Inclusive Education in UK Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Inclusive Education in UK - Essay Example (Mitchell, 2005) Some philosophers argue that inclusion is the act of inviting others in or integrating others into the mainstream. (Asante, 1996). This premise stems from the fact that some people in society have always been treated unfairly. Society has been historically unjust to certain categories of individuals. These include racial minorities, handicaps and others. Proponents of such a definition claim that people who have been sidelined in the past need to be 'invited in'. One can therefore extend this definition of inclusion to the field of education where inclusive education may be defined as a form of education that facilitates integrating those who have been neglected in the past 'in'. However, one cannot help but see some of the loopholes that emerge from such a definition. First of all, who has a right to invite others in Additionally one should examine what are the causes of exclusion in the past. It should be understood that all persons have equal rights in education. No single person should have the upper hand to decide another's fate. (Hanson, et al, 1998) A more acceptable way of looking at inclusive education should include the acknowledgment of the fact that all human beings are born equal and that society is given the responsibility of supporting those who have special needs. The Centre for Studies on Inclusive Education came up with a more comprehensive definition of inclusive education. They state that inclusive education refers to inclusion of all manner of children in schools (high school, universities, colleges and preschool) regardless of their disabilities provided they are given all the support they require. They assert that inclusion should encompass the community and life in general. It involves the acknowledgment of the fact that some pupils or students may need more support. The support should be provided by a number of stakeholders ranging from local governments, education agencies and education sponsors among others. However, there is a need to modify this kind of definition because it does not include the element of continuity. (Lieber et al, 1998) The most acceptable and comprehensive definition was put forward by CSIE, two years later. They described inclusive education as the continuous process of including students in mainstream classrooms, the community and local culture. It also involves reducing the level of exclusion in the latter mentioned realms. It also involves the elimination or reduction of obstacles in education and participation. It should be noted that this definition is more dynamic and highlights the fact that schools/ communities cannot adopt inclusion overnight. This is something that gradually changes with time. It should also be noted that this definition avoids the use of integration and emphasises inclusion instead. The reason for this is that integration tends to imply that some people are more equal than others and that the former have a right to 'integrate' others into their own systems. Advantages and disadvantages of inclusive education Advantages Inclusive education is more beneficial than it is detrimental. Even criticisms labelled against inclusive education are simply based on the fact that the program was not implemented properly. If it is implemented in the right way, then inclusive

Oral Language and Reading Comprehension Essay Example for Free

Oral Language and Reading Comprehension Essay This paper is intentionally made to show the comparison between oral language and reading comprehension. Oral language and reading comprehension are both essential to every individual. All of us had undergone oral language when we are still young and as it develops and as we grow and mature, it enables us to be more knowledgeable and prepares us to a more needed comprehension in reading. This two are significant and are interrelated to each other. As a parent, talking to the child helps expands vocabulary, develop background knowledge, and inspire a curiosity about the world. The more a child engages into certain experiences and more learning that starts from parents and then to teachers, it will widen their minds and permits them into a more broad understanding of different things. Oral language is the very learning that each of us has gone through and we still have it up to now. This paper will broaden your knowledge with regards to the comparison between oral language and reading comprehension. Background of the Study: Oral language means communicating with other people. On the other hand, reading comprehension is the act of understanding what you are reading. The definition can be simply stated the act is not simple to teach, learn or practice. Reading comprehension is an intentional, active, interactive process that occurs before, during and after a person reads a particular piece of writing. Oral language and reading comprehension are both essential because in oral language we are trained on how to communicate well with other people. Reading comprehension, on the other hand, is also a way of understanding the book that we read; it could be just a simple magazine, newspaper, or even the books we used in school. A person must be able to understand what he or she is reading. It is necessary that we know how to talk or communicate but one thing that is very useful as well in our everyday lives is the ability to read and understand what we read. There is a complete difference between â€Å"reading† and â€Å"reading with comprehension†. Now, as you go and read this paper, you will be fed with more ideas with the comparison between spoken language and reading comprehension and how these two work together for a more fluent practice of communication. It will develop your communication and reading skills; that it is not enough to know how to speak and read but being able to speak and at the same time realize what you are reading and even apply these in real life situations. Related Study: Oral language A great deal of research has been done in the field of oral language acquisition. As a means of attempting to negotiate their environment children actively construct language (Dyson, 1983; Halliday, 1994; Sulzby,1985). From a childs earliest experience with personal narrative development, oral language acquisition must be continually fostered. (IRA and NAEYC, 1998). This becomes the building block for establishing success in all areas of literacy. Oral language begins to develop at a very young age as children and parents interact with one another in the natural surroundings of the home environment (Teale, 1978; Yaden, 1988). A childs home environment greatly impacts the rate, quality and ability to communicate with others (MacLean, Bryant and Bradley, 1987; Martinez, 1983; National Research Council 1999). Factors related to language growth in the home environment include parent interaction, books, being read to, modeling; home language and literacy routines all closely parallel those of the classroom and school. The development of oral language is an ongoing natural learning process. Children observe oral communication in many contexts – home, preschool, prekindergarten, and begin to develop concepts about its purposes (Dyson, 1983; Halliday,1994;Martinez, 1983). Target skill areas such as sequencing, classification, and letter sounds oral language skills are all components of early childhood educational programs (Kelley and Zamar, 1994). Meaning is a social and cultural phenomenon and all construction of meaning is a social process. Developmental stages of child language development: Phase I – Protolinguistic or â€Å"Protolanguage†, Phase II – Transition, Phase III – Language. The Protolanguage Stage (which is associated with the crawling stage) includes noises and intonation, physical movement, adult/infant interaction – this exchange of attention is the beginning of language. During the Transition Stage (which is associated with the developmental stage of walking) there is a transition from child tongue to mother tongue. During this stage the â€Å"pragmatic† mode develops; a demand for goods and services that seeks a response in the form of an action. In Phase III – Language Stage, the child moves from talking about shared experience to sharing information with a third person. The child realizes that reality is beyond their own experience; they invite confirmation, enjoy shared experience. From the ontogenesis of conversation we are able to gain insight into human learning and human understanding. Meaning is created at the intersection of two contradictions – the experiential one, between the material and the conscious modes of experience, and the interpersonal one, between different personal histories of the interacting taking part (Halliday,1994). Properly developed oral language enables a child to effectively communicate their thoughts and viewpoints with others. It is also important for young children to have developed listening skills as they begin to experience the power of communication. The environment influences ones desire to communicate as well as the frequency of communication. Oral language develops through authentic experiences (Harste, Burke and Woodward, 1994). Kindergarten classroom environments that are alive with social interaction are ideal environments for nourishing speaking and listening skills. As children participate in communicative events, they slowly acquire an understanding of the relevance of these forms. Students need to be provided and encouraged to participate in environmental literacy activities, as those experiences are indispensable to language development (Brown and Briggs, 1987). Development of oral language skills must be addressed in Kindergarten as an integral part of the daily curriculum in order for students to be able to succeed throughout schooling and in todays society (Goodman, 1992; IRI and NAEYC,1998). Kindergarten programs need to be structured but not formal. Classrooms that are carefully structured allow for maximum oral language acquisition through authentic literacy activities that take place in natural ways during a school day (Ellermeyer, 1988). Education is inquiry based, and as such the focus with education becomes learning, and the task of teaching becomes the inquiry process. The learner is central, in the process of the learning-inquiry cycle (Harste, Burke and Woodward,1994). Students need to be provided and encouraged to participate in environmental literacy activities, as these experiences are indispensable to language development. Dyson (1983) conducted a study of the role early language plays in early writing. Through observations of children at a Kindergarten writing center she concluded that oral language is an integral part of the early writing process. Talk provided both meaning and for some children the systematic means for getting that meaning on paper. The child as a language learner progresses along a developmental continuum. Language acquisition is fundamentally a social process in which language is used to make and share meaning of experience (Corter and Park, 1993). Children require opportunities to interact with both peers and adults in a wide variety of settings as they learning and practice language and literacy knowledge, skills, and strategies (Brown and Briggs 1987; Coohn, 1981; Dyson, 1983; Ellermeyer, 1988). Children like to talk about themselves, their friends, their families, their pets, their hobbies, etc. Engaging young children in conversation about things with which they are familiar affords them a comfort level to experiment with ways to express themselves. Opportunities to increase oral language abilities and applications are embedded within the literacy program. Conversation, collaboration, and learning through others are integral to learning. A childs oral language ability is the basis for beginning literacy instruction, and as such initial informal assessments as well as ongoing assessment during the school year would provide key information regarding a childs oral language abilities.

Innovation marketing proposal for jcu food court

Innovation marketing proposal for jcu food court To establish a food court on Townsville campus, James Cook University is in quest of collaboration with takeaway restaurant chains. The restaurants that will be engrossed with the well known university will have a large potential market which would function in areas like brand recognition, brand loyalty and maintaining consumer relations. These areas serve as key to the marketing strategy which in turn drives the restaurants to maintain stability of revenue resulting in making profit for the food court. Due to a saturated market, competition is stern. However, competition can arise in the immediate area. Therefore, there will be a quick growth in the market. It is well determined from SWOT analysis that weaknesses and threats of the food court are overcome by its internal strengths and the external opportunities and hence the impending business prospect for the restaurants. In addition, there have been positive estimations that will be achieved with a profit increment of 10% in three years in terms of financial controls, such as advertising budgets, contracts, expense and rental income etc. Therefore, the JCU Food Court seeks to grow as a potential market and is a sound investment. Introduction James Cook University has approximately 11,000 students including 1,300 international students studying at the Townsville campus (JCU Townsville, 2009). The 386-hectare Townsville campus consists of 364 buildings that includes housing units, student mall, library, fitness centres and excludes refectory and cafes that opens in week days for limited time (JCU Townsville, 2009). Adjacent to the University is Townsville General Hospital which is situated on the outskirts of town, approximately 11 kilometres from the city centre. Despite of being a favourable environment for education, its remoteness to food outlets and entertainment creates a logistical challenge for students. The food facilities provided to the students is limited and restricted to Western styles that ultimately offer fewer options for the vegetarians. Situation Analysis The proposal of JCU food court is new to the market and lies in the introductory phase. Although there is a large competitive market of takeaway restaurants but there will no close competition in the vicinity area. However the few exceptions being the Refectory and Rococos bar Restaurant. There will be a significant growth in the development of food court and gain in substantial business. Hence, the food court will enter the market with rapid growth and will emerge as a profitable business. Market Summary As described earlier, there are no close competitors in the immediate area of the food court so the market to be targeted would be the vast market of fast-food and takeaway restaurants. Target Market Fast-food / Takeaway restaurant chains Market Demographics A typical customer profile consists of geographic, demographic, and behaviour factors. Geographics The geographic target area inculcates local (e.g. Eagle boys, real pizzas), national (e.g. Noodle box) and global (McDonalds, KFC etc.) restaurant chains. Demographics The food court is not limited to any type of consumer/customer and is likely to favour all the students studying at Townville campus. Another factor is the cost of meals under $12. Behavioural Factors The food court would serve the university, hospital and surrounding residential areas. The market can be expanded to the restaurant chains who see a potential market within JCU. Market Needs The market needs would be fulfilled by university students, staff, hospital visitors and people residing in residential areas. The JCU food court will offer a convenient and economical consumption. The restaurants that tend to be interested will have a large potential market within the grounds of the university. The food court will come up with the following market attributes Convenience JCU food court will serve as a convenient option for consumers making easy for them to get to the restaurants and will be an economical place. Maintenance The food court will be well maintained taking care of the surroundings areas too. Customer Retention As there is little competition in the immediate area, customers are likely to retain and welcome to a place that provides quality food and service at reasonable prices. Brand credit While off campus, customers will recognize the brand they know from JCU Food Court, which promotes the business. Market Trends JCU is situated in a heavy passage environment/area with students studying both onshore and offshore, hospital visitors, the army base, and residential areas. The leasing space to five different takeaway restaurants will appeal to the needs of a market that has not been presently met. JCU being a well-known university, the restaurants will tend to let on JCU possessions. With advent of food court, people would seek a fair quality and convenient meals at reasonable prices. Market Growth Due to market saturation, there is a strong competition in the restaurant/takeaway business. Statistics reveals that by June 2007, there were 15,423 restaurant businesses in Australia, and takeaway rates growing 18.3% respectively, making approximately $646.1m (Statistics, 2008). There will be less competition in vicinity of the food court at which puts the business on to an advantage of being profitable and will mark a rapid growth strength in market. SWOT Analysis To evaluate and assess the potency and limitations, opportunities and challenges for foot court on JCU, a SWOT analysis was performed. The analysis revealed some key factors of the internal and external marketing of JCU Food Court. Figure 1 describes the detailed SWOT analysis (Appendix 1). Potencies The University has an advantage of own land so there is no land purchase requirement. The food court will focus on offering varieties of food at cheaper deals. There will be no external competitiveness among the restaurants of the food court. Being a well established university, the restaurants will likely to be interested to be its part. Trading hours will diversify from the on-campus cafes and restaurants. Limitations The university has to provide resources for maintenance and other related services. Limited space to accommodate. Less space than regular restaurant. Prospects The Townsville campus is likely to have a potential expansion. More students enrolling drives the profitability of food court. Availability of parking and loading area. Growth and development in other JCU campuses. Less expenses on construction and labour. Challenges Labour hire for construction and maintenance. Economic downturn ongoing at present. Future growth and development of nearby shopping centres. Competition There will be less or no competition in the immediate surroundings of the food court. The food court will be situated on Townsville campus. There will be no opposition for the food court because at present there is only Rococos Bar Restaurant and refectory offered to the students in student mall. Due to limited opening hours, they are not open on weekends. There is a limited range of restaurants in the hospital and the nearest food courts are in Willows and Stockland. Thus, the students and staff would be more directed to the JCU food court. It will be more convenient for people to walk to the food court to purchase quality meals at cheaper prices which will be economical for them. Therefore, competition will not be a major concern for businesses interested in leasing space with JCU Food Court. Product Offering JCU will offer quality food at reasonable prices. The food court will serve as a convenient option for people to get their meals from there. Also, it will open for business to restaurants to lease for space in the food court. The space will accommodate a counter and kitchen. In addition, the university will provide maintenance and other janitorial services. Keys to success The keys to success would be offering quality food, reasonable deals, and convenience to customers, delivering products that are user friendly and offer customer satisfaction at affordable prices. Critical Issues Since JCU food court will be new to market the critical issues will be Potential expansion to other campuses of university. Business on a contract basis, lease with the restaurants. Growth and expansion of business through lease sales of counter space. Marketing Strategy The marketing strategy mainly focuses on the services provided meet changing customer needs, while still maintaining the product quality and commitment to excellence. The key marketing strategy will focus on customer satisfaction and loyalty and at the same time maintaining brand quality. Moreover, the food court will focus on the overall market segments and the associated customers. It will also concentrate on gaining a partnership with the restaurants in order to expand the business in the market while maintaining the product stability. Vision mission To provide a means of personal satisfaction by improving its service delivery. To promote and spread the benefits it provides to people. To provide premium customer service by guaranteeing the customers a clean, comfortable and well maintained counter space at reasonable leasing prices. To expand the success of food court to other JCU campuses. Marketing Objectives JCU food court is concerned about maintaining the food quality and increasing the services so as to create a brand name, which could encourage and sustain optimistic and steady growth. The food court will be expanding its limit each year and extend the counter spaces depending on demands and needs of the customers. Once established, JCU will introduce loyalty/value cards to offer discounts thereby increasing profit from additional revenue. Therefore, the objective is to establish competitive superiority in target market, guarantee stable profit to customer and pursue up growth profit. Financial Objectives Seek to boost the profit margin by efficient use of strategies and commitment to deliver good services. To increase the profitability to 10% in three years. To repay back the loan at the earliest in order to evade the interest that downgrades the income. To maintain the contacts associated with restaurants on lease. Reduce liability by using less of the loan and using more funds. Target Markets The market of restaurant chains and takeaways business is quite outsized with diversity in foods and services they offer. The food court will focus on takeaway business offering food with different varieties and quality. The major target market would be the restaurants in the market that offers quality services and varieties of food at reasonable prices. The bureau of statistics Australia stated that during 2006-07, cafes, restaurants and catering businesses generated a total income of $13,673.2m, signifying an average of $886,500 per business. The total expenses incurred during the same period were $13,108.3m and the total industry value added by these businesses was $5,695m, which represented 0.5% of Australias gross domestic product for 2006-07. During the same year, the operating profit before tax for these businesses was $576.4m and their operating profit margin was 4.2%. Positioning As JCU is a well-known and established university, the concept of introducing food court will represent as an innovative and demanding move for the convenience of people who are part of the university. Being a reputed education hub, JCU will perceive great customer retention and will incur a successful business in the market. Overall strategy The main objective of JCU food Court is to create awareness among customers to recognize food court as an innovator and a potential investment. The overall strategy is to provide people with best possible services and quality thereby making food court as a profitable and stable investment. The beginning phase and the upcoming growth stages will not be supportive without the lease of the potential restaurants (Kotler, Keller, Burton, 2009). Introductory phase is like a start up business (Kotler, Keller, Burton, 2009). Once the initial phase of contracts and leasing agreements are accepted and passed, growth will continue leading to maturity phase. In order to establish the business in market, the main focus will be to maintain customers, their satisfaction and potential expansion of food court to other campuses of university. Market research will be done in terms of sales, promotions, communications, advertisements and brand development. JCU will be looking for specific businesses they feel will provide variety and quality products at reasonable prices for the consumers. Advertisements in newspapers and over internet will provide a rich source of information and contact details to people thereby creating awareness among them and promoting the business. Marketing Mix the Customer Five Ps of the Marketing Mix Product Restaurants interested to spread their business and take lease with the university. Price: Price includes the rent which will be based on square metre of space, restaurant location and other utilities. The food and related services of the restaurant would be charged as own franchise. Promotion: Advertisement will be made in leading newspapers all over Queensland and over internet for lease and contracts. JCU website will incur a link for services offered by the food court. Place: The food court will be located on the campus with massive free parking areas on campus and short-term free parking near food court for other customers. Packaging: JCU Food Court will provide healthy high quality food and a clean atmosphere. Other services include maintenance and janitorial services provided by the university. Four Cs of the Customer Customer Solution: The business is in the immediate area of the target market with high number of consumers students and faculty in JCU. Customer cost: The prices are cheaper and inexpensive due to size and location. Consumers are offered value/discount cards. The companies are responsible for other costs that include leasing prices, utilities, major renovation, appliances and fittings. Promotion Pros for customer: Promotions will be done as advertisements provided across campus at different specified locations which will be a part of rent. Convenience: The location will be convenient and suitable for the customers and will offer a large number of employments. Other considerations like maintenance and janitorial services will be provided by JCU food Court. Marketing Research Marketing research will focus on consumer retention, stability and satisfaction, market segments and the target markets. Market research would therefore include the following Consumer eating habits, student movements. Motivation for the food court began after receiving grievances about the lack of food options within the proximity of the campus. Market sampling comprise of local restaurants and cafes. Sampling will determine to gather the leasing space in food court of university. Survey consists of dichotomous, Likert scale and intention to buy questions to convert into quantitative data (Kotler, Keller, Burton, 2009). Preparation and circulation of survey by email with completion online as primary method. Students, faculty, hospital staff and other customers are all inculcated in the sampling procedure. Sampling procedure will take into account some questions to evaluate behaviour of the customers and their interest in food court. Online surveys will be available for students and staff to give their feedback on performance and services provided by the food court. Drop box will be set up at various points within the university area and the hospital so that people can feel free to give their comments and suggestions. Results and percentages assess the interest in JCU Food Court; the cost to profit finances; how to promote to target market; narrow specific target market groups. The information from all the above mentioned sources will be compiled and computed to generate quantitative data which further will strengthen the development of frequency distributions which can be charted in order to clearly view the statistical findings and determine whether it rejects or accepts the hypothesis (Kotler, Keller, Burton, 2009). Financials Financial Controls This section will deal with some of the relevant financial situations regarding marketing the food court in the market. This section include Break even analysis, sales forecast, expense forecast and indicate how these activities are related to the marketing strategy of the firm. Break Even Analysis The break-even analysis indicates that as to reach break-even point the income required is $ 500,000 Figure 1 Break Even Analysis Controls Procedures JCU Food Court incurs a marketing plan to start up the business as a guide for creating interest from restaurants giving the best performance by providing customers with best quality and quantity. The control procedures will take into account the initial expenses and revenues, cost of maintenance and other janitorial services, lease contract agreements, leasers and customer satisfaction. Contingency Planning Difficulties and Risks Turn down of the secondary target market Risk of entering into saturated market Promotional failure and lack of awareness among customers Closure of restaurants in the food court Power outage Worst-Case Risks Risk of business failure due to lack of profits and inability to cover liabilities. Financial instability during the course of growth phase.

The Roswell Incident :: essays research papers

The Roswell Incident Forty-seven years ago an incident occurred in the southwestern desert of the United States that could have significant implications for all mankind. It involved the recovery by the U.S. Military of material alleged to be of extraterrestrial origin. The event was announced by the Army Air Force on July 8, 1947 through a press release carried by newspapers throughout the country. It was subsequently denied by what is now believed to be a cover story claiming the material was nothing more than a weather balloon. It has remained veiled in government secrecy ever since. The press release announcing the unusual event was issued by the Commander of the 509th Bomb Group at Roswell Army Air Field, Colonel William Blanchard, who later went on to become a four-star general and Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. That the weather balloon story was a cover-up has been confirmed by individuals directly involved, including the late General Thomas DuBose, who took the telephone call from Washington, D.C. ordering the cover-up. Numerous other credible military and civilian witnesses have testified that the original press release was correct and that the Roswell wreckage was of extraterrestrial origin. One such individual was Major Jesse Marcel, the Intelligence Officer of the 509th Bomb Group and one of the first military officers at the scene. On January 12, 1994, United States Congressman Steven Schiff of Albuquerque, New Mexico, announced to the press that he had been stonewalled by the Defense Department when requesting information on the 1947 Roswell event on behalf of constituents and witnesses. Indicating that he was seeking further investigation into the matter, Congressman Schiff called the Defense Department's lack of response "astounding" and concluded it was apparently "another government cover- up." History has shown that unsubstantiated official assurances or denials by government are often meaningless. Nevertheless, there is a logical and straightforward way to ensure that the truth about Roswell will emerge: an Executive Order declassifying any information regarding the existence of UFOs or extraterrestrial intelligence. Because this is a unique issue of universal concern, such an action would be appropriate and warranted. To provide positive assurance for all potential witnesses, it would need to be clearly stated and written into law. Such a measure is essentially what presidential candidate Jimmy Carter promised and then failed to deliver to the American people eighteen years ago in 1976. If, as is officially claimed, no information on Roswell, UFOs, or extraterrestrial intelligence is being withheld, an Executive Order declassifying it would be a mere formality, as there would be nothing to disclose. The Order would, however, have the positive effect of setting the

Moons of Our Solar System

â€Å"Genetically modified (GM) foods are food items that have had their DNA changed through genetic engineering. † (Mavis 2008). As the population of the world has continued to grow, the supply pressure of food has become more and more significant. With the development of Genetically Modified biotechnology, GM Foods have been come into our daily lives. Though GM foods can help to improve the quality of life, there are risks to complete trust in GM foods. What’s more important, a part of consumers still have doubts about the understanding towards GM food. The question† What attitudes does consumers have on purchasing genetically modified food? † is meaningful because that the issue about GM foods is becoming increasingly controversial. The controversies towards GM foods generally focus on environmental ethics, food security, poverty alleviation and environmental conservation. As customers are divided on their relative importance, some supporters claim that the GM technology can solve the problem of food crisis and poverty. They also consider that GM foods are beneficial to environment such as they can protect soil and water. However, opponents think that GM foods should have some potential threat to human health and they violate the rules of nature by mixing genes among different species. The purpose of this research is to gain a deep understand about the consumers’ attitudes towards purchasing GM foods and find out if most of consumers can accept GM foods. (Hutchison, 2004) Literature review In the last few years, many articles on the consumers’ attitudes toward GM food have appeared. There is a concise review of existing literature that evaluates consumers’ attitudes as following. Most of the information on European attitudes comes from a journal by Bredahl, Grunert, and Scholderer (2003). The article focuses on posted and answered four questions on European consumers’ attitudes towards the use of GM food. These four questions are: (1) how negative are consumer attitudes to the event â€Å"GM technology applied in food production†? (2) How do these negative attitudes affect the preference of consumer for GM products? (3) How deeply does these attitudes rooted in customers’ opinion? 4) Will the new information and experience change the customers’ attitudes? Bredahl, Grunert, and Scholderer (2003) believe that these four questions are central for understanding the consumers’ attitudes about GM food. The article use some tables to evaluate the consumers’ attitudes about genetic modification in food production in seven European countries which are the UK, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway , Italy and Sweden. The data shows that most of the customer have negative attitude towards GM food, the average support for GM foods is quite low. The national differences can also be showed through the table: the attitude is most positive in Italy, and is most negative in Germany and the Scandinavian countries, while Finland and the UK in a middle position. And the article also showed some other surveys to support this result, for example, the Eurobarometer surveys, which is a most well know one, have also shown that most of consumers do not like GM foods (Frewer & Shepherd, 1995 and Durant, Bauer & Gaskell, 1998European Commission, 1997, European Commission, 2000,) For the question how these negative attitudes affect the preference of consumer for GM foods, Bredahl, Grunert, and Scholderer (2003) have design a research about yoghurt. In general, consumers prefer the low-Fat yoghurt, but the yoghurt will become non-attractive consistency if they produced based on skimmed milk. Though using additives can improve this problem, many consumers don’t like additives. However, by using GM technology, the yoghurt can be enough consistency, fat-free and no additives. It provided a good basis for the consumer preferences. In the research, consumers inspected the three products which are normal yoghurt, additives yoghurt and labeled GM yoghurt and rank them according to preference. And they must explain the reason for the ranking. The result showed that most of consumer rank GM yoghurt to last choice. And the common reasons are that the GM technology is not familiar and not trustworthy, they don’t know if the product is healthy, and it harms nature. The conclusion is explicit: the attitude to GM food has a strong influence on the preference of consumers. The third question and the last question were researched in another study. Respondents were asked to take part in a taste test of eight cheeses. Two weeks later, they participated in another taste test which only provides two kinds of cheese. One cheese was the same taste as the one which obtain the highest preference in the first test and it was labeled â€Å"produced with genetically modified technology†; the other one was the some taste as the one which obtain a medium preference in the first test. The results showed that when the most popular cheese labeled genetically modified technology, the preference was reduced. So, the study shows the attitude on GM food is deeply rooted in consumers’ opinion and is not easily to change by experience. There are also some other important researches about consumers’ attitudes towards GM food. Hamstra (1995) evaluate the acceptance of consumers toward GM food through three studies of Dutch consumers. Product characteristics and consumer characteristics are included in these studies. In the first study, consumers participated in a face-to-face interview about their attitudes and willingness to buy nine different GM foods (Hamstra, 1991). Means-end chain theory was used in the second study to further research these aspects in some focus group discussions (Hamstra, 1993). The third study used the sample of consumers to evaluate the model which developed in the second study (Hamstra, 1995). As a result, the studies showed that perceived benefits have a greater impact on consumers’ attitudes than perceived risks and there is no link between attitudes and knowledge of the genetically modified technology. Kutznesof and Ritson (1996) investigated Irish and British consumers’ attitudes through focus group discussions. The results divided the consumers’ attitudes towards genetically modified foods into three types: â€Å"triers†, â€Å"undecided consumers† and â€Å"refusers'†. A large number of consumers were classified into the second group, and the rest of consumers were equally classified as refusing or accepting genetically modified foods. Through the research, Kutznesof and Ritson (1996) found that there are some factors can increase the acceptability of genetically modified foods such as perceived consumer-related benefits, price consciousness, increased product quality (especially the taste), and increased purity of products. They also found that the acceptability of consumers depends on the types of genetically modified foods: the genetically modified technology used on vegetables, fruits and dairy products can be more acceptable than eggs and meat. Some studies have analyzed consumers’ attitudes towards GM foods at a more broadly level. The attitudes of consumers have been proved to be more positive towards applying genetically modified technology to plants than to human genetic material or animals. Frewer, Hedderley, Howard & Shepherd, 1997) The study which completed by Cook and Moore (2002) indentifies the relative importance, nature and strength of influences on New Zealand consumers’ intentions towards purchasing genetically modified foods. The study used four methods to evaluate the consumers’ attitudes which are focus groups, the questionnaire, statistical methods and distribution. Results delivered questionnaires to 289 consumers and received 266. The respondents contain 171 females and 95 males. In the received questionnaires, 159 respondents had an intention or strong intention not to purchase GM foods, 27 respondents had an purchasing or a strong purchasing intention and 80 respondents had no intention to purchase GM foods. Through the analysis with â€Å"Ordered logit analysis† and â€Å"Marginal effects for the extended model† which related to self-identity, attitude, SN and PBC, Cook and Moore (2002) found that self-identity, attitude, SN and PBC can provide a positively influence on consumers’ attitude towards purchasing GM food. Males may more easily to feel in control over purchasing the food than females, on the contrary, females may easily to feel in control over not purchasing the genetically modified food. In addition, other related research shown that the New Zealand public may be slightly less against with purchasing GM food. A national survey about farmers’ attitudes found that 49% farmers not willing to purchase GM food and 12% farmers had positive attitudes to purchase (Cook et al. , 2000). Sallie and Michael, B (2004) choice modeling methods to analyze in what conditions the Australian consumers are willing to purchase GM food, and they also discuss these preferences in the report. The results of the report suggest that if there has a discount on the consumers’ favorite food, they will have an intention to purchase the genetically modified foods. The report also showed that genetically modified technology which used on animals seems to be more unacceptable to respondents than that use on plants, especially among female respondents. In addition, another condition which can influence the consumers’ attitudes for a certain type of food is age of the consumer; the results found that older people generally more accept of genetically modified technology than younger people. In conclusion, the above literature shows that most consumers have the negative attitudes towards purchasing genetically modified foods, and these negative attitudes are not easy to change that can affect the preference of consumers. Furthermore, some conditions such as age and sex of consumers, the species that be applied with GM technology and the discount of genetically modified foods can also effect the consumers’ attitudes. Methodology: The main method of this research is questionnaire which contains online questionnaire and a paper-based survey questionnaire. And the responds assumed to be truthfully. The online questionnaire will be designed on the official websites of large-scale supermarkets. And the links of questionnaire should also be sent to the email of the consumers who are the VIP or the regular consumer of these supermarkets. In addition, the questionnaire will not exceed 8 minutes. The questionnaire should contain open-ended questions and close-ended questions. The sample open-ended questions should be â€Å"Do you have a positive attitude or negative attitude towards purchasing genetically modified foods? Why? † and â€Å"How you access the knowledge about genetically modified technology†. On the other hand, the close-ended question must contain the sex and the age level of the respondents, the questions should be designed like â€Å"I have a intention to purchase foods produced using genetically modified technology (very strongly disagree, disagree, agree or very strongly agree)† â€Å"what do you think your family members’ or friends’ opinion would be when you purchasing genetically modified foods? (Extremely unfavorable, unfavorable, favorable or extremely favorable)† â€Å"Do you think your family members’ or friends’ opinion will change your attitudes towards purchasing genetically modified foods? Very strongly disagree, disagree, agree, or very strongly agree)†. These three questions are very important to understand the consumers’ attitudes towards purchasing genetically modified foods. The advantage of online questionnaire is that it is a less expensive way to investigate more people, and it can also invest igate the people who are at a far distance. Furthermore, the questionnaire can be quickly done and anonymity ensures more valuable responses. But there are also some drawbacks about online questionnaire that must be foreseen. For example, in general, the responds to online questionnaire are from younger people and the response rate should be limited because that not everyone can access to the website. All these conditions should be considered on the result of research. The paper-based survey questionnaire will be sent to the consumers in supermarkets. In order to attract the consumers, the people who accept investigate can get a small gift as an incentive that can increase the participate rate. The age of participate range should between twenties and sixties. And the details of paper questionnaire may be same as the online questionnaire. The drawback of paper-based survey is that poor handwriting may be appeared on the space of open-ended question and some of them cannot be identified accurately. Secondary research is also needed in order to assist the evaluation about results of questionnaire survey. The secondary sources can be found in three areas: sales report of a well-known company which produces genetically modified foods, customer database of this company and primary data. Newspapers, previous research reports, journal content, and government statistics could provide the primary data to secondary. The limitations of secondary research should also be considered during the process of research. For example, some secondary data may not be helpful to the research evaluation because that some data can be vague and general. On the other hand, the source of data must be checked in order to ensure the data is accurate. Moreover, the data maybe out of date. At last, the results of questionnaire and secondary research should be collect together to evaluate the respondents’ attitudes toward purchasing genetically modified foods and calculate if most of consumers can accept GM food. Conclusion: There should be two results of this research; one result is that most of consumers can accept genetically modified foods. It means as genetically modified technology becoming increasingly more oriented lifestyle, the consumers are increasingly familiar with the technology about genetically modified foods, more and more people can trust in GM food. The other result is that most of consumers cannot accept genetically modified foods, and the questionnaire can affect the reasons. It means people still have doubts about the safety and technology of genetically modified food. Genetically modified food is new technology products, though it still exist some problems, but with the development of science and technology, it will be more and more perfect. As long as follow the certain rules, life will be more superior with the healthy and orderly development of GM technology.

How the sex ratio affects obtaining a spouse

How the sex ratio affects obtaining a spouse Free Online Research Papers Question: How does the sex ratio affect advantage and/or disadvantage in obtaining a spouse? The sex ratio can play a large role in determining the number of available spouses a person could choose at any given time. According to out textbook â€Å"The obvious flip side of the discussion is that sex ratios affect bargaining for a spouse.† In terms of exchange theory, the sex that is lower in number becomes the more valuable sex and the sex in greater number becomes the less valuable sex. This can have huge consequences on marriage patterns. For example when there are more men than women mend tend to value women more and thus they are more likely to want to get married in order to keep their woman. The opposite is true when the sex ratio is lower. Women are seen as less valuable in this case, and so men don’t have the same need to keep them by marriage. Men in this case feel like there are plenty of other women available, so marriage isn’t necessary to keep their valued commodity. The low sex ratio in the United States today makes men, especially men who have good jobs, the more valuable sex. This gives men more to trade or bargain with. The textbook reads â€Å"Moreover, not only the relative number of eligible men is salient; their employment prospects also affect woman’s chances for marrying – and if they do marry, their chances of getting a good bargain.† Since the man is in the better bargaining position in the United States today, he can expect more out of his potential spouse than if the sex ratio were higher. For example, the man can expect the woman to bring home a salary as well as any domestic duties she might be expected to do. The man can do this directly because women have to be competing for him, since there is not a man for every woman with the low sex ratio. Also in the United States, as people get older the sex ratio gets even lower. This makes it increasingly difficult for older women to have much bargaining power in the exchange. African American women face the lowest sex ratio at average marrying age, as by ages 25-34 the sex ratio is 88.8 as show by Table 7.1 in the textbook. The direct result of the sex ratio is the value it places on each sex. By doing this it exercises the highest form of power in society, and heavily influences the ability of either sex to obtain a spouse, giving the advantage to the sex fewest in number. Research Papers on How the sex ratio affects obtaining a spouseInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesResearch Process Part OneThe Fifth HorsemanThe Effects of Illegal Immigration19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseHip-Hop is ArtDefinition of Export QuotasBringing Democracy to Africa