Quasi-experimental Design :: Research methods and statistics

I. Jackson (2012), even-numbered chapter exercises, p 360. 2. The recommended design for this type of study is a non-equivalent control group post-test only design. 4. If a study is confounded, the researcher is not absolutely certain that changes in the dependent variable were caused by the manipulation of the independent variable, or some other uncontrolled variable. In a non-equivalent control group post-test only design, any differences observed between the two classes may be due to the non-equivalence of the groups and not to the injection of quizzes. No pre-test measures were given to establish equivalence. Another confound that may impact the results of this study could be the testing effect. Repeated testing may lead to better or worse performance. Changes in performance on the test may be due to prior experience with the test and not to the independent variable. In addition, repeated testing fatigues the subjects, and their performance declines as a result (Jackson, 2012). Because the professor is interested in determining if the implementation of weekly quizzes would improve test scores, an experimenter and/or an instrumentation effect may also affect results. In a single group post-test only design, possible confounds include the lack of a comparison group and the absence of an equivalent control group. Once again, a testing and an experimenter effect could also contribute to changes in test performance. 6. A single-case design is used when: 1. Only one person is measured. 2. The researcher does not want or need to generalize the results to a population. 3. The researcher believes it is unethical to withhold treatment to one group. 8. A multiple-baseline design differs from a reversal design by attempting to control for confounds through the introduction of treatment at differing time intervals to a few different people, to the same person in different situations, or to the same person across different behaviors. Reversal designs attempt to control for confounds by reversing the baseline and treatment conditions one or more times to assess the impact on behavior (Jackson, 2012). 2. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of quasi-experiments? What is the fundamental weakness of a quasi-experimental design? Why is it a weakness? Does its weakness always matter? Quasi-experimental designs are experimental designs that do not provide for the full control of extraneous variables. Primarily, the absence of control in this design is due to the lack of random assignment to groups. Quasi-experimental research designs are used in the study of cause and effect by manipulating the independent variable.

Promote and implement health and safety in health and social care

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is responsible for regulating health and safety at work. This is done by a code of practice for employers, employees and visitors in order to prevent illness and accidents. The legislation that best relates to health or social care work setting is The Health and Safety Act Work Act 1974. This legislation best describes the work that employer and employees have to follow and provide. The health and safety and security of employers and its visitors must be protected. In order to follow up this legislation, the employer has to draw up health and safety policy and procedures and must be followed according to the legislation. The employer has to provide a safe work place, safe access to and from place of work, a risk assessment of potential a hazard and health and safety training as well as information on health and safety. The points of health and safety policies and procedures agreed with the employer are as follows: To secure the health, safety and welfare of people at work To protect others from risks arising from the activities of people at work †¢ To control the use and storage of dangerous substances †¢ To control the emission into the atmosphere of noxious or offensive substances At a work place it is your duty to take care of yourself and anyone else who may be affected by your actions. No task should be done by you which you have not been trained or instructed to do so. No equipments should be misused in the interest of health an d safety. The responsibilities of a manager should be that they make you aware of everything that is regarding to health and safety at work. Such as, make you aware of health and safety policies and procedure and get you signed to confirm that you have been made aware. Others such as family members or carers have also responsibilities to consider such as health and safety in maintaining security, hand washing and no smoking rule. No task should be carried out without having had a special training. No need to be playing a hero if you are not trained to help at what ever the situation is. Medication should only be given by a trained staff and who also can demonstrate competence. There is so many things that could possible go wrong regarding giving a patient medication. Sudden accidents that may occur in work setting could be falling down the stairs or slipping on a wet floor. Illness that could occur are poisoning, allergy and burns. The procedure that should be followed if the floor is wet, a sign should be put up to make people aware that it is dangerous and slipper and cleaned straight away. The procedure that should be followed if someone gets poisoned or has a severe burns they should be taken to the A&E. Stress is an organism's response to a stressor such as an environmental condition or a stimulus. Stress is a body's way to react to a challenge. There are many signs that indicates stress, those are as follows: poor concentration tearfullness anxiety and depression high blood pressure weight gain or loss insomnia Signs that indicate own stress are physical stressors, emotional stressors and social stressors. Physical stressors are pain in your body, illness, disability, lack of sleep, poor diet and too much exercise or none. Emotional stressors, dealing with family problems, meeting deadlines, looking for a job, responsibilities at work and home and helplessness. Social stressors, relationships, financial problem, coping with children, moving house, getting married and having a baby. In order to overcome stress, is to build emotional strength within you, controlling your situation, having a good social network and always have a positive outlook on certain things. Challenging yourself by setting goals, builds confidence and helps you take charge of your life. Been active has a lot of benefits, not just by calming your emotions and help you think more clearly but also by cleaning up unwanted toxin in your body.

Should Student Loan Debt Be Forgiven?

Most Americans would agree that higher education is important. Compared to years ago, when a high school education was acceptable in most jobs, a college degree is now required in the majority of positions. But what if you can’t afford to get a degree? What then?For many, student loans are the only way to finance one’s education. Paying out of pocket simply isn’t a reality for most, so they rely on state and national government to provide them the funds to attend school, buy textbooks, and even pay for room and board. Sign on the dotted line, and suddenly a subsidized or unsubsidized loan shows up as a credit on your student account.Any overage is paid to you by check to cover incidentals. This process gets repeated every semester, for as long as you attend school. It all seems very easy and acceptable – until you graduate (or don’t graduate, whichever the case may be).The day you leave school, a six-month clock starts ticking toward your first paym ent. Oh wait, you mean school costs money? Sadly, some aren’t able to secure a position right away that can allow them the economic capability to start making payment on their loans. It can take up to two years for some college graduates to find a job.In the meantime, those loans are still due and payable. There are all sorts of possibilities for repayment: income-sensitive plans, unemployment deferments, graduated payments, and even forgiveness programs for certain occupations like nurses, teachers, and public servants.But what about the rest of the debt holders? What happens to them if they can’t make their payments? Student loan debt today approaches $1 trillion dollars, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Even more frightening, the Wall Street Journal reports about 40% of student loan holders are in default or have delayed their payments.Student loan debt has now actually surpassed total credit card debt in the US. There are numerous calls to act ion for possible solutions to this problem. The main issue I have with them is they don’t actually take into effect HOW we got into this position, or how to avoid it from happening again in the future. As part of his re-election bid, President Obama introduced his solution, referred to as the 10-10 plan. This plan allows graduates to only pay 10% of their total income as loan payments, and forgive whatever is left after 10 years.This plan requires a borrower to have a financial hardship, and the payment amount, based on 10% of income, is readjusted yearly. In many cases, this forgiveness will amount to somewhere around 80% of the original loan amount. That seems an awfully steep penalty for the US to pay, simply because they think they can.These borrowers are now, hopefully, out in the work world making a reasonable income so they are actually likely to be able to make payments. Forgiveness at that point is not really necessary. In an income-sensitive repayment plan, the rate of the payment goes up, based on the income of a borrower increasing as well.Rather than forgiving the remainder owed, cutting interest rates or lowering the payment amount seem like better solutions in that they provide assistance to struggling borrowers, but ultimately the debt is repaid.There are others calling for an all-out bailout, similar to the AIG or GE bailout, designed to boost the economy. The hope is those with forgiven loans will put that money back into the economy, at least in the short term. But who’s to say that’s where they’ll put their money? What happens to the next round of graduates? They’ll be graduating with a forgone conclusion that their loans will be forgiven as well.And why not? That’s what a plan like this would lead them to believe. Mitchell Weiss, adjunct professor at the University of Hartford's Barney School of Business in Connecticut, believes any kind of credit is ultimately issued on a sort of trust. â€Å"If I loan you some money, I trust that you're going to pay it back to me,† he says. â€Å"Wholesale forgiveness, amnesty – whatever you want to call it – will fundamentally undermine a process that is thoroughly integrated within our society. † Moreover, it doesn't really solve the problem, says Professor Weiss.A Facebook page started by an angry law school graduate without means to repay his loans has sparked a petition to support a one-time, across the board loan forgiveness. Started by Robert Applebaum, the group calls for an economic boost by forgiving all outstanding government loans.In the petition, Applebaum says, â€Å"Forgiving the student loan debt of all Americans will have an immediate stimulative effect on our economy†. â€Å"With the stroke of the president's pen, millions of Americans would suddenly have hundreds, or in some cases, thousands of extra dollars in their pockets each and every month to spend on ailing sectors of the economy .†Basically, the already strained government would be taking the hit for billions of dollars, based on the hope that this money would find its way back to our local and national economy. The main problem I see is you cannot guarantee this is what will happen. It sets the whole Federal Loan system up for collapse. HR1330 is another bill recently introduced, which could provide some much-needed relief for borrowers. Instead of a bailout, this kind of plan would allow interest-free deferments to borrowers who become unemployed or who are enrolled in the current 10-10 plan.Important to note is that it does limit the forgiveness afforded to new borrowers. But here again, it’s a very short term solution to a very long term issue. People on both sides, and somewhere in the middle, generally have strong opinions about the long-term benefits or non-benefits of a plan like this. CNBC reports the problem with a plan like this is three-fold: â€Å"The losses must be borne by someo ne, likely the taxpayer†. Basically, the money to bail out college graduates from repaying their loans has to come from somewhere. It can also be called a â€Å"moral hazard†, in that it rewards or implicitly encourages imprudent behavior.Also, a one-time bailout of the current loan-holders could strongly encourage future graduates to rely on the possibility of another bailout in the future. As a returning college student with a mountain of student loan debt of my own, I see the problem from the borrower’s perspective. As a Business Management student, though, I also see it through â€Å"Economic Eyes†. At the risk of sounding old and maternal, I think forgiveness only allows the problem to keep repeating for my generation, my children’s generation, and those to come.In the same mentality that I would never buy my child a car outright, for fear they’d have no ownership in it or respect for it, I simply don’t believe that bailing out bo rrowers is a good solution either.I fear we teach our children that so long as there are mountains of others in the same predicament, there is government relief available. The price is ultimately paid in the form of even more national debt. Yes, an economic boost might be favorable in the short term, but the long term effects of that boost will be felt for years afterwards.

Stream Order - The Classification of Streams and Rivers

Stream Order - The Classification of Streams and Rivers One of the most important aspects of physical geography is the study of the worlds natural environment and resources - one of which is water. Because this area is so important, geographers, geologists, and hydrologists alike use stream order to study and measure the size of the worlds waterways. A stream is classified as a body of water that flows across the Earths surface via a current and is contained within a narrow channel and banks. Based on stream order and local languages, the smallest of these waterways are also sometimes called brooks and/or creeks. Large waterways (at the highest level the stream order) are called rivers and exist as a combination of many tributary streams. Streams can also have local names such as bayou or burn. The Stream Order Geological Society of America Bulletin When using stream order to classify a stream, the sizes range from a first-order stream all the way to the largest, a 12th order stream. A first-order stream is the smallest of the worlds streams and consists of small tributaries. These are the streams that flow into and feed larger streams but do not normally have any water flowing into them. In addition, first and second order streams generally form on steep slopes and flow quickly until they slow down and meet the next order waterway. First through third order streams are also called headwater streams and constitute any waterways in the upper reaches of the watershed. It is estimated that over 80% of the world’s waterways are these first through third order or headwater streams. Going up in size and strength, streams that are classified as fourth through sixth order are medium streams while anything larger (up to 12th order) is considered a river. For example, to compare the relative size of these different streams, the Ohio River in the United States is an eighth order stream while the Mississippi River is a tenth order stream. The world’s largest river, the Amazon in South America, is considered a 12th order stream. Unlike the smaller order streams, these medium and large rivers are usually less steep and flow slower. They do however tend to have larger volumes of runoff and debris as it collects in them from the smaller waterways flowing into them. Going Up in Order If however, two streams of different order join neither increases in order. For example, if a second order stream joins a third order stream, the second order stream simply ends by flowing its contents into the third order stream, which then maintains its place in the hierarchy. The Importance of Stream Order Stream order also helps people like biogeographers and biologists in determining what types of life might be present in the waterway. This is the idea behind the River Continuum Concept, a model used to determine the number and types of organisms present in a stream of a given size. More different types of plants, for example, can live in sediment-filled, slower flowing rivers like the lower Mississippi than can live in a fast-flowing tributary of the same river. More recently, stream order has also been used in geographic information systems (GIS) in an effort to map river networks. The algorithm, developed in 2004, uses vectors (lines) to represent the various streams and connects them using nodes (the place on the map where the two vectors meet). By using the different options available in ArcGIS, users can then change the line width or color to show the different stream orders. The result is a topologically correct depiction of the stream network that has a wide variety of applications. Whether it is used by a GIS, a biogeographer, or a hydrologist, stream order is an effective way to classify the world’s waterways and is a crucial step in understanding and managing the many differences between streams of different sizes.

Hyperkalemia or High Potassium

Hyperkalemia or High Potassium Hyperkalemia breaks down to mean  hyper-  high;  kalium, potassium;  -emia, in the blood or high potassium in the blood. Potassium in the bloodstream is the K ion, not potassium metal, so this illness is one type of electrolyte imbalance. The normal concentration of the potassium ion in blood is 3.5 to 5.3 mmol or milliequivalents  per  liter  (mEq/L). Concentrations of 5.5 mmol and higher describe hyperkalemia. The opposite condition, low blood potassium levels, is termed hypokalemia. Mild hyperkalemia typically isnt identified except through a blood test, but extreme hyperkalemia is a medical emergency that can result in death, usually from heart arrhythmia. Hyperkalemia Symptoms The symptoms of elevated potassium are not specific to the condition. Mainly the effects are on the circulatory and nervous system. They include: weaknessmalaiseheart palpitationshyperventilation Causes of Hyperkalemia Hyperkalemia results when too much potassium is taken into the body, when cells massively release potassium into the bloodstream, or when the kidneys cant properly excrete potassium. There are numerous causes of hyperkalemia, including: kidney diseasediabetes (leading to nephropathy)medications that affect urination (NSAIDS, diuretics, antibiotics, etc.)diseases associated with a mineralocorticoid deficiencymassive blood transfusionany major tissue damage, whether it be from injury (burns, serious wounds) or medical treatment (notably chemotherapy)excessive dietary intake of potassium-rich foods (e.g., salt substitute, bananas)intentional hyperkalemia as the last step of lethal injection, to disrupt and stop the heart Not that its highly unusual for a person with ordinary kidney function to overdose on potassium from foods. Excess potassium resolves itself if the kidneys are able to process an overload. If the kidneys are damaged, hyperkalemia becomes an ongoing concern. Preventing Hyperkalemia In some cases, its possible to prevent potassium buildup by limiting dietary intake of potassium-rich foods, taking diuretics, or ending a medication that causes a problem. Hyperkalemia Treatment Treatment depends on the cause and severity of hyperkalemia. In a medical emergency, the goal is to shift the potassium ion from the bloodstream into cells. Injecting insulin or salbutamol temporarily lowers serum potassium levels.

Parking a car Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Parking a car - Essay Example ger is not interested in you; he is only interested in the arrival and departure of your car in the parking lot and the fees that you pay for the service. Americans knew that this serious problem parking was going to tax their brains. With the introduction of automobiles, the fundamentals of travel styles changed and it had severe impact on the American landscape. Cars caused congestion; they restricted the right-of-way from the pedestrians and caused big traffic congestions in small towns and metropolitan cities. Cars in motion caused problems; cars at rest caused more problems! The space required for parking is staggering but often underestimated. 6. Show important films on the related issues, useful quotations and case studies that will inspire the students involved in learning. The contents should make a learner a better learner, and the teacher, even a better teacher. Getting a learner’s license is the first step of the ladder to become an expert car driver. An individual shaping to become well-versed at the wheels needs to understand parking as modern convenience, what it means to parking at curbside, commercial parking lots and municipal parking lots etc. The advantages and disadvantages of such facilities, cost-wise! The subject of parking is not studied in isolation now. The notion that a car purchased will be parked somehow, somewhere, is no more acceptable. Now the human ecology is dedicated to automobile use. Everyone knows that by owning a car, you are twice-blessed! For, an equal amount of space is needed for maneuvering it in and out. And cars in regular use need two spaces. One at the residence and one at the destination away from home—the workplace! When a trip terminates, you need parking. In America, automobiles have become the essential part of living—like electricity, gas and running water. One’s social and cultural life like visiting the church, visiting government offices, trips to health consultant—everywhere the mode of

Customer Service-Customers for Life-repost Personal Statement

Customer Service-Customers for Life-repost - Personal Statement Example Real experience such as the Company chipping in to help customer during losses of property amplifies loyalty. Firms should be quick to react when customers seek their help and extend Olive branch to customer’s home to strengthen customer’s relation and building on its reputation. Credit facilities offered to customers at affordable terms and conditions serve both firm and customers interest. Lifelong customers are retained when they are made to feel as part of the Company and in particular, when faced with challenges so as to help them overcome stress via suggesting rational solutions. Standing with a customer during their difficulties by firms make customers relieved from some burdens and aid in restoring normal mind set. Customers are thus pinned strongly to such companies that recognize and appreciate the existence of their customers. Firms thus benefit from increased customer loyalty as such customers suggest that particular Company to their friends and relatives and such chain is extended leading to a greater pool of loyal customers resulting into competitive advantage accompanied by increased market power. This thus culminates into increased