Evaluation of Issues Project

When I first received the Issues Introduction Coursework element, I had no clue about which topic I wanted to cover. There is such a variety of Issues in our world ranging from political problems to crucial environmental issues. I decided I would mind map all of my ideas out (anything to do with issues) and I evaluated my choices. I wanted to create a piece on a topic, which is relevant now and has a very strong history – an issue that needs tackling now. I decided I would go down the root of abuse (social issue), which is a very vague topic. It includes sub-topics of physical abuse, discrimination, child abuse and many more. Abuse is a topic, which has affected the British and nearly every single person on this planet: on an international scale we have child labour to electric chairs. This needs to stop now: this may be the root cause of anger, of hatred, of breakdowns in relationships. Abuse is a topic, which has also affected me in some ways during my life, and I thought it was time to put some of my own background into my piece of work; this is a skill, which many directors use in their films. Eg. Steven Spielberg is Jewish, and his film ‘Schindler's List' has its point of view to sympathise with the Jews because of the cruelty to them from the Nazis. I was influenced by this director to be very subjective about a topic I am very serious about. I integrated my two art forms through a film. This is using ‘moving images' and ‘drama. ‘ It is a simple idea but the procedure and the work takes a long time to create. I decided I would use film to show my intended audience (young children, aged 10-12) what the effects of bullying and abuse can cause. A film can use spontaneous language, and I kept the scenes short so they were memorable: this is the purpose of a film. First of all, from my original mind map I began to think of topics, which could be incorporated into my project from abuse. I decided I would go down the root of school bullying, a typical situation which takes place, but it has hybrid topics. It covers discrimination, domestic abuse, physical abuse, verbal abuse and the mentality of bullies. This is because abuse does not come in one form – abuse is caused by something, which enrages people. Through my research I found that through psychology, abuse is caused by a mental issue, which enrages people, which causes a physical outcome (usually negative). There then, is a solution how to calm down, how apologise and stay calm. But when somebody gets bored they begin to aggravate somebody, which can bring on this anger again. It is a â€Å"vicious cycle. † This is exactly what my piece intends to do. It shows that ‘bullying never ends' and ‘bullying never stops' and that whenever there is a peak of happiness it eventually falls back down and everybody has to start rebuilding their lives again. This is a scene in my piece at the end of the film. Another theme is that ‘abuse creates more abuse. Her mother has domestically abused Zoi and therefore it's â€Å"mother-like-daughter†: Zoi begins to bully people too! I created scenes, which would evoke the audience about scenes of abuse, and bullying and I wrote them with more dialogue to create a stream of consciousness (just like Zephaniah's Neighbours) and this would engage my audience. I researched how girls were mean to each other (using Mean Girls) and I used some of these girls' characteristics in my own piece. I lastly created a storyboard with quick images and shots on how the audience was going to see this film. I drafted the scenes and the storyboard so I could see what improvements could be made to make my intended audience to make them even more shocked! I used a style model to show how to write and how to present a film script. I took the layout and the font type of this piece to make my own script look professional. I also incorporated some of my critical analysis pieces' work like having many twists in the films. The Guardian Advert ends with a twist using different shots; I decided I would use my own twist. These are that Zoi is getting domestically abused, and Stacey kills off Anna at the end. It is a very depressing ending, which is what I want my audience to feel left with. I want them to connect, to empathise with Zoi and Anna and show that dreadful things can affect our lives. I want to show my audience that bullies are, and will always be, hated. When also creating my advert poster, I looked at some posters showing abuse and took ideas from here. Like the silhouettes; the purpose of using a silhouette is so the audience can try and convey their own idea to what the character really looks like rather than just filling it black. I also put on some media to give it a modern touch (eg. ewspaper and magazine cuttings for the title) and I also edited the â€Å"girl's† body to look devilish. A first judgement would make you think that this girl is evil, which is an idea taken from my analysis pieces. Actually, the devil girl becomes a nice, well-mannered pleasant character! My strengths in creating this piece were being able to create a strong film with a message; my scenes were very strong in the way they were acted and the range of shots I used emphasised the raw emotion I wanted to convey to my audience. I used different types of literacy techniques and dramatic techniques too. Eg. In the soliloquy of Anna (a dramatic monologue), I wanted my audience to feel sympathetic to her. My weakness was time keeping. I had a plan, and I tried to stick to it. It took too long filming and editing though. That was the longest part of the project – but in the end I completed my project with success. If I were going to do this project again I would keep time-management at the top of my list because everything else (portfolio etc. ) fell behind. I think that writing my scenes were also strong using a pragmatic lexical choice to involve the audience's own colloquial language incorporated into my film piece. This would engage the audience because it would feel very comfortable, informal and sort of â€Å"eavesdropping. † Examples of this are â€Å"mates. † I experimented with swearing, which is very bad for a young demographic to hear, but in the end, children will end up hearing this language once they get older anyways. In my opinion, I think that my final piece is very successful in putting its point across to my demographic (young children). If my audience were watching this then they would feel shocked at the end and all the way through, which is its intended primary purpose, with the second being to entertain. This film is full of a hybrid of issues and plot twisting. It conveys symbols of trust and loyalty (hugs and holding hands) as well as scenes, which can shatter trust (i. e. letter in the locker). My piece not only conveys the theme of abuse through a modern media type (film), but it is very personal to those who are murdered, or commit suicide, being school students, being different today! I honestly think I have done a great job in presenting my issues to influence young children to NOT get involved in bullying or abuse!

A History of African Music Essay

Music Essay African music roots start in every aspect of society. Their culture is formed from there environment hunting but mostly on their tradition. Their music reflects this not only is it entertaining it serves as a way to pass knowledge and stories to the next generation. African music has a variety of different instruments that they use throughout their songs. Music in African culture also has very strong spiritual and religious meanings. The recent history of African musical influence has played a large part in encouraging the current trend toward African musical appreciation. During the 1950s, when the Africans experienced rapid urbanization and a relatively booming economy, the two French-speaking colonies of the Congo area witnessed the birth of an African version of the Cuban rumba played by small American-style orchestras. Some artists that are African are Afro-National, Khaled Agag, Eric Agyeman, and Mahmoud Ahmed. Other than using their voices, which has been developed to use various techniques, they use a wide array of musical instruments are used. African musical instruments include a wide range of drums, slit gongs, rattles, double bells, and melodic instruments including string instruments. Other percussion instruments include many rattles and shakers, such as the kosika, rain stick, bells and wood sticks. Also, Africa has lots of other types of drums, and lots of flutes, and lots of stringed and wind instruments. The traditional tribal African music has deep meaning in its lyrics along with its rhythm and beat, its lyrics often tell of struggles, religion, and day to day life. The Africans would perform rituals to try to please the gods, these rituals would include music made by the high priest the instruments used would be tribal drums and a rain stick. The lyrics would be similar to Christian hymns in our modern culture

Activities Coordinator

Along with the views of Human Motivation, Psychological Behavior, Environmental Factors and Quantitative and Qualitative Strengths, Social Influence and Capabilities play important roles in achieving certain objectives (Brehm, 2004).   Activities intended for social interactions credit a big help in creating personal relationships for the reason that the triggering of an individual’s interest will eventually make it easier for one to be persuaded to adhere with one’s desire and expectation (Cialdini, 1998). Changing the Community’s Lifestyle Take for example having a goal within a community to change the lifestyle, or perhaps the view of people towards a healthy lifestyle.   In order to achieve this certain goal, development psychology clearly defines that change does not happen in an instant.   It follows a step-by-step process, wherein keen observation and analysis on the behavior and interests of the community must be taken consideration on to be able to identify the level of motivation and techniques shall be imposed to (Brehm, 2004). Instilling Physical Activities Benefits Positively The differences of each individual and the complexities of the differences may be hard to specify for in every community, there would always be those who would not conform to the general masses.   Ã‚  Learning psychological strategies to eliminate anyone’s unhealthy beliefs in anyone or anything’s perspective on to realigning values in any area of life, is considered an intellectual way in making the subjects follow (Grottke, 2006). Information Dissemination Indulging the subjects of the advantages and benefits taken from physical education and enlightening them with the disadvantages caused by the opposite or disregarding such way of living will make them realize the essence of the activity. The information can be disseminated in a form of flyers, advertisements and door to door consultations citing people who suffered illnesses and sickness due to inconsistent physical activities.   In that sense, by capturing their sympathy and instilling a form of fear in their minds, it will be easier for them to be persuaded. Fear and Risk Taking Fear, being one of the highest factors in emotion and a bug in motivation, serves motivation strategy to prospects.   Inculcating the horrors of an unhealthy lifestyle will horrify the living daylights of their life (Lieberman, 2005).   Making them realize that taking physical exercises will deprive them from living longer and thus will lose everything which they have sown earlier than those who are healthy.   Eventually, since most are busy in their jobs, they will grab the most efficient way in gaining a healthy lifestyle, which implies that the Center shall gain generous support from those who have been persuaded to help not only their selves, but a deeper sense of sympathy to those who need their assistance. Door-in-the-face Technique A kind of persuasion with an arrogant form of approach which is then most likely not to be accepted, hence, the persuader at hand a slighter and more levelheaded appeal which eventually the real gist of the negotiation.  Ã‚   It is a subliminal way of slightly fooling subjects to have them trapped in one’s desire.   It could be effective, but a feeling of guilt will later lurk in the scene. Foot-in-the-door Technique   A related trick of persuasion, a little similar on the first, but somehow degrading if realized, since that is a kind of method which tends to amaze the receiving party which then makes it hard for him to refuse such offer given that the offer was ascending.   Effective though, but then again, it’s like tricking the receiver still over one’s benefit. Essence of Techniques The use of door-in the face technique, foot-in-the-door technique and the art of persuasion are by study proven to be effective in dealing with social interactions.   The gift of persuasion or influence is considered as the most valuable one, which if further developed and enhanced will not only reach the hearts of those inside the vicinity of the Center’s jurisdiction, but the nation as well. Conclusion Concluding such, in this massive form of competition in the complex world of business, being wise by evaluating effects of every move taken must be clearly specified and analyzed.   Characteristics of an effective Activity Coordinator must know what to take (Williamson, 1995), when to take and how to use effectively what is taken (Hughes Beatty, 2005), what to sacrifice and what to throw away (Straker, 2007), when to commence and when to leave (Segil, 2002) – but never to abandon, instead, to save and develop what had been started (Hesselbein, Johnston, Foundation, 2002; Runde Flanagan, 2006). References: Brehm, S. S. (2004). Social Psychology (6th ed.). New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. Cialdini, R. B. (1998). Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion (Revised ed.). New York: Collins. Grottke, R. L. (2006). All I Needed to Know in Life I Learned Selling Door to Door. New York: BookSurge Publishing. Hesselbein, F., Johnston, R., Foundation, T. D. (2002). On High Performance Organizations: A Leader to Leader Guide (1 ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Hughes, R. L., Beatty, K. M. (2005). Becoming a Strategic Leader: Your Role in Your Organizations Enduring Success (Lst Ed ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Lieberman, D. J. (2005). How to Change Anybody: Proven Techniques to Reshape Anyones Attitude, Behavior, Feelings, or Beliefs New York: St. Martins Press. Runde, C. E., Flanagan, T. A. (2006). Becoming a Conflict Competent Leader: How You and Your Organization Can Manage Conflict Effectively. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Segil, L. (2002). Dynamic Leader Adaptive Organization: Ten Essential Traits for Managers (1 ed.). Toronto: Wiley. Straker, D. (2007). Leadership styles (Publication. Retrieved June 28, 2007, from Changing Minds: http://changingminds.org/disciplines/leadership/styles/leadership_styles.htm Williamson, O. E. (1995). Organization Theory: From Chester Barnard to the Present and Beyond (Expanded ed.). New York: Oxford University Press, USA.

Psychological Profiling Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Psychological Profiling - Case Study Example It has been reported that Jane was last seen on 24th May 2008 on Wednesday, wearing blue denim jeans corresponding up with a blue and white striped sweater, red court shoes and a complementary shoulder bag with her credit cards and mobile phone inside it. She was also tiring tights, bra and knickers inside her clothes, which were found at the place where the corpse was exposed. She went misplaced the night she had gathering plans with her group of friends at a close by bar and the Police spoke to all her friends concerning the entrance of Jane Smith at the appointment place and her friends learned saying that Jane was supposed to make it to the pub as planned at somewhere around eight or nine pm and she would always enlighten her friends if she was to get any late for the get-together. The dead body was found at Water ship Common which is a locality about fifteen miles away from her house and where a fire was reported on 17th July, 2008 on Thursday, and since the fire was located jus t thirty yards away from the road people around the area were apprehensive that the fire could get out of hands but earlier than it was too late the authorities came and took concern of it and that is when the dead body of Jane Smith was exposed harshly charred and without any clothes on. DNA and dental assessment were the only firm evidences through which it was recognized as Jane Smith's body for the reason that the entire body was burnt with the head covered by a charred piece of cardboard and the base of the fire was the lower abdominal part and the genital parts of the dead body. A green scarf was also exposed right underneath the cardboard covering the head also and after the assessment of the head area the neck was inspected and which was exposed tied around compactly with a pair of tights along with a number of metal eyeholes all about the body and the over all state of the dead body looked like to some extent a canvas covering. There were no accommodations done to obscure t he body along with its surroundings that were chiefly open woodland and un-destroyed views of the complete area through the neighbouring road. The state of the body predicts a very weird behavioural pattern when it comes to the executioner and perhaps we can prognosticate that the killer could have been in a very choleric and pitiless state of mind. For illustration, we often hear about harshly killed young girls which also involves a progression of deaths in the same patterning or method and mostly the offenders are eccentric stalkers who are one way or another fanatical with raping and ultimately killing these girls. In this case the kind of crime is perhaps premeditated murder which can be predicted from side to side the condition of the body that clearly states that the girl was either kidnapped first or willingly taken to this location followed by corporeal harm or torture and then ultimately the place was burnt down with the exercise of petrol all over the consign and body. Rational Result: The stipulation of the body makes it safe to finish that the girl was perhaps intentionally kidnapped or mugged on the street then taken to the place and physically abused and then ultimately burnt down so that all the evidences including the major one that of the body can disappear and probably for the reason that the criminal planned on departure no mark at the back. The Police

Literacy Practices Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Literacy Practices - Essay Example In practice text-user reading can be learned from schooling itself. Teachers are a good source for students to improve their abilities as a text-user reader. In schools students were taught the basics of any language. Basics are pillars for any subject that holds construction strong. In school students were taught how to use these texts for various purposes. Out of curiosity students starts to pose questions on different topics and slowly arguments starts to arise from other pupils. This interaction leads to know on what they were arguing, whether their argument is in accordance with the subject, where the argument will lead to from here, will the argument lead to fruitful conclusion, how can they organise themselves to get the best out of it, how can they present their opinions and finally what can they learn from this. The text-user practice reader's pose themselves some questions to come into some conclusion to achieve their task. Questions like 'Purpose of the text', 'How will be the text useful', 'Will this be enough to achieve the task', 'Is this text effective', 'In what ways it can be used', How can I work around this Let's look at the skills and strategies for being a text-user.

Create a Design for a Wireless Campus Area Network Essay

Create a Design for a Wireless Campus Area Network - Essay Example Lot of learning institutes has implemented a Campus area network. The campus area network connects to two or more local area networks of any two remote offices within limited geographical locations. The connectivity involves synchronization of data and applications such as intranet (Campus area network.2007).The network devices and computing equipments have to be reliable and extendable, if the faculty staff increases. The network design for the CAM requires an expandable and efficient network that will fulfill the requirements of speed, distance and cost. Radio Frequency Solution The radio frequency solution is quite achievable in the current scenario. As the city government offices require wireless connectivity ‘access points’ are of major concern. ‘Access points’ are the deployed to connect devices equipped with wireless technology. ‘Access points’ transmits and receive radio signals adjacent to a network hub over a limited distance. However, distance varies from different model types and the technology adopted. An IEEE 802.11n wireless network standard is recommended for connecting all the city government offices. 802.11n supports transmission speeds up to 150 Mbps and beyond. 802.11n works on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands (802.11n definition from PC magazine encyclopedia). Cisco is recommended for the Wi-Fi solution.

U.S - European Ties with Obama as President Essay

U.S - European Ties with Obama as President - Essay Example â€Å"The election of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States opened a new chapter in transatlantic relations, transforming European assessment of the American president, U.S. standing in Europe, attitudes toward U.S. global leadership, and perceptions on both sides of the Atlantic of the U.S.-EU relationship† (Transatlantic Trends Key Findings, p.6). It is a fact that Obama enjoys heavy support from the European countries compared to his predecessor. Obama’s handling of international affairs has already attracted many Europeans. The handling of Afghan crisis, economic crisis and climate change has helped Obama to acquire support even from the traditional anti- American publics in Turkey and Central and Eastern Europe. On the other hand, Western Europe is almost unique in supporting Obama’s policies. In fact Obama enjoys more support from the European publics than from the Americans at present. In America at least the Republicans are strongly oppo sing Obama’s economic and foreign policies whereas in Europe, irrespective of the political difference, Obama enjoys strong support at present. The recently concluded G20 summit and the winning of Nobel Prize for peace have helped Obama to polish his face among the Europeans. â€Å"People in the European Union and Turkey have fallen under the Obama spell..In 2008, their assessment of Bush was 18 percentage points lower than Bush’s approval in the United States. In 2009, the situation was reversed. Their positive judgment of Obama (77%) was 20 percentage points higher than in the United States (57%)† (Transatlantic Trends Key Findings, p.6). The leadership of America in global matters is more acceptable to the Europeans at present compared to the Bush regime. But it is a fact that the former socialist countries like Bulgaria, Slovaks, etc are still keeping reservations about the American leadership in global matters. Europeans are more

Analysing Online Consumer Shopping Motivations For Luxury Products Research Paper

Analysing Online Consumer Shopping Motivations For Luxury Products - Research Paper Example Each day more and more people take the leap to purchase online. Several organizations desire to capitalize on the growing momentum of the online revolution. According to Javadi & et. al., as compared to physical outlets, online stores possesses a number of unmatched benefits. They are much expedient than physical outlets and allow customers to save time on traveling or waiting lines. Online stores remain accessible at any time and provide customers with rich information regarding different products and services offerings. In present days, online customers possess a greater extent of control along with bargaining power in comparison with physical stores because online medium renders more interactivity between customers and product or service providers. Online shopping has shifted the balance of bargaining power in favor of the customers because it has become quite convenient for them to make comparisons and assess different alternatives without being pressurized by the sales persons. Online shopping facilitates to minimize the transaction expenses along with providing benefits for both customers and suppliers. Consumer behavior is regarded as the dynamic collaboration of thought of persons and its effect. It is determined as the procedures and the activities people involve with while searching, purchasing and evaluating products. As stated by Perez-Schafer, there are three key domains which can define purchasing behavior of consumers. Fig 1 depicts the three vital domains of consumer behavior. ur. Fig 1: Three Domains of Consumer Behaviour Source: (Perez-Schafer & et. al., 2007, p. 2) Consumer Affect and Cognition: Consumer affect denotes consumers’ feelings and emotions. Emotions are collaboration between thought and physiology. These emotions generate different feelings amid consumers such as fondness, disliking, satisfaction, pleasure and sadness among others. On the other hand, cognition commonly refers to the rationale of people. It is a mental process of understanding, assessing, planning, determining and thinking. These feelings, emotions and cognitions are related with each other and determine consumer behaviour by a considerable extent (Perez-Schafer & et. al., 2007). Consumer Behaviour: Consumer behaviour denotes physical activities of consumers which can be directly perceived and measured. Usually, different perceptions of people generate explicit behaviour amid consumers. The traditional model of purchasing procedure was usually followed by single explic it behaviour. However, in present days, the purchasing procedure involves multiple behaviours comprising interaction between thought and perception (Sukato & Elsey, 2007). Consumer Environment: Consumer environment signifies external constituents that affect purchasing behaviour. These constituents comprise physical objects such as products and outlets, longitudinal relationships such as store location and social comportments such as

Politics Through Chinese History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Politics Through Chinese History - Essay Example The basis of Chinese society was the family. A Chinese family consisted of grandparents, parents, children, grandchildren, daughters-in-law, and servants. Family ties were very close. Every member of the family was duty-bound to safeguard the family honor and prestige. If a son did something wrong, he and the family will lose face, that is, disgraced. The parents were the absolute masters in the family. They arranged the marriage of the children and decided what professions they would take. Disobedience to parents was regarded as a serious sin. If the father died, the oldest son took his place. A family with many children was believed to be blessed by the gods. Women had few rights. Their place was at home. Their duties were to serve the men, to take care of the children and to attend to household work. They also worked in the fields like male laborers. The economic life in Old China centered on agriculture. About 80% of the Chinese people were peasants who lived in villages and toiled daily in their small farms. Those without farms were engaged in various industries such as bakery, carpentry, brickmaking, weaving, and retail merchandising. (Grousset, p. 99) Guilds existed in China long before they were established in Medieval Europe. A guild was an association of men engaged in an occupation. Hence, there were merchant’s guilds, baker’s guilds, musicians’ guilds, and carpenters’ guilds. The guilds fixed the prices of goods, determined wages, and working conditions, and looked after the welfare of the members. In matters of religion, the Chinese were very practical. They were deeply concerned about the gods, religious dogmas, and the future life. Heaven to them was abstract thing. They simply worshipped their ancestors and gods and paid homage to heaven and earth, mountains in other objects of nature. They were free from religious bigotry. They were free from being Confucians, Taoists and Buddhists at the same time. (Labourette, p. 56) Political life in Old China was regulated by Confucian precepts. At the head of the empire was the Emperor, who was regarded as the "Son of the Heaven." He ruled by the "mandate of heaven", that is, by permission of the gods. If he became corrupt, he immediately lost the mandate of heaven, and the people can overthrow him by revolution and place another ruler on the throne. (Labourette, p. 54) Below the emperor was a bureaucracy consisting of ministers, viceroys and governor

Sufficient Budget for K-12 Inner City Schools Essay Example for Free

Sufficient Budget for K-12 Inner City Schools Essay Catherine Gewertz (2008) in â€Å"Pennsylvania Lawmakers Eyeing Cost of School Finance Revamp† outlines the recent legislature actions over the education sector. A 2007 legislative costing-out study released in November reveals that, to deliver quality education, $2,500 more is needed for every child in the Keystone State. The 2008 fiscal budget amounting to $27. 2 billion provides $9. 4 billion for pre-collegiate education, 6. 1 percent more than the previous year. It also provides $75 million for 11,000 preschool students and $20 million for the expansion of full-day kindergarten programs. Other expansion measures include: providing laptops for high school students, boosting high school coursework, expanding dual-enrollment options and foundation funding. The state board of Pennsylvania is seeking to require high school students to pass three competency exams before graduating beginning 2008. Schools need financial resources in acquiring the needed school facilities and paying teachers’ salaries. Donations from other individuas may add to the resources of schools but they are not substantially enough in the long run. The struggles are even tougher for inner city schools where students fare less in terms of economic status compared to students studying in private learning institutions. For the most part, inner city schools depend on the financial aid mandated by the law. The United States Congress plays a key role in determining the portion of the fiscal budget that will go to the funding necessary to run public schools such as those situated in inner cities. With the growing number of prospective student, it is important to foresee the financial support and other resources needed to address the rise in the demand for education. More importantly, financial support is direly needed in expanding the quality of education in inner city schools so that students will be able to learn substantially instead of learning minimally due to severe limitations in education resources. For K-12 inner city schools, a lot of budget cuts in the education sector will affect our available resources. The most immediate consequence is the deterioration in teaching facilities’ number or quality. A limited funding deprives students of learning materials such as books. Another result is that K-12 schools become unable to acquire at least a decent number of computers for their students. Both books and computers greatly assist students in their learning endeavors; the inability to make use of them will only make the learning process tougher. While it may be difficult for Congress to guarantee that a computer is devoted for every student in K-12 schools, it is more disheartening if Congress still remains unable to allocate budget for at least a few computers for every K-12 school. Few available computers are better than nothing at all because students can just take their turns in using them. For K-12 school teachers, the lack of the most relevant and updated books can hamper the ease of facilitating student learning. When teachers use outmoded books because there are no other options, it becomes more difficult for them to hand-out the most accurate information possible. Teachers cannot easily create informative lesson plans suitable to their students. With books being the primary teaching material resource, outmoded books will negatively affect the content of the lesson plans that teachers are required to make. The article of Gewertz (2008) provides information on some of the recent developments in the education sector insofar as the Congressional budget allocation is concerned. The 2008 pre-collegiate education budget amounting to $9. 4 billion—6. 1 percent more from the previous allocation—may not be enough to cover all the financial needs of all K-12 schools across America. Nevertheless, the budget can fill some of the basic but urgent needs of these schools including my school. Part of the budget surplus can be used to purchase additional chairs or blackboards. The increase in the budget allocation for pre-collegiate education also translates to better quality of education for K-12 students. More relevant and up-to-date books can be purchased given the same number of students. Similarly, it also translates to more students accommodated in K-12 schools. Another benefit is the possibility of raising the compensation for teachers who are qualified for the job, thereby attracting potential teachers who can deliver quality education to students. The $20 million for the expansion of full-day kindergarten programs is a helping hand for inner city schools. The same holds true for the $75 million budget allocation for 11,000 preschool students. As for the school where I am currently teaching, the budget increase can mean more kindergarten students who will enjoy their full right to quality education. It also means that current kindergarten programs in my school will be preserved instead of being temporarily or permanently suspended. Although more students signify more work for teachers, it also means that kindergarten students will have more fellow students to interact with. Consequently, students will not only gain formal learning; they will also have social development within the premises of the school. Part of the prospects Congress looks into is the plan to provide laptops for high school students. Even though that plan requires higher funding, I think it is only proper. I personally think that students in my school will learn more if they are able to use laptops or, at the least, desktop computers as part of their academic pursuits in Information Technology. My students may find the use of modern computers with internet connection as a whole new territory. Nevertheless, it is just a small price to pay compared to the immense increase in the learning capabilities that they will have. With computers connected to the internet or school database, my students will gather more information most relevant to their academic requirements. Research will become easier as more sources of information are made available and access to them becomes faster. I think acquiring more computers for my school is a two-fold adjustment. On one hand, students will enjoy the benefits of gathering more information faster. On the other hand, our students will first have to be oriented and taught about the basic skills needed to make the most out of computers, let alone operate them. The challenge for teachers’ including myself is not only to ensure that our students are able to learn many educational things out of using computers but also to ensure that they understand the basic processes behind such use. Reference Gewertz, C. (2008). Pennsylvania Lawmakers Eyeing Cost of School Finance Revamp. Education Week, 27(19), 14.

Comparing Hypermarket and Traditional Wet Market Consumers

Comparing Hypermarket and Traditional Wet Market Consumers CHAPTER 4 DATA ANALYSIS 4.0 Introduction This study was conducted in two different store formats, which are hypermarket and traditional wet market respectively. Totally 200 questionnaires were distributed and collected, each market has 100 questionnaires respectively. First of all, the general data such as respondents profiles, trip patterns and transaction patterns were analyzed by using descriptive statistics. This approach generates frequency and percentage of the respondents characteristics and presents the basic data and information. Secondly, reliability of the respondents perception on store image will be tested to examine whether if the data reliable or not. The level of reliability, which is so called Cronbachs alpha, the alpha value should not lower than 0.70 to obtain the consistent result. After that, independent t-test will be used to examine the level of significant on store attributes between different store formats. Moreover, we will also test the correlation between store formats and the demographic characteristics, trip patterns and transaction patterns. The differences of mean will be calculated, and 95% of confidence intervals were taken in this study. Significant probability was ≠¤0.05. It means if the result lower or equal to 0.05, it indicates statistically significantly different. 4.1 Descriptive Analysis 4.1.1 Respondents Profile 4.1.1.1 Gender Table 4.1: Gender Figure 4.1: Gender At both different store formats, we can find that there is more female shop at markets than male does. Gender distribution of respondents at hypermarket was much more balanced than gender distribution of respondents at traditional wet market, which are 46% for male and 54% for female at hypermarket, while traditional wet market was 1/3 of respondents are male and 2/3 of respondents are female. 4.1.1.2 Age Table 4.2: Age Figure 4.2: Age The data collection of this study showed that respondents at hypermarket and traditional wet market with the age of 25 years old and below are the highest, which are 35% and 28% respectively, compare with the ages which are between 26-35 years old (34% and 19%), 36-45 years old (16% and 14%), 46-55 years old (12% and 23%), and 56 years old and above (3% and 16%). One phenomenon can be found in this data is the number of respondents of traditional wet market with the age which are between 46-55 years old and 56 years old and above, are much higher than the respondents of hypermarket with the same range of age. The total percentage for this range of age (46-55 years old and 56 years old and above), for traditional wet market is 39%, while for hypermarket is only 15%. We can conclude that the respondents of traditional wet market are older than the respondent of hypermarket. 4.1.1.3 Ethnic Table 4.3: Ethnic RUL 573- RESEARCH PROJECT IN PLANNING CHAPTER 4: Store Image: Comparing Hypermarket and Traditional Wet Market Consumers Perception. Case Study: Bayan Baru, Penang. Figure 4.3: Ethnic In this study, Chinese has the highest number of people (55% from hypermarket, 74% from traditional wet market) following to Malay (33% from hypermarket, 14% from traditional wet market), Indian (9% from hypermarket, 11% from traditional wet market) and the others (3% from hypermarket, 1% from traditional wet market). The biggest different of these store formats is Chinese respondent has higher portion at traditional wet market compare to hypermarket, which are  ¾ of all respondents of traditional wet market compare to  ½ of all respondents of hypermarket. While the figure of Malay showed that Malay tends to shop at hypermarket instead of going to traditional wet market, the number of Malay shops at hypermarket is twice compare to number of Malay shops at traditional wet market. 4.1.1.4 Marital Status Table 4.4: Marital Status RUL 573- RESEARCH PROJECT IN PLANNING CHAPTER 4: Store Image: Comparing Hypermarket and Traditional Wet Market Consumers Perception. Case Study: Bayan Baru, Penang. Figure 4.4: Marital Status 40 RUL 573- RESEARCH PROJECT IN PLANNING CHAPTER 4: Store Image: Comparing Hypermarket and Traditional Wet Market Consumers Perception. Case Study: Bayan Baru, Penang. Base on the data that obtained, the respondents of hypermarket who are married (42%) are fewer than those who are single (58%). While respondents from of traditional wet market have the different situation, the result was totally inversed of hypermarket, that is 58% of the respondents are married, and the others 42% are single. This result indicates respondents of this study who are married tend to shop at traditional wet market and respondents who are single prefer to shop at hypermarket. 4.1.1.5 Education Level Table 4.5: Education Level Figure 4.5: Education Level The respondents from both store formats also have highest number of people (74% of hypermarket and 50% of wet market) who had at least tertiary education, which indicates college or university. This is because of more than 1/3 of respondents from hypermarket and 1/4 of respondents from traditional wet market who are younger generation, which is in the category of 25 years old and below as shown in Chapter 4.1.1.2. The overall result showed that the respondents of traditional wet market have slightly lower education level compare to those respondents of hypermarket. Half of the respondents of traditional wet market have not ever pursued tertiary education, the number is twice compare to those respondents of hypermarket who had only secondary education, primary education, and no formal education. 4.1.1.6 Occupation Table 4.6: Occupation Figure 4.6: Occupation In the previous data showed that the respondents who are younger generation (25 years old and below) and have at least tertiary education level had a large portion of entire respondents. In this section, it showed that most of the respondents of hypermarket are student (39%), following by waged worker (25%), government employee (18%), housewife (8%), entrepreneur (7%), retired (3%). While at traditional wet market, most of the respondents are worked as waged worker (32%), following by housewife (26%), student (23%), retired (7%), government employee (5%), entrepreneur (5%) and unemployed (2%). This data also showed that housewife prefers to shop at traditional wet market (25%) instead of shop at hypermarket (8%). 4.1.1.7 Household Size Table 4.7: Household Size Figure 4.7: Household Size The mode number of household size for respondents of hypermarket and traditional wet market are 4 and 5 respectively. The data showed that 28% and 27% of respondents of hypermarket have household size of 4 and 5. On the other hand, 22% and 28% of respondents of traditional wet market have household size of 4 and 5. These indicate more than half of the respondents who have household size of 4 or 5. From the figure above, we can see that the household size of traditional wet market respondent is slightly bigger than household size of hypermarket respondents. From the calculation, the mean household size of traditional wet market respondents are 4.87, and respondents of hypermarket are 4.63. 4.1.1.8Household Monthly Income Table 4.8: Household Monthly Income Figure 4.8: Household Monthly Income From these 200 respondents, there is no big difference of household monthly income between two different store formats. For respondent of hypermarket, the categories of RM1500 and below, RM2501-3500, and RM3501-4500 also showed 23% respectively, followed by RM1501-2500 (17%), RM4501and above (14%). On the other hand, the mode number of household monthly income for respondents of traditional wet market is RM2501-3500, followed by RM1500 and below (22%), RM1501-2500 (21%), RM4501 and above (20%), RM3501-4500 (13%). Overall there is not a very significant different between the groups and the categories. 4.1.2 Trip Patterns 4.1.2.1 Travelling Time from Home to Markets Table 4.9: Travelling Time Figure 4.9: Travelling Time Majority of the respondents travel from home to the markets were just within 15 minutes and this was showed by 48% respondents of hypermarket and 53% of traditional wet market. This indicates half of the respondents came from adjacent area. While 34% respondents of hypermarket and 28% respondents of traditional wet market have travelling time between 16-30 minutes. Travelling time between 31-60 minutes, 16% and 17% fell to respondents of hypermarket and respondents if traditional wet market respectively. The category of 1 hour and more is only chosen by 2% of respondents of hypermarket and traditional wet market respectively. From the data we can conclude that people prefer to travel from home to market in shorter time. 4.1.2.2 Transportation Mode Table 4.10: Transportation Mode Figure 4.10: Transportation Mode Majority of the respondents prefer going to the markets by car, the data showed that 68% of hypermarket respondents and 45% of traditional wet market respondents go to the markets by car. Another transportation mode that is chosen by respondents is walking (15% of hypermarket respondents and 23% of traditional wet market respondents), as well as motorcycle (8% of hypermarket respondents and 23% traditional wet market respondents). A few people chose bus (5% of hypermarket respondents and 6% of traditional wet market respondents) and bicycle (4% of hypermarket respondents and 3% of traditional wet market respondents). Taxi and the others transportation mode have none of respondent chose such mode of transportation. Although majority of the respondents have the shortest travelling time from home to market as showed at Chapter 4.1.2.1, but most of them still prefer to drive to the market. 4.1.3Transaction Patterns 4.1.3.1 Frequency of Visiting Table 4.11: Frequency of Visiting Figure 4.11: Frequency of Visiting Majority of the respondents visiting markets once a week, 36% of hypermarket respondents and 40% traditional wet market respondents chose this category. While 27% of hypermarket respondents and 21% of traditional wet market respondents chose to visit the market less than once a week. Less than half of the respondents visit the market twice or more than twice weekly. From the data obtained, 21% of hypermarket respondents and 11% of traditional wet market respondents visit the market twice weekly, 12% of hypermarket respondents and 10% of traditional wet market respondents visit the market thrice weekly, and 4% of hypermarket respondents and 18% of traditional wet market respondents visit 4 times and more weekly. The respondents who visit the markets 4 times and above weekly are 4.5 times more than those hypermarket respondents do. 4.1.3.2 Visiting Markets with Whom Table 4.12: Visiting Markets with Whom Figure 4.12: Visiting Markets with Whom Almost half of the respondents prefer to visit the markets with their family member or relatives, this occupied 47% of hypermarket respondents and 52% of traditional wet market respondents. While the respondents who chose to visit markets with friends/ neighbors/ colleagues or alone, there is a significant different between hypermarket and traditional wet market. 36% of respondents of hypermarket prefer to go to the markets with their friends/ neighbors/ colleagues instead of go by alone, which has only 17% of the respondents chose that. On the other hand, traditional wet market is different. 36% of the respondents chose to go alone instead of go with friends/ neighbors/ colleagues, which only has 12%. None of them chose to visit the markets with the people who have other relationships. 4.1.3.Time Spent Table 4.13: Time Spent Figure 4.13: Time Spent From the data that obtained, majority of the traditional wet market respondent spent 30-60 minutes in the market, which occupied 49% of the traditional wet market respondent, followed by 1-2 hours (28%), 30 minutes and less (18%), and 2 hours and more (5%). While hypermarket respondents prefer to spent longer time in the market. 41% of hypermarket respondents spent 1-2 hours, followed by 30-60 minutes (32%), 2 hours and more (15%), 30 minutes and less (12%). For overall, 2/3 of traditional wet market respondents tends to spend shorter time compare to only 44% of hypermarket respondents spent less than 1 hour. 4.2Reliability Analysis Data of consumer perception have been collected in the approach of Likert scale, reliability of the data should be tested. Gatewood and Field (1990) said that reliability is the ability of the instrument in providing the consistent results when it is repeated used. Cronbachs alpha is the basic measurement for reliability and an alpha value of 0.7 is sufficient (Nunnally, 1978). All the store attributes will be tested in terms of the store attributes those contribute as the reasons of consumers to choose a retail store and also the importance level that respondents have given to the store attributes. 4.2.1Store Attributes as the Reasons for Consumers to Shop Following are the store attributes as the reasons for consumer to shop: Attribute 1 : Appropriate opening hours Attribute 2 : Near to place of residence Attribute 3 : Product quality Attribute 4 : Product variety Attribute 5 : Reasonable price Attribute 6 : Speed of purchase Attribute 7 : Satisfactorily service Attribute 8 : Spacious interior space Attribute 9 : Not crowded Attribute 10 : Clean and comfortable Attribute 11 : Good public transport available Attribute 12 : Car parking facilities Attribute 13 : Easiness on finding the product Attribute 14 : Habit Attribute 15 : Trust in vendor 4.2.1.1 Hypermarket Table 4.14: Reliability Statistics (Store Attributes as the Reasons for Consumers to Shop at Hypermarket) Table 4.15: Item-Total Statistics(Store Attributes as the Reasons for Consumers to ShopAt Hyperma