Evidence Based Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Evidence Based - Research Proposal Example The researchers used a qualitative research design with the specific use of Phenomenology. This was motivated by the fact that Phenomenology provided the best opportunity for the researchers to get the real picture of how individual participants view the concept of spirituality. The researchers also use the van Manen's method in collecting data for the research study. A total of 11 participants were used for the research study with women dominating the numbers. There were 7 women while the remaining 4 were men. The participants were between the ages of 30 years and 71 years and were all whites. Furthermore, they were all educated with a minimum of a high school qualification (Creel & Tillman, 2008). Each of the participants was subjected to an interview and their views recoded and transcribed in a tape. Thereafter, the lead researcher listened to the interviews and made a phenomenological reflection to grasp each participant’s reflection of the meaning of spirituality. After a thorough analysis of the interviews, it was reported that there were five themes related to the concept of spirituality among individuals suffering from chronic illness. ... The findings are specifically relevant in the body of knowledge related to the spirituality of patients suffering from chronic illness. Furthermore, the researchers have used a reliable research design that ensures highly accurate responses from participants. Therefore, the findings of the research study are reliable. On the other hand, the article has a major weakness of using a narrow selection of participants. All the participants used were whites and this may have affected the accuracy of the results of the study. This also covers the inclusion of people that have religious affiliations in the research study. The study should have used participants from different cultures as well as those that do not have a religious affiliation. Examining the Impact of Socioeconomic Status and Socioecologic Stress on Physical and Mental Health Quality of Life Among Breast Cancer Survivors by Kimlin T. Ashing-Giwa, PhD, and Jung-won Lim, PhD OVERVIEW OF ARTICLE The article discusses a research on a clinical trial aimed at testing the efficacy of brief intervention in reducing the use of alcohol and its related harms in the context of postpartum women. The research design involved the use of quantitative data from a random trial in a clinical setting that was conducted between 2002 and 2005. The research procedures involved the use of health screening survey that was conducted the participant’s 6-week postpartum visit. Some of the items contained in the survey include the level of drinking and period of time. Eligible participants were asked to participate in a baseline assessment interview that involved questions related to the use of alcohol and tobacco among other drugs. The questions also touched on neighborhood disorder,

Influence On World Cultures Cultural Studies Essay

Influence On World Cultures Cultural Studies Essay In this essay I will determine the extent of globalization regarding its influence on world cultures. I will analyse cultural homogenization, cultural polarization and cultural hybridization theories. This will enable me to determine the impact and influence that globalization is having on cultures and whether a homogenising or a polarizing effect or both are occurring. To understand the theories of cultural evolution I will look at examples where cultural polarization, homogenisation and hybridisation are occurring and I will define whether processes are actually happening and what their influence is on cultures. In order to understand the actual process of Globalization I will give various definitions of the concept that will enable me to interpret globalization within a cultural sphere. It is important to note that cultures have interacted from the beginning of time, this has created mixes, clashes and new cultures. Cultures are therefore in constant evolution and often contain both conservative and liberal values within them and the way that they are interpreted by people. The rising interest on globalization recently has brought up the topic of cultural homogenization and polarization. These processes have gained importance in recent times as there has been an increased level of interconnectedness between states and cultures. Because the world is more interconnected now than ever before, there is a growing importance on the processes brought on by globalization and in this paper I am going to determine what these processes are and how they shape and influence cultures. Globalization Globalization is a very complex term. It is used very broadly by economists, sociologists and politicians to explain the mechanisms that are leading to a more and more interconnected world.   Globalization refers to all those processes by which the peoples of the world are incorporated into a single world society, global society.(Albrow, 1990: 9). My own definition of globalization is the process of liberalisation of the markets, values and ideas, powered by the increased interconnectedness of the whole globe culturally, economically and politically. Ritzer, in the book Modern Sociological Theory describes globalization as a Spread of worldwide practices, relations, consciousness and organization of social life arguing that almost everyone worldwide has been affected by the impacts of globalization. The importance of globalization is highlighted by the increased power and popularity (either negative or positive) that international global organisations such as the international monetary fund (IMF) and the world trade organisation (WTO) have gained. Also private multinational organizations have hugely benefited from global expansion and globalization process as they have become more flexible and manageable to reach almost every part of the world. Attributed outcomes of globalization are either homogeneity with the spread and diffusion of similar behaviours and practices and hybridisation where cultural mixes occur, giving rise to new varieties of cultures. It is believed that a process which is against globalization is occurring, this is described as polarization and it describes a cultural split between states which embrace globalization and those who resist it. In order to further define globalization I will describe the more specific term suitable to my analysis : Cultural Globalization Cultural Globalization is the increasingly occurring process of global conformity in peoples behaviours and needs. Cultural Imperialism is a theory which describes the dominance and influence that a culture has on other cultures. Examples such as the European states colonization of Americas continent can be used to show how European cultural values have been spread to dominate other cultures. Contemporary cultural globalization focused its attention on the influence and dominance of cultural values and identities from Americanized/Westernized culture to other cultures. Homogenization This is a theory which looks at the impact of globalization worldwide, it is linked to the influence of a major culture which spreads to other cultures by promoting values, behaviours and commodities which come from a main dominating culture. Westernization is a process of homogenization which originates from north America, also called McDonalization, or Americanization. It is a process where mechanisms are closely interconnected with the diffusion of the globalized market economy and multinational organizations which promote particular cultural values and behaviours to other cultures, influencing them. Worldwide, consumer capitalism has been constructed by a uniform, standardised brand image. This involves the use of mass advertisement to create an image of a superior, high quality culture. This broadcasting of cultural values, norms and behaviours has attracted the attention and popularity of other cultures individuals. This promotion of a main culture is causing the homogenization of cultures. This is to say that many traditionally Western values and behaviours are in the contemporary world more and more imitated by non Western people.   When one is looking at the homogenization of culture globally, there are many positive aspects, such as the breaking down of barriers between societies and an increase in freedom. But the peculiarity of current global cultural homogenization is that it is impartially influenced by one area, North America, therefore more than a cultural homogenization, we can describe homogenization as an increase in the extent of one culture over others, this is the Western society influencing the rest. Therefore homogenization is not a neutral phenomenon. The mechanisms under which globalization runs have a built in character of inequality which is created between wealthy and poor countries. A form of resistance to this process of Western homogenization is created, minorities such as terrorist groups like Al Quaeda fight back against the globalized world in an attempt to save conservative tradition and cultural values. The terrorist attacks of 9/11 have shown how problems can arise when a culture is dominating and influencing other cultures. This highlights the issue and bring into question the process of homogenization which is impartially sided on the Western world side to influence and convert the rest of the world by imposing a fascination for western society, with its norms, behaviours, values and ultimately culture. There is as a result of homogenization a loss of regional pride and a loss of traditional cultures. It is argued by many that homogenization as it exists today is superficial. This means that instead of a complete form of cultural homogenization, only certain aspects are being spread. There are limitations to this cultural spread and influence on other cultures, apart from media and materialistic goods, not much else seems to travel through the barriers that cultures impose. . It leaves largely untouched the freedom and agency of the subjects in creating and changing culture, both as individuals and as groups. Cultural homogenization is happening everywhere. For example, Mexicos culture is being strongly influenced by the consumerist western capitalist culture. This has created a devaluation of Mexican products compared to U.S products. The explosion if foreign investment led to the expansion of North American brands such as McDonalds, Blockbusters, Subway etcà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ While Western cultural values grow in Mexico, they inhibit and weaken local Mexican tradition. A clear example of this is that most Mexicans discriminate against Native indigenous people. Western ideals have created a rejection of their historical Mexican traditional culture in exchange for a more Westernised view. Mexicans have become influenced by media, brands and ideas spread from western society to such an extent that they look up to this culture and want to be a part of it. This example shows that a major culture can influencing another culture and radically transforming it into a new culture that rejects its traditional past and seeks to embrace an idealised, constructed image of a culture.   The main factors which promote these cultural shift are foreign investment, the promotion of global media and rationalism. Rather than a uniform democratic world homogenisation, what we are experiencing is a Westernisation whose influences have become global and impartially distributed. This does not mean that consequences are negative or positive, this depends on ones point of view and to the importance given to past and culture. The interesting influence that cultural homogenization has created also shapes political and traditional values.   In Egypt for example western influences are making women marry at a later age, many are choosing to marry different men rather than those decided by the womans family as Egyptian traditional culture dictates. Therefore cultural homogenization serves as a means for liberalising politics and reduce traditionalism and conservatism. A positive view is given by Beck, he sees hope in the diminishing sovereignty of nation states and the emergence of trans national organizations and possibly a translational state as a result of the globalization and homogenization processes. We are already experiencing this shift of sovereignty, WTO and the IMF are gaining more and more power onto the individual state. Ultimately Ritzer argues about the globalization of nothing, this is a similar concept that describes how homogenization is influencing society by spreading values and ideals of one cultural origin. This process supports the idea of globalization as the imperialistic wants and needs of international actors such as corporations, states and organizations to expand their global reach in order to maximise their profits. By nothing Ritzer means the spread and divulgence of media and values that are practically empty in context and cultural values. This is a way of homogenization that is more compatible with other cultures, as the empty forms of continent are exported throughout the world, it is much easier for a foreign culture to assimilate empty or little content rather than forms of information and media which are rich in content. An example of this is the creation of shopping malls around the world, these unlike Westernised brands such as McDonalds are much more empty in content. An empty shopping mall can for example be filled with local shops and although promoting the homogenization of society, it also contributed to the Glocalization of society, this new concept means the co existence of the global and the local resulting in the Glocal. Another example of homogenization under the process of globalization of nothing is the worldwide reach and accessibility to credit cards, services provided by ATMs re believed to be non services as the costumer does all the work needed to obtain the service The next Theory is an opposing one, the polarization theory acknowledges the influences of cultural globalisation and cultural homogenization, recognising the cultural spread of western ideals. It differs from the homogenization theory by highlighting areas of cultural clashes and describing how cultures will have more conflicts than convergences in the future. Polarization Polarization is a term which is linked to Cultural diversity and opposition. It explains that there are definite cultural differences that are not affected by globalisation.   Cultures are different in their basic values and cultural clashes rather than cultural mixes are expected. An example used by many sociologists to back up this cultural diversity gap is the contrasting difference between the Islam world and the Western world. The Islamic attacks of 9/11 and the following Western retaliation in Afghanistan and Iraq are historic facts that highlight this crack and incompatibility between the West and Islam. Samuel Huntington in his book Clash of Civilizations (1996) described the existence of various major world civilisations: Sinic (Chinese), Japan, Hindu, Islamic, Orthodox, Western Europe, North America and Africa. Huntington believes that there are large differences between these cultures in the base of their philosophical assumptions. Huntington believes that cultures will clash in imposing their different religions and cultural values in a war described as McDonald vs. Jihad, this interesting view puts the consumerist western culture against the fundamentalist Islamic one.   Burke in his book the 9/11 wars concludes that al-Qaedas future is more likely to be that of a strong cult rather than a mass social movement.   Initial popularity of groups such as al Qaeda has diminished as a result of the mistargeted violence which often hurt the local supporters as well, making al Qaeda an unfriendly strong cult rather than a mass movement As they lost popularity, the terrorists relied more on coercion and in so doing made themselves even less popular. We have two main opposing ideologies, one, the western McWorld culture with its liberal market capitalism which connects us through cultural commodities, and on the other hand the conservative Islamic world which has in its values the liberation from capitalism and its inherited characteristics of greed and mass consumption. In my opinion there are more connections than clashes in contemporary world relations between the West and the Islamic world. Extremism is only a part of largely moderate Islamic countries. Huntington does not recognise the extent of the connections between West and East and seems to put Central Europe and North America in the same side, even if there are also major differences between these two continents. As David Myers puts it, Globalization is a complicated process that does not always lead to cultural homogenization, but can also produce hybrid or even polarized local cultures. Myers explained that although the world is more interlinked and globalized.   Phenomenons such as the homogenisation of movies, music, news, language and symbols are attributed to the strong influence and connectivity worldwide of Western society, particularly North America and Europe. This type of polarisation that we can observe is therefore not a uniform split, on one hand we have the process of globalisation that works in conjunction with homogenisation, therefore if there is a polarisation which goes against a term as global as globalisation, this polarisation is between all those globalised and those who resist it. The Hybridization Thesis When looking at how globalisation influences cultures not always we see a cultural homogenisation or a cultural polarisation, but more so we notice a transformation and evolutions in cultures as they clash, join and diversify. on the intercultural exchange and the incorporation of cultural elements from a variety of sources within particular cultural practices. This mixing of cultures can give rise to hybrid cultures which are new and differ from their original cultural values in an attempt to reshape and remodel culture to contemporary world. The hybridization theory has the concept of Glocalization at its core, it can be defined as the interpenetration of the global and the local resulting in unique outcomes in different geographic areas.(Ronald Robertson (2001) We find that Glocalization unlike Globalization describes how the local influences the global and reshapes the global influences on the local rendering the local globalised and at the same time unique in its local values. Glocalization reflects the growth of pluralism around the world, it gives importance to the local and individual actors in shaping the influences of the Globalization process to a local level. Hybridization is at odds with Globalization as it argues that there is an increased pluralism and diversity around the world. Globalization theory associates uniformity rather than plurality. An example of Hybridization could be a Chinese couple in Dublin, watching a French TV show in a Arab owned pub. This shows how cultural identities are mixing in a more and more interconnected world. Mass migration along with the increased communication between countries have speeded up the process of hybridization making glocalization a possible, perhaps more romantic scenario than globalization Conclusion It is important to note that when cultures clash, one does not remain and one disappears, but rather cultures clash, interact, fracture, breed and ultimately form new cultures distinct from the ingredients from which they were formed. This describes a process of constant transformation of cultures as they are influenced by other cultures. This theory seems to reveal that eventually as all cultures interact, a single globalised culture could rise, being influenced and shaped by all cultures in the world. If this was the case it is difficult to determine what type of culture this is, but it will have similar values present in neoliberalism, free markets, low levels of state sovereignty with the increased role of international actors and multinational organisations. Cultural values are subject to constant change and revision throughout the eras, but recently with the increased interdependence driven by science, technology and economics(Angell 1911) called the forces of modernity or globalisation there is a plausible view that a cultural homogenization may occur in a new unique single global culture or create an even sharper distinction between existing cultures to lead to a polarization of cultures in a globalised world. When looking at the three main theories we see how cultural homogenization is perhaps a form of cultural repression that involves one main cultures spreading of values, norms and behaviours to influence other cultures. This is not a pluralistic view as the influences between cultures are impartially sided on the Modern developed Western world. The main criticism of the Homogenization theory is perhaps its failure to see local influence as well as global ones. The hybridization theory is more flexible in this matter as it acknowledges the strong influence of the global, but it does not dismiss the importance of the local in interpreting and reshaping the global to create the Glocal. The Polarization theory also offers a scenario where because of the repressive nature of globalization on cultures, resistance is formed and a polarizing effect will create a split between cultures. This theory is hard to imagine as most of the world is already being influenced by globalization and the examples given by the polarization theory as opposing cultures to globalization are minorities which are often made up of extremist groups such as Al Quaeda. Huntington in Clash of civilization perhaps does not realise that there are less differences between the Western world and the Eastern Islamic one, an increasingly moderate Islam in which only a small part participates to extremist globalization resisting wars. The Hybridization theory offers a solution to the depressing reality shown by globalization and homogenization. Instead under the hybridization process, cultures expand and influence the local to give rise to the Glocal, this term acknowledges the cultural values inherited by the local and argues that it is the mix of the local and the global which will give rise to new sub-cultures. Perhaps the more flexible theory is the Hybridization theory, it is more flexible in its definitions and takes into account both the homogenization and the polarization theories. The future will see the rise of globalization which will give rise to many unique brands of cultures which are much more global in their value and identities.

The Second Republic and Its Fall Essays -- Nigeria Federal Government

The Second Republic and Its Fall One of many hurdles that Nigeria had to overcome in the attempt to return to civilian rule, and then to have such a new system entrenched, was the fact that competitive politics encouraged recourse to sectional identification. On the one hand, there is need for a understanding of the nature of the dynamics of Nigerian society, especially with regard to the phenomenon of ethnicity. On the other hand, the theoretical formulations which already exist concerning the nature of politics in segmented societies must be confronted so that a closer approximation between such themes and the sociopolitical realities of Nigeria can be achieved (Joseph, 1987:43). The American-style constitution of the second Republic (1979-1983) was designed for Nigerians type of democracy where natural affairs rather than state are promoted to avoid the pattern of British parliamentary system where the winner-takes-all pattern. The parties in America conform to the Constitution due to their disciplinary disposition. In Nigeria, political parties were following the British style of politics, where â€Å"distribution of revenues among the politician and their clients at national, state and local levels†, are the order of the day (Shehu, et al; 1999:34). Bitter conflicts abounded within the political parties in both states and the federal level over the distribution of the spoils; hence, the inability of the politicals to manage the conflicts led to the demise of the democratic government in the Second Republic and the return of the military government. In the program of transition to the Second Republic, the military leaders’ primary concern was to prevent the recurrence of the mistakes of the First Republic. They believed that if the structures and processed of government and politics that had proved inappropriate in the First Republic could be changed, a stable and effective civilian government was therefore designed to address those fundamental issues, which were historically divisive, and to establish new political institutions, processes, and orientations. The second aspect of the transition involved the making of a new constitution and appropriate institutions. Decree number 25 of 1978 enacted the 1977 Constitution. It differed from the First Republic in 1963, in that, it introduced a United States type presidential system (Nwoked, 199:73). Previo... ...so was the decline in GDP by and estimated 10 percent. The repressive strategy of Buhari’s military further engendered deep resentment and bitterness among the people who feel that they had been denied of their personal freedom. In addition, according to Othman, â€Å"the military government was increasingly driven by dissension over strategies of economic management, the detention and trials of political detainees and the rising power of Brigadier Tunde Idiagbon, the Chief of staff, supreme headquarters, and the driving force behind the regime’s authoritarian policies, and of the Nigerian Security Organization (NSO)† (Othman, 1999:40). Two factors were instrumental to the final demise of the military regime; one was the risking of what Diamond called â€Å"political convulsion†, an attempt to impose a monolithic order on Nigeria’s vigorously polaristic society (Diamond, 1999:443). The second factor was the regime’s declaration in July, 1985, of their intention or plan to return Nigeria to C ivilian rule. These actions further isolated Buhari and Idiagbon from their military colleagues , including their arrogance in ignoring critical opinion even among its senior military ranks.

Every Child is Special (Film Analysis) Essay

1.Determine the issue or the problems that are predominantly brought up in the film. 2.If you were to be part of the story, which character who you would want to be so you can be part of the solution of the problem? see more:every child is special summary In the film Every Child Is Special, there are issues or problems shown that really happen in our society. The first one is the family issue; there is something wrong when it comes to parenting style done by Mr. and Mrs. Awasthi that affected the child’s behavior. The father doesn’t have enough time to guide his son, he punished Ishaan when he got in trouble or when he is misbehaving but he never tried to find out the reason behind. They did not really accepted Ishaan’s condition and did not give enough care for him. The other is the social issue; Discrimination, Ishaan’s classmates, teachers and others treated him differently just because he has difficulty in his studies and motor skills, they sometimes bully or even hurt him. They also discriminate children with disabilities by comparing their abilities with other kids. Child Labor, it is shown when Nikumbh was on his way to Ishaan’s house, he saw a little boy working. But he mentioned that,  "Putting your ambition to the child is worse than Child Labor†. The biggest issue that I’ve noticed in the film is the Education System. The way the other teachers teach their students, embarrassing the student in front of the class, beating, shouting, giving punishments when they can’t understand the lessons. I really don’t think that those will help or discipline the students instead it may just lower their self-esteem, they might think those hurtful words are true, may take away their interest in studying and worse destroy their dreams. We all have different special abilities. If I were to be part of that film, I would like to be Nikumbh, the art teacher. I admire his great love for all the children especially with those who have special needs. He is the one who brought huge solution to the problem faced by Ishaan and tried so hard to help him learn and improve his artistic abilities. Nikumbh made Ishaan’s parents realize that he is not misbehaving, that he is not lazy, idiot or hopeless just like the other teachers said and that he needs to be accepted and treated well. He did it right because, he understand Ishaan more than any other. He brought back Ishaan’s interest in painting and supported him in the times  that he almost gave up, telling him that even great people had encountered some difficulties before they achieve their accomplishments. The teacher provided the kid with much special attention, care and encouragement that resulted to the kid’s excellent improvement that surprises his parents and the whole school community. It would be a wonderful accomplishment for those people who can do what Sir Nikumbh did.

Is it suitable to use censorship in media

Is it suitable to use censorship in media? Media is the mean to deliver the message to audiences. People are constantly exposed to many kinds of media each day including television, radio, and ever- growing popularity of the internet. Humans at every age and gender are unavoidably consuming information. For example, they would see a whitening lotion advertisement on the small screen in the sky train or unintentionally watch a fight scene in a soap opera on television at street side restaurant. However, some information may not be at all appropriate without a proper guidance.Therefore, censorship is suitable to be used in media. The first reason is that people might be misled by inappropriate information in media if censorship is not used as not every people have the same education background and experience. Children are a great example for this case. For instance, when they see the main character in the television series smokes, they would smoke too because their innocence's make bel ieve that what the main character does is fancy. Lastly, it is more realistic not to eliminate all unsuitable contents and use censorship as a teaching tool for audiences.In reality, It Is unavoidable not to see indecent behavior. Therefore, censorship could be useful to be a teaching material for every audience. The media, however, must mention about the consequences of these inappropriate actions. To conclude, censorship In media Is beneficial to society as a whole. It can be used to avoid misleading the Information and as a teaching technique for everyone. Medal Is a powerful source of Information that could Influence the thoughts of Its message receivers.Guiding people by pointing out what not to do and learning by a wrong example would be effective If It Is done with the support from every Institution including media and the audiences themselves. By shopworn censorship as a teaching tool for audiences. In reality, it is unavoidable not to see To conclude, censorship in media is beneficial to society as a whole. It can be used to avoid misleading the information and as a teaching technique for everyone. Media is a powerful source of information that could influence the thoughts of its message example would be effective if it is done with the support from every institution