Effects of Social Media on testing ability

As a society we are constantly connected to the world around us. The accurate definition Is explained best by Boyd and Allyson. 2007 “SONS or Social Networking System Is a web-based service that allows individuals to construct a public or semi-public profile within a bounded system, articulate a list of other users with whom they share a connection, and view and traverse their list of connections and those made by others within the system. This system or software is made up of all social networking sites some of which are Faceable, Mainstream, Twitter, Tumbler, Snatch, and the list goes on. It Is clear that we live In a world where we have access to any piece of information at any given time during the day. With this boom of technology It Is becoming harder and harder for us to disconnect from the world around us. There is very little chance to decompress have access by not only our computers, but also our phones now have APS that allows us to connect to social media at any given time of the day or night.

The question is does this constant access of information and constant staying on social media affect our performance as students? Prospectus The Higher Education Research Institute in 2007 reported that ninety four percent of first year college students use social networking websites. In 2005 research by Macrobiotics and kepi revealed, “Eighty five percent of students at a large research university had accounts on Faceable, the most popular social networking site. ” This leads us to the question does this way of revolving around social media impact our daily lives and the way we function?

The National Sleep Foundation conducted a survey to reveal if there was a correlation between long hours of social media use and if it affected sleep habits along with performance levels. To be able to function properly one’s sleep is Just as viable as the basic needs such as food and water. Before the big boom of technology humans lived much simpler lives. For example, before the invention of computers, cellophanes, and even motor vehicles people had a more organic and natural way of life. Even the food they put into their bodies was untarnished by chemicals.

Technology is intended to make one’s life better; however like many things that are used in excess it becomes unhealthy. When these forms of social media affect our sleep cycle we maybe dealing with an addiction that must be managed. Lead researcher Diana Tamari of a recent Harvard study told the Los Angles Times, “l think the study helps to explain why people utilize social media websites so often. I think it helps explain why Twitter exists and why Faceable is so popular, because people enjoy sharing information about each other (Nature,2012). Diana Tamari was involved in a study conducted by Harvard University, which sought the answers to why social media was so addictive. The answer to their question turned out to be very a simple one. People are addicted to talking about their problems. They found in researching “That the act of disclosing information about oneself activates the same part of the brain that is associated with the sensation of pleasure, the same pleasure that we get from eating food or getting money (Nature, 2012). I say all of this to lead to the main point of our own research; social media is addictive. When social media becomes a problem and affects our basic needs such as sleeping patterns; the problem flows over into our daily lives. To simply state it our performance levels will decrease. In a study done by Christina J. Calamari, PhD, Thornton B. A. Mason, MD, PhD, MACE, Sarah J. Radcliff, PhD. , “Teenagers getting 8 to 10 hours of sleep on school nights tended to have 1. – to 2-fold lower multitasking indices compared with those getting less sleep.

Thirty-three percent of the teenagers reported falling asleep during school. ” Research is proving that social media is unhealthy. This problem did not escalate quickly overnight, but has been slowly evolving monster that has grown into a problem that must be dealt with. Kirsches and Sharkskin (2010, p. 1238) claim that “Students tend to participate in such website activities while doing their homework so that it may have negative effect on their academic achievements by interrupting them from the learning process.

Therefore, between SONS usage and student academic performance shown at schools and universities. Many doctors, websites, self-help books, etc. Tell us that social media is a huge leader in sleep loss, however in Sleep Care’s article on social media and sleep they write that they believe social media can cause individuals to get more, effective sleep. “Faceable has over 1 billion users worldwide while Twitter had over 500 million last year and is quickly growing every day'(Sleepwear, 2014).

This goes without saying that a big chunk of the world is connected to one social media site or another. In order to be engaged in a social media site, one must “follow’ or “like” another. They continue with, “Social media enables an individual to feel supported from individuals closely tied to their lives and from friends and family afar” (Sleepwear,2014). By connecting with people who share similar interests and opinions a person who actively utilizes social media finds oneself in an overall better state of mind.

This relates directly to better sleep because having a peaceful mind when lying down to go to bed is essential in a good night’s sleep. In 2010 media headlines read: minor Friends Can Make You Fat. Reading these headlines, researchers at US San Diego and Harvard studied the correlation between social networks, sleep patterns and drug usage, after much research and hours of examination they discovered, “The use of social networks by adolescents influences sleep patterns, sleep deprivation, and drug use” (Beers 2010). Why is the sleep cycle important?

What occurs during the sleep cycle that is so valuable to the human body? “Stage 1 is the beginning of the sleep cycle, and is a relatively light stage of sleep in which the brain produces high amplitude theta waves, which are very slow brain waves. Stage 2 is the second stage of sleep and lasts for approximately 20 minutes. The brain begins to produce bursts of rapid, rhythmic brain wave activity known as sleep spindles. This stage was previously divided into stages three and four. Deep, slow brain waves known as delta waves.

Most dreaming occurs during the fourth stage of sleep, known as rapid eye movement (ERM) sleep” (Cherry, 2011) These stages of sleep are very valuable for the wellbeing of humans. These processes allow us to recuperate from the day and heal. The body can physically heal itself by resting. The same concept applies to the mind. Once the technology is finally set aside most young adults only receive approximately five hours of sleep per night. Sleep deprivation is the reason why in this day and age there are more mishaps and “slip-ups” than ever before.

With the lack of sleep one’s comprehension skills are severely lacking. When it is time to sleep individuals around the world grab their phones. Peg Fitzpatrick surveyed 1,000 online individuals thus finding, “Our Faceable and Twitter activities continue even after we’ve hit the hay, with forty-eight percent of respondents checking in on activity when they wake p in the middle of the night or as soon as they wake up in the morning (Fitzpatrick 2011). In her online blob, Peg Fitzpatrick asked many friends about how social media affects their sleeps habits.

Sadly, many of her friends responded with low affects because they have -in few words?grown immune to social media. They check their social media sites every night in the same amount of time so their body is used to getting that same amount of sleep. Social media has affected these friend’s sleep habits. They have been a part of the world of social media so long that their body has accepted it as a part of the daily routine. With easy access to sites responsibility to bedroom may result in sleep loss, delays in initiating sleep, daytime sleepiness and more,” says researcher Teresa Roar.

Those who said they usually connected to friends online before getting into bed reported sleeping an average of “8 hours and 10 minutes a night compared with 9 hours and 2 minutes among those who never connected” (Thomson & Reuters 2014). Studies also show that sleep loss can lead to a variety of other problems such as: obesity, depression, high blood pressure, difficulty regulating emotions and lower grades. Kids who frequently viewed TV before bed were four times more likely to report waking up several times during the night than non-viewers, and frequent social networks were three times more likely to wake up a lot.

Researchers reported in Sleep Medicine, ” kids who regularly played video games or listened to music at bedtime had significantly more difficulty falling asleep” (Thomson & Reuters 2014). Another factor that also may play into the problem is when a device with access to social media is near the bedtime pillow, people tend to wake up throughout the night. Some tend to immediately return to leap but others may stay away for an hour or more in the middle of the night on social media before they return to sleep. This growing problem may seem insignificant, but over time this continual routine is unhealthy for the body.

The life of a student, no matter what age, takes a toll on the body. Deadlines to meet, Jobs to do, activities to plan, activities to attend, homework to complete, grades to maintain, etc. The life of a student is often either all about freedom or all about grades. This is because as students we are learning what actions to take in order to have a balanced life. Sleep is one area that is often neglected by young adults because there is more on the plate than ever before. The society of today is fast paced and demanding. In order to stay in control one must lose a few hours of sleep to stay ahead of the game.

What is the accurate definition of sleep and rest? It is referred to as, “The period in which the basic metabolic rate decreases, soft tissue and muscles are relaxed and revalidated, and the brain is able to process things that have been learned during the day (Clifford, 2007). Harvard Women’s Health Watch states, “There are six reasons for eating enough sleep, namely for improved learning and memory, maintenance of metabolism and weight, increased safety, enhanced mood, cardiovascular health and boosting up the immune system” (Fanned, 2013). With any choice comes an appropriate consequence.

Depending on the choice the consequences could be positive or negative. When an individual decides to push off sleep for whatever reason negative consequences follow?sickness, a drop in school performance, a negative or poor attitude, and an exhausted body. In a 2009 study Tracker noticed that students experiencing sleep deprivation try to avoid more difficult tasks. Also, they often are not aware that the difficulties they are experiencing academically can be directly related to their poor sleep habits. This can often lead to frustration and depression due to the low-test scores they are receiving.

This would explain the commonly heard comment, “l can’t understand why I did so badly, I spent all the previous day studying” (Engle-Friedman, 2003; Filcher, 1997). In 2013 an experiment was put into action to identify the factors affecting quality of sleep, and assess the impact of low quality sleep on the daily activities of students. The Results of social Edie follow: “Non-users of social networking, such as Faceable, MANS, and Twitter, 0. 5-2 hours a day had the best sleep quality among the groups, but the result again cannot be taken into consideration due to the non-significant p value (p= 0. 42) ( Fanned, 2013). ” Even though social media is relatively new, it has found itself into the daily lives of many young students. With most media distractions are not uncommon. People see social media as way to relax, but are blinded by the negative effects that it has on their health and even on their grades. A large-scale study by the Kaiser Family Foundation (Beers,2012) found that, “teens spent fifty three hours per week engaged with some form of electronic media. ” That’s more than seven hours per day. Most of the time spent was during the night when the volunteer is in bed.

Research also shows that lack of sleep has been linked with mood swings during the day. Social media has a negative impact in that it influences friends in a network. It has also brought about a sleep disorders such as sleep testing. This is a recent development. The brain is hardwired to do what it is become adapted to. In this age brains are coming more and more adapted to staying on computers and cellophanes all day long. This practice has drifted over into our sleeping habits. This is not only a distraction to the one who is doing it but also to the one who receives the text because the alert wakes them up in the middle of the night.

The brain cannot function at maximum capacity when it is weary. This causes one who loses sleep to perform poorly on test and during their daily activities. In the research done by Dry. Rubin Had, social media effects on sleep are analyzed in the life of young students. Sleep is a vital necessity such as eating a proper diet, drinking plenty of eater, and exercising daily. Dry. Had also shows that poor quality sleep negatively affects a person’s physical, psychological and emotional well being and leads to poor job performance.

She goes on to further explain how sleep is like a cave you have to enter, this meaning that each human body has to prepare itself for the sleep cycle. A person must develop a routine to help their body to shut down and begin to recuperate. By adding light from computers or cellular devices the body is not able to properly shut down for the night. The light from laptops or cellular devices causes the brain to be confused. When the brain senses darkness it connects this with sleep so it makes the hormone melatonin. This hormone makes us sleepy.

When a student is on a computer the brain is tricked by the light, believing that it is earlier than it usually is. Because of this it takes a student longer to merge into the ERM cycle. “The college student needs about eight hours of sleep. When a college student puts down their cellular device they can therefore get more sleep. ” (Pipsqueaks, 2013). Method To conduct this study, participants will be recruited on the Blue Mountain College campus. Participants will be comprised of eighteen and older, male and female, rotational and nontraditional college students.

We will recruit the participants by word of mouth, signs posted around campus and the incentive of coffee and doughnuts. The participants will be required to sign a consent form to the study, answer demographic questions, take the short survey and not talk about the survey to friends. Upon request noted on the demographic form, participants can be emailed the surveys results, which will be the debrief section of the study. This study is designed to figure out if prolonged hours of social media use at nighttime will affect test scores the next morning.

Total hours spent on social media will be test complied with demographic questions and five questions from the fifth grade level language arts section of the Mississippi Curriculum Test (MAC). Testing will take place in the student lounge between the hours of on varies days, to which we will take participants at any time during that block of time. Participants can score between O and 100 on the MAC section and that score will then be compared to the total amount of time they stated they spent on social media in the demographic section.

We believe higher test scores will show a lower amount of nightly social Edie use and lower test scores will show a higher usage of social media. Results The survey we conducted involved sixty-two volunteers. Group A participants spent less than one hour on social media the night before and group B spent anywhere from an hour to over six hours. The purpose for our testing was to create a correlation between low comprehension skills and late hours spent on social media. Our hypothesis stated that students who spent more time on social media would make a lower grade than those who did not.

Figure 1. 1 is a scatter plot to show the range of test scores from our 62 participants. Figure 1. 1 Figure 1. 2 The break down of hours spent on social media per individual is seen in figure 1. 2. Majority of hours that were spent on social media falls between less than an hour and two hours. For this reason we created two groups and compared their test scores to each other. The total hours grouped can be viewed in figure 1. 3. Out of the 62 participants 47% spent less than an hour on social media and 53% spent an hour or more on social media. Figure 1. The correlation of our survey shows our hypothesis to be false. The two-tailed P value equals 0. 1683, which is 16%. By conventional criteria, this difference is insider to be not statistically significant because it is not less than . 05 and thus not supporting our claim. The mean of Group One less than 1 hour minus Group Two greater than 1 hour equals 9. 67, 95% confidence interval of this difference: From -4. 20 to 23. 53. Participants who spent less time on social media approximately had the same average as those who spent more than two hours on social media.

Figure 1. 4 below displays the statistical data from the study. Mean. 24 57. 58 SODS. 09 28. 97 SEEM 4. 66 5. 04 N 29 33 Figure 1. 4 Discussion The Age of Information is here and it is here to stay. As a result, our social media use is steadily on the rise. The purpose of the study was to see if prolonged usage of social media at night affects our comprehension skills the proceeding morning. This research is important because if people are aware of the effects that social media could have, they might reduce the amount of time they spend on different networks.

Our hypothesis was, if a student spends two or more hours on social media before entering their sleep cycle it would negatively affect their test scores the following day. After conducting the experiment, our team found no correlation between hours spent n social media the night before and low comprehension skills. We found many factors in need of improvement throughout our experiment. If time allowed a pilot study would have been ideal to allow for us to discover things that we might fix before conducting the study.

Also, we could have fine-tuned our data collection method and made sure we were selecting the proper statistical analyses. One of our initial plans was to incorporate the experimenters’ GAP in order to determine if the student had a learning disability. However, when making out the test samples, we chose not to add a blank for the test takers to insert their GAP. Additional reading comprehension questions would have been helpful for us to determine if the student had any reading or learning disabilities. Also, incorporating a variety of questions could have better helped our results.

The demographic portion of our test became a distraction for the test takers. The amount of demographic questions that was asked seemed to bombard the participants of the study. Fewer questions could possibly have been more helpful in this instance. In our attempt to mask our study we ended up causing our participants to rush through the numerous demographic questions. Another factor that hurt the results of our study was the number of participants who refrained from social media. Our data was skewed due to a low number of participants who spent less than one hour on a social media website.

The location we chose to conduct the experiment could have been moved to an area better fitted for testing. Instead, we chose a central location in one of the buildings on campus. Many people came in and out of our testing room. This offered many distractions for our participants. The constant flow of traffic allowed the volunteers to be distracted. Having a quieter environment could have helped our test takers focus more. In our tests. The group’s definition of social media was clearly explained. We spread the word about our experiment in a timely manner so that the majority of students on campus were made aware of our experiment.

Also, we provided multiple days for students to come in so that testing did not interfere with their class schedules. We offered donuts and coffee, which were effective incentives for the students. Our experiment could be useful for other groups studying sleep by helping them better calculate the correlation between social media use and sleep habits. For future studies we will need to develop a more effective way to study the effects of prolonged social media use on students so that we will have more accurate results.

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Five Things You Should Never Assume When It Comes To Your Business

We all know the saying: “Never assume. It makes an ass out of u and me.” While I can see the merit in warding people off making assumptions, I have to say I don’t entirely agree with this sentiment.

Because there is definitely room for assumption, both in life and in business. In fact, when it comes to , assumptions are incredibly important. No matter how hard we try, it is impossible to know all things at all times, and making a quick assumption here and there can be a great tool for planning your next move.

Having said that, it is important to make the distinction that an assumption is not just a guess. We should only ever “assume” based on a thorough overview of the information that is available. Equally, it’s important to remember that these assumptions are exactly that. They are not concrete facts and we should never fully rely on them as such.

What’s more, there are certain areas that you never want to get too comfortable around– and in turn, certain assumptions that you should never make. For example, assuming that you will need extra resources to cover a busy month is one thing; assuming that those busy months will never end is quite another.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at five things you should never assume when it comes to your business.

1. Don’t assume a good few months will lead to a few more good months We start with a big one, which we just hinted at above. When the going is good in business, it can easily feel like it will never end. You’ve got regular customers, good payers and just the right amount of resources– you’re over the hump, let the good times roll!

Unfortunately, this is rarely the case in the world of the entrepreneur, where new humps and hurdles are never far away. Of course, a good few months is a great platform for further success, but don’t let it convince you that it’s any less tough out there. . The same goes for your margins and hiring policies. Only take on what is needed.

To sum up, I give you the words of the renowned Hungarian-American businessman, Andy Grove, who put it best when he said, “Success breeds complacency. Complacency breeds failure. Only the paranoid survive.”

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2. Don’t assume you are better than the competition It goes without saying that you should strive to be the best in business. However, never assume that just because you believe in your business you are automatically better than the competition. Simply assuming you’re the best, regardless of the facts, leads to cockiness and arrogance. And you know what arrogance tends to precede? A harsh reality check.

Of course, you shouldn’t just assume the competition is better either. Really, this comes down to having the right attitude– a measured one. First and foremost, keep in mind that it is not even about simply being the best in your field. Rather, can possibly be and do a fantastic job at all times for every one of your customers.

If you’re the underdog– great. Use that as fuel to push you harder. Equally, if indeed you have assumed correctly and your business is the best of its kind, then push harder still. Why? Because you can guarantee everyone else in your field is watching and waiting to pounce– just ask Myspace or Nokia.

3. Don’t assume your business partnership does not need nurturing The late English poet John Donne once said, “No man is an island.” Had he been alive today, he might well say the very same thing about modern businesses. After all, each one is made up of a network of strong relationships.

And while may be different to personal relationships, they must be nurtured just like any other– nourished and handled with care. Each person within your business network brings with them a fresh viewpoint, along with a unique set of characteristics and skills.

To ensure you get the most from this vast pool at your disposal, it’s vital that you are willing to compromise, cooperate, and see things from other people’s point of view. These are all skills that can be learnt– and according to The New York Times bestselling author and entrepreneur Keith Ferrazzi, they are must-haves.

In a recent interview, Ferrazzi, who runs his own enterprise consulting firm, put relationships ahead of technology, assets, and even your company’s product when asked to name a business’s greatest asset.

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4. Don’t assume your health will take care of itself When you’re running a business, it is easy to forget to take time out for yourself. However, when the hours are long, the nights short and the days stressful, . This not only has consequences for your overall wellbeing, but also that of your business. The fact is that you simply cannot work to the best of your abilities unless you are completely healthy.

Even something that may seem innocuous, such as skipping a few hours of sleep, can have a huge impact. For example, according to research by McKinsey, four key behaviors associated with business leadership are all impacted by poor sleep: being strongly results-focused, solving problems effectively, seeking out different perspectives, and supporting others. McKinsey concludes there is a strong, quantifiable link between sleep and effective business leadership.

The same goes for diet and exercise. The is a lot closer than you might think. Research by the Health Enhancement Research Organization, Brigham Young University and the Center for Health Research at Healthways, shows those who eat healthily for the entire day are 25% more likely to have higher job performance. Meanwhile, those who get five or more servings of fruit and vegetables per day, at least four times per week, are 20% more likely to be productive than those who do not. Finally, let’s not forget exercise: Those doing some physical activity for at least 30 minutes three times a week are 15% more likely to have better job performance.

5. Don’t assume you can’t achieve your dreams Once over the startup phase of entrepreneurship, when work is steady and the pay check is comfortable, entrepreneurs are faced with a conundrum: settle for something good, or push for something better. In this scenario, most people settle for something good. And that’s fine– you’ve achieved your goal, your business is paying the bills, there’s no need to push forward if you don’t want to.

However, many people who genuinely do want to get to that next level end up resisting because they don’t think they can. Thoughts like this, while all-too-common, should be quickly . If you want to dream big, and achieve big, you absolutely can. Let’s not forget than every successful entrepreneur from Walt Disney to Steve Jobs were still only business people who were certainly talented but most importantly relentless in their work and focus.

What sets them and other high achievers apart is goal setting. Those who built businesses up to be the biggest in the world set a series of quantifiable goals and landmarks to hit along the way.  So dream big, but remember that a dream without a plan is just a wish.

So there we have it. As I said, it is vital to make the distinction between an assumption and just a guess. And we should be wary of always – and vice versa. It’s about balance, calculation, and the ability to remain agile when situations change.

An understanding that nothing stays the same in business for too long serves all of us well when it comes to making assumptions, and means that we can limit surprises, plan more effectively, and have a better view of what is coming down the pipeline.

So it’s not a case of “never assume”– just do it with care.

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That the environmental quality improves the further away from the CBD you go

That the environmental quality improves the further away from the CBD you go.

Figure 6 shows how many penalty points each area scored for environmental quality.

The Bewdley Road area had a good environmental quality; there was little noise, traffic or vandalism and easy access to the shops and schools. However because it is a terraced area there is very little open space or grassy area. Also across the road from the terraces there are several industrial premises as shown in Figure .All the residential squares scored between 6-15 points, which is good.

Barnetts lane has an excellent environmental quality. The roads are lined with trees and grassed areas, the area is clean of undue noise or traffic and there is no sign of vandalism. There was a school in my study area, which showed the close proximity between the residential areas and the school. As you can see from the photos in Figures 30-33 the houses are part of the nice environment. Only one square gets any penalty points.

Spennels as you would expect from an upmarket modern estate has an excellent environmental quality and gets absolutely no penalty points. The landscape is clean and well kept and there are plenty of grasses areas for recreational use or otherwise. The estate is self-contained with shops and a school shown in figures 16 and 17. In the corner of my study area there was a nature reserve that demonstrates the high quality environment in that area.

Birchen coppice is not up to the standards of Spennels. The open spaces and grassed areas aren’t as well kept and there are signs of litter and vandalism. There are shops and a school within the estate but nevertheless most of the area still scores 10 points from a possible 65, which isn’t good for a residential area. This could be explained by the fact that it is an older council estate that isn’t as well looked after and is also showing signs of ageing.

This does support my hypothesis as the environmental quality does improve further away from the CBD, especially between Bewdley road and Spennels.

I believe there is a link between environmental quality and age. More modern areas have been built to provide better environmental conditions so that people want to live there because otherwise nobody would want to live in a town now that there is good transport available to the masses. Older areas were built purely to house as many people as possible to work in their factories in the knowledge that people had to live there or they couldn’t get to work.

Hypothesis 2

That size and physical condition improve the further away from the CBD.

The Bewdley road area was closest to the CBD and it also had the smallest buildings. It is all small terraced housing from the Victorian period. Many of the houses have been done up as development projects so they have a good physical condition. However due to the age of the buildings they aren’t perfect and score between 5-8 points in the residential areas.

The Barnetts lane area has larger semi-detached and detached houses in excellent physical condition. From the photos it is clear that the people who live here are prepared to spend a lot of money to maintain the physical condition of their properties.

Spennels also has many large semi-detached and detached houses in excellent physical condition. The physical condition of the houses is very good as all the houses are modern and built to a high standard. The photos in Figures 14 and 15 show the range of houses on the estate and their high quality. Again no points are scored.

However Birchen coppice wasn’t in as good physical condition as Barnetts lane or Spennels. Again this can be explained by the fact that it is a council estate that was built a couple of decades ago and is quite old. It has an average score of 5 points for physical condition which isn’t that bad.

These results show the link between distance from the CBD and size effectively and support my hypothesis. There is also a general trend in the improvement of physical condition but it isn’t as clearly defined as my other conclusions.

There is also an obvious link between age and physical condition and that more modern buildings are in better physical condition.

Hypothesis 3

That the CBD contains mainly commercial buildings.

This is shown to be true in Figure 4, which clearly shows the dominant commercial sector. Figure 13 shows that 63% of the area is commercial. The other 37% is used for public buildings such as the town hall and doctors surgeries, open space for parking and there is currently a large area, almost 13%, which is vacant land being developed. This land is also being developed into more commercial properties including a large supermarket shown in Figure 40. Before the redevelopment there were large carpet factories on the land, almost in the very centre of the town, and this shows the shift in land use from industrial manufacturing to commercial. This demonstrates the successful redevelopment of brown field sites in favour of out of town green field sites. The vacant land isn’t being turned into residential properties because it is too valuable as commercial land which companies will pay larger sums for. There is very little other vacant land in the centre for development so it is very sought after.

My hypothesis is proved to be true. This is because commercial properties need to be in the centre of a settlement so their range and threshold is maximized and they have the largest possible sphere of influence. The constant flow of traffic around the centre and large numbers of pedestrians provide the huge potential markets that the commercial companies need to survive.

Hypothesis 4

That the age of the buildings will decrease the further away from the CBD.

The age of the buildings is not as clearly defined in figure 5 as I would have liked. The photos show the difference in age more clearly and it is obvious from them how much the ages vary.

In the photos of Bewdley road there are plaques on which you can dates of when they were built, the house in the photo being 1986. These houses were all built in the Victorian era probably to house the workers that worked at the many carpet factories.

The next furthest from the CBD is Barnetts lane which has a range of ages. Most are built inter-war or just after the Second World War. However there are also several very modern buildings from the nineties shown in Figure 33.

Birchen coppice is a relatively old council estate built in the mid sixties. The photo in Figure 18 shows the basic semi detached houses typical of sixties estates. However it is far from the CBD. This could be explained by when it was built it may have been an out of town estate which has been amalgamated into the town as it has grown.

Spennels is a modern estate built in the late eighties. The photos show the modern designs and styles and how similar they are across the range of properties. Today the estate is still growing slowly outwards.

These results, except for Birchen coppice, support my hypothesis. Another possible explanation for the variation could be that Kidderminster spread faster southeastwards than southwestwards.

Conclusion

I believe that Kidderminster fits the nuclei model best, as there are distinctive land uses in small areas such as residential in the estates and industrial at Oldington. Kidderminster also takes ideas from the sector model in that it has residential and industrial sectors.

However no town or city can exactly fit any model exactly, as they are just there to help us understand the world, not provide a definitive explanation. Models cannot account for every different physical factor of every different settlement.

Land use in Kidderminster is changing drastically at the moment and there is huge urban redevelopment. Tesco and B&Q have both knocked down old industrial buildings and built huge superstores, as shown in Figures 38-41.

Also a large commercial estate outside the CBD has been built which will draw people away from the CBD to shop in these larger developments. This shows how towns cannot possibly fit a model.

Urban land use is a continuous process and I believe that Kidderminster is currently in a transition period from the old industrial past to the new commercial future.

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Data Tracking Sheet

Table of contents

Breath is the key to health and wellness, a function we can learn to regulate and develop in order to improve our physical, mental and spiritual well-being. Breathing has direct connections to emotional states and moods – observe someone who is angry, afraid or otherwise upset, and you will see a person breathing rapidly, shallowly, noisily and irregularly. Our breathing patterns mimic our life patterns and we can develop unhealthy breathing habits without being aware of it. The change in breathing patterns changes your state of mind and reduces the mental disturbances. Thoughts become clearer and your understanding of yourself is enhanced.

As your mind becomes more fully absorbed in the observation of the breathing process, the character of the breath tends to change involuntarily. Sleep problems also exist when you have established stressors that make you sleep intolerable and reluctant to enjoy. There are instances when your body is restless but, your mind is tired which leads to sleep deprivation. In this paper the researcher will describe the experience of a sleep study on a patient who suffered from a common cold. The acknowledgment of the differential state between normal breathing vs. alternative nostril breathing.

Whether or not the alternative nostril breathing technique was beneficial to the patient in question. A credible research of natural versus medical remedies for sleep. Why some people might be skeptical of this technique. Summary of Results Was the hypothesis that alternative nostril breathing works as a natural sleep aid was supported through the study? During the sleep study of the patient, the researcher observed that in the data gathered from the Data A section, the researcher noticed that the patient had 30 hours of sleep, in between the night however, the patient was awaken one night for at least 15 mins.

In Data B the patient fell asleep in 40 mins (average mean). During Data A the patient scored their restfulness as 7 and above which indicates that the patient received adequate enough sleep that was suitable for the patient. In the Data B section, which involved the alternative nostril breathing technique the client presented several changes that indicated that there were stressors that impacted this area of observation. Stressors are defined as, a stimulus event that places a demand on an organism for some kind of adaptive response (Gerrig, 2009, p. 89). During the alternative nostril breathing technique the patient complained of difficulty breathing due to a common cold that prevented the patient from having restful nights. The researcher noticed that the patient had 21 hours of sleep, in between the night however, the patient was not awake on any of the 3 nights In Data B the patient fell asleep in 21 mins (average mean). During Data B the patient scored their restlessness as 7 and below which indicates that the patient did not receive adequate enough sleep that was suitable for the atient. The patient indicated that the alternative nostril breathing technique was not beneficial and in fact was not successful to encourage restful nights. The hypothesis of the alternative nostril breathing works as a natural sleep aid if there are no biological stressors involved. Biological Perspective *include things like how alternative nostril breathing works as a natural sleep aid, what biological systems might be involved, and how it might help from a biological perspective. Do these claims make sense biologically?

Is there scientific or biological evidence that could support this technique? Why would this method work biologically? The alternative nostril breathing technique works as a natural sleep aid Cultural and Ethical Implications include things like research of natural versus medical remedies for sleep. Make sure to address how such remedies apply to various clients and the strengths and weaknesses of both types of remedies. Why might some people have a cultural struggle with using a technique like this? What are some differences between Western medicine and Eastern medicine?

Scientific Perspective

What scientific methods used are used in various studies, etc? What are the stages of applying the scientific method? The perspective in many non-Western cultures indicate bio psychosocial model of health. The Navajo concept of hozho (pronounced whoazo) means harmony, peace of mind, goodness, ideal family relationships, beauty in arts and crafts, and health of body and spirit. Illness is seen as the outcome of any disharmony, caused by evil introduced through violation of taboos, witchcraft, overindulgence, or bad dreams.

Traditional healing ceremonies seek to banish illness and restore health, not only through the medicine of the shaman but also through the combined efforts of all family members, who work together with the ill person to reachieve a state of hozho (Gerrig, 2009, p. 403). Modern Western scientific thinking has relied almost exclusively on a biomedical model that has a dualistic conception of body and mind. According to this model, medicine treats the physical body as separate from the psyche; the mind is important only for emotions and beliefs and has little to do with the reality of the body. Summary In this paper the researcher will describe the experience of a sleep study on a patient who suffered from a common cold. The acknowledgment of the differential state between normal breathing vs. alternative nostril breathing. Whether or not the alternative nostril breathing technique was beneficial to the patient in question. A credible research of natural versus medical remedies for sleep. Why some people might be skeptical of this technique.

The perspective in many non-Western cultures indicate bio psychosocial model of health. Modern Western scientific thinking has relied almost exclusively on a biomedical model that has a dualistic conception of body and mind. The hypothesis of the alternative nostril breathing works as a natural sleep aid if there are no biological stressors involved.

Reference

  1. Gerrig (2009). Psychology and Life  (Vital Source Bookshelf), Retrieved from http://digitalbookshelf. argosy. edu/books/0558302572/id/ch12lev1sec02

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The Aging Special Senses

Vanessa McClain Anatomy and Physiology GE 258 Unit 9. Assignment 2. The Aging Special Senses Thursday, November 17, 2011 1. ) Age-related Macular Disease – Is a disease associated with aging that gradually destroys sharp, central vision. Central vision is needed for seeing objects clearly and for common daily tasks such as reading and driving. AMD affects the macula, the part of the eye that allows you to see fine detail. There are two forms of age-related macular degeneration: Dry form and Wet form. The dry form is characterized by the presence of yellow deposits, called drusen, in the macula.

A few drusen may not cause change in vision; however, as they grow in size and increase in number, they may lead to a dimming or distortion of vision that people find most noticeable when they read. In more advanced stages, there is also a thinning of the light-sensitive layer of cells in the macula leading to atrophy, or tissue death. In the atrophic form, patients may have blind spots in the center of their vision. The wet form is characterized by the growth of abnormal blood vessels from the choroid underneath the macula.

These blood vessels leak blood and fluid into the retina, causing distortion of vision that makes straight lines look wavy, as well as blind spots and loss of central vision. They eventually scar, leading to permanent loss of central vision. They affect daily life in that there is struggle to do housework, studying, shopping, enjoying leisure activities and interests such as reading. 2. ) Glaucoma – Is a disease in which damage to the optic nerve leads to progressive, irreversible vision loss because the aqueous humor does not flow out of the eye properly and fluid pressure builds up over time causing damage to the optic nerve.

It is the second leading cause of blindness. It affects one’s daily life such as driving or playing certain sports . It causes contrast sensitivity, problems with glare, and light sensitivity which interfere with daily activities. 3. ) Cataracts – Are cloudy areas in the lens inside the eye which is normally clear. There are two types: Age related cataracts which appear later in life and congenital cataracts, that may be present when a baby is born or shortly after birth. Cataracts cause an individual to see halos around lights. In some, the glare from car ights become bothersome and driving at night may be dangerous. Although far sight is affected more than near vision. If the cataracts are bad enough, it can make reading more difficult as well. 4. ) Detached Retina – Is a disorder of the eye in which the retina peels away from its underlying layer of support tissue. Initial detachment may be localized, but without rapid treatment the entire retina may detach, leading to vision loss and blindness. It affects daily activities because of the sudden appearance of “floaters”, (dark, semi-transparent, floating shapes) in the field of vision or a shower of black dots. These are actually red blood cells because all retinal tears bleed a little when they occur. ) It causes a loss of central vision, a loss of peripheral vision called the “curtain effect” and brief, bright flashes of light which may be most noticeable when you move your eyes in the dark. 5. ) Deafness (sensorineural and conductive) – Sensorineural hearing loss is due to damage to the pathway that sound impulses take from the hair cells of the inner ear to the auditory nerve and the brain. Conductive hearing loss is caused by anything that interferes with the transmission of sound from the outer to the inner ear.

Both of these hearing losses affect daily life because you may experience difficulty localizing sounds or understanding speech in busy environments and participating in everyday normal conversations which can lead to social isolation, frustration, tension, anger, stress and depression. 6. ) Meniere’s Disease – Is a disorder of the inner ear that can affect hearing and balance to a varying degree. It is characterized by episodes of vertigo and tinnitus and progressive hearing loss, though usually in one ear. It affects daily life because for some, sounds appear tiny or distorted and may experience unusual sensitivity to noises.

In addition, you may experience a sensation of fullness or pressure in one or both ears and unilateral or bilateral tinnitus. Some may have parasitic symptoms, which aren’t necessarily symptoms of Meniere’s, but rather side effects from other symptoms. Typically these are nausea, vomiting and sweating. 7. ) Ataxia – Is an inability to coordinate muscle activity during voluntary movement, most often results from disorders of the cerebellum or the posterior columns of the spinal cord; may involve the limbs, head or trunk. Affects one’s daily life because it can alter a person’s walking pattern. For e. . wide based unsteady gain with difficulty stopping, turning and problem walking in poorly lit areas. It can cause falls due to postural instability, difficulty with tasks requiring fine control and coordination, tremors during voluntary movement, slurred speech and altered handwriting. 8. ) Hyposomnia – literally means “less” sleep. It is a condition whereby a person does not need as much sleep as a normal individual. Specifically, they sleep less than 6 hours per night, but are adequately rested. It may occur at the onset, during or at the termination of sleep, and is common among the elderly.

It affects daily life because the person that sleeps less but feels they need more experience the same problems as the person with insomnia that cannot sleep more than a few hours but feel they need more. It affects everyday life and activities because it is usually accompanied by general emotional upset, depression, or anxiety. References Conductive and Sensorineural hearing loss | Hearing Aid Know. (n. d. ). Hearing aids – hearing loss – help, information and blog – hear aids | Hearing Aid Know. Retrieved November 13, 2011, from http://www. hearingaidknow. om/2007/10/25/conductive-and-sensorineural-hearing-loss/ Detached Retina (or Retinal Detachment): Eye Conditions: Patient Care: U-M Kellogg Eye Center. (n. d. ). University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Retrieved November 13, 2011, from http://www. kellogg. umich. edu/patientcare/conditions/detached. retina. html Manan Hearing Care | Types of Hearing Loss. (n. d. ). Manan Hearing Care | #1 Midwest On-Site Hearing Care. Retrieved November 13, 2011, from http://mananhearing. com/types_of_hearing_loss. html Meniere’s disease – MayoClinic. com. (n. d. ). Mayo Clinic.

Retrieved November 13, 2011, from http://www. mayoclinic. com/health/menieres-disease/DS00535 What is Cataracts?. (n. d. ). Consumer Reports: Expert product reviews and product Ratings from our test labs. Retrieved November 13, 2011, from http://www. consumerreports. org/health/conditions-and-treatments/cataracts/what-is-it. htm What is Glaucoma? | Glaucoma Research Foundation. (n. d. ). Glaucoma Research Foundation. Retrieved November 13, 2011, from http://www. glaucoma. org/glaucoma/what-is-glaucoma. php? gclid=CO2f2Jvns6wCFY3KKgodyH2rIQ hyposomnia (thing)@Everything2. com. (n. d. ). Everything2. Retrieved November 13, 2011, from

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Reebok Shoes

Table of contents

Reebok Shoes

Strategies are quite important for every business and for a global perspective strategically managing the business is an essential part of every business. Global enterprises stress a lot on strategy implementation and management. If the strategy of an organization is framed proactively then it excels both in the short and the long run. In this paper we will discuss the company Reebok and the industry overview is presented with a perspective on globalization.

Industry description

One of the most staggering figures related to the athletic shoes industry is that over the p of more than 25 years the American consumers have spent more than $300 billion on athletic shoes. The industry of athletic and sports shoes are considered as an upcoming industry and this industry is growing day by day. The imports of most of the countries are increasing because of this industry and China’s imports increased to 6 % just because of this industry. The industry of sports and athletic shoes are wide and varied and the sports shoes are usually considered as a fashion trend. The sports and the athletic shoes include running shoes, gym boots, rubber shoes, tennis shoes and etc. The industries have different players however Nike, Addidas and Reebok are the major players of the industry and they occupy 39.2, 15.1 and 10.9 percent market shares respectively.

The competitive structure of the market is oligopolistic and stuff competition is present between the major players of the market. The recent trends of the industry depicts that increase in the price of raw materials are considered to be the major threat of this industry. Similarly, the increase in female participants and children house hold income is increasing the sales of these shoes (Skinner & Cardona, 2005). The strategic measures of the industry in the current scenario are that marketing efforts towards teenagers must be increased and females must be targeted in a proactive manner to increase the sales. The industry altogether is experiencing positive returns and it is expected to grow in the near future.

Company description

The company was founded in Canton, United States and the name of the organization actually comes from an African word rhebok. Reebok is considered as one of the leading players in the athletic and sports shoe industry.  The company is a multinational and it feels quite comfortable in stepping out into any international arena. Reebok is considered as one of the leading athletic shoe producer in the United States and certain other products of Reebok like Rockport and Weebok shoes are quite famous too. There are more than 220 retail stores of this gigantic organization and this organization is moving steadily and taking viable steps in increasing its market share. The organization is presenting itself as a fashion oriented organization and they are taking strides to become more fashionable. The organization is of a global nature and it is implementing different strategies to enter into different markets where teenagers and ladies can easily to target.  In the year 2006 a giant organization Addidas acquired Reebok fort about $3.8 billion. The company has more than 21 foreign subsidiaries and it has more than 6000 employees.  They are one of those organizations that initiated the concept of concept stores in United States. This organization has managed 10 year licensing deals with NFL and NBA (Hoovers, 2009).

The global nature of the industry

The athletic shoes and sports industry is quite global in nature and nearly all the producers and players of this industry are termed as multinational organizations. The major players of the industry are stressing a lot on managing their production units outside their original countries and they are depicting a proactive approach in managing the issues related to globalization (Stiglitz, 2007). Athletic and sports wears are loved by everyone and people are becoming more brand conscious. Brands are affecting their lives and people all around the world consider brands as a statement of status and they have developed a mindset that those who wear branding products are fashionable and they are trendy. This connotation is cashed by these organizations and the industry is shifting into the global arena. The organizations that are present in the industry are developing promotional campaigns that are targeting the international consumers and they are developing such strategies that are meant for both local and international consumers. The demand of sports shoes and athletic shoes is increasing and customers are becoming health conscious that is the reason why these athletic shoes organizations are focusing more on the global strategy.

Industry Globalization drivers

The industry is filled in with competition and there are number of players in the local and international market and it can be said strategically that every organization in this industry must devise proper strategies. In order to overcome this phenomenon and the competition associated with it organizations must understand the industry globalization drivers.

One of the most common industrial drivers that are related with globalization can be the increasing trend of brand ambassadors. The current players in the industry are contracting sports figures that are quite famous. Famous sports figures like Tiger Woods, Rafael Nadal and etc are contracted to wear the sports shoes and in this manner they can easily target the international market. Branding through brand ambassadors is one of the most common practices that are used as a globalization driver. Developing ads for the international market can also be treated as a globalization driver. Similarly the increasing trend of health issues and health oriented awareness can be marketed on global basis and this can be treated as one of the industry globalization driver. People feel comfortable when they are associated with a certain brand and organizations on the other hand can cash on this point and they can target their brands globally.

Levers used by Reebok to access the globalization potential

Reebok uses different strategies and levers to access the globalization potential. They have developed different marketing strategies and certain codes of conducts in which they have stressed a lot on the issue of globalization. The website of Reebok is quite attractive and it targets the customers in a global manner. Users all around the world can create their profiles and they would definitely have a personalized experience. The customers can watch their products and can purchase it on line (reuters, 2008). The company is spending heavily on global marketing and they are trying to inculcate newer and modernized strategies to target customers of different countries. Reebok posses very strong code of conduct that is related to child labor, fair wages, safety and work environment and this organization uses these levers to access the globalization potential. Besides that they are focusing on the fact that newer sports are coming every year and females are more into sports therefore they are using these elements to target their customers in an effective and an efficient way.

Recommendations

Reebok is considered as a strong brand and they are considered as one of the powerhouse in the athletic shoe industry. There are certain recommendations on which the organization can work and they can strategies on a global basis. These recommendations are given below:

They can engage in more branding activities and can use sports figures to market their product.

Engaging in brand activation activities in different countries can help the brand and this can increase the sales of the brand.

The symbols RBK can be used effectively in their shoes and this can enhance the brand image and customers would retain the brand for longer time.

The must focus on global issues that are affecting the communities of different companies. Issues like child labor, global warming and etc can be dealt seriously by the organization.

The organization must engage in corporate social responsibility and this would attract more and more customers and the global strategy of would inculcate the element of corporate social responsibility.

Globalized and a customer centric attitude must be opted by the organization which can help the organization in both the short and the long run.

References

  1. Hoovers. (2009). Reebok International Ltd. Retrieved May 4, 2009, from www.hoovers.com: http://www.hoovers.com/reebok/–ID__11266–/free-co-profile.xhtml
  2. reuters. (2008, June 12). New Reebok Global Website Puts Customers in Control. Retrieved May 4, 2009, from www.reuters.com: http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS95898+12-Jun-2008+PRN20080612
  3. Skinner, T., & Cardona, M. (2005). The Sneaker Book: 50 Years Of Sports Shoe Design . Schiffer Publishing .
  4. Stiglitz, J. (2007). Making Globalization Work. W.W. Norton & Co.

 

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Follow your Dreams

Most important factor in anyone’s life. If you really want to fulfill your dreams then surround yourself with positive successful people who believe in your dreams. Common fact, whatever we get for an intake, we try to make our self regarding an environment. Some of us can be think totally out of the box but what about others? This thing would happen with most of us. It is very important to know that What is our aim, What is our values in our own life because we mostly tried to listen random options from others.

Lets give you my own example. When I turned 25, There is something make me think what I actually want in my life and why I am here as a Human. Being human is much better than human being. To earn a handsome salary is the only motto of my Life… (laugh) My aim was constantly blow regarding an outer Winds. Sometimes it works, many times it doesn’t. But one day, I remember very clearly I found something special which really turns my whole entire life. It was not a Special Quote or big counseling it was Just a ‘Broacher’ for Mass Communication

College in Pune. But many hesitations came across in my mind. It seems so many hurdles like how would I get enroll in that college. Is my choose is right or not blaa, blaa.. But one thing was very clear and that is whatever hilarious situation may be came across my way.. but I will never ever see back again. I made something so clear that” Writing” is the only thing which I Born for!! Then What BINGO!! Days were passed and today is the day where you all reading my penning, my own sketched career.

While having walk in my desirable career I get some auspicious persons whose suggestions, attentions, even scolding words made my skills so stronger. It is been said that if you aim for nothing, you will hit it every time. Have something to aim for, a dream that you hold close dream is not Just mean to fulfill your dream. Joseph Murphy penned down a beautiful quotes in his world famous book ‘The unconscious mind’ that everyone get what they actually want, Just need to be transfer it in your nconscious mind that you are fulfilling everything what you exactly want.

Everyone must think at once, Who you are and what you actually want? No matters whether you want to become Chef, Artists, Manager or even Writer. Simplify and identify your own way and go for a walk in your own path. Believe in yourself. Try to be an optimist in every sovereign situations. Try to introduce yourself a more powerful individual in this small Cosmos. Be like a Labor . And show your liability our laborite that you are not Just something but you are everything in your life.

I Choose to live by choice not by chance, to make changes not excuses, to be motivated not manipulated, to be useful not used, to be excel not compete, I choose self- esteem not self pity, I choose to listen my inner voice, not the random options for others. And the bottom line is We are only responsible for our own Happiness. So go and get ready to make your own master piece because today is a perfect day to start living your dreams. Dreams don’t work unless you do. Best Luck!!!!! Follow your Dreams By monicanagdeote

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