Qualitative Research Critique Essay Example

Qualitative Research Critique Essay Example Qualitative Research Critique Essay Qualitative Research Critique Essay Introduction Nurses are responsible in providing holistic, quality care to their clients. In order to effectively provide such care Boswell and Cannon (2009, p. 2 7) states that nurses must base their provision of care on the most current, up-to-date health information available and sound nursing knowledge. This is where evidence-based practice (EBP) comes in. Polit and Beck (2010, p. 4) defined EBP as the use of the best clinical evidence in making patient care desicions. This usually comes from research conducted by nurses and other healthcare professionals. Thus it is pertinent that research reports are critically analyzed. A research critique aims to measure the value and significance of a study. These are determined by analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of the report (Brockopp Tolsma, 2003, p. 400). Recommendations for areas of improvements are also included in a research critique. This paper critically appraises a qualitative research article titled Womens perception of being pregnant and having pregestational diabetes (Lavender, T. , Platt, M. J. , Tsekiri, E. , Casson, I. , Byrom, S. , Baker, L. , et al. , 2010, p. 589-595). Title and Abstract The title of a research report is the first thing that readers look at to have a gross idea about what the study is about (Brockopp Tolsma, 2003, p. 446). It should contain 15 words or less and in qualitative studies, the title would typically include the central phenomenon and group under investigation (Polit Beck, 2010, p. 89). In their research report, the researchers used 9 words for the title to accurately describe their study. From the title, we can tell that the central phenomenon is ‘pregestational diabetes and the population being studied is women. This is consistent throughout the study as the participants include women who have either type 1 or type 2 diabetes, although the title did not specify the pregnancy status of the participants. This may mislead readers into thinking that the study was being done only on pregnant women. The title also did not specify where the study was being conducted. It would be good if it did so that readers can gauge the context of the study. We can also tell from the title that this is a qualitative study using phenomenological approach since the study is exploring women’s perceptions. According to Polit and Beck (2010, p. 9), the abstract is a concise summary of the study written in 100-150 words. This should include the problem, how the study was done, the number of participants and the major findings (Brockopp Tolsma, 2003, p. 67). The researchers used specific headings to organize their summary for the study. It is systematic and enabled readers to find information with ease. Althoug h the abstract is slightly longer than recommended, the researchers addressed the essential components such as problem (pregnancy with pregestational diabetes), methods (focus groups and individual interviews), results and conclusion (Polit Beck, 2010, p. 9). The purpose and context of the study were clearly stated and the information provided was consistent with the contents of the research report. The abstract built on the title by elaborating on the issue of interest thus enticing readers to read further. Literature Review Information from literature provides a foundation and framework for research (Brockopp Tolsma, 2003, p. 139) and in qualitative studies, a conceptual framework is essential as the study have to be linked to other research ideas about the topic (Holloway Wheeler, 2002, p. 31). As stated by Polit and Beck (2010, p. 85), a literature review should supply readers with an impartial, systematic summary and analysis of the current state of evidence on the chosen to pic. The researchers provided a comprehensive and well-organized review of literature in a logical manner. They started by listing the complications of pregnancy in women with pregestational diabetes and how risk of complications can be reduced with preconception care. They then pointed out that less than half of the women actually received such care. This prompted them find out why many did not receive the care that they should. The researchers identified gaps in knowledge from the various reviews (Polit Beck, 2010, p. 185). They acknowledge that although there is an abundance of literature documenting outcome data related to management of diabetes in pregnant woman, there are few qualitative studies that explore issues of reproductive health and diabetes from the viewpoint of the woman. They highlighted a Swedish study of womens perspective and pointed out its limitations. These gaps supported the need for further study. There are 33 sources, of which 26 were cited in the review. The researchers used 18 primary sources from reputable medical and nursing journals. This strengthened the quality of the review as primary sources are the most reliable and are expansive and impartial (Polit Beck, 2010, p. 171). The article was accepted in 2009 and out of the 18 primary sources, 15 were over the recommended period of 3 to 5 years (Houser, 2008, p. 139). This was justified when the researchers pointed out the limited studies done on womens experiences and perceptions. There is also 1 source from 1962 but this is exceptional as it as a seminal work (Houser, 2008, p. 39). Study Design This is without a doubt, a qualitative study. It is appropriate because qualitative research is a systematic approach into understanding the experiences of others (Houser, 2008, p. 480) which is in tune with the objectives of this study. The researchers chose to use a Hermenuetic Phenomenological approach to explore the perceptions of women with diabetes and its impact on their reproduct ive health. This is because they want to put emphasis on the centrality of the participants in exploring the meanings of the phenomena (Lavender et al, 2010). Like Phenomenology, Hermeneutic Phenomenology is concerned with lived experiences but is focused in highlighting details within experiences with a goal of creating meaning and achieving a sense of understanding (Laverty, 2003). Methods Sampling The population was adequately described. The researchers informed readers that the population being studied was pregnant and non-pregnant women who attended specialist diabetes clinics in 2 areas in the North West of England. Since the central phenomenon is pregestational diabetes, it is an appropriate setting. The participants were identified from clinic lists. For the pregnant women, information sheets were given during clinic visits and they were given the opportunity to discuss the study. For the non-pregnant women, information sheets were posted and they were given time to consider their participation after which they were contacted to make arrangements for interviews. This informs the readers that the participation in the study was not forced onto the women. They were offered a choice of individual or focus group interviews. A written consent was obtained prior to the interviews. It was also mentioned that the study gained approval from the local research ethics committee. In keeping with the tradition of qualitative research, the researchers used purposive sampling and this was mentioned in the report. This is because they need participants who fulfill a certain criteria. This criterion involves a shared experience and provides the most information about the topic of interest (Houser, 2008, p. 481). In this case, the participants have to be White British and South East Asian women who have type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The researchers also mentioned that a Black African woman was included in the study by accident. A total of 22 women were recruited. It is not known if saturation was achieved. To explore the diversity of individual experiences, the researchers recruited women from 2 study areas and the women were of different parity, ethnicity and diabetes type (Polit Beck, 2010, p. 323). Data Collection To collect data, semi-structured interviews in the form of individual interviews and focus group interviews were used as it allows the researchers to â€Å"explore the broad areas of interest and encourage respondent-led nquiry† (Lavender et al, 2010). This is a congruous and primarily used form of data collection in qualitative studies (Holloway Wheeler, 2002, p. 80). The individual interviews took place in either the hospital or participants homes. It was not mentioned how many were done in the hospital and how many were done at home. Interviews done at participants’ homes would yi eld better information as they are in a comfortable environment and privacy is ensured. It is also not known how long the interviews lasted. The readers have no way of knowing if the participants had time to put thought into their answers and if the information was useful. There are also 2 focus group sessions which was conducted in the hospital. This is appropriate to the study as it produces thoughts and opinions about a topic relevant to the participants experiences and this is what the researchers are looking for (Holloway Wheeler, 2002, p. 111). All interviews were audio recorded. This reduces the potential of losing any data. There was no mention of who conducted the interviews for the White British women and if the interviewers were trained. It was not said if the researchers conducted the interviews themselves and how many interviewers were there in total. The researchers only mentioned that the South East Asian lay researchers were trained. Readers would assume that only the South East Asian women were interviewed by trained lay researchers and the White British women to be interviewed by the main researchers. This may cause inconsistencies in how the interviews were being approached. However, the South East Asian women probably could identify with the lay researcher and thus are more comfortable in providing information. Data Analysis The data was then transcribed verbatim. This ensures richness of data (Holloway Wheeler, 2010, p. 282). Interviews conducted in Punjabi and Urdu were translated and transcribed by a trained lay researcher and validated by an independent translator who translated the data back to the original language. This ensures that the transcriptions are accurate and validly reflect the totality of the interview experience (Polit Beck, 2010, p. 465). However, the independent translator must be advised on confidentiality relating to the data but this was not mentioned y the researchers (Holloway Wheeler, 2010, p. 282). The data was managed manually and no software was used to aid in organizing the data. The researchers used an interpretive approach guided by the principles of Heidegger and Gadamer. This is compatible with the research tradition being Hermenuetic Phenomenology. There was immersion in data but the readers were not informed how the data was coded and categorized. How ever the researchers came out with 3 main themes so the readers can conclude that the researchers used thematic analysis, which is befitting of a qualitative study. Trustworthiness Trustworthiness was demonstrated through peer debriefings, data triangulation and researcher credibility. Triangulation in data collection was achieved through space triangulation and person triangulation (Polit Beck, 2010, p. 497). Space triangulation was achieved by collecting data from multiple sites, which gives the researchers an opportunity to check for consistency of information. Person triangulation was achieved by collecting data from women of different parity, ethnicity and diabetes type, giving the researchers data from different perspectives. The researchers are professionals in the field of Midwifery and Maternal Health with 2 of them having published papers which were used in the literature review. This shows researcher credibility. Because they are all from the same field of study, they had five diabetes specialists participate in the study to reduce potential bias. Findings Findings such as â€Å"other significant health problems† and â€Å"use of insulin† were presented but the researchers did not demonstrate if these findings are related to the purpose of the study. Table 1 provides the reader with a breakdown of the participants demographic characteristics to give a better picture of the population under study and allow them to determine if the findings can apply to another context. Three major themes emerged from the data. Of the three themes, only the first theme had sub-themes which progressed logically. The themes connected with each other to form an integrated whole and were effectively summarized with excerpts from the interviews included in the report. This gives readers a chance to see the raw data and how it links to the themes. Pseudonyms were used to ensure confidentiality. The findings illustrate the obvious variations of perceptions between the White British and South East Asian women. The researchers recognized that the sample size was limited as the study aimed to explore perceptions related to a number of variables. They also pointed out that although overall themes were consistent between different ethnic groups, some differences were seen due to cultural beliefs and this would require further research. However, they acknowledge that the study has given a useful insight into issues related to pregestational diabetes. Discussion, Application, Implication and Recommendations Majority of the findings were related to women’s experiences of healthcare services in diabetes and maternal health clinics and their perception of the care provided. This was discussed within the context of previous studies in this area. Five references were used in the discussion and two were primary sources. Similarities in findings were highlighted between this study and Berg and Hoklanso’s (2000) study. The researchers also used Verheijen’s et al (2005) study to explain the significance of ethnicity in the outcome of pregnancies in women with pregestational diabetes. As pointed out by the researchers, although this study produced an abundance of useful data on women’s experiences, there were some limitations as this is the first study to explore diabetes and pregnancy within various populations. Issues of transferability was addressed (ethnicity and cultural beliefs) and they suggested further study in those areas. Implications for clinical practice were discussed. Information from the findings is useful to healthcare providers who work in the affected areas. Healthcare providers are made to question their approaches (routine and medicalised) in supporting the needs of diabetic women with regards to their reproductive health through the women’s perspectives. Healthcare providers are encouraged to be more sensitive to these women’s needs so that they can enjoy their pregnancy and not be too focused on diabetes management. The researchers propose for strategies to ensure focus of pregnancy and to incorporate social model of care alongside medical model. They encouraged healthcare providers to re-evaluate their roles. They also propose preconception care to be made accessible and for health providers to recognize socio-cultural differences and engage with significant family members. Conclusion Overall, the paper was well presented and flowed logically. It lacked details such as data saturation. The findings were well described. It has provided great insight into the experiences of women with diabetes and their views on pregnancy. This paper could provide a good foundation for others who want to study the same field. References Brockopp, D. Y. Tolsma, M. T. (2003). Fundamentals of nursing research (3rd ed. ). New York: Jones Bartlett. Boswell, C. , Cannon, S. (2009). Introduction to nursing research; incorporating evidence- based practice (2nd. ed. ). Sudbary, Massachusetts: Jones And Bartlett. Holloway, I. , Wheeler, S. (2002). Qualitative research in nursing (2nd ed. ). Malden, MA : Blackwell Science. Holloway, I. , Wheeler, S. (2010). Qualitative research in nursing and healthcare (3rd ed. ). Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell. Houser, J. (2008). Nursing research: reading, using, and creating evidence. Sudbury, Massachusetts: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Lavender, T. , Platt, M. J. , Tsekiri, E. , Casson, I. , Byrom, S. , Baker, L. , et al. (2010). Womens perception of being pregnant and having pregestational diabetes. Midwifery, 26, 589-595. Laverty, S. M. (2003). Hermeneutic Phenomenology and Phenomenology: A comparison of historical and methodological considerations. International Journal of Qualitative Methods , 2(3), 21-35. Polit, D. F. , Beck, C. T. (2010). Essentials of nursing research: appraising evidence for nursing practice (7th ed. ). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams Wilkins.

Five Tips For Writing Great Web Content

Five Tips For Writing Great Web Content Five Tips For Writing Great Web Content Five Tips For Writing Great Web Content By Sharon Writing for the web is another great freelance writing market. Its already huge and its growing every day. Theres so much web content out there that you need to make yours stand out. Here are four ways to make your web content appeal to readers. 1. Descriptive Titles The title of your article should tell the reader what its about. Some people like to use humor, while others prefer to play it straight. It doesnt matter, as long as readers know what to expect. Readers want to know whats in it for them. A good title will tell them. Thats one of the reasons that article titles with numbers in them tend to do well. If your article is called: Seven Ways To Land Your Perfect Partner, then readers know what they will get. 2. Direct Address One of the things I love about writing web content is that you can address readers directly. Its like having a conversation with someone who is in the same room. When writing web content, your writing voice is often like your speaking voice, and its a great idea to let your personality shine through. 3. Clear Language With web content, you are writing for an international audience, and not everyone speaks the same first language as you do. Thats why its best to stay away from obscure expressions and jargon and use clear and simple language. You can also add examples to make it even easier for reader to understand. 4. Break It Up If you want your web content to be user friendly, you have to make it digestible. That means breaking it into small chunks, usually with one main idea in a paragraph. Its also a good idea to make the article scannable by adding a subheading for each main idea. That means that readers will be able to glance at the subheadings and pick out the main ideas. 5. Summarize If an idea is worth saying, then its worth saying again. A bulleted list that summarizes the main points is another good way to make sure that readers understand your article. Heres a recap of this article as an example. To write a good web article: Choose a good, descriptive title. Talk to your readers as though they are in the same room. Use clear language. Make articles scannable, with one main idea per paragraph. Add a summary. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Freelance Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Possessive of Proper Names Ending in SDifference between "Pressing" and "Ironing"10 Varieties of Syntax to Improve Your Writing

Discussion for online Economics class Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussion for online Economics class - Essay Example Needs are the essentials and necessities of life. Based on Grover’s (2011) assertions, it is obvious that people can do without the media even though it makes life comfortable. Given the fact that media is considered as wants and not needs; the executives of such media aim at translating the wants into demand. The only way of attaining this aim is to increase the utility that consumers or the public derive from public media through involving them to be part of the fund drives. Participation of the public in fund drives will make them believe that they need to enjoy the services of the public media hence need to derive some utility (Frank & Bernanke, 2013). Nevertheless, there is a possibility that consumers will engage in rational spending. Rational spending rule involves reducing spending on the basis of increases in prices. Making the public media less public would mean that there will be increases in prices to meet the costs associated with disseminating information (Frank & Bernanke, 2013). Such increases will definitely drive away consumers on the basis of the rational spending rule. Whilst engaged in rational spending, consumers will aim at attaining the highest level of utility hence leveling the marginal utility of consumed products thus leading to aspects of income and substitution effects especially when they change from consuming media products (Frank & Bernanke,

Abraham Maslows Theory of Human Motivation Essay

Abraham Maslows Theory of Human Motivation - Essay Example This essay applies Maslow’s theory of human motivation to my own personal experience. As Maslow’s theory of human motivation advances in a progressive manner, the methodology of this analysis parallels this theoretical structure. When considering Maslow’s theory of motivation in the context of my own existence I recognize that one of the greatest challenges is clearly distinguishing between need fulfillment and need deficiency. Indeed, one of the prominent criticisms of Maslow’s theory is that it is overly contingent on arbitrary distinctions between fulfilled and unfulfilled ("Maslows hierarchy of," 2008). Still, such criticisms seem to partly misread Maslow, who indicated that there was great degree of fluidity of motivation, with need fulfillment approximating percentage form (Maslow). In my own life I recognize that in addition to having needs partially fulfilled, my needs have been fulfilled to differing degrees at differing periods of my life. Before leaving home to attend college my physiological needs were completely accounted for. Indeed, to a great extent the primacy of this need did not come to the forefront of my consideration until moving out of my parents’ home and assuming increased responsibility for my subsistence. Having my physiological needs accounted for during my youth created a strong foundation for my personal development and pursuit of higher level needs. Still, when considering this need I recognize that my personal motivation occurs on both a macro and micro level. That is, when I examine my youth in retrospect, I am able to make the macro-statement that my physiological needs were met; however, I also recognize that there were brief times when during the day I was hungry or sleep period deprived. I believe this distinction is significant as it indicates that human motivation, as progressing through Maslow’s needs system, is a fluid process wherein individuals

Quotes on Catcher in the Rye :: essays research papers

Which African nation, South Africa or Nigeria, will have greater difficulty overcoming problems that stem from its colonial legacy? Why?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  South Africa will have a harder time overcoming its colonial legacy than Nigeria for a multitude of reasons. The first of many reasons, only three that I will touch on are as follows; the ways in which the settlers changed the beliefs of the African peoples, the second is how they cultivated the land the aboriginal people lived on and the third and final reason is the monetary value they used, and how they dispersed it to the Africans.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When the settlers settled on the South African continent they did not know much of anything the African people believed in. As a matter of fact they knew nothing at all. The aboriginal civilization had a belief in numerous gods, a polytheistic, religion. The settlers believed in one god, Jesus. This alone was a drastic change for the â€Å"savage† people to abide by. Those who did not follow the religion were punished and sought out by the new governing body that was England. These punishments were harsh and usually resulted in death or lashings. The Africans learned quickly not to openly pray to or speak of any other god than Jesus. Amounting with the beatings any type of pay or food that they may earn for working would be rationed or even taken away completely.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The second of the three reasons being touched on is that of the land. The English wanted to make money off of this continent of â€Å"ill cultured† people. So they put them to work and took spices and other valuables from them and sold them throughout the civilized nations. So in this adventure they built communities for their own armies and nobles to over see the construction and operations of business. They did not want to branch off and make South Africa a livable places for the nobles of England just a money spot to indulge on the less educated Africans. In doing so they disrupted the land and habitat that the Africans were used to and caused many diseases that they weren’t immune too.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Finally the money that was given to and taken from the Africans was out of proportion. The money made in that day and age from the Africans was monolithic. They were not of the impression that they were getting the raw end of the deal because the English, although showing signs of tyranny did serve and treat the Africans well at times.

Adolescence problems Essay

Adolescence describes the teenage years between 13 and 19 and can be considered the transitional stage from childhood to adulthood. However, the physical and psychological changes that occur in adolescence can start earlier, during the preteen or â€Å"tween† years (ages 9-12). Adolescence can be a time of both disorientation and discovery. The transitional period can bring up issues of independence and self-identity. Sometimes adolescents may be experimenting with drugs and alcohol or sexuality. During this time, peer groups and external appearance tend to increase in importance. Home BiologyHuman Population and Health Top Problems of Adolescence Most problems of adolescence are due to failure in understanding the anatomical, morphological and psychological changes expected during adolescence. Psychologically, adolescence is such a vulnerable stage that boys / girls of this age are easily carried away by perceptions generated by Misleading and misguiding parents, teachers, friends, brother/sisters. Ignorance of elders. Half – informed or ill – informed friends, brothers, sisters. Wrongful messages depicted through TV serials, advertisements, films Publications carrying partially or fully false information. Such perceptions can be anything in the range of studies, sex, society, married life, career, religion, politics, or any relevant subject. Every adolescent boy or girl is prone to such exposures – which ultimately are retained as perceptions in their minds to form their behavioural patterns. The problems of adolescence are classified as morphological / developmental psychological social educational Some problems are absolutely unimportant and trivial. They could be easily ignored. But even such problems cause great concern to adolescent people. Psychological Problems 3. Social 4. Educational 5. Social Implications Morphological / Developmental Problems Back to Top over growth of hair or undergrowth of hair over weight and underweight skin colour problems Facial deformities, pimples, etc. Limb deformities Abnormal growth of genitals and breasts. Psychological Problems Back to Top Ignorance about many basic facts leads to psychological problems like Misconceptions about sexual feelings, sex related issues. Misconceptions about child birth, reproduction. Misconceptions about coitus, menstrual cycles. Fear about sex and sexual issues. Guilt feeling about sex related issues. Inferiority / Superiority complex about skin colour, beauty, mental ability and IQ. Inexplicable perceptions about dress and fashion codes. Wrong and unrealistic ideologies about friendship and courtship. Perceptional or communicational or preconceived complications about their teachers and parents. Attraction towards opposite sex. Unrealistic and illogical curiosity about sex and sex related issues. Exceptional vulnerability to suicide psychology. Social Back to Top Anticipated unemployment and insecurity due to unemployment. Unwarranted and inexplicable hatredness towards brother / sisters, friends. Intense closeness with brothers / sisters, friends. Unpredictable and volatile relationships with friends. Unrealistic social perceptions about violence, love, sex as influenced by media. Unusually vulnerable and volatile relations with relatives. Fear / imagination about married life, life partners. Educational Back to Top Tensions of attending the classes, examinations and tests. Low IQ feeling. Fear about failure in examination. Fear about low score. Fear and concern about a future career. Misconceptions about teachers. Due to many problems faced during adolescence, the boys and girls of the age between 8 – 16 form a separate category by themselves. Their problems are specific to themselves. Most of the problems faced by them are perceptional. By timely and effective guidance – many of their problems could be solved. Some of them may need medical / psychiatric attention. In India, the parents influence their behaviour, thoughts and are in position to solve many problems – if they have positive approach. Despite all efforts being made by parents, teachers, large number of adolescents face one or many problems. When the problem is aggravated, the parents may take them to doctors. But most of them face minor problems – modifying their behavioural patterns, personality as a whole. The implications of problems in adolescence can be moral or social. Social Implications Back to Top Future citizen may have a high IQ due to positive thinking and reorientation of their mental resources towards positive personality development. A section of future population may turn into disgruntled, impatient group of people due to grooming of misconceptions about society, love, law, relations, etc. Due to wrong educational policies and ever growing unemployment problems – a section of population may turn hostile against the whole society, which breeds and deepens the antisocial activities and perverted thinking. Many of the wrong perception about sex related problems may lead them to unwanted motherhood, anxiety or illegal termination of pregnancy. Some problems during adolescence are decisive in building the personalities (positive and negative) – who may or may not utilize the opportunities open to them during their later life. When teachers, parents, brothers /sisters or any close person has positive dominant personality to effectively guide the adolescent at right time – they turn out to be very useful section of future population. Imaginary fear, imaginary anxieties and unrealistic expectations as well as host of strong misconceptions may ultimately end up with personalities of negative / perverted thoughts. In extreme disillusions, tension, wrongful personality and maladjustments – a section of population may have to be psychiatric patients. Psychosis of mild nature may remain untreated and unnoticed. Such people will not do anything useful to the society or their families. Adolescent being influenced by mass media like electronic media, print media or computer culture – may be guided or misguided by such exposure. When misguided – they are likely to develop negative perception about many social values. The social implications of adolescent problems are dependent upon social structure. In a country like India – where family ties are strong due to emotional, financial, religious attachments – the gravity of implications are less. But in an individualistic society like US / Europe – where family ties are shallow – the gravity of implications can be far more serious. Finding help for families, teenagers and children can be a challenge. But there is good news. Information and referral systems are available from our schools, medical offices, news magazines, the yellow pages and even the Internet. Many parents are finding help and discovering resources by asking family, friends and their co-workers. In fact, information and referrals based on a personal recommendation is a great way to find help. Unfortunately, finding help for children and families has become more  difficult than finding help for most adults problems. For instance, health insurance has many restrictions that limit who you can see and what services they can provide. Most of the problems that families and children face are not covered and only certain diagnoses will be treated. Public programs across the country lack adequate funding. The schools have programs, but they desperately need more staff and money to meet the demands that currently exist. There are many private counselors who work with children, but there are only a few who work with families and children who have serious behavioral and emotional problems. The consequence when children don’t get the help they need can be tragic. Parents and families give up when they don’t know what to do, when they are discouraged and when they lack adequate information. Finding and getting help means you need to get oriented and understand the problems and potential solutions. Behavior Problems. In order to deal with a problem it will help a great deal if parents can describe the problem in terms that may lead to a solution. Here are the problems that I see parents and their children facing. Many of these will surface in small children or they may not appear until children become teenagers. Social withdrawal and isolation – Refusal to go to school – Demanding and selfish attitude – Disregard for rules, responsibilities and family functioning – Poor study behavior and skills – Unfocused or disruptive behavior in classroom – Grades and school performance dropping – Erratic or emotionally unstable behavior – Poor hygiene and grooming – Behavior is disrespectful or defiant Involved in high risk and reckless activities – Using alcohol or other drugs – Skipping school – Stealing or theft – Destructive, threatening or violent behavior – Self-harming or suicidal behavior Typical Causes. It takes time for problems to become critical, life threatening or intolerable. At some point, one can trace the cause to one or more factors. A pattern of problems will usually occur over time before a problem becomes a crisis. Identifying these factors can help characterize the evolution of a problem or a crisis, the appropriate response and the potential solution that may be necessary. – â€Å"Brittle† or fragile emotional temperament – Social demands exceed current ability – Peer and social pressures – Failure to provide rules, discipline and a bonded relationship with a child – Parental divorce or separation Family conflict and discord – Neglect or abandonment – Traumatic experience – Undiagnosed medical or psychological problem – Untreated parental alcoholism, drug abuse or mental disorder – Alcohol and other drug use What are the Solutions?. The first step is to define the problem and a potential cause. After that, you need to explore potential solutions. There are at least several dozen potential solutions to any problem. That is a lot to consider. Unfortunately, access to many of these resources may depend on the parent’s employment benefits and their income. Many public programs have waiting lists and may exclude children if the problem is not severe enough. Exclusion from public programs does not mean the problem is minor. Many programs are full and can only take children with more severe problems. The following is a partial list of potential solutions. – Self-help – Parenting education and training – Individual counseling and therapy – Group counseling and therapy – Parenting consultation and advice – Family counseling and therapy – Increased parental involvement and supervision – Tutoring – Special education programs – Change schools – Outdoor activities or adventure programs – Move to a new area – Parenting by other family members – Foster care – Health and human service case management – Private school – Day treatment therapy program – Boarding school – Therapeutic boarding school – Residential treatment program – Medication intervention – Psychiatric hospitalization – Police or law enforcement response Diagnosis can be misleading. There are many ways to define problems. One of the least useful and potentially harmful is to rely entirely on a diagnosis. A diagnosis alone can be misleading. Many problems are not solved because the problem was diagnosed, the underlying problems were missed or ignored, and the diagnosis suggested an approach that was inadequate and unfocused. A diagnosis can create a false sense of certainty. Why? Because the diagnostic procedures used in mental health are not much more sophisticated than one used to diagnose a headache or a stomach ache. For instance, there are many forms of headaches and stomach aches. There are many things that can cause a headache – a tumor, tension, injury, eye strain, diet, disease, flu, allergies, a cold or bacterial infections etc.. In mental health, no matter how rigidly we use diagnostic criteria, or how sophisticated the interview process, we are still looking at patterns that have many origins. There can be many sources and causes for a particular problem – especially family problems that involve children. A traumatic experience can result in many different problems. The behaviors associated with attention deficits and hyperactivity can be caused and maintained by many things. As a result, there are many potential outcomes and approaches, and these can vary with each family, their beliefs, values, attitudes, culture, ethnicity and their resources. Parents need more than a diagnosis. It helps to understand a problem in a manner that can tell us how a potential solution may work. It’s not enough to say that a child is depressed and they need to talk to a counselor. A child who is living in an abusive home may be depressed and emotionally withdrawn, but they don’t necessarily need therapy to express their emotions. The family may be the more important focus and the most important part of the solution. Counseling and Therapy. Counseling and therapy is a mixed bag as far as solutions go. There are more than 200 types of counselors and therapists. Trying to find the right one can be overwhelming or end up a waste of time. There is also a great deal of similarity between some counselors and some therapists. Counseling is not therapy. Counseling usually results in a realization, a plan or a decision. A therapist provides an environment of activities that bring about change – almost like exercise. There are no simple words of advice or a formula that will absolutely insure that your family or child will find the right person. Trial and error may be required. But there are four guidelines that have been shown to increase the likelihood of success. Become invested. Educate yourself, gather information and become actively invested in understanding the problem and selecting a counselor or therapist. – Learn how it works. Don’t select a particular counselor or therapist unless you believe they can clearly describe the problem, how their approach to therapy or counseling works, and how that approach will resolve the problem. – The relationship heals. The relationship you and your child have with a counselor or therapist as well as their approach are equally important. Work with people you and your child trust, like and believe is competent. – Get references. Ask for the names of other parents or professionals who can recommend a potential counselor or therapist. There is no better reference than a credible recommendation and past success with similar problems. Medications. The use of medication can present a real solution and a real problem for most parents. Medications can have a powerful effect on the mood and behavior of children. For parents who have tried â€Å"everything else†, medications can make the difference between a life lost and a chance to become a reasonably successful adult. There are certain realities when one decides to use medication. For one thing, psychiatric medications for behavioral and mental health problems will treat the symptoms and not the cause. Medications do not cure psychological, emotional and behavioral problems. Psychiatric medications that are used to treat depression, anxiety, mood swings, attention deficits, hyperactivity and disorganized thinking always affect another part of a child’s body and brain. These â€Å"side-effects† are not clearly understood and the long term impact on growing children is still uncertain. Law suites are surfacing and legislators are proposing legislation to address recognized dangers in the wrongful medication on children. While one should be cautious about the use of medications to treat behavioral problems, there is certainly a place for these drugs. In severe cases, and cases where parents cannot afford therapy and special schools, medications can bring hope to an otherwise hopeless situation. In some cases, children may require medication to simply participate in school, family activities and counseling or therapy. More importantly, a child’s personality and attitude in life will be damaged if that child is left in a depressed, anxious or otherwise dysfunctional state for an extended period of time. Medication can be a â€Å"life boat† and deterrent against psychological and social trauma that come from serious but temporary problems that would otherwise destroy a child’s attitude toward life. But before you start any medication, ask your pharmacist for information on the side effects. The Power of Parenting and Family. Parents and family members can have the most powerful impact of a child’s behavior, attitude and approach to life. Put simply, children are persuaded and impressed by the people they spend the most time with and the people who matter most. That should be the child’s parents and family. Why? Because a therapist can only provide an exceptional environment, relationship and activities for an hour or so a week. Individual counseling and therapy may not be enough for most children – especially if that child is facing social pressure, temptations, painful experiences and inappropriate role models during the remainder of the week. In most cases, individual therapy or counseling without parental or family involvement is not enough. In some cases, therapy and counseling can result in a child developing unrealistic expectation of their parents and family. It is easier to be a therapist than it is to be a parent. This is why family education and involvement in counseling and therapy may be essential. Therapy and counseling should never replace the essential role of parents or a family. It should support those roles. But if parents are unwilling or unable to become involved with their child or in therapy, then therapy can provide the support that some children desperately need. Peers and Social Pressure. At a very early age, many children are profoundly influenced by their peers. It has been repeatedly observed in social science that children learn behaviors and will adopt the attitude of children they are emotionally bonded with. As children begin to bond with other children, they seek approval, advice and even direction for their life. The struggle for independence and separation from parents is a natural process. However, problems will invariably surface, attitudes may become hostile, and values can become lost when parents become less involved with their children. Social pressure is a powerful tendency for children to imitate and adopt the behavior and emotional sensitivity of others. Children begin to think the way they talk with their friends. Children tend to become what they think about.

Essay on Project Management Career Summary - 1703 Words

Project Management Career Summary Definition, Vision and Scope With todays businesses constantly embracing the technological advances that are made on a daily basis there becomes an increasing need for someone to supply the foresight, ability and commitment to ensure that these new technologies are implemented as seamlessly and successfully as possible. The Project Manager is just the person for the job. This paper will examine this career and explore the benefits of working in this profession. It will provide a look into the life of current Project Managers and their thoughts and concerns regarding their profession. Project management is the art and science of converting vision into reality (Atkinson, 1999). Project†¦show more content†¦Without knowing the expected results, quality level or capability of the end product, a project is difficult to plan, execute or conclude. A project is temporary in that there is a defined start (the decision to proceed) and a defined end (the achievement of the goals and objectives). Ongoing business or maintenance operations are not projects. Because projects are temporary in nature, project managers are constantly evolving and looking forward to the next new challenge in their career. Figure 1 shows the general process flow of a standard project. This process flow can be applied to a number of projects of different size, scope and difficulty. Figure 1 Project Flow Figure 2 shows the various knowledge areas as they can be can be applied to project management. Various knowledge areas will be evident throughout the life cycle of any given project and is an extensive look into the qualities of a successful project manager. Figure 2 Knowledge Areas A look into the mind of project managers A survey was conducted of various professionals in the information technologies field. This survey was conducted to show the varying skill levels of these professionals and the implications that project management has applied to their chosen profession. Overall, the satisfaction level of their career is shown to be above average. Figure 3 shows that while 40% of the respondents have completed an Associate DegreeShow MoreRelatedDeposit Mobilization in Banks1071 Words   |  5 Pages[pic] School of Management [pic] SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROJECT On Deposit Mobilization A Research Project Submitted to Add Value in the Degree of Masters of Business Administration (2009-2011) Faculty Guide Company Guide Name Name Prof.Aditya Verma Mr. Ramesh singh Read MoreHistory Of Project Management : An Executive Summary Covering One Page Or Less1399 Words   |  6 PagesResearch Paper An executive summary covering one page or less; Zulema what is the purpose of this paper? summary of paper... History of Project Management Rahul What is Project Management? 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IT organization and Leadership†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.04 4. Using my Knowledge†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦.06 5. SUMMARY†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..07 6. REFERENCE†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.07 INTRODUCTION ABOUT LEADERSHIP: I have learned the importance of leadership and I have identified the essential aspects, which are required for the employees who are working in the key roles in the organisations. 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