DETECTION OF ANTIVIRAL ANTIBODIES IN SERUM USING AN ELISA TECHNIQUE Essay

DETECTION OF ANTIVIRAL ANTIBODIES IN SERUM USING AN ELISA TECHNIQUE - Essay Example These immunoglobulins are of five types and they are different based on size, charge, amino acid composition and carbohydrate content. the class and the type of immunoglobulin molecule is determined by the heavy chain type. There are two light chains and two heavy chains. There are C and N- terminal in the heavy chains. (Crowther 1995). The N-terminals of the IgG constitute the antigen -binding site. Individuals can become resistant to many infectious diseases by active or passive immunization. The beneficial effects of the immunization are mediated by the antibodies and the effect of immunization is mediated by the immunoassays. (Crowther 2001). The measurement of the antigen and antibody by using sensitive assays are the useful indicators of the immune status. When an infectious agent enters the human body, the component is identified as the foreign particle and antibodies are produced against them. These antibodies interact with the antigens and reduce the load. (Edwards 1999). Th e immunoassay method identifies the antigens, antigen - particles present in the blood and provide the results. Each antibody is specific for an antigen. ELISA is basically of two types: competitive and non-competitive ELISA. ELISA involves two site recognition with two different antibodies (i.e.) an indirect estimation. Competitive ELISA is different from the sandwich ELISA and indirect ELISA. In the first step the unlabelled antibody is incubated on the presence of the antigen. This antigen-antibody bounded is added to the antigen- coated well. The plate is washed and the second antibody specific to the primary antibody is added and the second antibody is coupled to the enzyme. When the substrate is added, the signal is emitted by the remaining enzyme. In this ELISA, if the antigen concentration is very high, then the signal will be very weak. This method is mainly used to test the impure and crude samples. This method is very useful for the detection of HIV. For HIV diagnosis, th e patient's sample and the enzyme-labeled antibody (conjugate) is added simultaneously to the solid phase. HIV antibodies, if present in the sample will bind to the conjugate antibody and reduce the signal. Thus if the color reaction is produced, then it indicates that there are no HIV antibodies in the given sample. Applications of ELISA include screening of the donated blood for viral contaminations( HIV types, Hepatitis B and C, HTLV-1 and 2), measuring the hormone levels( pregnancy(HCG), ovulation( LH), thyroid function ( TSH, T3 and T4), anabolic steroids, hormones), detecting infections( HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, gondii), detecting allergens in foods and toxins in foods, measuring the concentration of the antibodies and detecting illicit drugs ( cocaine, opiates, marijuana, etc.), measuring auto antibodies in autoimmune diseases and measuring rheumatoid factors . (Sheehan 1997). (Wreghitt and Morgan-Capner 1990). Principle When an antibody is linked to the enzyme and allowed t o react with the immobilized antigen, antigen-antibody reaction occurs. This is identified by the production of colour by the substrate enzyme reaction. The antigen is immobilised in either a microtiter plate or on nitrocellulose membrane. An enzyme labelled antibody is added in excess to the system and these binds to the immobilised antigen. Excess antibody is removed by washing and the substrate specific for the

Issues of Faculty Training for Online Courses Part 5 Research Paper

Issues of Faculty Training for Online Courses Part 5 - Research Paper Example Stratified sampling is suitable in this research since it has less error margins(Bogdan, &Biklen, 2007). After selection using the stratified sampling meaning people with similar interests, an adequate number is again chosen from the original sample. The number has to be adequate to ensure that the group involved has taken a sample of every significant personfor the interview. For example the number should consist of both teachers and students and not only teacher or students or an uneven number. We could use the sample size calculator to determine the sample size but in this instance we shall chose the estimation means(Ryan & Wiley Online Library, 2013). In this case we shall estimate the students and teachers below fifty years of age. The formula will be p=X/n where X is the number of teachers and students under fifty years(Ardilly&TilleÃŒ , 2006). The rationale behind this sample size is that people above fifty years are not keen or active to use online facilities frequently. In this stage, a clear and brief description of measurements needed is stated. For example in this case the sample size to be used. Secondly, selection of researchers is done. These researchers are then thoroughly trained. Thirdly, the research must be underway with trained researchers reporting and taking down data. Finally, the data must be recorded clearly so that it can be used for the purpose of the research. Here the data is sorted, separated and entered into a computer. Any audio visual material used can be transcribed at this stage. Observation of data and deducing the meaning is then performed on the sorted data. Finally, the use of qualitative and quantitative data sorting is done on the data(Seidman, 2013). Statistical analysis is only performed on quantitative data as it can be counted while qualitative cannot be counted(Seidman, 2013). Statistical analysis can be done through normal counting, observations of

Marketing research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Marketing research - Essay Example Table of Contents 1. Introduction --------------------------------------------------------4 1.1 Research Questions--------------------------------------------4 1.2 Research Aim---------------------------------------------------4 1.3 Research Objectives -------------------------------------------4 1.4 Research Hypothesis------------------------------------------5 2. Literature Review--------------------------------------------------------6 2.1 Service Recovery -----------------------------------------------6 2.2 Customer satisfaction-------------------------------------------7 2.3 Customer loyalty------------------------------------------------7 2.4 Service Recovery, Customer Satisfaction and Customer Retention 3. Research Methodology ----------------------------------------------------9 3.1 Research Approach ----------------------------------------------9 3.2 Research Methods------------------------------------------------9 3.3 Research Design----------------------------------------- ----------9 3.4 Ethical considerations--------------------------------------------11 4. Findings and Analysis ---------------------------------------------------12 5. Conclusion and Recommendations------------------------------------17 6. ... ----------------- Table 1: Time of recovery and customer satisfaction and customer retention----13 Table 2: Quality of recovery and customer satisfaction and customer retention--14 Table 3: Type of service failure and customer satisfaction -------------------15 Table 4: type of service failure and customer retention------------------------15 List of Appendices Appendix A: Research Questionnaire--------------------------------------------------19 Appendix B: Findings from SPSS-----------------------------------------------------------------------21 Appendix C: Correlations from SPSS-------------------------------------------------23 References------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------24 1. Introduction This report aims to evaluate the impacts of service recovery on customer satisfaction and loyalty in the hotel industry in the UK. Efficient and quick service recovery has been found to have a positive impact on customer loyalty and satisfaction in several researches (Bowen and Chen, 2001). However, it has also been found that service recovery’s impact is mediated by several factors like the type of industry, and the type of service failure that may have occurred (Matos, Henrique and Rossi, 2007). The current research aims to understand how service recovery impacts the customer loyalty and satisfaction in the hotel industry, which is predominantly a service intensive industry. The following research questions are used to guide the research: 1.1 Research Questions 1. How does service recovery enhance customer satisfaction in the hotel industry? 2. How does service recovery enhance customer loyalty in the hotel industry? 3. What is the relationship between the impacts of service recovery and the type of service

Globalization and Regional Strategies Essay Example for Free

Globalization and Regional Strategies Essay Executive Summary It is clear enough that in today’s era it is extremely critical for firms to adopt global and regional business strategies in order to attain sustainable competitive advantage. But the question arises regarding classification of a MNE (Multinational Enterprise) as a global firm. This essay critically analyses the work on regional strategy as a response to Osegowitsch and Sammartino and attempts to cover the following aspects in detail. Notion of Globalization and Global Strategy This section highlights the notion of globalization and way organizations today establish a global presence by adoption of unique business strategies. This part also details the three different kind of global strategies. Regional Strategy Analysis This part analyzes the theory and practice of regional strategy concept of Globalization in particular as a response to Osegowitsch and Sammartino (2008). It aims to justify that in today’s era very few global firms exists and secondly that sufficient amount of international business literature and theory is required to draw reflection on regional vs. global MNE’s (Multinational Enterprises) strategy. The Theory of the Regional Strategy This section explains the concept of regional strategy analysis and illustrates the various regional theories as explained by Osegowitsch and Sammartino. Introduction With the concept of globalization and internationalization gaining more and more momentum everyday, this essay attempts to critically analyse the work of Osegowitsch and Sammartino on regional strategy. It starts with explaining the concept of globalisation and global strategy and tries to justify that in today’s era very few global firms exist. Secondly, it tries to establish that significant amount of international business literature and theory is demanded in order to draw conclusion on regional vs. global MNEs strategy by exploring the theory of regional strategy. Notion of Globalization and Global Strategy Globalization can be defined as a complex concept which enables firms to operate in various continents and countries across the globe in order to improve and maximise their profit margins, sustainability, worldwide existence and economies of scale (Blyton et al., 2001). Globalization provides platform not only to consumers but also to organizations to help them satisfy their needs globally. According to Marquardt Berger (2003), Trade, Travel, Technology and Television are the four major developments that have resulted in Globalization. The four T’s of global development are the outcome of human brain and its creative innovations. These advancements have further encouraged and made possible continuous exchange of ideas, information and knowledge between human resources by breaking the barriers of distance. Moving ahead, Bratton Gold (2007) state that Globalization is a global process of political convergence, social economies and national sentiments, in which space, time and Government are not given much importance. The paragraph below will now highlight the three different views on â€Å"global strategy†. The First view states that the global strategy is one of the particular and specific forms of Multinational Enterprise (MNE) Strategy. Further, it highlights the fact that Globalization considers all the countries of the world alike (Levitt, 1983). The Second view considers global strategy as â€Å"International Strategic Management† (Bruton et al., 2004) which is no doubt wider concept than â€Å"global strategy† mentioned in the first view. Lastly, the third view describes global strategy in even broader term; The strategy of the firms that exist all over the globe and this can be concluded as the firm’s theory of how to become a successful competitor (Peng, 2006). Having discussed the various forms of global strategies which are adopted by firms today, this essay now moves ahead to analyse the theory and practice of regional strategy concept of Globalization in particular as a response to Osegowitsch and Sammartino (2008). It aims to justify that in today’s era very few global firms exists and secondly that sufficient amount of international business literature and theory is required to draw reflection on regional vs global MNE’s (Multinational Enterprises) strategy. The Regional Strategy Theories According to Rugman and Verbeke (2007), recent literature on globalization suggests that a firm is categorised as global if maximum 50% of its total sales are in its home territory (EU) and minimum 20% of sales in each of the NAFTA zone and Asia. He adds to it by bringing to surface the outcome of survey based upon this theory that indicated only nine global firms in Fortune Global 500 and also the orientation of numerous firms towards the home-region. In response to the above mechanism for classifying the firm as global, Osegowitsch and Sammartino (OS) (2008) have provided three basic criteria and comments that can be helpful in future classification of firms according to their geographic sales dispersion. Firstly, OS suggest that it is not appropriate to classify statistical data straightaway. It should be realised that since this is a growing area of research, usage of any kind of classification tool is open to criticisms as it is not simply the categorization of Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) following particular regional strategy theories. As an example, OS focus on building and having strong position in the region by illustrating that if the EU, NAFTA region and Asia represents 90% of the total world sales output, an absolute division would require all the three regional triads to have 30% sales each and not 33.3% in order to encourage the strategy of lower thresholds. In other words, a firm can be defined as global if it has at least 20% of the total sales in the two host-triad regions and without any kind of imposition on the maximum sales threshold in the home territory (Rugman and Verbeke, 2007). Additionally, it should also be noted that it is not at all relevant to categorize a firm as having strong position in the market if its threshold is lower than 20% of t he total sales. OS even conducted a simulation using threshold value as 10% of the net sales in order to identify a string position in the host region as it would result to USD $1 billion even for the smallest of the Fortune Global 500 firms. But unfortunately, it didn’t present a strong position and can by no means be considered as an essence for strategic decision making in the worlds largest organizations. OS clearly argues that using various thresholds is helpful in assessing the sensitivity of firm’s positions in the classification system but the main function should always be to provide an assessment of the Future Global 500 and to easily track firms whose thresholds are continuously changing from one category of threshold to another. A clear example of this is Nokia which encountered a 4% decline in sales in the year 2002. However, this change in sales pattern reflected a short term failure in inter-regional growth but OS criticizes that it cannot be simply neglected. Movement of Nokia from a global organization in 2001 towards a home based firm in 2001 was a remarkable concern. In one line, it can be stated that having threshold below 20% simply leads to generation of more bi-regional firms and which can’t be regarded as truly global organizations. Moving ahead, the second regional strategy criterion which OS highlights is that the sales variations are highly industry specific. According to OS, industry plays a significant role and all future researched should aim at exploring the regional vs global strategies at the industry specific levels and try to establish the difference. It is truism that a majority of firms are not properly internationalized and their sizes varies across regions but then its some of the world’s biggest MNEs that have constantly been regarded as capable of compens ating for the weaknesses of the other sectors in different regions of the world. The main point to be considered is that our analysis are independent of differential size of numerous industries that exist across the region, as MNEs are able to establish regional markets and to further develop insufficient markets. Lastly, in third comment it is argued that it would be irrelevant to prefer regional strategy over global strategy. Regional strategies come into existence when it becomes very difficult or impossible to adopt conventional global strategies efficiently, or when they fail to function, keeping in mind that global strategies cannot be evaluated in isolation. Further, it can be said that heterogeneous geographic space beyond the home country border is essential for most of the companies now if not all of them. Moving ahead, this section of the essay will now make an attempt to tackle the criticism formed by OS concerning the contribution of regional strategy to the international business theory. According to (Rugman and Verbeke, 2007), the regional strategy is structured around three simple but fundamental empirical observations which demand international business theory to be extended and enhanced. First of all, only a small number of MNEs have a balanced geographical sales distribution pattern across the global market, although it counts towards the risk diversification at the downstream end of the value chain. OS illustrate that a balanced and structured distribution of sales geographically would contribute towards enhanced global acceptance by the customers of the company’s products and services. With only the exception of resource-based industries, the triad comprising the EU, NAFTA region and Asia demonstrates a first cut though not certainly a fixed one mechanism to identify the extent to which an MNEs net sales are distributed worldwide. Further, this triad has gained so much importance as it is the home of world’s most large MNEs as well as the locus for a number of outstanding innovations in most industrial sectors. The triad also demonstrates the world demand pattern for most knowledge intensive services and goods. But it’s unfortunate to mention that only a small number of MNEs in the Fortune Global 500 are capable of performing equally well in each of the three regions of the triad. It is often observed that a strong position in the home-triad region is not supported with an equally strong position in both the other two remaining triad environments. Classification tools are now irrelevant as among the firms with international operations only a small percentage are truly global i.e. may be even less than 5% (Ghemawat and Ghadar, 2006). They further add to it and state that different firms rule in different parts of the world. Second wing of the regional strategy focuses on the fact that several MNEs have regional features in the organizational structure such as geographic divisions and having individual divisions for different regions is supported mainly by the concept of regional heterogeneity demanding idiosyncratic management. In this case, the intra-regional institutional and economic distance is not just smaller but also very different from that of the interregional. It has been observed that for most MNEs, managing operations and work system in EU is very different from functioning system of the NAFTA region or as compared with the work cultural of Asian environment. These differences may further be enhanced if the work unit is further subdivided into smaller units. Fratiannin (2006) states that these differences in work system signal the importance of regional level in the business strategy and structure of MNEs. Today, almost all big firms such as Toyota, General Electric (GE) have embedded regional elements in their business and operational strategies and these companies are often wrongly referred to as global organizations not just because of lack of balanced geographic distribution but also because of their world wide global operations and manufacturing (Ghemawat, 2005). Thirdly, it should be noted that more than fifty percent of the geographic area in terms of sales is normally the main source of the firm’s cash flows and the centre point of most of the firms both tangible and intangible assets. In the coming years, the concept of having more than 50% sales in the home territory would not be significant enough in EU and North America specifically but it would gain momentum in Asian region as intra-regional distance is minimizing and thereby driven by a reduction of investment barriers and trade. Competition among industries would be more prevalent at the regional level instead of the national level. OC highlight that attention should now be laid on the development of classification tool that will help bundle the home country sales with the sales in the remainder of the home territory rather than paying attention separately to the sales in the home region and remaining of the home region especially for MNEs based in Asia and EU. Moving ahead, the above discussed observations and theories clearly demonstrate the need for an extended international business theory. These observations are independent of specific categorization approaches to measure specific home-region vs. rest-of-the-world market position of MNEs. A trend has always been seen that all the MNEs are much stronger in their home regions as compared to that in other triad regions. These top MNE firms have formulated their organizational structures around the regional component and a varying market position in each region raises call for a regional approach rather than a global strategy approach. The paragraph below now will bring to surface the three main components for the extension on mainstream international business theory (Rugman and Verbeke, 2007). Firstly, it is noticed that impact of country border does not provide strong basis for distinguishing between non- location bound (or internationally deployable/exploitable) and location bound. In today’s period of excess regionalization, it is very easy for some companies to exploit and deploy their strengths throughout the home country border. Further, proxies for internationally transferable FSA’s such as firms level predictors of internationalization like firm’s level of RD do not hold much importance in explaining intra-regional expansion occurring in home region, given the distance gap between the home country and rest of the home region is very less. As a result of well-functioning trans-European transport and logistics networks enabling fast response and just in time strategies covering the whole continent, the significance of geographic distance has decreased in EU. The EU integration process itself has let to decrease in Institutional distance. Further, Economic distance has lost its relevance because of many reasons such as development of new services and products at par with European level, possibility of cross border shopping made possible by web based searches, continuous attempts made by many companies to gain scale and scope efficiencies at the European level and lastly, increased importance of EU as a geographic space to ascertain company’s conduct, structure and importance. Finally, decreased significance of conventional measures of cultural distance mainly in the business to business area as it is easy to get labour in Europe, considerable increase in use of English as the lingua franca inside the region. On sharp contrast between past and present position of conventional location bound FSAs it can be clearly stated that previously they allowed firm expansion only up to country borders but now it can be easily upgraded, and made deployable and exploitable even beyond the home country borders and also in othe r home region countries. Secondly, there is a need to reconsider the fact that non-location-bound FSAs like technological knowledge or brand can be easily exploited and deployed nationwide. Today also it is necessary to complement existing FSA bundles with an additional FSA bundle in high distance environments which implies distance still plays an important role. According to Ghemawat (2005), there are several ways to differentiate between low and high distance environments, one major distinction being that between home regions and host regions in a triad context. Moreover, it is clear that extension and scope of mainstream international theory is free from any scholars disagreeing with the concept of the triad region as the best proxy to discriminate between low-distance environments (in this case the home-triad region) and high-distance environment (in this case the two host-triad regions). High distance implies to making more substantial investments in order to complement its present FSA bundles, also ena bling maximum and profitable exploitation in the host region environment. Here, the apparent trade off becomes obvious: further the efforts to expand the high-distance environment may not be proved to be as successful and profitable as the expansion of low distance environment, even if it is suggested by macro-level parameters which measure the attractiveness of the high-distance environment that they have strong location advantages. As stated by Nachum and Wymbs (2007) in regard to global cities that FSAs and location advantages are dependent on each other. High distance bundles also has many risk factors along with it like melding the extant FSA bundles with newly developed or accessed resources in the high distance environment may lead to burdened with several operational problems, decreased or disappointing sales, as exemplified by the retreat of some of the world’s largest MNEs from high-distance contexts, for example, Wal-Mart’s exit from Germany and Korea. . Thirdly, the theoretical difference between the two FSAs namely location bound and non-location bound FSAs assume conventionally easy developments and profitable exploitation of FSAs (like brand names or technological knowledge of proprietary) across borders. Moreover, it is very essential to acclimatize the brief contents of these two concepts to the authenticity of regionalization. More particularly, the factors that determine the extent of FSAs are, its distance accompanied by its geographic, institutional, economic and cultural components. The level at which a FSA should be called location-bound vs non-location bound is estimated by decay in value across a space. On the basis of terms like region bound nature of FSAs and the liability of inter regional foreignness it has been highlighted that for international business other geographic borders hold more importance than conventional country borders in our previous study. After studying the concepts and theories of regional strategy, we now try to establish the extent to which Procter Gamble could be categorized as a global firm in terms of its business and operational strategies. The Case of Procter Gamble Procter Gamble Co. – One of the worlds leading consumer goods manufacturer such as Tide, Pantene, Ariel etc was established in 1837 from an original candle and soap company. The firm now operates in 180 nations with more than 138,000 employees. According to Lafley, A. G., Chairman of the Board and chief Executive Officer, PG, the firm has over 171 years of history and has always been driven by creativity and innovation. Additionally, improved sales and long term success have always been the strategic goals of this corporation. And it understands the fact that these goals can be attained by constantly appreciating changing consumer’s needs, innovation, branding and market needs. Depending entirely on skunk work such as acquisitions, internal RD and selective innovations has proved to be inefficient and insufficient for attaining the business target of $4 billion business in a time period of one year. It can be clearly seen that invent- it-ourselves model along with global research facilities and recruiting and holding of the best talent nationwide attained success till the year 2000 but nowadays satisfying high levels of top line growth has become a big challenge for an organization The approach through which the radical strategy of open innovation helped an organization attain its business mission and goal can be typified in the following lines. To face the challenge, PG adopted a brand new technique of innovation: Develop and Connect model in the year 2000 which lays great importance on searching good and new ideas and information outside and bringing them in, in order to give internal capabilities a boost and make most out of them. With the perspective of manufacturing improved and relatively cheaper products faster the business strategy involved in this model was to leverage assets of people, products and property available externally and applying it to their respective RD labs, purchasing, market capabilities and production. The foremost work of this strategy is to recognize top ten preferences and needs of the consumer. Moreover, it is very essential that the customers are fully satisfied by the products manufactured and which will finally result in increased sales and profit. Moving ahead, alike products or related technologies which already exist in the market and occupy good position are recognized. Lastly, analysing the influence of technological acquisition of one area over the other areas. Networking is the backbone of this approach. Along with having business collaborations with open networking companies such as InnoCentive and Ninesigma, the PG group has long chain of suppliers and technological entrepreneurs worldwide. They play a crucial role by finding solutions to PG internal problems in the outside world. Thus, by constructing such type of infrastructure PG has been able to reduce its investment in technology along with achieving stable top line growth and required sustainability. According to Huston and Sakkab (2000), by shifting to Connect and Develop model there has been a remarkable increment in our RD production by 60% and the progress rate of innovation has undoubtedly doubled. The Procter Gamble figures out how an organization can maximize its profitability levels by switching to new and innovative The Procter Gamble examples mirrors the way how switching to new and innovative approaches of using information and technology can help maximise profit margins. It is one of the organisations which has developed enabling infrastructure fabricated around innovation with a huge worldwide network combining human capital, ideas and technology. Conclusion This essay has brought to surface a number of strategies which can help firms to establish strong positions globally like having a threshold of 20% etc. The main aim which was to justify that a firm cannot be simply categorized as global based upon statistical data has been justified. A number of measures have also been illustrated which can help differentiate the firms regional strategy from the global strategy. References Blyton, P., Lucio, M., McGurk, J. and Turnbull, P. (2001) â€Å"Globalization and trade union strategy: industrial restructuring and human resource management in the international civil aviation industry†, International Journal of Human Resource Management, pp. 445-463. Bratton, J. and Gold, J. (2007) Human Resource Management: Theory and Practice (4th edn), New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Bruton, G., Lohrke, F. and Lu, J. W. (2004) The evolving definition of what comprises international strategic management, Journal of International Management, Vol. 10, pp. 413-429. Fratianni, M. (Ed.) (2006) Regional economic integration, Research in Global Strategic Management, Vol. 12, Oxford: Elsevier. Ghemawat, P. (2005) Regional strategies for global leadership, Harvard Business Review, Vol. 83, No. 12, pp.98-108. Levitt, T. (1983) The globalization of markets, Harvard Business Review, Vol. 61, pp. 92-102. Marquardt, M. and Berger, N. (2003) The Future: Globalization and New Roles for HRD, Advances in Developing Human Resources, pp. 283-295. Nachum, L. and Wymbs, C. (2007) The location and performance of foreign affiliates in global cities. In A. M. Rugman (Ed.), Regional aspects of multinationality and performance, Research in Global Strategic Management, Vol. 13, pp. 221-257, Oxford: Elsevier. Osegowitsch, T and Sammartino, A. (2008) Reassessing (home-regionalisation), Journal of International Business Studies, Vol. 39, No. 2. Peng, M. W. (2006) Global Strategy, Cincinnati: South-Western Thomson. Rugman, A. M. and Verbeke, A. (2007) The theory and practice of regional strategy: A response to Osegowitsch and Sammartino, Kelly School of Business, Vol. 2, pp. 1-7.

Investigating Osmosis in Potato Tissue :: Papers

Investigating Osmosis in Potato Tissue Aim To estimate the concentration of sucrose in potato tissue. Hypothesis ========== I believe that the potato tissue that has been in the hypotonic (0.1M sucrose) solution will be more turgid than before, while the tissue in the isotonic (0.3M sucrose) will be similar to its previous state. The tissue that has been in the hypertonic (0.5M sucrose) should be far more placid than it was before. This is because of osmosis - water diffusing in and out of the potato tissue cells. Apparatus =========  · 1 potato tuber  · 1 cork borer  · 1 ceramic tile  · 1 scalpel  · Paper towels  · 6 boiling tubes  · 1 marker pen  · 0.1M, 0.3M, and 0.5M sucrose solution  · Access to an electric balance  · 1 funnel Method ====== The volume of each boiling tube was calculated, and then 2 tubes were half-filled with 0.1M sucrose solution, 2 tubes were filled with 0.3M sucrose solution, while the final 2 tubes were filled with 0.5M sucrose solution. Then 6 cylinders of potato were cut from the tuber using the cork borer. These were then all cut down to 20mm in length using the scalpel. They were then dried with the paper towel to remove excess water before being weighed on the electric balance. The weight of each was recorded. They were then all immersed in the solution in the boiling tubes, and the tubes were labelled using the marker pen and then lids were put on. They were then left for 24 hours in a moderate temperature before being taken out and dried using the paper towels. They were then weighed on the electric balance and the final mass was recorded. The cylinders were then gently squeezed to determine the condition of the potato tissue after osmosis - very firm (turgid), firm, or soft (flaccid). The percentage difference between the mass before and after the experiment was then calculated, and the

The Systematic Investigation Into A Study Of Materials Education Essay

How is the male primary school instructor perceived by male and female pupils? What are the factors act uponing the perceptual experiences of male pupils? What are the factors act uponing the perceptual experiences of female pupils? How make male primary instructors understand/respond to these perceptual experiences? Research can be loosely defined as ‘a signifier of systematic question that contributes to knowledge ‘ .[ 1 ]The Oxford Concise Dictionary defines research as: a. the systematic probe into and survey of stuffs, beginnings, etc. , in order to set up facts and make new decisions. b. an enterprise to detect new or collate old facts etc by the scientific survey of a topic or by a class of critical probe.[ 2 ] Peoples are non cognizant that they are an bizarre result of their development. That development came from their ability to joint their past cognition in any signifier of facts, experiences, premises for physical phenomena, beliefs and their capableness to update and better their former cognition and patterns. These are the grounds that mankind developed communicating accomplishments like literacy, linguistic communication, developed doctrine and invented engineering. ( Best and Kahn 2006: 3, 4 ) . Specifically, Best and Kahn ( 2006: 3, 4 ) maintain that educational research is the tool that instructors use to prove and better their personal patterns in instruction and happen which pattern fits best for them. A definition of educational research is provided by Anthony G. Picciano: ‘Educational research is a careful, systematic probe into any facet of instruction. From the Gallic word ‘recherche ‘ , which means to go through or study. ‘[ 3 ]Cohen and Manion ( 2001 ) province that educational research helps the instructors broaden their information cognition and understand their working environment.The research worker must besides place the most appropriate paradigm in the research literature in order to plan and put to death the enquiry efficaciously. The research worker should take his paradigm carefully in specifying the purposes and intents of his survey.Qualitative ResearchThe research worker had to take between two chief paradigms: either ‘logi cal positivism ‘ or ‘phenomenological enquiry ‘ ( Best and Kahn 2006: 246 ) . Best and Kahn ( 2006: 79 ) argue that the logical-positivism paradigm is used for ‘experimental and quantitative research methods ‘ in instruction. Furthermore, Cohen et Al. ( 2001: 8 ) assert that the logical positivism paradigm expresses ‘the chief belief ‘ that the ‘meaning of a statement is, or is given by the method of its confirmation ‘ . The logical-positivism paradigm is a scientific method applicable for a survey concerned with bing and mensurable cognition, where the research worker is an ‘observer of the societal world ‘ . The results of an enquiry based on that paradigm can be compared with Torahs – like maxims ( Torahs ) that are constructed by natural scientific enquiries based on subjective generalisations and that use the same scientific methods as natural scientific disciplines to explicate the universe. The chief fea tures of this peculiar paradigm are analysis, measuring and subjectiveness ( Cohen et al. 2001: 8 ) . Therefore, the logical positivism paradigm is best applied in a quantitative analysis where the collected information is numerical. In contrast the phenomenological paradigm makes usage of ‘interpretive research methodological analysiss ‘ ( Best and Kahn 2006: 246 ) . This paradigm is best applied to qualitative research methodological analysiss. Erickson ( 1985, cited in Best and Kahn 2006: 246 ) instead uses the term ‘interpretative ‘ , which is ‘the whole household of attacks to participant experimental research ‘ . Bogdan and Biklen ( 2007: 25 ) clear up this by saying that in the ‘phenomenological manner ‘ , research workers try to understand occurrences in the mundane life of common people in particular fortunes: they try to happen out the people ‘s point of position and ‘gain an entry ‘ into their specific environment. The failing of positivism is its inability to look into human behavior successfully, as Cohen et Al. ( 2001: 9 ) underscore. Denscombe ( 2007 ) recommends the usage of the phenomenological paradigm to cover with this failing. Surveies utilizing the phenomenological paradigm by Bogdan and Biklen ( 2007: 25 ) ‘begin with silence ‘ , as the research worker seeks to detect the personal apprehensions of the participants, leting different cognition and assorted perceptual experiences to be given by different participants in the same peculiar state of affairs. With this paradigm a qualitative attack to roll uping and analyzing informations is most appropriate. Here qualitative informations consists chiefly of words instead than Numberss. Patton ( 1990, cited in Best and Kahn 2006: 247 ) asserts that qualitative research uses three ways of roll uping information: ‘in-depth, open-ended interviews, direct observation and written paperss ‘ . On the footing of these considerations I found that the phenomenological interpretive paradigm the most convenient for the intents of this small-scale empirical survey concentrating on pupils ‘ personal perceptual experiences of their male instructors. It will try to cast visible radiation on the thoughts, sentiments and beliefs pupils have sing their male instructors in a Cypriot primary school. Important decisions can be drawn from this survey like the importance of the male instructor in primary school and his existent function as a leader by gender. Therefore, the phenomenological interpretive paradigm was the one chosen for this enquiry.Qualitative attack – Case surveyMy research focuses on pupils ‘ perceptual experiences of male instructors in an anon. Greek-Cypriot primary school. The rational harmonizing to the literature points to the usage of a phenomenological interpretive paradigm, and the survey should be conducted in a qualitative research model. I wi ll utilize qualitative methodological analysis as my survey focuses on kids ‘s perceptual experiences, thoughts, ideas and feelings instead than their public presentation in school. Harmonizing to O'Brien there are five types of qualitative methodological analysis to take from: these are instance survey, grounded theory, phenomenology, descriptive anthropology and historical surveies.[ 4 ]In contrast Flick ( 2006 ) presents four qualitative research methodological analysiss: instance survey, longitudinal survey, comparing survey and eventually retrospective survey. However, this chapter does non mean to spread out and explicate the usage of these schemes as it would be outside the range of this survey. Alternatively, I would prefer to briefly explain and warrant my chosen methodological analysis. The chosen methodological analysis for this survey is ‘case survey ‘ . As Merriam ( 1998 ) , Yin ( 1989 ) and Stake ( 1994 ) ( cited in Bogdan and Biklen 2007: 59 ) explain, it is ‘a elaborate scrutiny of one scene, or a individual topic, a individual depositary of paperss, or one peculiar event ‘ conducted in existent action clip, enabling an analysis of the grounds for and the after-effects of the incident ( Cohen et al. 2001: 181 ) . Supporting the attack of Bogdan and Biklen, Bell ( 2005: 10 ) and Cohen et Al. ( 2001: 181 ) province that one of the strengths of the instance survey is that helps the research worker to cast light ‘in deepness ‘ on a specific facet of the job and allows for generalisation. It is a narrowed and focused research method with a individual model, such as a kid or group of kids, a category or a group of categories, an educational establishment ( Cohen et al. 2001: 181 ) . In my instance, the probe will take topographic point in a school. The intent of my research is to look into in deepness the perceptual experiences by a group of kids of their male instructors in a school environment. I shall carry on the enquiry in existent clip as I am determined to see the school during term clip and gather informations utilizing informations collection tools, such as interviews. Cohen et Al. ( 1984: 184 ) argue that instance surveies allow general regulations to be made from the survey of an ‘instance in action ‘ . In my sentiment, a instance survey would be the most appropriate signifier for my survey as it is ‘strong in world ‘ ( Cohen 2001 ) and will assist me to look into in deepness the existent perceptual experiences of a group of pupils in the mark school in Cyprus. As a non really experient research worker I feel a instance survey will be a really powerful tool appropriate either for new or experient research workers ( Bogdan and Biklen 2007 ) . More specifically Best and Kahn ( 2006: 259 ) argue that a instance survey is a good method of assemblage and showing informations in hunt of the existent truth, and of carry oning an probe which aims to show the existent ‘view ‘ of societal world, as I plan to make.The literature about the instance survey method I have cited makes me recognize that some of the definitions and accounts about its usage fit the range of my research in a precise mode. It is clear that ‘case survey ‘ is ideal as a methodological analysis to observe alone characteristics, which may non be possible to supervise or retain in ‘large-scale informations ‘ surveies, such as those utilizing studies or questionnaires and a non-participant method in general.The instance survey method besides demand s the engagement of the research worker and the sample.My survey examines a fact within the model of a school embodied in the Cypriot educational system. Therefore, its features to the full accord with the features of instance survey methodological analysis. The instance survey methodological analysis does hold some failings, nevertheless, that the research worker should be cognizant of. Because my probe is largely being conducted in existent clip there is non the option of reaching the sample once more to cross-check consequences. Therefore, the consequences of the research could be seen as ‘subjective and biased ‘ , given that the survey is qualitative ( Bell 2005: 11 ; Cohen et al. 2001: 184 ) . In add-on, research workers can be influenced by their ain beliefs and prejudice, so the consequences are influenced by subjectiveness. Although non much can be done to enable cross-checking, the research worker can seek to avoid deformation in the consequences. The research w orker should seek non to be influenced by his ain perceptual experiences and besides non uncover his ain sentiment and thoughts to avoid act uponing those in the sample and to promote them to state what they really think. Another restriction that the research worker should see concerns generalisation. Whilst the instance survey method permits this, it may non be possible as most of the clip the incident under probe is alone and drawn from the life itself ( Bell 2005: 1 ; Cohen et al. 2001: 184 ; Bassey 1999 ) . Denscombe ( 1998: 36-7 ) argues that ‘the extent to which findings from the instance survey can be generalized to other illustrations on the category depends on how far the instance survey illustration is similar to others of its type. ‘ However, the phenomenon I am look intoing is normally found in the literature and amongst academic research workers. It would be possible to reiterate an probe of this kind in the same school or in a different school environment. This should non be a job as Greek-Cypriot schools present uniformity in a figure of factors: pupil beginning and staff turnover and staff instruction. The topic is besides rather typical and, in world, non so alone. General ization in this instance is executable, whilst the consequences of this research can move as a pilot if another research worker wishes to carry on a similar survey. There have been several similar probes of instructors ‘ and pupils ‘ perceptual experiences in Cypriot primary schools. Examples can be found in the Library of the University of Cyprus, ( mentions ) . Research in primary schools has about been a manner in the past 20 old ages Despite the disadvantages, I believe that ‘case survey ‘ is the most appropriate methodological analysis for this state of affairs as it is one of the chief methodological analysiss for a qualitative attack utilizing the coveted paradigm. There are certain methods to put to death the research and roll up the information, which will be presented in the undermentioned subdivision.SampleI have chosen the sample harmonizing to the nature of my survey. Due to the qualitative nature of this research, the sample of the pupil population should non be chosen wholly indiscriminately. In quantitative research the sample is selected indiscriminately with the purpose of garnering informations from the surface of a large population. In a qualitative research model ‘sampling is a deliberate instead than haphazard method of choosing topics ‘ and is important if we want to carry on the research with samples that are more representative of the topic and fortunes ( Cohen et al. 2008 ; Best & A ; Kahn 2006: 25 ) . As this is a instance survey, it should be conducted in the school environmen I chose a primary school on the outskirts of the metropolis. Detailss of the school were non antecedently known to me. The school was chiefly chosen as a affair of convenience and practicality as it is the nearest primary school to the vicinity where my household lives. I was cognizant that some of my household members attended at that place ten old ages ago, but I knew nil else beyond this. I did non hold any personal information about the school besides because I have been abroad for more than eleven old ages. Therefore, I can claim non to be biased against the school. The school is administered by the Ministry of Education, as are most of the schools in Cyprus. All the primary schools in Cyprus are established to educate people of every country to a high criterion. That being said, the people and civilization from topographic point to topographic point can be different. Therefore, there is a scope of schools from those with a homogenous Greek-Cypriot individuality to those with kids whose immigrant backgrounds have small if anything in common with the state, set uping a new civilization which is comparatively unfamiliar to the native Cypriots. Teachers ‘ instruction in Cyprus is considered to be high and, even though instructors may be from different states and universities, their public presentation is purely assessed. Merely those who are qualified, effectual in the schoolroom and undergo uninterrupted appraisal are allowed to rehearse as instructors. As a consequence the chosen school was on a flat playing field with every other school in Cyprus. The sample participants were chosen indiscriminately harmonizing to age. Children that were 7 and 12 old ages old were chosen as an ideal sample. Four kids from the 2nd category ( 2 male childs and 2 misss ) and four kids from the last category ( 2 male childs and 2 misss ) were chosen. Two male childs and two misss were chosen from the 2nd category in order to look into the perceptual experiences of the youngest kids. The 2nd category ( twelvemonth 7 ) was preferred to the first category ( twelvemonth 6 ) as it is non possible for kids from the first category to hold any perceptual experiences about male instructors as they are fledglings to primary schooling. Four students from the 6th category, the concluding category of the primary instruction system ( twelvemonth 12 ) , were chosen in order to happen out the perceptual experiences of the older school kids. In order to accomplish cogency I sought the same proportion of male childs and misss ( 4 + 4 ) ( Bell 1999 ) . Four instruct ors participated in the survey: two male instructors and two female instructors. Their age or length of service was non so much an issue, although it was of import they were non fledglings. The male instructors were chosen in order to happen out how they thought they are perceived by their pupils. The female instructors were interviewed about how they think the pupils perceive their male instructors. Useful comparings could be drawn subsequently in the analysis. I had to obtain mandate from the disposal office of the country, the Director General of Education, Mrs Zena Pouli, and the blessing of the Ministry of Education. The principal of the school had to be informed about the yearss and times of the research and allow me carry on the research. Despite the disadvantages, I believe that ‘case survey ‘ is the most appropriate methodological analysis for this state of affairs as it is one of the chief methodological analysiss for a qualitative attack under the coveted paradigm. There are certain methods to put to death the research and roll up the information, which will be presented in the undermentioned subdivision.Data Collection ToolsMy informations will be gathered utilizing a qualitative attack and ( analysed/assessed ) harmonizing to the interpretive paradigm. The purpose of the research is to garner the thoughts, perceptual experiences and positions of the participants, both kids and instructors, so the usage of qualitative tools is indispensable. The chief research tools used in my survey are interview and observation. The usage of both interview and observation are the two of the three major methods for garnering informations. These three methods are ‘asking inquiries ( and listening intently to the replies ) , detecting events ( and observing carefully what happens ) and reading paperss ‘ ( Bassey 1999: 81 ) . Both methods were used together because they offered a agencies for cross-checking informations: what people say they think or do may non be the same as what they really do ( Robson 2002: 310, cited in Cohen et Al. 2007: 396 ) . By observation the research worker can look into if the thoughts and perceptual experiences of the sample are the same as what the sample studies in the interviews. Therefore, I argue that the usage of both tools helped me derive a better thought of what is go oning in pattern and topographic point actions the sample may non be cognizant of cited in ( Foster 1996 ) .ObservationObservation is one of the characteristic tools for garnering information in instance surveies. Case surveies aim to ‘observe ‘ an single unit, a group of people, an establishment or a larger group of people. Research by observation in a qualitative model is defined by Best and Kahn ( 2006: 264 ) and Basey ( 2005 ) as a digest of ‘detailed notation of behaviors, events, and the context environing the events and behaviours ‘ . Harmonizing to Cohen et Al ( 2007: 258 ) , the intent of observation is to ‘probe profoundly and to analyze intensively the many-sided phenomena that constitute the life rhythm of the unit with a position to set up generalisations about the wider populations ‘ . Cohen et Al. ( 2007: 396 ) further argue that observation gives the research worker a opportunity to roll up ‘live informations ‘ from reliable societal state of affairss. Therefore, it is preferred for the research worker to utilize this powerfull excessively to analyze events and collect the relevant information first-hand instead than from a secondary beginning. The research worker besides needs to choose the sort of the observation method to be used as they vary in footings of construction and the participatory function of the research worker. I opted for semi-structured, non-participant observation, as I did non mean to take portion in events. The semi-structured method was employed for this resea rch because some issues were still unfastened, despite the focal point of the research and look intoing factors being clear. The research worker had an thought of a figure of things that he wanted to detect, but he did non cognize what else to anticipate. Therefore, a semi-structured observation provided the research worker with the freedom to descry and enter inside informations that otherwise would hold been overlooked or omitted cited in Denscombre ( 2007 ) .New ChankAny observation research that has a sort of construction it is besides be scheduled cited in Bell ( 2006: 188 ) and Descombre ( 2007 ) . Denscombre ( 2007: 210 ) moreover argues that the research worker will happen the ‘certain things ‘ , seek and worth of inclusion for in his docket. The same author highlight the importance of the absence of subjectiveness in the observation where it is gained by the systematic scheduled observation. Thus it is cited that the ever limited clip can be arranged by the agenda and assist the research worker to remain focused on the issues that the observation is held for cited in Denscom ( 2007: 214 ) . The research worker besides intends to utilize the non-participant theoretical account as he plans non to take part as an perceiver. His purpose is to insulate the personal perceptual experiences of the pupils to their male instructors so there is non any topographic point of him as a participant which any effort of being take part could act upon the behaviour of the pupils and so bias the information, The research worker as Denscombe ( 2007: 214 ) suggests, purposes to do his present every bit discreet as possible. This will add to the cogency because the research worker will be more objectivite to the jadgement of any facts that they will happen as an 3rd individual instead as an participant. Whilst the research workers must hold in head that the thirster he stays in the schoolroom and being seeable, ‘the more their presence is taken for granted and the less they have any important consequence on continuing ‘ . Therefore it is of import that the perceiver should give so me clip to the schoolroom environment to acquire usage of his ‘discreet ‘ nowadays and after he is assure that he is recognized so he should get down the observation. In order to avoid any errors or skips the research worker programs to fly the observation and add to the agenda. To make more cogency the research worker programs to inquire the sentiment of his supervisor and one of the instructors. Besides he will demo the information to one of the instructors and the supervisor in order to look into them and state their sentiment on them.InterviewsTraveling farther the research worker had chosen the usage of the Interviews as a tool. Aiming to garner qualitative informations about percpeptions, emotions thoughts and analyse them interview as a tool seemed good plenty for the intents of this survey. The research worker must aware though that despite they do non look like something more than an preservation, they ‘involve a set of premises and apprehensions about the state of affairs which are non usually associated with a insouciant conversation ‘ able to bring forth usefull information for any enquiry, Denscombre ( 1983 ) , Silverman ( 1985 ) , ( cited in Denscobre ( 2007: 173 ) ) . Therefore despite interview is a sort of construction preservation there is besides a protocol that must be followed. There is common consent between the interviewee and the interviewer in an official meeting and the recording is non secret in any manner. Besides the informations are merely for the record and the schedulule. Thus the issues to be discussed are set by the research worker, Denscombe ( 2007:174 ) . Merely naming the usage of the Interview as a method is non plenty as there are different types of research Interview. Harmonizing to Denscombe ( 2007: 175 ) there are the constructions interviews the semistructured and Unstrructured interviews. Cohen ( 2007:355 ) besides add the non-directive interview and the focussed interview. In fact Cohen et Al ( 2007:352 ) argues that in the literature are mentioned many different types of interview! . The semistructured – interview, one-to one interview was selected as the purpose of this survey is to hold an indeapth thought of the perceptual experiences of the pupils but in a research model. Despite that the research worker has a clear que of inquiries to be answered in the semistryctured interview will be ready to allow the samples expand their thoughts where is appropriate. The one-to one interview, the most common of the variaties of semi-structured interviews, was selected as it is easy to put, control and garner the informations as each clip is merely one individual to interviewee. Descambe ( 2007:177 ) Unstructured interview was avoided as an option as it require clip and the technique was looked irregular as it dictate the expand of an issue from the sample without any counsel at all! ! Structured interview as a method besides rejected as it does n't roll up the autonomy to the sample to state any of his thoughts. It is tide and the samples have to reply inquiries that the replies are limited. Descambe ( 2007: 175 ) . Therefore it is non appropriate at all as the research aims to garner reliable perceptual experiences instead than allow the participants to reply inquiries with preschelued limited options. I will state what I did subsequently what I did in the research.New Chank 2Datas Analysis‘There is no individual or right manner to analyse and show the information ; how one does it should stay by the issue of fittingness to aim ‘ ( Cohen et al 2007:461 ) . The qualitative informations analysis may be ‘detailed and rich ‘ though the process is really heavy and painfull due to the multiple readings that the research worker should do to bring forth his analysis, doing this process the research workers ‘glory ‘ and besides ‘headache ‘ together, cited in Cohen et Al ( 2007:461 ) . The research worker will categorise the informations from interview written texts and notes along with the issues that he is look intoing. Then the research worker programs to interpet the information with the literature reappraisal findings. Ethical Issues: Ethical issues are compiled in this research survey as and in all the enquiries. The survey was applied from blessing from the Ministry of Eduacation of the state and the General Director of the Education. Along the principal had to be informed about the research and take his blessing excessively. The parents should besides be informed about the research as the mark of the research is to interview and observe kids. The sample of the instructors should besides hold to take part. One of the most of import issues is to allow the privateness of the participants for grounds of ages or by their petition. This issue it can be addressed by namelessness and confidentiality, cited in Cohen et Al ( 2007: 64,65 ) . The individuality of the participants is unbroken hidden as the reference and the name of the school. Though the samples have non objection to give their existent informations to the section of Education to the University of Leicester as long that they will non print. Refering that th e research worker has to cover with kids particular manner of attack should be study particularly when they are interviewed.

Communication Today

Many people have started taking short cuts in our modern world. The human population is doing everything they can to speed through life. One such short cut is the way society communicates. Though out the last several decades the technology that has connected all walks of life has dramatically changed, it went from word of mouth to the written word, to telephones and beyond. Now texting and wall postings are forms of communicating with friends and family all over the world. Many believe that these kinds of networks are destroying our communications as a society. However, these networks allow people to stay in constant connection with many people at once, they are convenient, and safe to use. Social networking sites like Facebook, Myspace and many others connect people to all their friends and extended family members all at once in a number of ways. One such way is by statuses update which is when people say what is on their minds or what they might be doing that day. Another is posting pictures of just about anything so that family members who otherwise wouldn’t see them until a get together if at all could see them. People who are no longer near their loved ones benefit the most from these status updates. This constantly updated form of communication is almost as good as being with the loved one. With people all over the world using networking sites they have become more excusable, from being available at local public libraries to the convenience of being at the ready on a personal cell phone or other hand held devices free of charge. The convenience this has added allows people to not only update their statues at any time, but also post pictures of what is going on in their daily lives on the spot no matter where they are from their wireless devices. This enables all the friends and family connected to that persons page to know what is going on in someone's life who they may not get a chance to talk to on a daily bases. Facebook as well as many other sites are very safe to use (if the proper measures are taken) that everyone has started making pages, from kids in middle school all the way up to those kids grandparents. Such sites allows the user to set it up their page anyway they want. They give many choices on who is allowed to view that particular page. The options consist of blocking the page from everyone who is not on the user’s friends list and not being able to be found in a search, to having a completely open page where anyone can see all that the sight as to offer. †¨Most of these sights also have restrictions to where would be users are blocked from using the sites at all, or with other such precautions Everyday people are becoming afraid that our communication between friends and families are breaking down a little more every second. This is simply not true; in fact it is the opposite because of how rapidly technology is changing it allowing us to communicate at any given moment with all our friends and family. With statues updates and wall postings at our finger tips we are more connected at any given moment now than ever before. Sites like Myspace, Facebook, and many other are the main way that people in today’s society communicate do to the face that as a group we are speeding through life at warp speed.