Pros and Cons of Weight Reducing Diets Essay -- Health Nutrition Diet

Pros and Cons of Weight Reducing Diets   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The article â€Å"Health Advantages and Disadvantages of Weight-Reducing Diets: A Computer Analysis and Critical Review† outlines eight diets that were examined and how the researchers and doctors looked at the potential long term effects of each one. The diets examined were Atkins, Protein Power, Sugar Busters, Zone, ADA Exchange, High-Fiber Fitness, Pritikin and Ornish. The research team created formulas using computer software, menu plans with recommended snacks and looking at the food pyramid to estimate coronary heart disease (a disease of the heart and arteries that blocks blood flow to the heart). They found that diets high in protein and fat, protein being a complex organic molecule necessary for the proper functioning of an organism; and low in carbohydrates, an organic compound that serves as a major energy source, produce a greater risk for coronary heart disease and diabetes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Over 50% of Americans are overweight.† This has led to the creation of many different diets. Some of these diets promote healthy eating and long-term weight loss while others are just fad diets with unsafe recommendations. It is suggested by expert panels that people should consume about 30% fat, from which only 10% can be saturated fat (a fat of animal origin) and less than 300 mg. of cholesterol daily. Cholesterol is a white substance found in animal tissues that serves the cell membranes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first thing the researchers did was to identify which diets were currently popular. They then looked at those diets that have been around for a long time. Each diet examined was different. The Atkins diet states that a high-fat ... ...tein Power diets are very high in total and saturated fat compared to current dietary guidelines. Long-term uses of these diets for weight maintenance are likely to significantly increase cholesterol concentrations and risks for coronary heart disease.† Diets that are higher in carbohydrates and fiber actually lower these risks. High fat diets do have short-term weight loss but the potential hazards for worsening the risk for heart disease and cholesterol problems override the short-term benefits. Sources Consulted:     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Anderson, James, MD. â€Å"Health Advantages and Disadvantages of Weight-Reducing Diets: A Computer Analysis and Critical Review.† American College of Nutrition 19 (2000): 578-590.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Dictionary. 21 October 2004. Lexico Publishing Group, LLC. 14 May 1995. .   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

Burn out of social workers in the work place Essay

Social workers are people committed to better the lives of others and this is done through varying capacities. Some work with families, children as well as in school while others work in the medical field especially those dealing with mental health. They assist people to amicably deal with domestic conflicts, disabilities, challenging health conditions, economic problems that precipitate housing problems, unemployment as well as issues like drug and substance abuse. (www. bls. gov). Their role in policy making can also not be underscored given their efforts in conducting research and making relevant recommendations as to the best or appropriate strategies. Social workers are also quite influential in the adoption processes as well as single parent assistance. Medical and public health social workers are committed to offering psychological support to people with life threatening conditions for instance HIV Aids and Alzheimer’s disease patients. Social workers can also work in local authorities as well as in government. In pursuit of making the lives of others worth the while, social workers in their respective fields are faced by many challenges. (www. bls. gov). They have to be in constant movement from their offices to where their clients are located and back to their offices where clerical work is done. Most often than not they experience burn outs while in their work a condition that affects their productivity levels. The focus of this paper is to explain why burn out occurs among the social workers, it will illustrate how it occurs, its effects on the organization and thereafter suggest that appropriate solutions to resolve it. The term ‘burn out’ is used to refer to the process or state of mental exhaustion that has a high impact on one’s productivity. In the book Handbook of human factors and ergonomics in health care and patient safety, Carayon presents some signs and symptoms of burn outs in the work place. Burn outs leads to anxiety and lack of zeal. It causes depression and mental exhaustion, poor concentration and memory as well as increased instances of absenteeism and general poor productivity. (Carayon P, 2006). Burn outs are not good for any profession in any organization. They cause a negative impact on interpersonal communication among the various employees in an organization would definitely have a bad effect on the company’s output. (Azar T, 2000). Burn outs increases people irritability and minor issues are magnified and this can be a source of conflicts among the various employees. The overall effects of burn outs are transferred from the individuals affected to the organization as a whole. Organization risk registering high dissatisfaction levels, increased job turn over as well as low morale. In Carayon’s book burn out is defined as ‘the persistent negative work related state of mind that is characterized by exhaustion which is accompanied by distress, a sense of reduced effectiveness and the development of dysfunctional attitudes and behaviors at work’. (Carayon P, 2006). This psychological problem develops gradually and may initially be unnoticed. It arises from the contrast between one’s objectives or intentions and the reality at the job. In most cases burn outs are caused by the adherence of inappropriate or rather inadequate stress coping mechanisms. Prolonged job stress leads to burn outs among the employees in question. Burn outs lead to decreased motivation and creates anti work attitudes. (Carayon P, 2006). Social workers in the various fields experience burn outs while in their work places. This occurs when the organizations they work for fail to meet their high goals and expectations. They feel dissatisfied with their work and this dissatisfaction leads to feeling of disappointment and grief. (Soderfeldt M and Soderfeldt B, 2003). According to a 2006 research it was clear that most social workers are not contented with their work. A high percentage reported high levels of job dissatisfaction and were ready to leave their various organizations. According to them, the value of the work they did was not equivalent to the pay they received. (The Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2006). Social workers suffering from burn outs may feel detached with their clients and this will definitely affect their productivity levels. (Takeda F et al, 2005). Although different people will react differently to burn outs some could isolate themselves and have poor eating and sleeping habits. Others may find solace in alcohol or smoking all of which has a negative effect on their health. The relationship between the social workers experiencing burn outs and their clients as well as with fellow workmates is negatively affected by burn out as it triggers anger. (Lewandowski A, 2003). Organizations suffer economically whenever social workers leave due to the burn out problems. They incur the costs of hiring new employees and training them to be effective. This is made worse by the fact that they have the constraint of scarce resources. Organizations or agencies that fail to address the issues presented by their employees in this context the social workers are more likely to register higher incidences of job turnover which translates to increased costs. (Lewandowski A, 2003). A major cause of the increased instances of burn outs among the social workers is attributed to lack or failure by some agencies to involve them in the decision making processes. The lack of autonomy and the increased bureaucratization in their work place makes them feel alienated or isolated. (Lundy C, 2003). The problems to be handled by social workers become difficult by the day and this demands that the organizations adjust with the changing times if amicable solutions are to be arrived at. In her book, Social work and social justice, Lundy explains that social workers have a challenging job. Financial constraint is a major set back hindering their efficiency or productivity. They have to undergo or rather face job related stress as they try to allocate the minimal resources to match the overwhelming demands. The structure of the social welfare delivery, the mandate of the agencies they work for as well as the needs of their clients also lead to increased stress which precipitates burn outs among the social workers. (Lundy C, 2003). Most social workers are in the job due to a call or vocation to help others and the failure to involve them in the decision making process hinders their effective performance. (Kreisher K, 2002). Great control of funding sources also has a negative effect on the level of satisfaction that social workers derive from their work. The reduced commitment by the government to boost the welfare sector has led to the reduction of funds which makes social work a very challenging profession. (Lewandowski A, 2003). Without the autonomy or involvement in the decision making process they are denied the chance to apply their findings or expertise to directly affect their practice. This hinders the effectiveness of various welfare programs and on not realizing their goals they are frustrated and feel helpless. The ineffectiveness of the sector that they work for may have a direct negative impact on the social workers. They may place themselves in the shoes of their clients who could be victims of abuse or violence and live in fear especially with the knowledge of how ineffective the system is. (Kreisher K, 2002). Given the emerging social and economic conditions, the involvement of social workers in the decision making process would be more of a necessity then a requirement. This would ensure that there is effective division of labor and the work load could be minimized. Workload has negative effects on the employees’ health. This can be backed by a 1999 survey by the Canadian Union of Public social workers which established that increased work load among the social workers in the development services in children aids societies had a negative impact on their well being. To a tune of 87% social workers in the various fields confessed that the increased work load had a negative on their health. (Kreisher K, 2002). Work overload precipitates burn outs. With minimal finances at their disposal, agencies or organizations dealing with welfare hire fewer people than would be required a condition that sees the social workers with a large work load at their disposal. The social workers job predisposes them to risks of physical and verbal abuse and threats at work all of which have negative implications on their mental, physical and social well being. It also has an effect on their job satisfaction levels. In the article ‘Burned out’ Kreisher Kristen argues that the poor pay given to social workers dealing with children and the youth, in the face of the tough economic times has a big role to play in boosting ‘burn outs’ among the social workers. Their job demands are increasing while their reward or pay is dwindling and this is a major disincentive for them. There is need for the welfare organizations to adjust the compensation rates to match the difficult economic times. (Kreisher K, 2002). As Lewandowski in Organizational factors contributing to worker frustration: The precursor to burnout notes disappointments among the social workers have also been aggravated by the fact that their roles or responsibilities have changed and are in contrast with their expectations. Instead of spending more time with their clients in the field they spend more time carrying out clerical work. (Lewandowski A, 2003). For the agencies or organizations accountability is of essence as they are under pressure from the financiers to show how their resources are spent. In other words the agencies are more concerned with the number of people served while the social workers are more concerned with the quality of services provided. The social workers pay is at times affected by gender bias where for instance women dealing with children are lowly paid. (Kreisher K, 2002). The burn out problem can be resolved if appropriate strategies are adopted to help the social workers face the challenges in their work effectively. Prevention of burn out can be handled both at an individual level as well as at an organizational level. Social workers can be advised to take well balanced diets, have enough sleep, talk with their workmates and share their challenges as well as create some time away from the stressful conditions. Social networks are vital as they enable one to connect with their friends and make the stress that they face easier to deal with. Identifying hobbies that would ease the work tension and pressure is also an effective way of reducing the effects of burn outs. Of mush significance is the role of organizations in resolving burn outs among the social workers. Organizations must adapt all inclusive strategies where social workers have a significant role in the decision making process. (Azar T, 2000). This makes them feel appreciated for the roles they play in the organizations. To enable social workers better manage the challenges attached to their work it is important that the social work curriculums be modified to train them on the appropriate ways to handle complex situations. Spending more time training would also ensure that they acquire immense knowledge on how to deal with real life situations. Mentorship programs would also suffice in resolving the problem of burn outs. Strong mentorship where older and experienced social workers share their experiences with younger and inexperienced social workers will provide them with adequate knowledge on how to deal with difficulties while in this job. It will reduce their job stress as they will understand that it is part of their job. Mentorship also provides them with relevant solutions to would be problems while in their jobs. Strong supervision is also vital in ensuring that work load problems that cause burn outs are effectively handled. (Kreisher K, 2002). An organization culture is also crucial in creating or reducing burn out in the work place. Positive cultures must be embraced by all means. Organizations with positive cultures go the extra mile to ensure employee retention. They make them feel that they are part of the organization and involve them in the decision making processes. They also provide financial incentives like paid vacations and health benefits. Team work is also embraced in such organizations and it ensures that job stress does not have adverse effects on the employees. Supportive co workers are essential in reducing job related stress. (Kreisher K, 2002). Organizations must also invest in making the work place safe such that the risks of being physically harmed are minimized. They can train the employees on how to deal amicably with incidences of violence. The effects of social workers burn outs on the individuals, clients and on the organizations are not desirable. The organizations must by all means ensure that employees are retained as increased job turn over sees them lose skilled, experienced and dedicated employees. They must therefore be committed to minimize the job stressors in the work environment to curb burn outs. References Azar T. 2000. Preventing burnout in professionals and paraprofessionals who work with child abuse and neglect cases: A cognitive behavioral approach to supervision. Psychotherapy in Practice, 56, 643-663. Colleen Lundy. 2003. Social Work and Social Justice: A Structural Approach to Practice. Broadview Press. Fumi Takeda. Naoko Ibaraki, Eise Yokoyama, Takeo Miyake and Takashi Ohida. 2005. The Relationship of Job Type to Burnout in Social Workers at Social Welfare Offices. Journal of Occupational Health Vol. 47 (2005), No. 2 119-125 Kristen Kreisher. 2002. Burned Out Children’s Voice Article, July/Aug 2002. Retrieved on 12 August 2008 from http://www. cwla. org/articles/cv0207burnedout. htm. Lewandowski A. 2003. Organizational factors contributing to worker frustration: The precursor to burnout. Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare, 4, 175-185. Pascale Carayon. 2006. Handbook of Human Factors and Ergonomics in Health Care and Patient Safety. Routledge Publishers. Soderfeldt M and Soderfeldt B. 2003. Burnout in social work. Social Work, 40, 638-647. Social Workers. Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Editions. Retrieved on 12 August 2008 from http://www. bls. gov/oco/ocos060. htm The Royal College of Psychiatrists. 2006. Mental health, burnout and job satisfaction among mental health social workers in England and Wales. The British Journal of Psychiatry (2006) 188: 75-80. doi: 10. 1192/bjp. 188. 1. 75.

China – Economic Development Essay

Kimberly Remijan MWH Mr. Harvey The Pros Outweigh the Cons When one thinks of a major Chinese city such as Shanghai or Beijing, images of sidewalks overcrowded with pedestrians, thousands of bicycles lined on the streets and litter spotted throughout public areas may come to mind. However, with the modernization and industrialization China has gone through, urban citizens are now more frequently using public transport, automobiles are increasingly being used more and people are hired to keep streets as clean as possible.With a little over three decades having past since the major industrial development, China has industrialized at an astonishing rate. This is especially apparent when comparing its much higher industrializing rates to Japan, the UK and the US. With such high rates of growth, there are both negative and positive aspects that come out of such development. Although general health in China is not at its best, post 1980 industrial development has improved the average Chine se citizen’s life tremendously both personally and publically.Through the rush of industrialization, Chinese industry and production has had a negative effect on the health of citizens because of the air pollution from coal, water pollution from factory emissions and the inhumane working conditions for some people. The production of coal, a major industry in China, emits sulfur compounds, carbon and other byproducts into the air, which increases the risks of cancer, lung and heart issues. â€Å"Sulfur dioxide produced in coal combustion poses an immediate threat to the health of China’s citizens, contribution to about 40,000 premature deaths a year† (Bradsher and Barboza).This not only affects the physical welfare of workers but anyone who is exposed to this tainted air. Sulfur dioxide emitted from coal combustion also contributes to acid rain, poisoning bodies of water and vegetation. â€Å"Nearly 500 million people lack access to safe drinking water† (K han and Yardley). With people running the risk of being dehydrated, it is hard to imagine that they can have a healthy immune system and enough energy to function properly. Also, it is much more difficult to move forward in life without having clean water for hygiene and food urposes. Lastly, the horrendous working conditions for some workers in factories are destroying their health. People work where there are no regards to human safety, and live in overpopulated housing and do not have common household appliances, resulting in about 5,000 deaths annually (â€Å"Great Leap Backward†). This affects the comfort and safety of workers, resulting in physical and emotional unhappiness. However, even though it true that the health of many is at stake, there are many other effects of industrialization that citizens are benefitting from as well.In the past few decades, citizens have been experiencing the personal benefits of higher income, a growing middle class and wider choice and availability of household appliances and comforts. Many citizens, especially those living rurally, are seeing an increase in income. â€Å"The number of rural poor people decreased from 49. 6 million to 28. 2 million in 2002† (â€Å"China Sees Improvements†). With more money to spare, many people are now able to spend on more, better quality food, hygiene, business, education for their children and other factors that create a life with more opportunities for the present and the future.Also, the middle class has recently been growing and developing. â€Å"China’s growing middle class has made it to the second largest luxury good market in the world† (Rapoza). A growing middle class means that the general economy is improving, and there is higher demand for goods. Factories then need to be created, more jobs are available and there is more production. The lower class gets smaller and the middle and upper class grows, which benefits everyone. This then leads on to household appliances becoming more affordable and available to the population. Household appliances such as TV sets, washing machines and refrigerators became more common, and an increasing number of families acquired computers and cars† (â€Å"China Sees Improvements†). With such comforts being more widely used than in the past, people are able to live more comfortably and happily. The benefits for the common people do not stop here. On a public level, public transportation is now being frequently used and education as well as heath-care is more available and accessible to citizens.Public transport such as buses, trains, airplanes and boats are being developed and utilized by many. â€Å"China will build or renovate 150 airports†¦harness water routes along major rivers†¦build 20 thousand kilometers of roads†¦and 6,000 kilometers of railways† (â€Å"China to Witness Development†). Going back a few years ago when China mostly used bicy cles to get to and from places, this burst of transportation development is huge. Not only is it available to many now but the government also continues to improve such means of transport, which will make business, travel, trading and communication much easier.It gets even better as the government focuses much of its time and money on spreading opportunities for education throughout the country. â€Å"In the nine-year compulsory education, the central government remitted 52 million students from underdeveloped western and central regions their tuition fees and extras† (â€Å"China Economic Growth†). With education being available to all social and economic classes in China, there is opportunity for a great social leap in the future. With proper schooling, young adults are able to be exposed to more job opportunities and are able to support their families and work their way out of poverty.Similarly, there have been efforts made to increase availability and quality of co mmon medical care throughout the nation. â€Å"As conditions of medical care continue to improve, people’s health has come to a higher level with the average life expectancy reaching 71. 8 years in 2002† (â€Å"China Sees Improvements†). With healthcare conditions getting better and people living longer, it is apparent that people’s life standards are improving. Increased life expectancy generally means that there is better hygiene, health and environment than in the past.Through these three effects that have come out of industrialization, it is apparent that the public is affected positively in many ways. Even though the health situation with some Chinese citizens is not at its peak, post 1980 industrial development in China has colossally increased living standards of many on both a personal and public level. People have and are earning more salary, a middle class is emerging and developing and household applications are now more accessible. Additionall y, public transportation is more developed and utilized and education and healthcare availability and quality is improving.All these benefits are wonderful, but there is still the matter of people’s health being negatively affected by coal production and the conditions workers go through to produce coal and other goods in factors. Before coming up with conclusions, one must look at this issue in context. First of all, the rate at which China is industrializing is much higher than nations in the past, such as the UK taking 150 years and Japan taking 40 years to completely industrialize. With China’s growth spurt being so huge, there are bound to be some consequences in order to achieve all the other benefits stated previously.Additionally, while still comparing China to past industrial development periods, the UK used to also have bad working conditions in the cities with factories emitting outrageous amounts of pollution. With some time and effort, these conditions imp roved and more ecofriendly factories and machinery was used. The same goes for Japan and the US. The odds point to China doing the same as well because of the following reasons. With increased education and income, citizens young and old are becoming more aware of their environmental and health situation.Also, with all the efforts the government is putting into healthcare for its people, it is apparent that their wellbeing is being put into consideration. Hopefully this will lead to actions for the long term by eliminating inhumane working conditions and harm to the environment. If China continually seeks the example of other leading countries and keeps in pace with their efforts for the environment, one can see that the benefits of post 1980 industrialization will continue to and grow in outweighing the negatives of the harmful conditions and factories.

Mao Zedong: Man, Not God

â€Å"Mao Zedong: Man, not God† by Quan Yanchi was first published in 1992, book is translated to English from Chinese by Wang Wenjiong and edited by Gale Hadfield. The book is based on the recollections of Li Yinqiao, Mao's bodyguard for many years. Highlighting the book are photographs of Mao with his relatives and Li, published for the first time. This book can help anyone who is new to China or know just a little about this country to get more familiar with who Mao for Chinese is. They love him so much, and the main aim of author of the book is to show to reader hidden situations of his life.The book is divided into 20 chapters by their theme. It ranges from Mao's relationship with different people to things that made him cry. Author was worried that not all of his questions will be answered by Li, despite Li is his friend. He thought some questions may embarrass Li, as they were about Mao's likes and dislikes, his fears. But to his fortune Li did his best trying to rememb er everything in details. Mao is well-known around the world as the greatest man China produced in this century. The author supports this impression and also tries to show that Mao was not like a robot,but ordinary human feelings are not alien to him.He had some habits which characterize him as a person who doesn't really like changes. As he choose Li to be his bodyguard's commander, they spent about 15 years together and after Li left Mao didn't have any new bodyguard commander. There are lots of situations while Mao afield. During the war he shows himself as a good commander and great strategist. He is very principled, sometimes it almost costed him a life. There were only few occasions when he refused his words and changed the order of things. But in some cases we should have thanked Li that Mao stayed alive.He was so dogged, he didn't worry about his own safe, he was just following his desire or whim like as he said so he would do so no matter how it would finish. For me persona lly was very interesting chapter about things that make Mao cry. I didn't even expect that such a thing as Beijing Opera could make him cry so much. One of his favorite plays was â€Å"The Story of the White Snake†. This tragic story never failed to move Mao to tears. This episode shows Mao not as Chairman or army leader,but more humane, as a small vulnerable child which starts to cry from emotions when he sees something perfect in its kind.Tragedy took Mao inside the play, he was losing connection to the real world, he became a part of play, he didn't care about other people's opinion. Another episode is also very emotional. Mao used to have one bodyguard from each province, so about twice a year he was sending them back home for family reunion, but also they had to bring Mao information about what was going on in the country, especially in distant parts. He didn't want them to be spy or guerrilla, he wanted to know the situation. He was not indifferent to destiny of people in China.Author keeps very detailed, he describes everything so vivid that reader gets an impression that he is sitting next to Mao, can hear his breathe, and feel the same disgust when Mao throws away a butt. Sometimes it can make you bored, but at all I find it necessary. Without all this details the text would be just retelling of history, only dry facts and would make you asleep within a minute. As the text is divided into chapters, Quan Yanchi starts each chapter with statement and after gives an example which supports the statement given in the beginning.As there can be some confirmations he goes from one to another, doesn't mix them up, so even if you stop reading for sometime and then come back to book you will easily get back to the event described. Book leaves its sign on you, it is impossible that you will not change your opinion about Mao. He presented from very different point of view than we, foreigners, used to think about him. Mao is God for Chinese, but he totally d eserve it. During his life he did lots of good to China and now its time for China pay him back.

Clinical significance Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Clinical significance - Assignment Example While medical studies are conducted on selected samples of people, the goal is to implement the findings on a totally different population. The arising concern, in this case, is that the sample of the study could give misleading results. It could be a very small sample or a biased sample not equivalent to the actual population that is being treated. Mathematical deductive logic cannot detect sample bias. The way in which the sample was chose is required in order to detect the bias, which raises an issue on clinical significance. Statistical significance is generally about the possibility of a chance finding that will not stay in the replications of the future. However, it does not say how big the difference was. On the other hand, clinical significance, the magnitude of treatment benefits is considered. Determining clinical significance demands a clear operational definition of terms in the definition (McGlinchey, David and Neil 531-532). Therefore, the application of test statistic results in a general population results into issues of biases and ineffective treatments, therapy. Summarily, the importance of understanding the differences between clinical significance and statistical significance should be emphasized. The understanding will ensure that the improvements in outcomes including behavior and cognitive when compared to placebo are translated into a clinical

Student Testing in Elementary Schools in America Essay

Student Testing in Elementary Schools in America - Essay Example The curriculum as of today is far ahead of what the school system was earlier. From learning by rote, now the child is allowed more interaction and freedom to gain knowledge from sources other than the school. The curriculum guides and text books are chosen today by the state and they reflect the State's learning standard and benchmarks for a given grade level. To gauge the progress of a child, there are tests to determine the adequate yearly progress which have to fulfill certain standardized goals by which States and school districts assess the child's progress academically.( Armstrong Thomas, 1987) When there are about twenty or thirty children of diverse learning needs in a class, the academic strengths and weaknesses of a child are most evident during tests. This is referred to as MAP or measures of academic progress. Tests are not an absolute indication of the child's progress or capacity for knowledge. The scoring process is a comparison of the child's responses with his or her peers. Instead of providing a statistical comparison of the child's abilities, it would be better to focus on the level of the skills that the child has acquired, instead of assessing the results of a child's test with a checklist of skills that are expected in a particular grade (Chris Shera, 2007). It is during interpretative question tests that disconnect between classroom activities and results in the end of grade tests required, is evident. Students are not empowered to study anything outside the requisite classroom curriculum. The program needs a balanced literary approach to maximize the child's ability to view tests in positive (Kosar, 2005) fashion. Then an improvement will be seen in the standardized reading and language test scores. The downside of testing : It is important to know that test results can go wrong for a variety of reasons. We can actually question the validity of the entire test result for many reasons. Some of these are elucidated below. 1. Most tests reward experience (Dunn, Rita and Dunn Kenneth, 1978). A child who has had repeated practice at a certain skill will naturally do it with a lot more ease than a child who has not had the benefit of frequent opportunities to do the same . 2. Children from cultural and socio economic minority groups are prone to poor performance on tests for the simple reason that the child may not relate to the subject comprehensively. For example, a child who does not speak English at home does not automatically think in that language and hence suffers when he is supposed to understand the nuances of a subject taught in English. 3. Children can be intimidated by the very prospect of a test at a younger age. The child's performance can suffer due to just the thought of doing a test. 4. Some children are not clued into writing within a particular time frame- especially in elementary schools - and dawdle over the test without finishing it. This does not mean that the child does not know the answer. 5. Some deterrents to academic progress could be a host of conditions that disrupt the normal learning process. These could range from language disorders, learning disabilities, dyslexia, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and

Cime criminology and modernity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Cime criminology and modernity - Essay Example When a bank makes a mortgage loan it is balancing risk with probability of repayment in an attempt to maximize profits. Firms engaged in international trade may hold reserves in a variety of currencies to minimize the risk of currency fluctuations. In each of these examples the company in question is trying to minimize risk. The following discussion will focus on the emerging term of risk management and risk minimization in the context of criminology. Initially, the term will be defined. Then the development of the concept will be outlined. Subsequently, the implications of the emergence of the risk minimization paradigm will be explored. Finally, a concluding section will examine the broadest implications of risk minimization for criminology and the future of the view of criminology as the art and science of reducing risk. Risk Management Defined More recently, the term has been adopted by the criminology field. In criminology risk management focuses on assessing the risk to society a given-offender presents and allowing that assessment to define the response of the criminal justice system. For example, offenders identified as the greatest risk to re-offend are treated more harshly and incarcerated or most closely supervised. Those presenting less of a risk are less closely supervised. The idea is to target the majority of resources and interventions at those most likely to act anti-socially in the future. Risk management is deemed to be a useful tool for determining the allocation of resources in the criminal justice system and a useful tool for determining the level of intervention (incarceration, length of incarceration, supervision, and level of supervision) necessary for a given offender. According to Kropp and Kropp (2002) risk management is prevention oriented approach as it attempts to match interventions with the level of risk (of recidivism) that individuals present.2 They define risk assessment as â€Å"the process of speculating in an informed way about the aggressive acts a person might commit and to determine the steps that should be taken to prevent those acts and minimize their negative consequences.†3 In criminological terms seeks to match resources to needs in an effort to minimize risk to society by matching intervention to the likelihood of an individual to commit future anti-social, violent or criminal acts. Robert S Cormier provides a useful summary of the range of contemporary risk assessment:4 Risk assessment has been commonly used to classify offenders in order to place them in suitable levels of institutional security.... Assessments are also done to assist in decisions regarding when and under what conditions an offender might be released from prison into the community, and are used to determine the appropriate treatment interventions and the level of supervision required to maintain an offender safely in the community. Risk assessment is the measurement tool, risk management is the act of pairing interv ention to level of need, and risk minimization is the objective of the risk management school of criminology. The Origins of Risk Management Kropp and Kropp acknowledge that risk management in criminology was initially crude, impoverished and inaccurate.5 Historically, â€Å"