of words or images. For instance, ethnography can be used to establish the hidden inferences that distinguish a wink and a nod in any given culture. This involves observation and note taking. These notes will contain the detailed descriptions of everything that transpired.

            As such there would be no attempt to summarize, generalize or hypothesize. The notes would capture factual description to allow multiple interpretations that will later be inferred to particular meaning. A coding procedure which is much like a content analysis can be used for this purpose. Beyond the statistical analysis of the data, the qualitative evaluation will reveal the dominant non verbal languages displayed by the interviewer and the interviewee and their predicted function or meaning in the given communication context.

Sample Most Effective Rahabilitation Method of Chemically Dependent Offender Populations Essay

Most Effective Rehabilitation Method of Chemically Dependent Offender Populations

 

Outline: (flow of discussion) –Plan – refer to abstract

Title page

Table of contents

Introduction

Background

Objectives

Statement of problem

Significance of study

Scope and limitations

Review of related literature

Methodology

Results and findings

Analysis, discussion and interpretation

Conclusion, summary and recommendation

References

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 1

Introduction

 

            Several problems are being faced by many societies nowadays, given by the fact that the society is continually changing. The changes the society encounter leads to the modification of the lifestyle of many individuals, most especially the younger generation, who become easily influenced and swayed by a number of factors that surround them. Changes in the society are evident in terms of economy, politics, education, industry, and in technology, which depends upon the use and the need of a particular society. Such changes can be perceived as advantages in terms of its use in globalization and internationalization, such that particular nations become associated with a number of countries worldwide to expand their businesses through different strategies and approaches. Such changes also enhance and develop the skills of many individuals to learn the universal language and become globally competitive in different aspects of learning and knowledge. The sciences also become much more developed and improved, thus, improving the lives of many through its various practical, advanced, and revolutionizing applications. In this regard, changes in the mentioned fields can be seen to bring success and prestige to individuals and societies. However, these changes not only bring about success, prestige, and development to the members of society, but disadvantages and problems as well. Unlike the previously mentioned advantages brought about by the changes in the society, problems and challenges effect chaos and discord among individuals and families. Along with the success and development of societies are the problems its face, including the upsurge cases of drug and alcohol addiction, crimes, graft and corruption, unsafe working and living conditions, poverty, unemployment, illnesses, and deaths. From this, it can be seen that along with the development of societies are its drawbacks that may become part of its consequences.

            In relation to all these challenges in the society is one of the gravest problems, which is chemical dependency. The issue of chemical dependency is associated to certain concepts, including habit, disorder, disease, abuse, substance, effects, and criminality. Because it is associated with such concepts, it is generally thought of connoting negative impressions and impacts. Generally, the concept of chemical dependency is associated with terms such as alcoholism, drug addiction, and substance use and abuse. Nevertheless, this concept is defined as a disease, disorder or illness that is characterized by addiction to a mood-altering chemical, including drugs and alcohol, thus, transcending age, gender, race, religion, or economic status (“Chemical Dependence or Dependency”, 2004). It can become a progressive, chronic, and fatal disease if untreated, that is why treatments and preventions are given importance and emphasis, especially with the younger generation. In addition, the concept of chemical dependency is commonly associated with criminality and mental disorders, which are considered the effects of becoming chemically dependent individuals. In this sense, such individuals are termed as Chemically Dependent Criminal Offenders or COCO, who commit grave violations against other individuals, the community, and the State due to the strong influence of alcohol or drugs. Nowadays, given the changes that take place in the society, most criminal offenders are comprised by adolescents or the younger generation, who become as such due to the influence of drugs or alcohol. According to the Juvenile Rehabilitation Association or JAR, 82% juvenile offenders use chemical substances. The most common major problems among the youth today include substance abuse and drug related crimes. In this regard, several governments come up with ways on reducing criminality and juvenile delinquency through different rehabilitation programs and treatments that would improve the situation of the chemical dependent adolescents in order to improve the society as a whole. However, despite the number of chemical dependence rehabilitation programs, not all are considered to be effective, as many criminal offenders presently convicted were influenced by drugs or alcohol during their crime. As reported, 3 in 4 violent offenders in prison committed their crime offenses under the influence of drugs, with a percentage of 72% (Mumble and Kornberg, 2007). In addition, more than half of the prisoners in the United States indicated symptoms consistent with drug dependence or abuse, having a percentage of 53%, and such dependence was associated with a range of symptoms, including behavioral, cognitive, and physiological problems (Mumble and Kornberg, 2007). These data indicate that despite the efforts of governments to help the society alleviate the impacts of drug and alcohol dependence, crimes attributed to chemical dependence continue to increase. With this problem at hand, this research study aims to examine the most effective rehabilitation method or technique for the chemical dependent offender population.

This research study will be divided into five chapters in order to provide ease and consistency on the discussion of the topic. The first part will be discussing the problem uncovered by the researcher and provide ample background on the topic. The chapter will constitute an introduction to the whole research study, the statement of the problem in order to present the basis of the study, a discussion on the scope of its study, as well as its effects to individuals and its significance to the society as a whole.

The second chapter will be discussing the relevance of the research study in the existing literature. It shall provide studies on the different drug and alcohol rehabilitation methods currently used, their process, duration and development, and the elements that foresee substance exploit problems. In addition, the study shall also provide an ample assessment of offenders with chemical dependency problems, the evaluation processes and tools presently in use for testing, the chemical dependency treatment effects of the offenders, the constructive dependency treatment results, and its impacts to the individuals being treated and to the society. After the presentation of the existing related literature, the researcher shall provide a synthesis of the whole chapter in relation to the study.

The third part of the research study shall be discussing the methods and procedures used in the study. The chapter shall comprise of the presentation of the utilized techniques for data collection and research methodology. Similarly, it will also contain a discussion on the used techniques in data analysis as well as the tools used to acquire the said data. The fourth chapter will be an analysis of the collected and tabulated data. Computations and correlations will be made in order to uncover relationships and to address the statement of the problem noted in the first chapter. The last chapter shall comprise of three sections, namely, the summary of the findings, the conclusion of the study, and the recommendations. With these three portions, this chapter will be able to highlight the implication of the findings in relation to the data obtained.        

 

Background of the Study

            Given the problem at hand, House Bill 3900 (sec 26 - 28) indicates the enhancement, implementation and examination of the Chemical Dependency Disposition Alternative or CODA, which gives courts with a verdict alternative for chemically dependent youth. Drug treatment is the primary responsibility of the CODA, thus, becoming responsible for providing immediate solutions to the factors that contribute to the problems that the youth in the society are facing today. According to a particular study, adolescents are the recurrent patients in abuse treatment programs of the government (Brown, 1990). Although they have less duration of substance abuse, their bigger participation with alcohol and marijuana can probably make them become poly-drug addicts and have illegal records. Because of this, the call for the guidance of their family and various academic institutions becomes crucial. In addition to this is the Juvenile Justice Act, which was created for juveniles who are chemically dependent to ensure that they would benefit from treatment. Under this Act and the mentioned House Bill, the court may order an examination to determine if the juvenile is chemically dependent and amenable to treatment, and may also order a second examination if so requested by the state (“House Bill Report SUB 1337”, 2001). Moreover, with persistent action, the government also came up with other laws, such as the ‘Social Host’ Laws in the United States, which would allow police to enter private homes to break up underage drinking parties and impose fines on adults who allow gatherings to take place (“Social Host Laws Proliferate in U.S.”, 2007). In this regard, this law becomes a preventive measure that would restrict juvenile drinking, which can be causes for committing crimes and damage to the community. With the help of these laws and regulations, the importance of preventing chemical dependence and crimes can be promoted.

            Despite such restrictions and regulations, increase in the incidences and cases of crimes related to chemical dependency can still be observed in the society. In the event of chemical dependency of juveniles and adults, it would be very helpful to determine and consider the possible and necessary treatments that they can undergo to provide them with a safe and decent life and well-being, which reinforces their right as an individual in the society. With this, several types of chemical dependency treatment programs are recognized, which can help chemical dependents, most especially chemical dependent offenders to start anew. There are five types of chemical dependency treatment programs, and most of theses originated from adult treatment programs. The first program is through Therapeutic Communities, wherein a patient lives in a drug-free residence. Its main principle is to treat drug abuse as social and not medical in nature. The duration of this treatment is from three to 15 months, depending on the cooperation and recovery of the patient. Its completion rate is only 10 to 18% of the total patient population (Hengelo, 1996). The second type of chemical dependency treatment program is the Residential Settings, wherein the patient is placed in a boarding school that usually has an inpatient non-hospital based treatment program. Through the program that caters residential settings, the substance abuser is made to believe that he or she can still be a prolific member of the society, given the natural residential features of the boarding school. The duration of this program is usually 7 to 90 days, depending on the program principles. In relation to this is the hospital-based or the inpatient medical treatment, such as the Short-Term Residential Programs that offer relatively brief residential or inpatient medical treatment based on a modified 12-step approach. This residential or inpatient medical treatment model consists of a 3 to 6 week hospital-based inpatient treatment phase followed by extended outpatient therapy and participation in self-help groups (“Types of Treatment”, 2005). In addition, inpatient medical treatments take place either in medical and general psychiatric settings, and offer a higher level of medical supervision (“Treatment”, 2007), such as the provision of medicines and other medical-related facilities. The third type of chemical dependency treatment program is the Outpatient Treatment, which is a less limiting type of treatment program among the rest. It lets the patient live with their families and communities, thus, giving them the immediate opportunity to exercise newly attained skills or behavioral transformation learned from the program. Specifically, Outpatient Treatments are classified into two, namely, Intensive Outpatient and Regular or Normal Outpatient Treatment Programs. Intensive Outpatient Treatment broadens the continuum of care model, which attempts to match the specific needs or levels of treatment that the patient needs in particular (Roadster, 1999). On the other hand, the Regular or Normal Outpatient Treatment offers general health care services to the patient. The fourth type is the Community Monitoring, wherein the patient may be presently using a substance, along with monitoring. Monitoring can be done through routine analyses and counseling with a probation officer or a social worker. In this program, the patients are considered to undergo a house arrest, to be imposed on curfew, or be electronically monitored by their district officers. The last type of chemical dependency treatment program is the Self-Help and other community based groups, which involve the contribution and assistance of community groups in the treatment of substance abusers. This program is often considered as an effective aftercare because it gives positive role models and emotional supports from the elder members of the program. Identification of such treatment or rehabilitation programs enables recognition of advantages in determining the best rehabilitation program.

            Primarily, knowing the best chemical dependency rehabilitation program would enable increase knowledge in the treatment of substance abusers. Many researchers would be able to engage in further research and observation that would entail the advancement and the development of the recognized most effective rehabilitation program. Thus, in this case, the recognized most effective rehabilitation program would be further developed and enhanced to help many chemical dependents with their treatment.

Second, recognizing the best chemical dependency rehabilitation program would improve the services and facilities of rehabilitation centers, which would help further address the needs and the problems of substance users and abusers. It has been reported that most clients valued visiting rehabilitation center facilities beforehand, for these facilities play a very important role in helping the chemical dependent with his or her recovery, such that they influence life-changing experiences and understanding of the nature of chemical dependency of clients (Wilkinson and Mistral, 2006). It has been reported by the Smash's National Survey on Drug Use and Health that there were about 1.5 million youths needing alcohol treatment, and 1.4 million youths needing illicit drug use treatment (“The NCU Report: Substance Use Treatment Need among Adolescents, 2003-2004”, 2006) ), and with no available data on how many were treated from rehabilitation centers. In this sense, improving the facilities and services of rehabilitation centers may provide an increase in the number or percentages of treated chemical dependents.

            Third advantage that can be recognized is the fact that recognizing the best rehabilitation program available would support the community and the local and the national government with its endeavors of promoting peace and order in the country, which would encourage safety, development, and progression. In this regard, having a safe and peaceful society can promote development and improvement in the country, such that many individuals and establishments would gain the trust of other businesses and in turn, promote its economic prosperity. With fewer crimes due to the influence of drugs and alcohol, more business establishments and firms would have the chance to function effectively in the society, through having increased transactions and negotiations from foreign investors, who would bring success, profit and advancement to a number of companies.

            Fourth and last recognized advantage of recognizing the most effective chemical dependent rehabilitation program is providing additional knowledge with the families of chemical dependents that would give them the confidence and the hope that their loved one will be able to be treated from its condition. If this research study would become successful in so doing, the determined most effective rehabilitation program can be recommended to the government and other health-related institutions and organizations to further provide assistance to chemical dependent offenders.  With these reasons, determination of the most effective chemical dependent rehabilitation program would be able to help many individuals in terms of treatment and acceptance in the society.

 

Objectives of the Study

            This research study will be done to help increase knowledge and information regarding the rehabilitation methods for chemically dependent offenders and the effectiveness of a number of rehabilitation methods for their treatment. Hence, this research study will be conducted to determine which of the rehabilitation methods for chemically dependent offender populations is the most effective. The specific research objectives for this study can be summarized as follows:

 

1)     To find out causes of addiction and chemical dependency in the target population;

2)     To determine the effects of chemical dependency to individuals and to the society;

3)     To determine the different drug and alcohol rehabilitation methods currently used, including its process, duration and development;

4)     To identify the elements that foresee substance exploit problems or the problems that lead to chemical dependency;

5)     To provide an ample assessment of offenders with chemical dependency problems;

6)     To evaluate processes and tools presently used for testing;

7)     To determine alternative treatment methods available for chemical dependents;

8)     To determine the chemical dependent treatment effects of the offenders;

9)     To identify the constructive dependency treatment results in offenders;

10)  To recognize the impacts of such actions to the society; and

11)  To give recommendations to the readers, to the government, and to the society

 

Statement of the Problem

            The increase in the number of chemically dependent criminal offenders in the society of the United States leads to the recognition of a number of chemical dependent rehabilitation programs. Due to the perceived significant and essential role played by chemical dependency rehabilitation programs in the treatment of drug and alcohol dependents, it is important to recognize the different rehabilitation and treatment methods that would help in the recovery of substance dependents and in the alleviation of the number of criminal cases related to substance use in the U.S. society. This study intends to examine the most effective rehabilitation program for chemical dependent offender population in the United States. Specifically, the study intends to answer the following queries:

 

1. What could be the most recommended chemical dependent rehabilitation program for offenders?
2. What are the risks to be taken note of in undergoing such rehabilitation program?
3. What are the barriers to be considered in allowing a criminal offender in undergoing the treatment program?
4. Are there other alternative treatment programs available that could present the same effects and treatment for offenders?
5. What are strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that can be attributed to undergoing such programs?

 

Hypothesis

            The study intends to test the following hypothesis:

            “The most effective chemical dependency treatment program must be adopted and implemented to treat the chemical dependent populations.”

 

Significance of the Study

            This research study will be a significant in knowing the perceived best and most effective chemical dependent treatment programs for offender population, which could be suggested to the government and to the families of the substance dependent. It will be significant in the development of more scientific and research-based approaches in addressing the different problems regarding the relationship of substance abuse and the increase in criminal cases in the U.S. society. In addition, this research study can also be significant in providing wider knowledge and alternatives for the government and the families of the substance abusers regarding other available treatment and therapies for the chemical dependent offenders. Moreover, this study can be significant in the endeavor for the improvement and development of the services and facilities of different rehabilitation or treatment programs that would further cater to the needs of the chemical dependent offender population in the society of the United States.

 

Scope and Limitations

            The research study intends to examine the most effective rehabilitation or treatment program for the chemical dependent population. For this study, primary research will be conducted using anonymous questionnaires that will be sent to the general population in ­­­_________ of legal age. The questionnaires will be used to collect quantitative data. Qualitative data would be gathered using secondary research based on related literatures.

 

            In relation to the previous discussion, limitations and other key assumptions were also considered, and are as follows:

• Are the results of the research study valid?
• Was the data relevant to the research questions?
• Were the data collection methods appropriate for the research objectives?
• Was the data collection comprehensive enough?
• Were the data appropriately analyzed, with the findings adequately supported?

 

Obstacles of the Research Study

            Despite the aim and the perceived significance of this research study, a number of obstacles or problems could be encountered. Essentially, there are a small number of sensible and pragmatic barriers in this research study or dissertation. The main practical apprehension is the expensiveness of purchasing journals online. This is a practical concern because monetary costs are one of the main important factors that will keep this study going. Another practical obstacle is the availability of resources regarding the rehabilitation programs for chemical dependent offenders. There are limited studies that are related to the focus of this study. Limited local references can affect the development of this research study. On the other hand, in terms of empirical obstacles, there might not be sufficient statistics to show what program is the most effective in treating offenders with substance abuse. In simple terms, there could be difficulty in obtaining relevant and sufficient statistics from financial service institutions. This is where secondary research will come to play. The surveys and interviews to be conducted with families and social institutions are intended to make bridges that will lead to the acquisition of important references. Overall, resources and cooperation are the two major obstacles in the study. In addition, another difficulty that can be recognized is in the process of the model to be used in the research study, which is the input-process-output-model. Difficulty would rely on the different issues that the study might be able to face. In this regard, the information required should be arranged conveniently for a more effective and efficient analysis. The effective execution of the process will be the main importance and concern of the research study because it will determine the quality of the output.

 

Ethical Considerations and Standards

            The position of the researcher in the research study is crucial because he or she will be the one to conduct the whole process of the research study. This particular research study has a political influence in nature because many laws and regulations under the judicial and community sectors govern rehabilitation programs of chemical dependent offenders. The role of the researcher is to attain the necessary information needed in the study as much as possible, and to create connections with important people who will be helpful in assisting the progress of the study. In relation to the role of the researcher is his or her responsibility to deem ethical considerations that will be applied in accomplishing the research study. Given the sensitive situation being experienced by the families of chemical dependent offenders and the social institutions handling their cases, most of the target respondents would be hesitant to share their views because of certain factors they are afraid of or uncomfortable with. As an ethical stance, confidentiality of the identity and participation of the respondents will be ensured throughout the research. Furthermore, important but confidential information that respondents do not want to talk about or give away would also be respected, especially in the process of an interview. As part of the ethical consideration of this research study, complete information, such as the goal and aim of the study would be provided to the respondents thus, respecting their right to be informed. Racial discrimination would not be observed in this study, for all races would be considered sources of relevant data. With regards to the accomplishment of the paper, strict compliance with citing references is to observed in order to avoid plagiarism of literatures to be used.    

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 2

Review of Related Literature

 

            This part of the paper will review the related literatures conducted on the area of study. By doing this, the research may be guided consequently by primarily discovering where the research is coming from, what and how much have been studied regarding the topic, and what it is yet to discuss. Aside from providing the background of the study, this chapter will provide its readers the necessary backbone and support for the research study to stand credible and reliable. In addition, by appraisal or evaluation of past researches related to the study, a historical perspective may be given. The researcher will be able to gain new insights on how much venture has been explored before, which will enable reflection, comparison, learning, and producing a stronger and more efficient study. This chapter will also present the research study a rich source of data, both new and old, which will augment and enrich the study. This part of the research study will also accentuate how it will contribute to the field of study it has chosen and further improve it.

 

Causes of Addiction and Chemical Dependency

            According to the United States census in 2000, adolescents make up the largest generation in American history (Clemens, 2004). However, with such dominance, substance use among them becomes prevalent. In 2002, more than 11% of youth, having an age range of 12-17 years were current drug users, with drugs including marijuana, cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants, tranquilizers, and stimulants, while 28.5% were alcoholics (Clemens, 2004). With such prevalence, it can be perceived that several causes might be attributed to such large occurrence in adolescents. In this regard, it would be helpful to determine the several causes of substance use and abuse to further understand the concept of chemical dependence.

Primarily, Chenier (2001) summarized the causes or factors that may trigger drug or alcohol addiction among juveniles or adolescents, and in so doing, it would be helpful to adopt a medical, psychological, sociological, economic, legal, criminological, pharmacological, and philosophical approach. The author stressed that chemical dependence may be attributed to a genetic component, to an addictive personality type, to critical environmental circumstances, and to a physiological connection. In this sense, as previously stated, no one is excluded from the list of individuals who may be able to become chemical dependents. However, Chenier (2001) pointed out that the male gender, the unemployed, the aboriginal peoples, and the street youth are the ones having a higher chance of becoming dependent on such substances.

In support of this, several other authors have attempted to explain the causes of chemical dependence among the youth. As cited in the work of Alvarez-Niemeyer, Nun-Gutierrez and Rodriguez-Credo (2006), authors like Petridis, Flay and Miller in 1995 proposed a conceptual model that includes three kinds of influences, namely, cultural and attitudinal, social and interpersonal, and individual baggage. Another study cited is the study done by Castro-Sari nana in 2001, which identified a total of 50 factors that relate to teenage chemical abuse. These factors were classified into three groups by using an epidemiological model. The model includes a predisposing environment, the drug itself, and the individual. The third study cited was done by Medina-Mora et. al in 1995 who suggested that easy access to drugs and other substances, drug users among family or peers, peer approval, a perception of low risk, and an unpleasant mood state are also linked to cause chemical dependency in the younger generation. From this aspect, it can be seen that personal and social factors contribute to the tendency of individuals to become chemical dependents.

In addition, Sanchez-Huascar et. al. 2002 pointed out that domestic violence and sexual abuse could also be considered as causes of chemical dependence. Along with that, Bryant et. al 2000 considered school-related factors such as academic failure, absenteeism, peer drug use, and psychological distress can be linked to teenage chemical dependence. This particular study cited placed an emphasis on a related study done by Sanchez-Huascar et. al in 2002, stressing that teenagers who engage in misconduct and had low school performance scores had higher chemical dependence and tendency compared to teenagers who are highly motivated and focused with their studies. In support of such claims, a number more authors have considered the influence of family factors such as faulty and triangulated communication, inter-parental conflicts, affection-deprived family environment, ineffective problem-solving patterns, low familial satisfaction levels, type of religious practice, family disintegration, and low levels of parental monitoring are also attributed as causes of chemical dependence (as cited in Alvarez-Niemeyer, Nun-Gutierrez, and Rodriguez-Credo, 2006). As such, it can be seen that in the social point of view, the school and the family of the younger generation, or the immediate sub-society of the younger generation, determine their tendency to become chemically dependent.

In summary, the perceived causes of chemical dependence in the younger generation may be grouped into three. First cause involves the genetic or the hereditary influence one has from being a chemical dependent, which determines his or her ability to become more susceptible of developing a tendency to become a substance user. A particular study supports this claim, with the emphasis on the influence of the brain chemical dopamine that mediates intercellular communication, and with which substance use may be determined by variants of genes that regulate it (Droves, 2002). Second cause involves the individual per se, and his or her preferences, control, choice, physiology, attitude, and mood towards the use of drugs or alcohol. One possible cause of addiction or chemical dependence involves the loss of control in one’s self, which could determine their ‘gusto’ over alcohol or drugs. Likewise, their preference over the use and abuse of substances also depends on how they handle taking them. Last cause involves the social network or the community from where the individual functions, and includes the influences given by one’s family, peers, school, and culture. In this regard, it can be perceived that this involves one’s exposure to drugs and alcohol, thus, determining his or her extent in becoming chemical dependent. However, it does not follow that the more exposure to such substances leads to chemical dependency. In this sense, the preferences and the choice of an individual in terms of using drugs and alcohol become the decisive factor. From this, it can be understood that the range of problems and causes determine the extent of chemical dependency one will be able to experience and go through.

 

Effects of Chemical Dependency

            It is a given fact that chemical dependency has several known negative effects that may create havoc within the individual or the chemical dependent and within his or her community and the larger society. Determining such effects leads to knowing the mechanism of chemical dependency and addiction, which would later be crucial in understanding the larger picture. As previously defined, chemical dependency is a progressive and chronic disease that is due to addiction or craving of a particular chemical or drug. Fairly similar is the concept of addiction, which is defined as a disease or complex phenomenon with important psychological and social causes and consequences, and involves a biological process, involving a repeated exposure to a drug over time (Starr, 2002). With these similar definitions, it can be perceived that the two concepts are both considered a disease that affects the biological and physiological functions of an individual. However, aside from seeing addiction and chemical dependence as a disease, the society also perceive them as more than mere drug use, but as a behavior exhibiting a compulsive pattern of drug-seeking and drug-taking that takes place at the expense of most of their other activities (Bridge and Robinson, 2003). This definition helps many understand that the concept of chemical dependence affects the individual and social behavior of a person, thus, it is perceived rooted at one’s biological and physiological processes. As such, the mechanism of addiction or chemical dependence can be stressed out, thus, helping individuals understand the concept and the situation of chemical dependent offenders.

            The mechanism of addiction or chemical dependence relates to the biological and physiological function of the human body, and determines one’s pleasure responses towards a chemical or substance. Usually, chemical dependents take drugs or alcohol to attain ‘highs’ and escape social, mental and physical stresses. However, they also take drugs and alcohol to avoid withdrawal ‘lows’. This process can be explained using the Opponent Process Theory, which explains that a pleasant dose of drug or chemical activates a dose-dependent a-process in the brain reward circuit system that in turn, triggers the activation of a negative or opponent b-process. This b-process helps restore homeostasis in the brain and brings it back to its normal state. The summation of the actions of the two processes creates the final subjectively experienced state by the person, resulting to the A-state or the pleasant state, caused by the a-process, and the B-state or the negative state that is caused by the b-process (Bridge and Robinson, 2003). During repeated drug use, the dopamine system is being induced, which is a brain neurotransmitter that mediates the communication among brain cells in certain brain regions, and play a role in the pleasant or rewarding effects of substances, such as drugs and alcohol (Droves, 2002), thus, creating changes in the function of the brain. The neurological, chemical, and physical structure changes in the function of the brain results from the repeated exposure of an individual to addictive substances, thus, creating the chemical conditions that produce changes in the behavior of the person, in terms dependence, tolerance, sensitization, and craving (Starr, 2002). From these explanations, it can be understood that the changes in the behavior and responses of chemical dependents depend on the changes brought about by their continued and prolonged exposure to various chemicals or substances. The changes in their physiological and behavioral response determine their actions towards themselves, their family, and their society.

            Several effects are recognized in relation to chemical dependency or substance addiction. Primarily, the sensitization of individuals is affected with the increase of drug or alcohol use. Sensitization refers to the increase in a drug effect with repeated drug administration, depending on the biological system of the person that mediates different drug effects and adapt in different ways to repeated drug exposure. Sensitization can be seen in two ways, either affecting the individual’s psychomotor activities or one’s motivation. Psychomotor changes in the individual may include increase or decrease in arousal, attention and motor behavior, producing heightened movement, exploration, and approach. In terms of behavioral or motivational sensitization, changes are exhibited in the physical structure of neurons, changing the patterns of synaptic connectivity within brain regions thus, alter the information processing of the brain (Bridge and Robinson, 2003). In simple terms, a known effect of chemical dependence is the changes in terms of the physical and behavioral aspects of the person that may affect his or her actions toward his or her family and community.

            The second known effect is the development of tolerance to both the pleasurable and aversive effects of substance use, which supports the development or maintenance of an addiction. The development of tolerance of substances in substance users requires the individual to consume increasing drug amounts to achieve the desired pleasurable or rewarding effects (Droves, 2002). With the development of such tolerance, the rate of substance use greatly increases, thus, enabling the individual to become more drug or alcohol dependent. In this regard, a substance user is able to attain pleasure or reward from the use of the substance through continued use in high doses. With this, the substance dependent would be more reliant on the substances, thus, making him or her lose control of his or her behavior.

            The third effect of chemical dependence is the prevalence of a variety of physical, mental, and behavioral disorders, such as AIDS, HIV, tuberculosis, hepatitis, and other reproductive related diseases in both genders. The unsafe use of intravenous drugs is both directly and indirectly responsible for more than one-third of all AIDS deaths in the United States, including the increasing transmission of tuberculosis and hepatitis B and C. With this, addiction or chemical dependence and HIV infection is one of the major public health challenges in the country. In addition, chemical dependence, particularly alcoholism causes liver disease and other neurological and pathological diseases that are fatal (Starr, 2002). Becoming an alcohol or drug addict leads to the tendency of using other substances or drugs, such as nicotine that is present in tobaccos and cigarettes. In this regard, the use of many and various substances presents the tendency of acquiring a number of different diseases, thus, shortening the life expectancy rate of chemical dependents. Another point to consider is the damage produced by alcohol and other substances to fetal and neonatal development, being contributory to the causes of birth defects and neonatal morbidity. In this regard, the issue of the increasing number of female chemical dependents must be addressed, as having physical diseases attributed to alcohol and drug use significantly similar to males (Blame, 1990). Documented prenatal substance exposure presented effects on fetal and child development, thus, affecting 20% of newborn children in America and causes one in every ten cases of mental retardation (Starr, 2002). In addition, the increase in alcohol intake, particularly in women makes them sexually aggressive and promiscuous (Blame, 1990), thus, increasing the incidences of rape, early pregnancy, single parenthood, and abortion in the society. In this regard, the issue of chemical dependence cannot only be regarded as a medical or behavioral issue, but as a moral issue as well.

            Fourth known effect of substance abuse and dependence brings impaired judgment, depression, hopelessness and desperation on the part of the addict, leading him or her to suffer from mental disorders that would lead the person to commit suicide or inflict injuries (Muslins, 1999). These incidents lead to the substantial increase of use of the healthcare system, and particularly of expensive emergency rooms and trauma care services in hospitals and healthcare centers, as 60% of all emergency room visits are related to drug and alcohol problems. In addition, substance use causes close to half of all fatalities in motor vehicular accidents, with more than 100,000 American citizens dying (Starr, 2002). With this, it can be perceived that the influence of the use of either alcohol or drugs impairs the ability of individuals to control not only their mental behavior but their physical and motor skills as well.        

            Another evident effect of substance or chemical dependence is the break up and deterioration of family ties, which causes child abuse and family violence. A study cited in Starr in 2002 reports that 78% of female victims who survived domestic violence attacks reported that their attacker had been using drugs or alcohol. Moreover, substance use also leads an individual to commit rape and sexual assault, thus, committing violations and crimes against other individuals and the society. It leads to the abuse and neglect of children, and in some instances, fathers even sexually abuse their children due to the influence of drugs or alcohol, leading to a rough estimate of ten million children affected because of such causes. Substance use and abuse also leads to high rates of divorce and broken families, causing at least three-fourths of cases where children are removed from their families and placed in foster care (Starr, 2002). With this, it can be understood that due to chemical dependence, most children are deprived of their rights to live peacefully and rightfully, thus, affecting not only their lifestyle, but their perception and view of life as well. This event influences them to either disregard or give importance to the value of having a family and of becoming influenced by substance use.

                Muslins (1999) reports that due to chemical dependence, important social, occupational, or recreational activities are being abandoned, and this increases the costs of U.S. employers annually. A study cited in the work of Starr in 2002 estimated that addiction costs U.S. businesses a total of $200 billion yearly, due to lost workdays, premature deaths of workers including on-the-job accidents, and half treatment costs such as fetal alcohol syndrome and AIDS. This leads to the increase in costs of the U.S. society, due to the loss of productivity, increase in direct financial burdens on government programs, and even social deterioration. A study done analyzes economic data stating that alcohol and drug abuse cost the U.S. society a total of $246 billion (Starr, 2002). In this regard, it can be perceived that chemical dependence not only affect the individual user but the whole society as well. It provides the individual with diseases and mental disorders, which cause him or her to commit crimes and other violations towards other individuals and towards the society. Furthermore, due to chemical dependence, children and families are not able to obtain their rights in the society that would allow them to live peacefully and rightfully in their communities.

 

Chemical Dependence Rehabilitation Methods Currently Used

            As previously discussed, there are five types of chemical dependency treatment programs or methods used today, namely, Therapeutic Communities, Residential Settings, Outpatient Treatment, Community Monitoring, and Self-Help. These five treatment programs are general treatment or rehabilitation programs helping many substance or chemical dependents to overcome their condition, thus, enabling them to function effectively and normally in the society. Historically, formalized testing in the field of addiction began in the late 1970s with the National Board of Medical Examiners, which developed examination modules for medical students. Following this is the California Society for the Treatment of Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependencies, which established an examination for demonstrating expertise in addiction in 1983. In 1986, the American Society of Addiction Medicine began the development of a related national chemical dependence examination, which led to the development of other procedures that developed and improved training standards in relation to substance abuse academic medical training. These training standards provided a model for the development and improvement of substance abuse training programs, assisted fellowship applicants in the evaluation of their training needs, and helped in the establishment of certifiable specialty training for the field (Burns et. al., 1991). With the development and improvement of such standards and fields, the problems and the causes of chemical dependence were identified and given importance in terms of treatment and recovery. As such, specific models and treatment programs are being used today.

            Specifically, the AA model is one of the most popular chemical dependence treatment programs being used today, including a twelve-step program for any self-defeating or compulsive behavior, such as Cocaine Anonymous, Debtors Anonymous, Dual Disorders Anonymous, Ethics Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous, Nicotine Anonymous, Overeaters Anonymous, Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous, Survivors of Incest Anonymous, and Workaholics Anonymous. The AA model characterizes or perceives addiction as a progressive, chronic, and deadly disease that leaves the substance dependent or addict “powerless” and experiencing a “loss of control” in the ability to desist a drug of choice. It requires a commitment to total abstinence, the embrace of spirituality, and life-long participation in AA or other twelve-step programs, because it sees an addiction as something that is treatable but never entirely curable. Another treatment program is termed as SOS, which stands for Secular Organizations for Sobriety that was founded by James Christopher in 1986. The program is a non-religious, abstinence-based self-empowerment program that uses the principles of cognitive therapy and visceral synchronization. In views addiction as having three components, namely, a physiological need, a learned habit, and a denial of the need and the habit. The third known treatment method in the United States is the RR or Rational Recovery program that employs an addictive voice recognition technique or the AVERT, which is based on the experiences of former addicts. It views chemical dependence as personal matters that have nothing to do with acquiring, maintaining, or ending an addiction, but develops a thinking skill that aids addicts to recognize and resist the internal “voice” that pressures them to use chemicals for their pleasure. Fourth treatment program is the SMART or Self Management and Recovery Training, which assists its members in maintaining abstinence from various substances, through a continuum of recovery that focuses on the quality of life. It achieves its goals through scientific practice and knowledge, abstinence from addictive chemicals, nurturance of emotional independence and self-reliance, and assistance in giving dependence on support groups (Leman ski, 2000). These and other treatment or rehabilitation programs are being used by the families of chemical dependents in the United States to ensure treatment and recovery of their chemical dependent relatives.

 

Alternative Rehabilitation or Treatment Methods

            Most of the chemical dependency rehabilitation and treatment organizations use the AA model or approach in administering treatment of substance dependents. As a matter of fact, more than 93% of U.S. treatment centers are still locked into the AA approach (Leman ski, 2000). However, despite the success of the use of such an approach, which lasted for more than 60 years, many criticisms have been made regarding the approach that made many researchers to come up with the use of alternative methods for chemical dependency treatments. The major criticism for the AA model and other twelve-step programs is that the treatment is not scientifically-based, but instead is based on religion, spirituality and talk-therapy (Leman ski, 2000). Nowadays, more and more medical practitioners are open to using alternative methods that can be regarded as cost-effective and less conventional.

            One alternative method is the use of acupuncture. Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical technique that involves the insertion of stainless steel needles into different points in the body. These needles are inserted at particular points in the body, called acupuncture points, in order to balance the opposing forces of yin and yang. This technique unblocks the chi, or the energy that permeates all things in nature, and is believed to flow through the body along 14 main pathways termed as meridians. It is said that when yin and yang are in harmony, the chi flows freely within the body and the person is said to be healthy. However, the presence of sickness and disease obstructs the flow of the chi, thus, needing acupuncture to restore smooth flow of the chi within the body (Carroll, 2005). In addition, the idea behind acupuncture is that the presence of a disease entails the loss of balance between the yin and the yang energies, thus, disrupting the function of the whole biological system. The treatment of the disease through the activity of needles, pressure, and heat on the sensitive parts of the body may treat the patters of disharmony (“Acupuncture”, 2007). Through the extent of the use of acupuncture in both Eastern and Western countries, several ailments are said to be treated through therapy, including allergies, arthritis, kidney problems, constipation, depression and anxiety, headaches, colds, dizziness, fatigue, flu, paralysis, sexual dysfunction, stress, stroke, smoking, and high blood pressure (Carroll, 2005). In the perspective of chemical dependency, becoming substance dependent is considered the disease in this sense, thus, blocking the chi of the user. In addition, substance or chemical dependency is said to be a symptom of a system or society that is out of balance, and the lack of that balance leads to the lack of calm inner tone, which results to aggressiveness, and causing crimes in the society. The use of acupuncture as an alternative treatment of chemical dependence helps the user in stimulating his or her yin points or positive points, in order to restore inner calm tone. Acupuncture detoxification works by releasing blockages of energy or chi and correcting imbalances of energy flow, which involves homeostatic action in the autonomic nervous system, various neurotransmitters, and elements in the pituitary actions and responses in the brain (Serrano, 2007). In this sense, the use of acupuncture as a treatment alternative presents positive effects for the use of the needles in the body would eventually lead to the release of more positive energies in the body that would stimulate the smooth process of the biological functions of the body. Proper stimulation of the nerves and blood circulation in the body improves the flow of nutrients in its parts, thus, improving the distribution of minerals and nutrients in the body, essential in its vital functions. This improvement thus improves also the disposition of the substance user, and eventually, improves his or her way of thinking that would lead the individual to realize the importance of his or her life in the society.

            Another alternative treatment for substance dependence is through hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy involves psychological therapy and counseling, and is a treatment of emotional and psychological disorders, unwanted habits and undesirable feelings, using psychological techniques. Through hypnotherapy, therapeutic mental suggestions are introduced into the mind of the client in a relaxed and receptive state, in order to find meaningful alternatives to their present unsatisfactory ways of thinking, feeling or behaving (Broom, 2007). It helps clients overcome their anxiety, insomnia, stress, panic attacks, phobias and addiction, which are considered the altered state of the consciousness of the individual. During hypnotherapy, the person is in his or her relaxed state, wherein the breathing, heart rate, metabolism, and brain waves slow down, thus, becoming more receptive to suggestion and able to exert control over normal involuntary processes (Young, 2007). During this relaxed and highly receptive state, the chemical dependent can overcome his or her substance addiction through enhancing imagery techniques. A specific study points out that a reward center is present deep within the brain, where emotion-laden memories of past positive drinking or drug-taking experiences become associated with cues. Exposure to cues activates the reward center of the brain, leading to craving during abstinence. However, through hypnotherapy, experiences are changed to positive ones, thus, reducing craving, through using suggestions, reframes, metaphors, and positive imaging. A study that proves this is the study done by Walberg in 1948, who treated alcoholism by using hypnosis to enhance dream imagery (as cited in Potter, 2004). Aside from aiding in the treatment of addictions, hypnotherapy is also helpful in treating the symptoms of Post Acute Withdrawal that occurs in acute withdrawal from an addictive drug. A study done by Whitehouse et. al in 1996 reports that stress levels were lowered through hypnosis, thus, making it an alternative treatment for chemical dependency (as cited in Potter, 2004).

            The third type of alternative treatment for chemical dependency is homeopathy, which involves providing an extremely small dose of substances that produces characteristics symptoms of illnesses in healthy people when given in larger doses, thus, being termed as an approach with a belief that “like cures like”.  Similar to acupuncture, a key premise in homeopathy is the belief that every individual has an energy termed a vital force or self-healing response, and the disruption of such energy causes health problems (“Questions and Answers about Homeopathy”, 2007). This type of alternative strategy was discovered by a German physician, Samuel Hahnemann, who proved that same substances, in large amounts could cause disorders within the body; however, in minute doses could cure the same disorders. In the general Western medicine, strong drugs can help cure illnesses, and symptoms are caused by the illness. However, a positive outcome cannot occur with the increasing dose of medicines, and oftentimes lead to chemical dependency and masked symptoms. On the other hand, in homeopathy, the symptoms of the illness become indicative of the desire of the body to fight the illness and the type of substances required to produce a positive response by the body’s own natural healing forces of recovery (Better, 2007). Although this might be a good alternative for curing chemical dependency, it has been reported that research studies on homeopathy have been contradictory in their findings, such that some analyses concluded that there are no strong evidences that support it being effective for any clinical condition, while some positive effects were not readily explained in scientific terms (“Questions and Answers about Homeopathy”, 2007). With this, it can be understood that although homeopathy is suitable in treating chemical dependency due to its use of minute amounts of substances in the belief that it would lead to the same effects, not enough findings and studies have been able to support its effectiveness as an alternative treatment method. For this matter, it would be best if other more studies and supports should be done, before considering it an alternative treatment process for chemical dependency.

             Another type of alternative treatment for chemical dependency is termed as NLP that stands for neuron-linguistic programming therapy, which is a method, set of techniques, or personal development system about human communication, perception and subjective experiences. It teaches that a specific individual can develop successful habits by intensifying helpful behaviors and reducing negative ones, and such change can be done by carefully reproducing the behaviors and beliefs of successful people, through the process of modeling. This approach or method aids individuals in terms of self-help, personal influence, and business communication. This approach is related to the treatment of substance or chemical dependency because this approach recognizes the notion that experiences are processed by the sensory systems of the brain, and the processing of that information in the brain lead one to see images and hear sounds and voices along with the creation of feelings. Processing of such information lead to the creation of representations, thus are being activated during any type of activity. The organization and arrangement of such images create impacts on the behavior of individuals. NLP techniques interrupt the maladaptive patterns in the brain, and replace them with more positive and creative thought patterns that would affect the behavior of the person. NLP techniques involve modeling, or adopting a specific behavior or belief of successful individuals, the meta-model or widening the map of the world of the person through language patterns, the Milton model, a form of hypnotherapy that uses language patterns to contact the hidden resources of one’s personality, and the representational system (“Neuron-linguistic Programming”, 2007).

…

            However, despite the large number of treatment programs available for chemical dependency recovery, its selection can be confusing to a family in the middle of a crisis. For this reason, the National Council on Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependencies and various community programs can provide a summary of local treatment resources. Moreover, these programs can suggest levels of care based on interviews with family members and the addicted family member, which in this case is the chemical dependent offender. Nevertheless, a more accurate recommendation would only be made after the patient has been assessed by healthcare professionals. A number of treatment programs provide free assessments and give out recommendations regarding the required level of treatment (Landry, 1994).

 

Assessment Used for Chemical Dependent Offenders

            The treatment of chemical dependents involves first the evaluation and assessment, treatment planning, medical and psychiatric management, psychosocial rehabilitation, and continuing care (Landry, 1994). It is important to assess and evaluate first the condition of the chemical dependent to be able to administer an effective treatment program suitable for his or her condition. A number of evaluation and assessment phases must be undergone by the chemical dependent to ensure that all stages of his or her condition would be properly examined. Primarily, screenings would be done to help determine whether the individual has a substance disorder and whether further evaluation is recommended. After this evaluation, the diagnostic evaluation is done, which documents the presence of a substance use disorder and describes that disorder, thus, providing health professionals with useful and relevant information regarding the problem of the offender. An intake evaluation is also done to trace the medical history of the patient, and becomes the basis for the decision in admitting the patient or to make a referral to other treatment programs (Landry, 1994).

            Specifically, in treatment settings, patients are provided with medical assessments to determine their current medical problem. Medical assessments include detection of addiction-related problems, such as withdrawal, AIDS, hepatitis, or other diseases. The patient undergoes a physical examination, a thorough drug history, x-ray, electrocardiogram, urinalysis, blood tests, and other drug screening tests. Another form of assessment done is the nursing assessment, which takes place during detoxification in inpatient settings. Daily nursing assessment involves the patient’s response to drug cessation, to medication, interactions with other patients and staff, and early response to treatment. Third assessment done is the psychiatric assessment, which is used to confirm the presence and severity of substance use disorders. This type of assessment is a question-and-answer type of assessment, with self-report tests, structured interviews, and personality tests (Landry, 1994).

The next assessment done is the nutritional assessment, which is necessary because during active addiction, nutritional needs are unmet. For this reason, the nutritional needs of the chemical dependent is being evaluated to determine other diseases that may have been caused by his or her condition, thus, requiring additional treatment and care. Nutritionist and other healthcare professionals use structured interviews and laboratory tests to determine the presence and severity of nutritional problems. The fifth assessment to be utilized is the family assessment, where family therapy specialists interview the patient and other family members of the chemical dependent to obtain a clearer understanding of the addict’s family dynamics, effects of addiction on the family, and the effect of family structure on the individual’s addiction. This type of assessment provides information on the expected level of support and understanding of the family of the addict for the treatment and recovery. The next type of assessment done is the social and emotional assessment, which recognizes the fact that different social and emotional problems may have contributed to the drug or alcohol use of the individual. These problems or issues must be identified for a more effective prevention and recovery. In this regard, the social and emotional strengths and weaknesses of the chemical dependent, which would be helpful in administering treatment that would involve the enhancement of poor skills and the encouragement of the use of such skills for personal growth. Another type of assessment that must be done is the recreation, stress, and leisure assessment that involves participation in various activities and exercises that promote pleasure, and this includes sports, hobbies and games. This form of assessment recognizes the fact that during the course of addiction or chemical dependence, the addicts seize to participate in recreational and leisure activities, thus, with this form of assessment, the chemical dependent would be able to enjoy his or her life through interactive and social activities. The next type or form of assessment is the legal assessment, which helps the chemical dependent to address problems such as court appearances that would contribute to the severity of stress and anxiety, thus, reducing the effectiveness of treatment. The last type of assessment to be done is the vocational assessment, which would help the chemical dependent obtain and maintain their jobs or employment. Through this assessment, the chemical dependent is monitored to help them return to their jobs, thus, making them realize their importance to the society and to their community. This form of assessment examines and evaluates the individual skills, interests, job history and addiction-related occupational problems of the chemical dependent, thus, determining the areas that need to be addressed during the treatment and recovery period (Landry, 1994).   

            Aside from the use of such assessment methods is the frequently used form of assessment, which is with the help of counselors or through counseling orientations. These counseling orientations are usually facilitated by psychiatrists, who use a clinical model in determining problems related to chemical or substance dependence. This form of assessment can be used effectively because it is scientifically and research-based, thus, facilitating a scientific approach concerning the treatment of chemical dependents. Counseling orientations use a clinical model that helps the patient and the clinician to understand or treat a clinical problem (as cited in Johnson et. al., 1994), where in this case addiction or chemical dependency is treated as a clinical problem. This specific type of clinical assessment uses an instrument to measure substance abuse through the Powerless-Empowerment Scale, which is a substance abuse counseling assessment method that involve the degree of responsibility of clients should assume for their recovery and how much power they have to overcome their addictions (Johnson et. al., 1994). With such assessment methods, chemical dependent offenders are able to have an idea on the extent of their addiction and on the extent of their treatment. Furthermore, assessments are important in the effective administration of treatment of chemical dependent offenders.

 

Testing Chemical Dependent Populations

            After proper and effective assessment is done, drug testing is appropriate. This should be observed in order to assist the chemical dependent and his or her treatment on rehabilitative and punitive interventions, to reduce drug consumption by the increase in the access to treatment services, to obtain balanced punishment, justice, protection, and offender rehabilitation, and to provide needed information regarding policing and treatment policies and strategies (Matrix Research and Consultancy and NACRE, 2007). These must be taken note of in order to observe effective drug testing strategies and methods that would enable the further improvement and development of treatment methods for chemical or substance dependency.        

Types of drug testing includes pre-employment drug testing and the Post-incident drug testing, which are commonly done in businesses, and the random drug testing, which is the most controversial type, as being used primarily for controlling illicit substance use in the society. This is done most especially in determining the extent of substance use of chemically dependent populations, such as in rehabilitation centers, prisons, different government agencies, and in schools.  

            Drug and alcohol tests are divided into two general classifications, one is through giving a sample of bodily fluids or hair and the other one is with on-site screens. The commonly used method for drug testing is through urinalysis, where a specific individual provides a sample of urine, and the amount of substance is detected either through a test card or through laboratory tests. Tests done in the laboratory may include gas chromatography or mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography or immunoassay analysis. Another way of detecting the amount of substances in the biological system of chemical dependents is through hair drug testing. This is an accurate test, as the hair can go back normally in 3 months, thus, would clearly show the use of drugs by the individual. Substances are contained in the hair shaft, and with longer strands of hair, the more the drug history of the individual can be easily detected. The third type of drug testing methods is through saliva drug screen or the oral fluid-based drug screen, where substance detection occurs after a few days. This is being used, as this type of drug test cannot be adulterated or cheated. Saliva testing can be compared to the accuracy obtained using blood samples. The last type of drug screen is in using sweat, where sweat test patches are attached to the skin of the chemical dependent for 10 to 14 days. This type of drug test is very applicable with the detection of substances for child protective services, parole departments, and other government agencies concerned with the use of drugs over long periods, and when urine samples are not applicable (“Drug Test, 2007). After gathering relevant data from the use of the different drug test methods, samples would be taken to the laboratory for additional confirmatory tests in order to determine the positivist or the negativity of the samples. This would in turn, confirm and indicate the amount of substances present in the biological systems belonging to the chemical dependent population.

            With such drug test methods, the extent of chemical dependency among the target populations would be effectively and efficiently examined. The mentioned tests are not enough to confirm the presence of substances in the system of the chemical dependent. Rather, confirmatory must still be done in order to strongly indicate the presence or absence of substances.

 

Chemical Dependency Treatment Works

             Given the above information, it would be necessary to take note if the chemical dependency treatment methods and strategies are essential and effective in the treatment and recovery of the target population. This is necessary to know the most used chemical dependency treatment used by most rehabilitation centers, and to become the basis of this research paper’s conclusion and recommendation. In addition, it would also be essential to take note of the effectiveness and efficiency of chemical dependency treatment programs to enable further investigation, study, and development that would cater to the needs of the chemical dependent populations in this study.

            It has been reported that despite the number of chemical dependency treatment programs available, there are relatively few outcome studies of treatment programs for chemically dependent adolescents. A cited study in Macmenamin and Ralph (1996) indicated that relapse rates from treatment programs range from 35 to 70%, and that there is minimal information indicating the type of program used, (whether inpatient or outpatient), and whether it is effective or not. Another study indicated that adolescent chemical dependency programs that employed counselors with longer tenure, larger number of volunteers, increased delivery of mental relaxation techniques, and more practical problem solving were attributed to higher completion of treatment. However, this study did not indicate the success rate of such a program. In the comparison of different races in the American society, a specific study of American Indian and European American adolescents found out that following a four to six week inpatient treatment program, 27% of European Americans, and all American Indians continued using alcohol. On the other hand, 46% of American Indians and 41% of European Americans never used marijuana or hashish. This indicates that behavioral changes attributed to the recovery of chemical dependents from drug and alcohol use is not much written, while more literature indicating that chemical dependent populations are under treatment (as cited in Macmenamin and Ralph, 1996). With this data, it can be perceived that the success of the treatment programs were not indicated in most studies related to chemical dependency, and that most of the literatures being recovered indicate that many continue to use alcohol or drugs after being subjected to treatment. From this, it can be hypothesized that either the chemical dependency treatment program or method used in the recovery of the patient is not effective, or the chemical dependency treatment used does not suit the needs of the patient. However, despite such records, some studies indicate the effectiveness and the success rates of such chemical dependency treatment methods.

            Starr (2002) reports that most studies on chemical dependency show that treatment programs on average have an effectiveness rate of 30 to 60%, if measured in terms of the number of people who remain totally abstinent for one year or longer, and where individual treatment programs may achieve higher abstinence rates. In addition, according to the Partnership for Recovery, which is a coalition of top treatment centers, success rates ranges from 51 to 75%, while the Hazel den Foundation boasts a 77% rate of keeping people clean and sober at the end of one year, having 54% being completely abstinent from substance use, and the rest having had just one episode of use during that time. Nevertheless, although addiction treatment is perceived to be not universally successful, its success rate can still be compared to the success rate of treating other diseases, including hypertension, diabetes, and asthma. Thus, as a specific study reported, addiction treatment ranked in the top 10% of medical treatments reviewed for savings in money and lives (as cited in Starr, 2002).

            Another possible measure indicating the effectiveness and success of the chemical dependency treatment programs is through taking note of the lives of the treated patients after undergoing the treatment program. A study indicates that after undergoing the treatment recovery program and the discharge of the patients, significant changes in the patients’ behavior were observed. Macmenamin and Ralph (1996) reports that before admission of chemically dependent adolescents in the treatment program, 75.9% of students were enrolled in regular high school, 12% in a continuation school, 2.8% in independent study, and 6.5% were not in school. However, after the treatment program, 37% were enrolled in regular high school, 9.3% in a continuation school, 26.9% in independent study, and 9.3% were not in school, which included graduates. This study also pointed out that among their respondents, 2 out of 81 students did worse in school after discharge, while 64 out of 81 students improved. In addition, 40 out of 108 students were working before admission, while 58 out of 108 were working after discharge, resulting to an increase number of graduates and improved lives after discharge and treatment.

Moreover, the behavior of the adolescents also improved, indicated by the improvement of their relationship with their family after their discharge, having 82 out of 107 parents having improved relationships, while only 5 out of 107 parents who had worse relationships (as cited in Macmenamin and Ralph, 1996). With this data, it can be perceived that although the success rate of chemical dependency treatment programs are not always indicated in figures, it can still be regarded as an effective and efficient tool that improves the lives of the patients. However, such studies failed to indicate the most effective chemical dependency treatment programs being used and implemented in different rehabilitation and treatment centers and institutions.       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 3

Methodology

 

            This part discusses the research methods available for the study and what is applicable for it to use. Likewise, the chapter presents how the research study was implemented and how it came up with relevant findings. Moreover, this chapter also presents the various procedures and strategies in identifying the sources for the needed information to know the relative preferences of the chosen respondents in terms of the treatment of chemically dependent populations. It specifies the research design that was followed, the process of data gathering, and the data analysis method that would be used.

 

Research Method

            Three kinds of research methods can be used in doing research studies, namely, correlation, experimental, and descriptive method. The correlation method is used with regards to ethical and practical problems with experiments. In addition, inferring causality from correlation is not actually impossible but very difficult, so this mode of study is widely acceptable, cheap and usually ethical. Nonetheless, there exist some “third variable” issues and measurement problems in the use of this type of method. In essence, this type of research method refers to studies in which the purpose is to discover relationships between variables through the use of correlation statistics.

            Another type of research method is the experimental method, which is the only method that can be used to establish cause-and-effect relationships (Creswell, 1994). That is, this type of research method is the only method that can be used to explain the bases of behavior and mental processes. In this method, the subjects are split into two or more groups, where one group is called the experimental group and gets the treatment that the researcher believes will cause something to happen. This treatment is formally called the independent variable. The experimental and control groups are compared on some variable that is presumed to reflect the effects of the treatment or outcome. This is formally referred to as the dependent variable.

            The third and final approach is the descriptive research method, which uses observations and surveys. In this method, it is possible that the study would be cheap and quick. It could also suggest anticipated hypotheses. Nonetheless, it would be very hard to rule out alternative explanations and especially infer causations. Thus, this study will use the descriptive approach to utilize observations in the study.

            The research study started by conducting an exploratory type of research in the aim to identify the variables needed. The research study included personal interviews and self-administered questionnaires. In addition, a set of articles and other literature were used in the process of building constructs and identifying variables. After identifying constructs and variables, a questionnaire was made and distributed to respondents from different chemical dependency treatment centers and rehabilitation institutions. Particularly, the method utilized in this research study is termed the research onion process, which will be used in order to ensure that the researcher will be able to obtain the necessary data to examine which rehabilitation program is the most effective treatment for chemically dependent offenders.

 

Research Onion Process

            In order to come up with the most suitable research approaches and strategies for the study, the research onion process was utilized. The process was termed as such because the conduction of the research is like peeling the layers of an onion, in order to come to the central issue of how to collect the necessary data needed to answer the research questions and objectives. In this research process, important layers should be first peeled away, before arriving at the core of the process. With the said process, an outline on what measures to be applied are most appropriate would be made. In addition, it is not unusual for a researcher to first think of his research understanding by considering whether one should for example, administer a questionnaire or conduct interviews; this is why thoughts of this question should belong to the center of the research onion (Saunders, 2003). That is, in order to come to the central issue of how to collect the data needed to answer one’s research questions, there are important layers of the onion that needed to be peeled away.

The first layer raises the question of the research philosophy to adopt, particularly of positivism. With this research philosophy, a researcher prefers to work with an observable social reality in order to come up with law-like generalizations similar to those produced by the physical and natural scientists (Remedy et. al., 1998). In this tradition, the researcher becomes an objective analyst, coolly making detached interpretations about those data that have been collected in an apparently value-free manner (Saunders et al, 2003). In addition, the emphasis is on a highly structured methodology to facilitate replication (Gill and Johnson, 1997) and on quantifiable observations that lend themselves to statistical analysis (Saunders et al, 2003). The assumption is that the researcher is independent of and neither affects nor is affected by the subject of the research (Remedy et. al., 1998; Saunders et al, 2003).

The second layer considers the subject of the research approach that flows from the research philosophy. Specifically, this research study adopts a deductive research approach, which moves from general ideas or theories to specific particular situations. An example of the application of this kind of research approach is knowing the number of definitions of the word ‘professional’ from a number of professional associations. The definition can be obtained by using a questionnaire, interviews, or group discussions, and through selecting a sample on the basis of age, gender, occupation, etc. The data obtained can then be collated and results presented. This research approach is relatively easy and a systematic way of testing established ideas on a range of people (Neville, 2005). In addition, this approach has five sequential stages, namely, deducing a hypothesis, expressing the hypothesis in operational terms, testing this operational hypothesis, examining the specific outcome of the inquiry to either confirm the theory or indicate the need for its modification, and modifying the theory in the light of the findings, if necessary (Robson, 1993).

The third layer examines the research strategy that is most applicable, and adopts the case study research strategy. This type of research strategy uses a particular case study or situation, which will be the basis for the collection of data, analysis of information, and report of results. Through this case study, the research would be able to understand as to why the situation happened, and the important aspects that should be given attention in the future. This research strategy also helps in generation and testing of hypotheses (“Case Study”, 2007).

The fourth layer refers to the time horizon a researcher applies to his or her research, which in this research study is referred to as the cross sectional time horizon. It has been reported that in the cross-sectional type of research, data needed in the research study are collected from the respondents at a single point in time or during a single, relatively brief timeframe. Particularly, the data are collected from multiple groups or types of people, such as from males and females, from people belonging to different socioeconomic classes, from multiple age groups, and from people with different skills and accomplishments. The advantage of using such a research approach is that the needed data can be collected from different respondents in a relatively short timeframe (“Cross-Sectional Research”, 2006). The fifth and final layer is the data collection methods that are to be used in the research study. The data collection method used in this research study would be useful in obtaining the secondary data needed, particularly the data from the target population or respondents.

 

Research Design

            It has been previously mentioned that the second layer of the research onion process refers to the subject of the research approach, and identifies the deductive research approach as a means of obtaining the necessary data. Furthermore, the deductive approach has a number of important characteristics. Primarily, this approach is a search to explain causal relationships between variables, which consequently lead to the development of a hypothesis. Second, it involves the collection of a quantitative data and/or qualitative data, and these data are important to test a hypothesis that has been previously developed. The third characteristic of a deductive approach is that it controls to allow the testing of hypothesis. However, one must remember that with this approach, it is important that the researcher is independent of what is being observed – that is, the researcher should be objective and not subjective. In this sense, the principle of scientific strictness will be pursued, as this approach emphasizes scientific principles (Saunders et. al., 2003). Another important aspect to take note of is that the concepts are operationalisation, which will enable facts to be measured quantitatively. Finally, the deductive approach is a generalization, and to be able to do so, a sufficient numerical size of samples is needed (Saunders et. al., 2003).

However, along with the guide of the sequential stages in adopting the deductive research approach, effectively and properly obtaining data from respondents involve both a qualitative and quantitative research, using exploratory methods in describing the variables, such that the data situation and other facts collected were explained and correlated with other data. This form of research design is useful when conducting a study where data are immeasurable, such as feelings, beliefs, and thoughts (Mays and Pope, 2000). In addition, this descriptive study focuses on the conditions set and the nature that surrounds the data, and not on the correlation with other collected facts. Specifically, the qualitative method permits a flexible and iterative approach, while the quantitative research method permits specification of dependent and independent variables and allows for longitudinal measures of subsequent performance of the research subject.

During data collection, the choice and design of methods are constantly modified, based on ongoing analysis. This allows investigation of important new issues and questions as they arise, and allows the investigators to drop unproductive areas of research from the original research plan.

The value of qualitative research can best be understood by examining its characteristics. One of the primary advantages of qualitative research is that it is more open to the adjusting and refining of research ideas as an inquiry proceeds. In addition, the researcher does not attempt to manipulate the research setting, as an experimental research study, but rather seeks to understand naturally occurring phenomena in their naturally occurring states. In comparison, the quantitative method is compatible with the study because it allows the research problem to be conducted in a very specific and set terms (Cooper and Schindler, 1998). Besides, the quantitative research plainly and distinctively specifies both the independent and the dependent variables under investigation. It resolutely follows the original set of research goals, arriving at more objective conclusions, testing hypothesis, determining the issues of causality, and eliminating or reducing subjectivity of judgment (Kelley and Pothered, 1996). In addition, this method allows for longitudinal measures of subsequent performance of research subjects (Mated, 2002). Finally, it provides achieving high levels of reliability of collected data due to, namely, controlled observations, laboratory experiments, mass surveys, or other forms of research manipulations. This study should be based on surveys and statistical treatments, such that the quantitative approach suits well with it.

 

 

           

 

To find out causes of addiction and chemical dependency in the target population;

12) To identify the elements that foresee substance exploit problems or the problems that lead to chemical dependency;

13) To determine the effects of chemical dependency to individuals and to the society;

14) To determine the different drug and alcohol rehabilitation methods currently used, including its process, duration and development;

15) To provide an ample assessment of offenders with chemical dependency problems;

16) To evaluate processes and tools presently used for testing;

17) To determine alternative rehabilitation methods available for chemical dependents;

18) To determine the chemical dependent treatment effects of the offenders;

19) To identify the constructive dependency treatment results in offenders; Chapter 4 and 5

 To recognize the impacts of such actions to the society; Conclusion and Recon

 

Issues

 (1) Fortunately, although no cure exists, medical treatment can enable recipients to live normal, healthy, and productive lives. Treatment is cheap compared to many other common medical procedures and is highly cost-effective. (2) Now consider this: For the vast majority of victims of this disease, effective treatment is inaccessible. Most health insurance plans either do not cover it or put a variety of limits on coverage that do not apply to other diseases. Unless they can pay out of pocket, victims cannot get the treatment they need. To make matters worse, they are often told that their condition is not a real disease, or that it is their fault, or that suffering from it makes them a criminal.

The disease is drug and alcohol addiction, and the facts are real. Ubiquitous benefit caps on insurance coverage of substance abuse treatment put effective recovery out of reach for most addicts. In this Note, I assess the nature of this problem and some possible ways to address it. The general principle that I advocate is substance abuse treatment parity, which means that insurance plans should provide coverage for addiction treatment that is equivalent to that provided for analogous conditions. In some cases, failure to provide such parity should be considered illegal disability discrimination on the part of employers and insurers. Moreover, new laws should be adopted to require insurance parity explicitly.

In Part I, I review the current status of insurance coverage of addiction treatment and assess the scope of the shortfall and possible reasons behind it. In Part II, I set forth the case for insurance parity, including the nature and costs of the disease of addiction and the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of treatment, and consider some counterarguments. In Part III, I analyze the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as they pertain to insurance parity, drawing on the precedents set by recent challenges to other types of insurance discrimination. I conclude that the ADA should be interpreted to require parity in some cases, but that the potential effectiveness of this litigation strategy is limited--new reforms are necessary. In Part IV, I consider the strengths and weaknesses of current legislative proposals to accomplish insurance parity, and focus especially on the Substance Abuse Treatment Parity Act. Finally, in Part V, I offer my conclusions and recommendations for legal change and advocacy.

 

 

Sample Questionnaire 1

 

Personal Information of Respondent

Please provide necessary answers on the space provided after each item. On items with choices, please mark the corresponding answer in line with the respondent’s preference.

 

Name: _____________________________               Date: _________

 

Gender: Female ______           Male: ______

 

Rehabilitation Institution: ___________________________

Location: ________________________________________

 

Age Range:

Below 20 _____          20 to 25 _____            26 to 30 _____            31 to 35 _____

  36 to 40 _____          41 to 45 _____            46 to 50 _____            Over 50 _____

 

Race:

Native American _____            European American _____       African American _____                       Asian _____                 Others (pls. specify)___________

 

Religion:

Christian _____            Muslim _____              Catholic _____ Buddhism _____

Hindu _____                Protestant_____           Others _____

 

Marital Status:

Single _____                Married _____             Divorced/Widowed _____      

Children (if any): _____

 

Educational Background:

High School Education _____   University Education _____

Masterly Studies _____                        Doctorate Studies _____

Vocational_______

 

Occupation:

(A) Student (pls. specify) _____________

(B) White Collar Job – doctor, lawyer, nurse, accountant, etc

(C)  Blue Collar Job – construction, domestic helper, plumber, factory worker, etc

(D) Unemployed

 

Substance/Chemical Used upon Arrest

(A) Alcohol

(B) Drugs (pls. specify what kind) _____________________

(C) Others (pls. specify)

 

Type of Chemical Dependency Treatment Currently In: __________________

 

Duration:

(A) Once a week

(B) Twice a week

(C) Thrice a week

(D) Daily

(E) Monthly

(F) Occasionally

(G) Full In-house Treatment

            1. Regular

            2. Intensive

(H) Outpatient Treatment

            1. Regular

            2. Intensive

 

Stage of Treatment

(A) Newly Enrolled

(B) Regularly attending sessions

(C) Near recovery

 

 

 

Sample Questionnaire 2

 

All items are responded to using a 5-point Liker-type scale with the following points: 1 for Strongly Agree; 2 for Agree; 3 for Uncertain; 4 for Disagree; and 5 for Strongly Disagree. Please mark the corresponding space for the points.

 

1. Do you recognize the fact that you are a chemical dependent individual?

         1 Strongly             2 Agree          3 Uncertain        4 Disagree        5 Strongly    

               Agree                                                                                                     Disagree

 

2. Do you recognize that your situation affects your behavior entirely?

         1 Strongly             2 Agree          3 Uncertain        4 Disagree        5 Strongly    

               Agree                                                                                                     Disagree

 

3. Do you believe that your chemical dependency has given you any advantages?

        1 Strongly              2 Agree          3 Uncertain        4 Disagree        5 Strongly    

               Agree                                                                                                     Disagree

 

4. I perceive drugs or excessive use alcohol a tool for the disruption of my future.

        1 Strongly              2 Agree          3 Uncertain        4 Disagree        5 Strongly    

               Agree                                                                                                     Disagree

5. Do you realize the negative effects of your situation to your family and friends?

        1 Strongly              2 Agree          3 Uncertain        4 Disagree        5 Strongly    

               Agree                                                                                                     Disagree

 

6. Are you satisfied with the extent of treatment provided to you?

       1 Strongly               2 Agree          3 Uncertain        4 Disagree        5 Strongly    

               Agree                                                                                                     Disagree

 

7. Do you believe that the currently administered treatment is suitable to your condition?

      1 Strongly                2 Agree          3 Uncertain        4 Disagree        5 Strongly    

               Agree                                                                                                     Disagree

 

8. Has your attention been completely diverted from the use of alcohol/drugs?

      1 Strongly                2 Agree          3 Uncertain        4 Disagree        5 Strongly    

               Agree                                                                                                     Disagree

 

9. Has your condition improved from the time you entered the institution?

      1 Strongly                2 Agree          3 Uncertain        4 Disagree        5 Strongly    

               Agree                                                                                                     Disagree

 

10. With the extent of your knowledge, do you perceive another type of chemical dependency treatment more applicable to your condition?

      1 Strongly                2 Agree          3 Uncertain        4 Disagree        5 Strongly    

               Agree                                                                                                     Disagree

11. Are the activities facilitated in this institution successful in treating your addiction?

      1 Strongly                2 Agree          3 Uncertain        4 Disagree        5 Strongly    

               Agree                                                                                                     Disagree

 

Sample Essay Footwear of the Renaissance Period

Aybe Footwear of the Renaissance Period

The European Renaissance which lasted from 1450 to 1600 is characterized by renewed interest in art and the age of exploration. It was also a time of refinement and extravagance in fashion (Yue, 1997, p.36). Footwear was a big part of men’s fashion during that period. In the beginning the shoes were lo9nag pointed and are generally worn for indoor use. Leather clogs with wooden soles are worn for outdoor use weather. The long-toed poulaines were style of shoes with extremely long toes and very popular during the 15^th century. They are worn by men and women but men’s are the most extravagantly long.

French Poulaine Thigh-boots, 1460s 

 

 

 

 

1434                                       mid century                            1475-80

           

Both men and women wore narrow shoes with pointed toes. They stayed in the fashion longer in Northern Europe. Pattens or wooden clogs with cloth straps over the instep were worn over the poulaines and other soft shoes indoors and in public areas.

Eventually, the shoes became less pointed and more rounded. Poulaines went out of fashion and a soft broad-toed, low cut slipper became popular. Most were calf length, form-fitting and laced up sides. At the turn of the century, they became duck billed with ribbons tied across the top of the foot. These shoes were named as “duck’s bill”, “bear’s paw” or “cow’s mouth” (Yue, 1997, p.36). This shoe became fashionable especially among men. On the other hand, women’s shoes are less extreme.

Gradually, the toes became wider and wider standing out as much as eight or nine inches. They are stuffed and shaped into rolls and sometimes made to look giant toes (Yue, 1997, p.36). Towards the end of the period, the slippers became more natural and slipper like. Shoe makers began slashing and pricking to give the shoes a better fit. At the end of the renaissance period, the most popular mode of footwear was the footed hose.

 

 

 

 

 

 

            Women’s footwear was also not neglected. There were many extravagant designs and trends. Women had to put a restriction on the width of their toes if they wanted to buy shoes that would fit them. Shoes are limited to six inches in width and in France the shoes were cut with a square shape in the toe. The styles of the shoes were generally associated with the reign of Henry VIII and Francois I from which some styles originated.

            Shoes are made out of wood in the platform and leather in the slippers. The shoes are as extravagant as the rest of the outfit. The platform adds height to women and came in height of up to 13 inches with jeweled ornaments. Some slippers had slashes over the toe filled with taffeta. In the late 1400s to the mid 1600s the platform sole became extremely popular. This platform shoe was called the chopine, an overshoe that slipped over a dainty shoe that protects it form mud or dirt. This shoe made its major appearance in the 15^th century. It is usually designed with a cork or wood stacked on the sole with a velvet coat. The Venetians made the platform sole as a status symbol which reveals wealth and social status among women (‘Platform Shoes of the 1600s’,2007).

 

 

 

 

A velvet chopine from Venice, c.1560        A velvet chopin with a wooden sole, Venice, c. 1600

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            As women strode in the streets, they needed assistance because some of the soles reached up to 30 inches high. They are laughed at the impracticality and the general awkwardness of the shoes. Nonetheless, women who felt the need to elevate themselves from the rest of the world to be recognized as high and mighty wore them. The reason why chopines became popular in France and Italy was because of Anne of Brittany, the wife of two French kings who wore chopines to conceal a slight lameness (V. M & M. S, 1998).

            Flat shoes are worn until 1610. Shoes for men and women were flat and are often slashed and fastened with a strap across the instep.

 

 

 

 

 When low heel shoes became popular. The shoes grew elaborate with lace and ribbon rosettes called shoe roses worn by the most fashionable men and women.  Backless slippers called pantofles are usually worn indoors. Working men and women also wore boots and shoes to keep their feet dry and warm (‘1600-1650 in fashion’, 2007). They continued to wear many of the old styles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heeled shoes with shoe roses

 

 

 

 

 

 

           Boots with boot hose, early (left) and late (right) 1630s

Sample Reasonability to Reduce Global Warming Essay

u[CMR1] DJ

       Every people [CMR2] has reasonability to reduce Global Warming

Executive Summary

Along with the development of science and new technology, the mankind's living quality got[CMR3]  a very great exaltation[CMR4] . However, after we got[CMR5]  benefits from the science and new technology, we also got another outcome—Global warming. This is a very big problem to influence [CMR6] our life, because it can make us to lose the only space to live. Many people thought this is caused by factories or chemical industry. But I am argue that everyone lives on the earth should have a responsibility to try best to reduce the speed of global warming.

Statement of Need

During last ten years, the global warming have already started to affect our living environment. Now, the temperatures of our environment are getting higher and higher every year. Arctic Oscillation and Antarctic Oscillations both show that their sea levels are raising because of global warming. In most areas, summer is getting longer and come earlier; winter is getting shorter and it is not too cold just like spring. One movie called “water world” warning people that if we can not reduce the speed of global warming, after 100 years, the earth nearly has no land and everywhere is water because the global warming, the badly environment is very difficult for people to live.

In the recent G8 meeting, global warming is still a big topic of the meeting. This means that global warming is one of the biggest problems what we are facing. Because of this, I am writing this research paper to make people to understand global warming easily and realize everyone should do something to reduce global warming, not just governments and scientists’ responsibly to reduce the speed of global warming.

Project Description

I will use five steps to developing my project. First of all, I will point out the speed of global warming [CMR7] is increasing every year; show some facts what global warming bring to us, how it is getting worse, why it is important to us[CMR8] . Then I will use some academic article to support my point, such as “The Arctic and Antarctic Oscillations and their Projected Changes under Global warming.” And “Global warming in the twenty-first century: An alternative scenario.”[CMR9]  Both of these two article show that global warming is a big problem of human facing. Third, I am going to lay out some facts what are causing global warming [CMR10] from our day life. This is easy to make people to understand that the global warming is not just produced by factories or chemical industry, it is also from us. For example, using air conditioner, Driving car, burning the plastic goods, destroy plants and so on. The fourth steps, I will give out some ideas how to reduce global warming. Such as: avoid wasting gas. Last, I will make a conclusion to support my argument that every people have responsibility to reduce the speed of global warming.[CMR11] 

Conclusion

I believe that my audience will be someone who wants to do something to reduce global warming but not too professional, someone who does not know how to reduce global warming, such as: young students, family women, and some old people. [CMR12] My research paper can help them to have some general ideas how to reduce global warming from daily life.

---

 [CMR1] you have a good topic here, and you offer some interesting ideas for your project. I think your paper may ultimately suffer from too broad or too general a focus, however. This is a large topic that requires you specify your focus. See my comments in the end for focusing your audience a little more clearly. The problem is that your project description is really too general, covering too much territory. I want a focused paper, that speaks to a specific audience about a specific aspect of this enormous debate. Grammatically, your writing is really hurt by your grasp of verb conjugations, which is what I mean by agreement problems. Grade: 6/10

 [CMR2]Agreement.

 [CMR3]Agreement problem.

 [CMR4]Which is?

 [CMR5]This is slang. You would generally never use this past tense form of the verb “to get.” ‘…have received’ would be better.

 [CMR6]Agreement.

 [CMR7]This belongs in your introduction, as an attention grabber.

 [CMR8]Faulty parallel.

 [CMR9]Fragment.

 [CMR10]This stuff, too, belongs in your introduction. You seem to be shifting around here, really just offering an overview of this topic rather than really focusing on a clear argument.

 [CMR11]I think all this is good and really should be where you focus your argument. But use the circle technique we discussed in class to find your specific thesis.

 [CMR12]Why would you assume such individuals in particular do not understand global warning? You might want to speak to an audience who really doesn’t get it and who you could speak to directly, such as, major polluters in the world from business and industry, or those nations who are the biggest problem. But don’t generalize about who you think needs this information. You need more clarity about your audience, and that will give your project a clearer focus.

Research Paper Introduction to the United Arab Emirates

Table of Content

 

 

Introduction to The United Arab Emirates. 3

Cultural Dimensions and Analysis. 4

Power Distance. 4

Individualism vs. Collectivism.. 5

Masculinity Vs Felinity. 6

Uncertainty Avoidance. 6

High Context Culture. 6

Polychromic. 7

Cross Cultural communication. 7

Negotiating in the I.E.. 9

Negotiating Style and Building the Relationship. 9

The Stages of Negotiation and Key Tips. 10

Teams in United Arab Emirates. 13

Leadership. 13

Persuasion. 13

Credibility. 14

Office Relations. 14

Motivation. 15

Expatriates in the I.E.. 15

Current Expatriate Situation. 15

Why do expatriates fail in USE?. 17

Ethical Issues In the USE. 18

Reference. 21

 

 

Introduction to The United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates is a federation of Arab monarchies including In 1971 the federations formed when it achieved independence from Great Britain and now consists of 4.32 Million people with 80% of the population being expatriates[1]. The U.A.E is bordered by Saudi Arabia and Oman and is made up of mostly desert.

Abu Dhabi has the highest GDP of the Emirates at approximately US$103 Billion and 40% of the total population[2]. The second largest Emirate is Dubai which accounts for one quarter of the GDP and is the center for commerce, transportation, tourism and finance. Dubai has taken a lead in trade by establishing history, relationships and developing into a pro-business environment allowing many western firms to enter the region with little restrictions and government controls.

It is imperative to be familiar with the Muslims’ prayers times, which tend to differ by countries, due to the fact that the prayers times follow the sun. Hence, meetings and gathering should be schedule outside those times. Furthermore, working days in the Middle East region differ from those around the world. Working / Business week starts on a Saturday and ends on a Thursday. Reason for this is, so that local can participate in the compulsory Friday Prayers, which takes place mid day.

Extensive development and growth over the past three decades has increased the per capita income of the country to one of the world highest at US$24,000.[3] This expansion has been driven by a booming oil sector and a flood of expatriate labor which has legitimized the non-oil sector and aided in its development and competitive nature.

Although the U.A.E has taken a pro western view of the business world there are many traditions and cultural differences to be aware of. The country is 96% Muslim and as such these belief and values cross over into business relations[4]. The Royal Families are highly respected in the society and hold the final say in all business transactions that happen outside of the free trade zones. Cultural intelligence and cultural awareness are extremely important traits to possess when dealing in the United Arab Emirates and values and norms should be studied extensively to avoid offending your business partners.

Cultural Dimensions and Analysis

Hofstadter's cultural dimensions provide information of significance for undertaking business ventures in the United Arab Emirates. These dimensions are implemented to maintain a better understanding of the underlying Arabic culture that drives the values of the United Arab Emirates.

Power Distance

“Power Distance index (PD) is the degree to which power differences are accepted and sanctioned by a society.”[5] Hosted scored U.A.E an 80 on power distance thus showing a need for hierarchical structure and the belief that everyone has a place in society.[6] Examples of this power distance are

• Family hierarchy within the ruling families. The President of the United Arab Emirates is the head of the Al  family of [7]
• Can not do business in the United Arab Emirates without the partnership of a member of one of the 7 ruling families.
• Seniority, Family and Age are greatly valued within the culture. Therefore must give gifts to senior family members as a sign of respect.
• Privileges are expected for high status and high powered individuals.

Individualism vs Collectivism

“Individualism (IDA) is the degree to which individual decision making and action are accepted and encouraged by the society.”[8] Hosted scored the United Arab Emirates a 38[9]. This demonstrates a greater good mentality and collectivist society that focuses on long term group commitment.[10] Above all the Emirates are Collectivist. High value is put on family, honor and hospitality. Examples of Collectivism are:

• Negotiations revolve around the relationship and fit of the two business.
• Once male Emirates reach the age of majority they are provided with a new car and a yearly salary by the government.
• Education is paid for by the government if you are an Emirate either male or female.

Masculinity Vs Felinity

“Masculinity is the degree to which traditional male values are important to society.”[11] Hosted rated the United Arab Emirates as 52[12] showing that due to the Muslim culture women are limited. However the culture of the country is becoming more westernized. Women have begun to take leadership roles and are highly educated.

Examples of Masculinity are:

• Women and Men are separated for education. Although they do learn the exact same material and take equal tests.
• A single women must be accompanied by a male family member in public
• Women are not welcome in business negotiations.

Uncertainty Avoidance

“The degree to which a society is willing to accept and deal with uncertainty.”[13] The Muslim ideals have crossed over through rules, laws and policies which reduce the uncertainty of the society. The United Arab Emirates score a 68[14] on Hofstadter's Dimensions, although this score is low on acceptance of uncertainty, it is changing as western business floods into the country. Examples of Uncertainty Avoidance are:

• The strict social and religious laws of the Muslim Faith to direct behavior.
• Family loyalty above all else to ensure security.

High Context Culture

The United Arab Emirates is a high context culture with their style of communication involving a lot of body language, non verbal signals and hidden meanings. The Arabs rely a lot on implicit meaning to help save face. Being vague is a form of politeness and can often be misinterpreted. [15] 

Polychromic

Emirates are polychromic and treat time as an infinite resource. They manage many things simultaneously and will always see a friend, family member or coworker even when no appointment was made. When meeting if the exchange is going well the time will be extended and overlap with other arrangements. However is the meeting is going poorly many managers will reschedule and cut the time short in order to revisit the issue and save face. [16]

National culture of the United Arab Emirates is derived from many variables. As a Middle Eastern country is it extremely business friendly and looking towards to west to sustain its economic development. The Islamic religion is very prevalent in the societies values and norms, however traditional and modernism are blending to bring slow change to the culture.  There is an extremely tolerant and cosmopolitan feeling emerging and many expatriates practice their own traditional cultural activities without persecution.

Cross Cultural communication

Communication in the USE is extremely unique compared with most western ideas of interaction. Compared with most western cultures, the USE is very high context culture. Communication systems are so complex and diversified that they rely heavily on body language or non-verbal signs, intonations, idioms, euphemisms, anecdotes, and hidden meanings to the extent that the spoken word is simply one of several ways to communicate.[17] Gestures plays a significant role in the Middle East region as Arabians are known to be touchy even among men. In both team and business situations, men hold hands to show great friendship and this is normal in the Arabian Culture.

Something to remember when communicating with a high context culture such as the USE is that while they may seem to be evasive, vague or slow, a low context western business man may appear to the Arab as being impersonal, impatient and rude.[18] This is why an understanding of the customs of communication between the cultures is so important. Some general guidelines and rules to follow when doing business in the USE are as follows[19];

· Do not get too wrapped up in what you say, rather concentrate on what is being understood by the other person.

· Be prepared to repeat yourself and visit the same point a number of times. If you have not been understood, avoid using the same wording or phrases when you repeat.

· Get used to ‘offshore English’ rather than ‘traditional English’, use simple rather than sophisticated words.

· Give examples and relate to case histories when trying to explain something rather than using generalizations, avoid idioms or euphemisms.

· As high context cultures tend to be holistic in their approach to problem solving, make the first meeting a general one and don’t expect to get much business done. After that, try and schedule several short meetings rather than one long one to control the information exchange to an optimum level.

· Listen very carefully to the other person with both your ears and eyes. If their body language conflicts with the spoken word, it is usually better to believe the body language

· When it comes to communication for the purpose of negotiation, you must remember that the USE, like most collectivist and high context cultures, are very good negotiators since they are patient and persistent. Be prepared for them to try and wear you down and do not get discouraged if an agreement is not met within the first few meetings.

Negotiating in the I.E..

Across cultures negotiating standards, techniques and procedures differ greatly and have been acknowledged as the most challenging part of international business interaction. Due to the large oil deposits, booming economies and high growth potential, the ability to negotiate effectively with Emirates has become an integral part of successful business integration within the country. With business practices steeped in religious ideology, western cultures face a number of hurtles to overcome, however proper training and cultural awareness can help companies avoid misshape and common blunders.

Teams in United Arab Emirates

The Hofstadter's Cultural Dimension has shown that the people of United Arab Emirates (USE) are Collectivist and teamwork has always been regarded as a vital process to success. It is fundamental for everyone in the team to understand the objective and goals for forming the teams. More importantly due to the High Power Distance in their culture, it is crucial to recognize the top authorities of the group, and of course get to know the sub dominates.

Leadership

There is a clear line drawn between sub dominates and managers within the Arab companies. The ones with the most authority are highly respected and usually age and family background plays quite a significant role on the Leadership Status. This leadership culture can be observed not only in the business world but also in the public society, such as the government industry and general families. Arabian managers are said to behave like fathers and protectors of their sub dominates, hence the patriarchal style of leadership. Even though, research shows that Arabian culture is not so much of an individualism culture, mangers tend to view organisational problems as subjective, so when mangers have solutions for the problems, they have the tendency of being firm with their decision.

Persuasion

A key value in the Arabian culture is not to lose face, similar to those values in the Asian Region. This is a very important value to keep in mind and practise. Putting pressure on an Arabian counterpart will only place them in an uncomfortable position, this is essential also when dealing with your sub dominates.

Since the Middle East culture may be considered as a Particularise culture, friendship and respect are highly valued by Arabians. Hence, family and close relationship would influence many decision making.

Credibility

Emeriti are a high context communication society. It is very important for the team to note everything thing that happens in a meeting, useful for future reference as well. At the team introduction stage, handing business cards is very common but not necessary; ensure that both the Arabic and English version of the information is printed on the card and always present it in the left hand. When engaging in team task, English is the business language spoken, but if you can communicate in the Arabic language with them, you are at an advantage. Emirate prefer to have a face – to – face meeting, regardless of it being personal or business. In addition, similarly to the Asian culture, building the relationship plays a key role before any party can engage in business deals.

Motivation

A famous psychologist Abraham Maslow came up with a motivation framework, which covers all area of basic needs of an individual or society which would satisfy them. The Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs consists of five different levels of needs, from bottom (priority) to top, the Physiology Needs, Safety Needs, Belonging Needs, Esteems Needs and the Self-actualisation Need. Many might argue that this framework is universal; Research shows that Emirate managers place Self-actualisation Need in the middle of the pyramid while placing the Belonging Needs, Esteems Need at the top, and others remind the same. The Emirates value maintenance roles that impact organizational behaviour and respond greatly to socioemotional rewards such as a pat on the back and praise. The individual is working for the benefit of the family and relatives that they support and all monetary or material rewards should be geared towards them.

 

Research Paper Teacher starts Lesson by asking children to think who they want to sit with in this term

Week 1

Year 4.

Teacher starts lesson by asking children to think who they want to sit with in this term. Teacher ask students to choose their partners carefully, not just sit next to their friends but sit next to the students who is nice to work with. Teacher reminds that she does not want to have one table of boys and other only girls. Tables are grouped in fives.

This activity is a very good motivational factor for children, but I think it will be better if students were divided in a small groups of 6 or 4 (even number), because then students will have more opportunities to work not just in a small group, but also in pairs and no students will be left out.   

 

Students are enjoying sitting in a small groups (Year4), but some students have difficulties in communication with their peers. Joseph says that everyone on his table is keeping to annoying him; Yvonne is calling Paul names.

Teacher is using merit point system to keep children organize. Every Friday she will give to the students with the most points to pick the prize from the ‘Lucky Box”.

 

 

Class Rules.

Put your hand up when you want to speak.

Listen carefully when other people are speaking.

Work quietly at your desk. Always try your best!

Walk quietly in the classroom.

Keep classroom clean and tidy.

Remember-Hands off.

Share and play nicely with others.

Never share food with other children.

 

 

Math group. Stage 2

    Year4 and Year3 are together in math activities. On the beginning of year every teacher in her class made the test, because it is shows different levels of students’ development. My math group is the weakest from stage 2. It is not fair for some students to be in this group because; they are good at math, but not very strong in reading and writing.

   Most of the students in my class should not start Year4 with such a low level of understanding numbers and mathematical symbols. I think students should be back to Year2, 3. I think it won’t be negative on their self-esteem, but it will work opposite, it will encourage students to work harder and students will not wait for someone to give them right answer.

   There are many bullies, slow learners, ADD students in this math group. Difficult family structure affecting students focus on education. Students do not understand importance of math in life.

 

 

Skills for classroom observation.

Student teacher should look for students’ participation in activities, students’ responses on the teacher questions, key questions that teacher used for expending students thinking.

 

 

Input-Guided Reading + process.

There are 4 reading groups. Students divided in to the groups by their reading ability. Every day teacher gives one hour for students to work in the small groups by themselves.

Group A- Play.

Students are outside of classroom. Teacher gives students the sheet with play on it and students have to decide by themselves the roles and the costumes. There are 4 groups and there are 5 different plays. Students will practice their play for whole term and on the last week of term they going to present the final version of play to whole class.

Group B-Creative writing.

Students work on their writing. Creative writing is very important for students’ imagination and practicing not only hand writing, but spelling and structure.

Group C-HSIA grid.

Students search information for their presentation on the topic for this term. Human Body. Students are provided with variety books on the human body (many students bring their own books from home or library). Also, students can use computer for their Power Point presentation or to find information.

Group D-Guided Reading.

Students are sitting in the circle on the carpet, teacher included in circle.

Low ability group.

 Teacher with a group of students will read first couple of paragraphs, together.  Next teacher will ask each student to read loud a paragraph on their own. Teacher will listen to student reading and correct/help with hard words. Each of the students in the group will have an opportunity to read. Then teacher will ask students to read silently one paragraph, after teacher will ask students some questions about story they just read (comprehension).

Normal group.

Teacher will divide students in to pairs. Student 1 will read a paragraph student 2 must listen and correct, then students will change the roles. Bring students together in group and discuss the words which they did not understand.

 

Personal Goals.

I have the weakest math group in stage 2, my goal is to use different teaching strategies to develop students thinking skills record their achievement and build up students’ self-esteem and confidence in math by using evaluation and feedback from supervisor teacher.

I start my practicum from math lessons, because I feel confident in this area, my goal is to build up confidence in subjects such as English and DUPE.

 

Classroom management.

Week 3.

Students on the carpet Jarrod next to Christian, they would not stop talking and breaking class room rules. I asked Christian to move next to me and I pointed on free space on the carpet. Christian declines. I stopped lesson and I just wait, then Jarrod moved away and sit quietly next to the whiteboard.

It happened because it is a mix class (year3 and Year 4), children have to change classroom, different teacher, different classroom rules.

 Week 8.

Students on the carpet Jarrod next to Christian, they would not stop talking and they are ignoring me and the class room rules. I got up and I moved up close to them. I said Christian move to that corner and face opposite direction from the class and I stayed next to him and wait, he was laughing I was waiting and whole class were waiting too. Christian moved to the corner, but he still faced class. I explained the rest of the class activities and students started work on it.

I went to the corner and I sat next to Christian. I applied on Christian reality therapy. It worked well, because I establish positive relationships, high expectations and complement his achievements.

 

Week 1. Graphs.

Most popular car.

Students were very involved in this activity, because they were very excited about idea to go outside and do their own research.

It is hard to arrange students to walk in two lines. Students needed more time to find brand of the car on the list, because some students can not read. It is better to do this activity as picture graph (not column graph) and students should find most popular color not brand.

 

Week 2. Visit to the church.

It was very busy day for Year 4B. We had one hour sports in the morning and Mothers Day excitement. Children were very noisy and impatient.

Religion lesson is always in a second half of day. Inside the classroom. Teacher explains to kids that we are going to the church and she reminds them of the way they should behave.

Children were very good on the way to the church and inside the temple. Students were quite and doing their task.

Old man walked inside the church he had a bad leg. It was very quite and old man very slow walked pass. Suddenly, I heard noise and I looked at the old man. He tripped over the carpet and felt. I ran to him and I helped him to get up. Then he joined our religion lesson.

The story of the old man.

  St. Christopher’s priest every morning before school starts, he would come with a big bag of tennis balls and give them out for children to play with. The olds man son was one of the St. Christopher’s students at that time. So, he was very touched by the kindness of the priest, that after when priest died and the boy finished school and found job he would send 300 tennis balls to school every year. It is a tradition for this ex-student from St. Christopher’s. He kept this tradition during all this ears and he follows it even now.

Students in 4B were very interested to hear such a great story. They had a lot of questions.

So, it was one of the best religion lessons I saw. It was perfect place and perfect topic of the lesson and a great guest with amazing story

Week 3. CSIRO Incursion.

We had visit from one of the scientist from CSIRO. He set 10 stations for kids to explore Human Body. Tables were in U shape. He gave each student worksheet and student had to record information about their own human body. Students were involved and participating in these activities with pleasure. Some students did not want to go on the lunch break. 

1.      Sensational.  Different smells which were in small containers with little holes in them. Some had smell on the container, but others had just a letter on them. So, children had to match them up and then record them on a sheet.

2.      Vision of color. It is very interesting activity, because when you do not have color glasses on you it is impossible to see the animals. You have to wear different color glasses to see the different pictures.

3.      Lung Capacity. Children measure their lung capacity and then they compare the results to friends result and to norm for their age.

4.      Children had to check their heart rate by resting their index finger over a special watch. After that children ran on the spot to get their heart rate then they checked their heart rate again.

5.      I found blood and it’s gory really interesting because students never seen white cells before. Students loved to use microscope.

6.      Rocking About was a wobbly activity. Children had to test their balance by standing still. First children stood on it rocking side to side with their eyes open/shut, next students did the same rocking front to back.

7.      Colored Brain word. First children had to time themselves how long it took them to say a word that was different colored. After that they had to say the color and not the word.

8.      Cracks and crevices. Children could see what they skin actually looked like. The equipment students used was a microscope.

9.      Tasty Genes was also another great experiment because students got to taste flavored paper.

10.  Diaphragm. In the diaphragm the two balloons pumped, as students pulled the bottom an as pushed they pushed in the balloons went in.

Week 5.

Math lesson.

I was trying to explain to my students the concept of mass, but I don not think the idea is clear to them. A lot of kids have behavior problems.

It is very hard to make small groups productive, because students in very different levels of development and most of them do not value importance of belonging to the community.

My strategy is to keep students busy with hand on activities and always ask them tricky questions to regain their attention. It is working well. Only small percentage in my class getting tide very quick and loose interest (do not respond to my questions).

Week 7.

Classroom teacher and I changed the setting arrangements, because it is time for assessments. With these sitting arrangements the merit point system will not work, because children do not work in a small group. There is no social interaction between students.

First day kids were exited about new arrangements. 4b did very well in spelling activities. Children were focus and participating well.

However, math group was not excited, because a lot of kids were lost in activities. Some students were misbehaving and moving tables. It is much harder to set up working stations for math activities and it is not enough space in the classroom.

Jarrod and Christian are choose to sit next to each other, the result was bad test. These two students were distracting each other and students who seats next to them. 

 

Math lesson.

Math assessment term two, stage two. Math assessment is open ended questions. Could not find questions on graphs.

My classroom teacher decided that we will do this test just one page a day and there are 9 pages in this test.

Pluses=>bottom math group and students are very slow and it will take them whole day to finish this test. It is good to remind students about the topic which they going to work, just before the test to refresh students memory.

Minuses=>Some students do not come to school every day and they do not have time to couch up. Some topics were not covered, before this test.

Week 8. Patterns and Algebra.

I started my lesson as usual with Mental Strategies, and then I moved on introducing and explaining Algebra and the activity from the test. I spend 20 minutes of my lesson on different teaching strategies to explain this part of mathematics. It was time for students to start with their math test, but more then a half of class still would tell me “ Miss, I don not understand”. I was trying to explain too many things at short time and student was not ready for assessment.

One of my supervisor teachers came to me and whisper that I should leave my explanations and start assess students. I was disagreeing with her, but I followed her instructions. I gave students math assessment on Math-Algebra. Students had 30 minutes to complete this part of math assessment Term 2.

Result was very bad. There are twenty seven students in my math group and only three students completed this part of the test without mistakes, eight students could manage only half of questions and the rest of students did not have clue.

I should not explain and assess Algebra at one lesson. Algebra is too abstract and to understand the basics of algebra 20 minutes were not enough for bottom math group. I should just continue with introduction and explanation for whole lesson and assess students next day.

 

 Sarah and Marianne (Year 3)

These two girls are slow learners. They like to work with each other, when they given activity individually, girls are never manage to finish their work or most (all) answers are wrong.

I gave to Marianne reward at the first week and since then her involvement in the classroom activities has increase. 

Sarah’s progress is very little. She needs home tutoring and she is not ready for Stage 2 in math.

 

Douglas (Year 3)

Douglas is the smartest student in my math group. He always gives me a right answer and he is too advanced for the bottom math group, but his medical condition would not let him to attend to the school regularly.

My strategy with Douglas is to prepare special activities just for him and encourage online education at home (part of homework).

Web sites: http://www.rainforestmath.com/

 http://www.copacabana-p.school.nsw.edu.au/Get_Smart_Math_s2.htm

I want to try sending Douglas to the second from the bottom math group, for one day. It is very interesting for me How Douglas is going to feel about it and it will increase his motivation for education and his confidence.

Cryptic Clock.

Douglas break code very easy and he made his own message.

Dai (Year 4)     

Dai is one of my students and he is much forward in all activities from the rest of class. Dai’s difficulty is to understand the language. He can not read and because of that he been located in this group. Is it fair? I have been making special activities just for him, because if he is not busy with his work he will become very noisy and he will turn off himself from learning.

EELS

Uses Rainbow Reading

PM Benchmarks

Vietnamese School?

Attends Special education weekly

 

 

(Year3) and Jack (Year4) are work very good together.

Jack can not stand the noise and he prefers to work with the students from the same grade.

Jay den is very inpatient and he thinks that he is too smart for this class.

Nathan (Year4)

Nathan does not follow classroom rules. He does not listen when I talk to him or when I give instructions. Nathan makes fun of my name and he does not have respect for me as a teacher. I will give Nathan a choice with consequences for his behaviour.

Options are:

1. Run for a whole hour and think about appropriate behaviour at school.

2. Stay with me at recess time to discuss, agree and sign the behaviour contract.

I made a chart to keep monitoring Nathan behaviour.

Nathan	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Monday	Tuesday
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5	I
Week 6			I	I
Week 7
Week 8		I
Week 9
Week 10

This chart works very well. Nathan loves to pick from “Lucky Box”. Every Wednesday Nathan will remind me about “rolling the dice”. Every time when he misbehaves he would give me a funny look. Some students getting jealous about Nathan and his opportunity to pick a present.   These students start to misbehave on purpose.

Behavior modification contract should be sign by all students and it should be done on the begging of school year. 

Joseph (Year 4)

Week1

Why did he sit on his own? Why did he always say that people annoying him? What can be done to stop him behave that way?

He always likes to work by himself.

Joseph is good at arts.

Joseph does not like read or write. He completes his work only if teacher stays next to him. Joseph does not have any friends at school and he is never working with in the group. Joseph has got lack of communication skills. 

2006

Diagnosed with High Functioning Asperser's Syndrome.

Week6

Joseph is intelligent boy, but communication problems are pulling him back. Joseph looks very happy to sit on his own. He is very creative, good at arts, mathematics and English. Sometimes he forgets where he is and behaves not appropriate.

Joseph is on behaviour modification contract, but it does not work well.

My strategy with Joseph is to establish good relationships and model appropriate communication skills.

Paul (Year 4)

Paul is in the student council. He is perfection. He likes things perfect: hand writing, answers, acting, play, reading and behaviour until we had the relief teacher for whole day(28.05.07).

Students worked in small groups and Paul’s group was doing the play and they were outside of the class room. Paul gave some directions to Domenic and Domenic did not followed them and completely ignored Paul. Paul slapped Domenic in face.

Reasons: 1) three days ago classroom teacher changed his sitting place and he sat next to Yvonne (before he was sitting at the place he chooses at the begging of term 2).

2) Good Citizen Reward.

Every week teachers and whole school looks for most respectful (valuable) student and at the end of week on Friday. Principle will reward one student in each grade with a badge (good citizen) and good citizen certificate. Student has to wear this badge for whole week until next Friday and then give this badge to the other winning student.

This week Liam got that reward and Paul got angry, because he was trying really hard. 

Yvonne and Emma (Year 4).

Yvonne and Emma are best friends. They are very quite when is the teacher around, but very noisy when they are at the playground. It was 9 in the morning. We started our usual routine. First thing in the morning is fitness students are walking for 10 minutes. Yvonne and Emma had wonderful walk and long talk with each other. When we were back to the classroom, students start to read independently. I walked around classroom and I assess some students about book they are reading. I was walking pass Yvonne and I notice her passing a note to Emma. I took that note and I read it. It was a very rude note with f___ words. I told to both   girls to see classroom teacher. After the school all four of us had a long talk about school policies and appropriate language. Girls told gave us their apology.

Sample Essay the term constitution refers to the ideas, rules and moral codes

1.)Definition

The term constitution refers to the ideas, rules, and moral codes put down by a certain organization into writing. In countries and states, the terms exclusively defines the codified forms of “ fundamental political principles, and establishing the structure, procedures, powers and duties, of a government” (Wikipedia, 2007). Rights can also be codified into the constitution. Often, the subjects of these are certain rights of the residents of that country or state (Wikipedia, 2007).

History

In as early as 350 BC, formal distinction between ordinary law and constitutional law was recorded. This was accomplished by Aristotle. He established ideas on constitution and constitutionalism, and he also attempted to classify different forms of constitutional government (Wikipedia, 2007).  According to Aristotle, the most basic definition of constitution was "the arrangement of the offices in a state". In his books and works entitled “Constitution of Athens”, “Politics” and “Nicomachean Ethics”, he thoroughly discussed other forms of constitutions, mainly focusing on the ones used in Athens and Sparta. He dissected these constitutions and came up with classifications which he regarded as either good or bad. Having done so, he finally reached the conclusion, stating that the most proper constitution would be a “mixed system”, wherein he suggested that the use of elements from monarchic, aristocratic and democratic constitutions would be best. Furthermore, he took the liberty to distinguish between the opportunities of citizens, whether they had the right to participate and the non-citizens and slaves who had neither right nor opportunity to participate in any matter of the state (Wikipedia, 2007).

The Romans came up with the idea of codifying their constitution, though Hammurabi and many others did that long ago. In the year 449 Be, they codified their constitution  as the “Twelve Tables”.  From time to time, a number of laws were added that helped the continuance of their governance. Though the laws and the constitution has been codified, it has never been organized into one code. Only in AD 438 did they manage to reorganizer their constriction. This was called the “Codex Theodosia us”. In AD 534, another code emerged. It was named Codes Justinian us and was very popular throughout Europe. In the east, the Eclogue of Leo III the Saurian in AD 740 and the Basilica of Basil I in AD 878 followed suit (Wikipedia, 2007).

 

Many Germanic peoples took up what was left behind by the Roman Empire. Many of them adopted constitutions in order to codify their laws. Many such constitutions abound and existed at that time. In 1100, King Henry I of England proclaimed the “Charter of Liberties”. This constitution bound the king in his treatment of the clergy and the nobility (Wikipedia, 2007). In 1215, the barony had John of England sign the “Magna Carat”, which contained a citation almost similar to the idea of “habeas corpus”, wherein the king could not, in any way, imprison, kill or exile anyone without legal due process (Wikipedia, 2007). In article 39 of the “Magna Carat” states that :

“No free man shall be arrested, or imprisoned, or deprived of his property, or outlawed, or exiled, or in any way destroyed, nor shall we go against him or send against him, unless by legal judgement of his peers, or by the law of the land.” (Wikipedia, 2007).

The US constitution is believed to be the oldest comical constitution still functioning. The document specifically announces itself as the constitution.

Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution

Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution States that:

“Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as a mean of settling international disputes.
(2) In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized. “

            This article was added to the Japanese constitution with hopes that it would no longer be able to once again engage in war. This article is often interpreted as a sign of renouncing the use of military force in international cases. In the late-1990’s, dispute over Japan’s ability to join military undertakings overseas revolve around the article 9 of the constitution. Government appropriations on Self-defense Forces increased to around 5% per annum in the 1980’s. In 1990, Japan was only third to Soviet Union and the United States on total expenditures on self-defense armies. The article evolved from “no-military” to “army for self-defense or defense of NATO-allies" (Japan101 database, 2007).

 

Changes on demographic, economy, and social-economy in Japan

Economic

            Japan’s economy is an industrialized and a free market economy. It is also the third largest purchasing power parity, next only to the United States and the People’s Republic of China. In the 1980’s the economy of Japan has been called “miraculous”.

            Though Japan’s economy is viewed to be one of the most successful and solid economies in the world, it also has its downside. In September, unemployment surged to up to 5.4 %, it has been the highest rate since WWII; “household spending has sunk 1.3 percent; and industrial production is on a rapid decline, deepening the woes of the world's second-largest economy” (Hwang, 2002).

Demographic

            As a rexult of scientific, industrial, and social changes, Japan’s population experienced a boom in the late 19th and early 20th century. The country’s population is currently 127, 463, 611. The decrease in population growth has been brought about by sudden falling of birthrates and no net immigration. High standards in standards and sanitation has led to the highest life expectancy, 81.25, as of 2006. It is the world’s only nation with the oldest average age on the planet, with 21.2% of the population as elderly. As of 2005, the decline of the population were triggered by the .010 million excess of death counts over birthrates. The main problem will be the financial crisis that comes from having a higher and higher dependency ratio (Wikipedia, 2007).

 

2.) Definition

            Liberation, taken from the word liberty, simply means to be freed. Often, the word is used as  a strong noun marking the forcible removal of unwanted control over an area, person or people by an outside (sometimes military) force. Often, the word is used as a term to refer to the removal of sexual inhibitions (Wikipedia, 2007).

            According to Wikipedia, sexual liberation refers to a change in sexual morality and sexual behavior throughout the Western world (2007).The term sexual liberation, has beans used throughout the 160’s as pertaining to the equalization of sexual right, norms and stereotypes.  

Comparisons Between a Japanese Woman and a Chinese Woman

            In Japan, housewives and mothers often are given respect that some cultures find taboo. While it may be denigrated in other places, including the United States and other westernized countries, the role of housewife is one that Japanese culture and the women themselves feel holds great importance (Diggs, 1998). The typical Japanese woman, in contrast, feels that since she is in full charge of the home, she has no need to seek further responsibility in the outside world. This responsibility in itself grants her the status she enjoys and a respect that housewives in other parts of the world might envy (Diggs, 1998).

            Confucianism also plays a major part in the lives of a Japanese family and the Japanese woman. Confucianism stresses education, respect for family and the elderly.

            Japanese women are often not different from any other kind of women there are. Japanese women also love to talk. According to Marmot, “This failure to communicate exacerbated when husbands come home late and tired, may be the reason for the recent phenomenon of the "sexless marriage" reported by the media”.

            Divorce rates in Japan are quite low, but this doesn’t mean that the union between husband and wife are good. This phenomenon is called “masked marriage”, owing to the fact that underneath that union, is an unhappy couple, especially an unhappy wife. It is a question why the couple does not divorce. It is often pressure that keep the family together, and also the fact that a divorced woman almost never gets child support.

 

 

Chinese women

            An adolescent woman in China is often regarded as uniquely beautiful and uniquely vulnerable. Oftentimes, the woman is given too many do’s and don’ts regarding her femininity and behavior.

            “IN THE CLASSROOM, girls were told that they would do well if they acted more like boys; at work, young women were presented with female role models whose achievements were measured by male standards. In preparing for a socially approved marriage, on the other hand, women were told to accentuate their femaleness. “ (1988).

            According to Her this message emerged after the end of the Cultural Revolution, and no broad social consensus existed on the proper way to present oneself as a woman. Beauty and personal adornment were important and natural concerns for young women. Yet the advisers also warned that good looks were not as important as good health and proper behavior, and that certain types of beautification were morally questionable. Sexuality, young women were told, has its time (adulthood) and place (marriage), but multiple dangers awaited the adolescent girl who chose to explore it. This warning was driven home by tales that graphically described the fate of young women who strayed from acceptable codes of behavior (1988).

Advanced vs. Third world society

            According to Boyle and Liu, international treaties have had an important impact on national policies affecting women throughout the world. This is true despite women's marginalized status in most national political systems and the treaties' lack of specific formal sanctions. Using the case of the Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Japanese Equal Employment Opportunity Law, and lawsuits brought by Japanese women against the Sumitomo corporations, we develop an explanation of how international treaties can effect change, even for groups with little economic or political power. First, international treaties provide normative resources that allow local activists to describe their actions in terms of moral imperatives rather than selfish interests. Secondly, international treaties provide structural resources to activists, such as periodic reporting requirements that provide opportunities to embarrass slow-moving governments.

             Social scientists have since moved away from this model, recognizing the power of symbolic legitimating in shaping attitudes and behaviors (Boyle & Liu, 2001).

            At the second world conference on women in 1980, Japan signed CEDAR. In 1985, it formally ratified the treaty. In conjunction with the ratification, Japan passed an Equal Employment Opportunity Law (EEL) which became effective in 1986.2 As required by Article 5 of CEDAR, the legislative measure alms to modifying the social and cultural patterns that subsumed prejudice against women. However, the EEL was still based' on the old belief that committed workers give everything to their jobs without having to undertake household or childcare responsibility. Therefore, the law carefully differentiated its wording about gender equality concerning different workplace issues. In core areas such as recruitment, hiring, placement and promotion, the EEL stipulated that employers should "endeavor" to treat women equally with men (Articles 7 and 8). This meant that companies could continue to discriminate against women and would not face sanctions under the EEL (Boyle & Liu, 2001).