The Scientific Method an Example by

The Scientific Method When conclusions are induced from observing natural ecological processes, it is possible that the wrong conclusions are made, such as the once-believed notion that frogs originate from mud. When controlled experimentation occurs, results appear that are different from a control experiment. It is therefore possible to see the difference between what normally takes place ecologically and what results from adding a factor. It is more conclusive and scientifically responsible to experiment, rather than observe (Carter 2004). Need essay sample on "The Scientific Method" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed College Students Very Often Tell Us: Who wants to write my cultural identity essay for me? EssayLab specialists recommend: Find Brilliant Papers For Sale Here How To Write A College PaperHow To Write A Research PaperCustom PaperPay For Papers WrittenWrite My PaperWrite Essay For MoneyCoursework Writing ServiceBuy Essay One exotic species that has plagued the Northeast and Southern states is Japanese Barberry, Berberis thunbergii DC. Its negative impact on its environment is choking out resources to other native plants, by taking soil moisture, nutrients, and sunlight for itself and outcompeting other nearby plants. It is also a problem due to its lack of natural animal predators - not many birds or other animals eat it. Its impact could have been lessened by very strict regulation of its introduction and establishment, but once it had begun to proliferate, action to eradicate the plant is necessary. Selective burning has been implemented in some states already (USDA). The scientific method can be applied to ecological problems by recreating situations in the laboratory. If it is known that birds live in an area with high air pollution, birds can be tested for blood levels of the chemicals in the air, and therefore it is discovered how air pollution affects birds in that area. In scientific testing, replication of the experiment is necessary many times; quantitative data is necessary; and conclusions must only be deduced after exhausting all possibilities. The scientific method has been used for many centuries of scientific exploration, and it is necessary for the experimentation of modern ecological issues. There are plenty of humans and animals that live among the testable "conditions" who can participate in studies. Also, current ecological situations can be recreated in labs, in order to carefully control probable factors and therefore discover results without harming either humans or animals (Carter 2004). References "The Scientific Method." J. Stein Carter. November 2004. 6 June 2009. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Plants Database. "Plants Profile: Japanese Barberry."http://www.plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=beth. 6 June 2009.

Leadership of Civil Rights Movements essays

Leadership of Civil Rights Movements essays Coalitions throughout the history of America have been formed to challenge the systems of society (Walton, 82). In politics, groups organize themselves to support ideals and objectives they are striving to accomplish. Within these groups the majority overwhelms the views of minorities, and in the case of United States, ignores most minority groups. By forming coalitions, people who shared beliefs became stronger as a group than individuals. For any group to make progress or gain recognition in the political or national arena; they must be organized and persistent. In order to succeed in a movement coalition, they need an individual who stands out, speaks out, provides an image of what supporting members are representing. It is the leader who gives the coalition heart and expresses their beliefs and values against the current society. Although Civil Rights Movements have similar objectives, the leadership often determines the route and process each coalition uses to convey its message and represent its cause. The NAACP for example was founded with only one African American representative, W. E. B. Du Bois, and several upper-middle-class white Protestants and Jews on the hundredth anniversary of Abraham Lincoln (Walton, 95). This northern-based coalition is significant because few coalitions were successful with black-white representation. In 1920 James Weldon Johnson was appointed executive director which causes a shift in African American involvement, giving the campaign more support. Leadership of the NAACP used the strategy of lobbying initially (96). It proved to be rather unsuccessful. Significantly for the movement from the NAACP was its litigation strategy from 1930 to 1950; this movement effectively saw two important cases in Brown v. Board of Education, and Smith v. Allwright. Continuing to be more conservative, the NAACP has been criticized often for its reservation towards more forceful changes (Marable...

Humn Resourse Mngement 'The World is Flt' Essay

Humn Resourse Mngement 'The World is Flt' - Essay Example Minford & Riley (2005) suggested that the supply side reforms of the 1990s and 2000s have transformed the way in which the UK labour market operates. The latest date retrieved from statistical analytical repot show that in the last year, the UK has experienced crashing share prices and other economic uncertainties brought on by the threat of war with Iraq. These economic adversities, however, have not been reflected in the overall performance of the UK labour market which shows that the employment rate has been rising and unemployment decreasing in the last year. In fact, for the three months ending in June 2005, the employment level was estimated to be 27.92 million, the highest level since records began in 1984 (Minford, Riley, 2005:12) . In view of above, extensive research is needed in the area of labour market in search for the ways of mazimizing its efficiency and productivity. One of the ways that has actually been least reviewed in the literature is outsourcing and its effects on the labour market. Three key questions re ddressed. First, wht is the extent of outsourcing nd re there differences between firms in the use of such prctices Second, why do firms outsource Finlly, wht is the impct of outsourcing mintennce work on firm performnce In mny cses the move to outsourcing is prt of wider drive for flexibility, so the rticle begins by reviewing the literture on lbour flexibility nd outsourcing. fter brief section deling with methodologicl issues, the rticle reports the extent nd rtionle for outsourcing mongst smple of ustrlin firms. These findings re then benchmrked ginst the prctices of Jpnese firms operting in ustrli. The pper concludes by ssessing the impct of outsourcing on enterprise performnce.I. Literture Review 2. Lbour flexibility nd outsourcing The theme running through mny of the new pproches to mngement is the development of more flexible workforce. The serch for improved flexibility hs becomes employers' new frontier in the mngement of lbour. Flexibility cn hve vriety of menings (Brunhes, 2000), but fundmentlly three forms of the concept cn be distinguished (Hrrison nd Kelley, 2004, pp. 213-214). Functionl flexibility is the bility of the enterprise to redeploy lbour to cover new work tsks or new production methods. The second form is wge flexibility, in which the enterprise ttempts to link wge pyments to productivity nd product demnd. Finlly, numericl flexibility is the bility to djust lbour inputs to product demnd. These forms of lbour flexibility hve been well documented in industrilized ntions (see Hrrison nd Kelley, 2004, p. 214). In UK, for exmple, the introduction of enterprise

Is Target Marketing Ever Bad Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Is Target Marketing Ever Bad - Essay Example Marketing is all about selling, making the people believe that the product is a necessity. Through this, demand is created, and once that had been established, a marketing success is almost guaranteed. Promotion is for those who do not only comprise the buying capacity; it is aimed for people who can figure out what is being recommended, those who comprehend what the products are---the principles, intent and the basis why those need to be at hand. Identifying exactly what responsible marketing goes all-out for, to be after the ethnic minorities appears ineffective, unfair and almost unacceptable. Pursuing this market may be upheld by claiming that the act of buying is still up to them (minorities); that the advertising tools are undemanding proposals of what they can enjoy should they decide to check out the products. This may be true, but what is factual may not always be morally correct. The mere fact that these people lack critical thinking, not even having an absolute awareness of what is being bargained, being made to believe on something that they are not even familiar with---the idea to have the promotion means intended for them is unmistakably an act of manipulation. This may be the best chance to make this group to finally get to know new things, to be awakened by the life’s luxuries and pleasures---that for the longest time had been unknown to them. Perhaps it is about time they get a taste of what is considered good, lucrative and lavish, but it is never a good occasion to benefit from their willingness and raw, inexperienced standpoints. Responsible marketing knows who, or which the best market is. If the company truly aims for the development and welfare of the ethnic groups, therefore, something more valuable or more commendable must be proffered. Upon devising promotion strategies, the company knows exactly to whom these will be directed to. Often times, it points to two or three groups,

The diameter of an impact crater Essay Example for Free

The diameter of an impact crater Essay For example if I unreliably choose to use a constant height of 30cm without any preliminary work, a problem may arise during the experiment where there isnt a major difference between the different recordings for the varying masses, which wouldnt produce results as intended. The independent variable, mass, also needs to be covered in my preliminary work to determine the best range of values I will set it to for the actual experiment. Also this will make it easier for me and save time later as I would already be familiar with the composition of the balls. Preliminary work will also allow me to identity any arising problems at an early stage and determine the required apparatus needed to complete the experiment. Preliminary results: Varying height HEIGHT (CM) DIRECTED SURFACE MASS (G) CRATER SIZE (MM) 1 2 3 Mean 20 Fine aquarium gravel Golf ball (42) 65 64 63 64 40 Fine aquarium gravel Golf ball (42) 86 86 87 86. 33 60 Fine aquarium gravel Golf ball (42) 93 93 92 92. 66 The table shows that as the height at which the ball is dropped from increases the crater size also increases. However from the preliminary work I have decided that I will keep a constant height larger than the ones tested. This is so more disperse results will be produced which will make the results clearer in order to notice any trends. Varying directed surface DIRECTED SURFACE HEIGHT (CM) MASS (G) CRATER SIZE (MM) 1 2 3 Mean Fine aquarium gravel 50 Golf ball (42) 91 91 92 91. 33 Silver sand 50 Golf ball (42) 93 94 93 93. 33 Fine sand 50 Golf ball (42) 94 94 94 94 As can be seen from the table, there is not much difference between the crater sizes produced when the golf ball is dropped into different directed surfaces. However if my intervals of height were higher then more disperse results would most likely be produced. Varying mass MASS (G) HEIGHT (CM). DIRECTED SURFACE CRATER SIZE (MM) 1 2 3 Mean Ping pong (2. 6) 50 Fine aquarium gravel 42 42 40 41. 33 Plasticine (29. 1) 50 Fine aquarium gravel 64 62 63 63 Golf ball (42) 50 Fine aquarium gravel 92 93 92 92. 33 As can be seen from the table, mass has a significant affect on the crater size. Amongst the balls I was to experiment during my preliminary was a steel ball, however initial testing showed that the ball sunk right into the directed surface which would have made it difficult to measure accurately. So I replaced it with plasticine, and I discovered that the size of the plasticine could be altered in order to vary the mass. So I was able to alter the size to match a similar mass of a steel ball. The usefulness and findings of my preliminary results, in accordance to the actual experiment, can be found in the variable table below: Dependent Variable value how measured Crater size Centimetre (cm) Recording should be repeated twice Vernier caliper Independent Variable Mass Grams (g) 5-35 Electric scale Control Variables Height Centimetre (cm) 100 constant Metre ruler Directed surface Fine aquarium gravel constant As mentioned earlier, using plasticine I am able to alter the mass to a range required. This is primarily the reason why I have chosen to use plasticine constantly throughout the experiment. By means of altering the mass for each recording I will be able to pre-set the intervals by 5g as required. Whereas if I were to use different balls I wouldnt be able to present a range of results through varying ranges. METHOD: I am now able to verify the apparatus needed to complete the investigation: Large plastic tray   Fine aquarium gravel to fill the tray   Plasticine Meter ruler to measure height   Two stand, bosses clamps to hold metre ruler and plasticine ball   Standard ruler used for leveling of aquarium gravel. Electric scale to measure mass of plasticine   Vernier caliper to measure crater size   Safety goggles (optional)   Set square (optional) Below is a diagram showing how the apparatus should be set up: The following steps will need to be carried out in order to conduct an accurate and more importantly successful experiment: 1. Begin by setting out the apparatus as shown in the diagram above. It is required that 1/3 of the plastic tray is filled with the provided fine aquarium gravel. 2. Ensure that the boss of the clamp is positioned directly above the surface so an attached ball will fall directly below onto the surface. 3. Knowing the first range of mass is 5g, using the plasticine adjust the size until the mass totals 5g on the electric scale. 4. Tighten the plasticine ball to the boss of the clamp ensuring that it is positioned at 50cm height. A set square can be used to ensure the ball is placed at a straight angle. 5. Using the standard ruler provided smooth the fine aquarium gravel so it is level. 6. Now ensuring that the plasticine is positioned at the correct height (50cm), it is placed at a straight angle and the surface is smooth, loosen the boss and the plasticine should fall onto the surface using the force of only gravity. 7. Without putting any pressure on the ball, remove it from the surface. 8. Finally using a vernier caliper measure the diameter of the created crater. The results of this should be recorded into the results table. 9. In order to produce the most accurate results possible, repeat stages 3-8 twice more using the same mass of plasticine. However it is required the mass of plasticine is measured again as this may have changed during the first recording. 10. Repeat the whole experiment again but stage 3 should be altered so the mass of plasticine is 5g heavier than the one before. This procedure should continue until you have recorded final results for 35g. Safety is not a major factor to take into consideration. However it is optional to wear safety goggles in order to avoid a rare occasion of any fine aquarium gravel coming into contact with eyes. And as usual general safety will need to be carried out by placing bags away from the area used for the experiment and ensure the desk is cleared of all books and stationary.  Fine aquarium gravel   Fine aquarium gravel. Fine aquarium gravel   Fine aquarium gravel Fine aquarium gravel   Fine aquarium gravel   found that altering the size of the plasticine to match the required range was time consuming and at times recordings had to be repeated as the mass wasnt accurate. However using plasticine gave me additional independent control than I would have had if I used a range of different balls.

Themes in Sonnys Blues by James Baldwin Essay -- American Literature

Themes in Sonny's Blues by James Baldwin After reading the short story "Sonny's Blues" by James Baldwin, I find there are two major themes that Baldwin is trying to convey, suffering and irony. The first theme that he brings out and tries to get the reader to understand is the theme of suffering. The second theme that the author illustrates is the theme of irony. James Baldwin writes about two African-American brothers growing up in Harlem, a black ghetto in New York, during the 1950's. During this time black people were forced to live in a world of prejudice, discrimination, poverty and suppression. The life of a black person was very difficult; many opportunities afforded to whites were not afforded to blacks. Sonny and his brother lived in the projects and had many obstacles to overcome that white people didn't have to. Sonny chose music to outwardly express his suffering, his brother chose to bottle it up and keep it inside, but this is the common thread they both shared. Suffering is also shown in the story when Baldwin says "it came to me that what we both were seeking through our separate cab windows was that part of ourselves which had been left behind" (P 47). I think this quote means that both Sonny and his older brother want to retrieve some of their past so that it can help them cope with what has happened in their lives. If Sonny and his brother can both cope with what has happened in their lives and get over it, I think t they both can start moving forward and putting this behind them. I feel having Sonny's brother narrate the story in the first person is Baldwin's way of telling us that Sonny's brother is also suffering but inside, unlike Sonny who takes drugs and sings the blues. Sonny's ... ...s and work together to form a loving relationship. In conclusion, the short story "Sonny's Blues" by James Baldwin brings out two main themes: irony and suffering. You can actually feel the pain that Baldwin's characters experience; and distinguish the two different lifestyles of siblings brought up in the same environment. The older brother remaining nameless is a fabulous touch that really made me want to read on. This really piqued my interest and I feel it can lead to many discussions on why this technique was used. I really enjoyed this story; it was a fast and enjoyable reading. Baldwin keeps his readers thinking and talking long after they have finished reading his stories. His writing technique is an art, which very few, if any, can duplicate. Works Cited: Baldwin, James. "Sonny's Blues" in Vintage Baldwin. New York: Vintage, 2004.

Explain and Assess Descartes Trademark Argument

Explain and Assess Descartes Trademark Argument Descartes Trademark Argument came about when Descartes was in the process of trying to build up the knowledge he himself can know a priori (without experience) through pure reason. When doing this be began to think about where his idea of God came from and eventually Descartes concluded that the idea of God comes from God himself and he explained this through the Trademark Argument. The argument is an a priori argument meaning before experience.This sort of argument is the type that philosophers usually prefer because, unlike a posteriori or after experience, the evidence is not so open to interpretation because anyone could dispute the true meaning of an experience but its far more difficult to do that with pure reasoning. The origins and foundations of the Trademark Argument lie in the Causal Adequacy Principle. This states that any cause of something must have at least equal or greater properties than its effect, so in short it means that every cause must be sufficient enough to create the effect.For example, to break a window, the cause must have enough power in the speed and weight of the object in order for the window to shatter. So in this case a fly wouldn’t cause the window to shatter just by flying into because it does not possess greater or equal properties however a flying brick will possess these properties so the window can shatter. Descartes then applied this theory with out ideas. Ideas must be caused by something, but this something must have at least as much reality as the idea themselves.A complex way of saying this would be â€Å"Something (A) cannot exist unless it is produced by something that contains either formally or eminently everything to be found in (A). † To possess something formally is to possess equal properties while eminently is to possess properties greater. Let’s look at this with an example. Ideas of Angels can be made up ourselves just by using our ideas of material things and God. The idea of Angels, which is far greater than any sort of human, but not as great as God, can be thought of as a lesser version of God himself.Descartes was sure that these ideas existed in his own mind however he could not work out if they represented anything else in the real world even if he is led to think that by his instincts. Descartes believed that his ideas had degrees of â€Å"objective reality† so what they represent can be measured in terms of perfection. These ideas can’t be more perfect or contain more reality than the things that caused them so we cant be the cause of our ideas of God because we aren’t perfect enough to be able to do it even if we are the cause of other ideas such as substance which we cant be sure exists outside our own minds.So, if we can’t be the cause of our idea of God, who can? This can only be answered in one way for there is only one being, according to Descartes, that has at least as muc h perfection as God and that is God himself. So for us to have this idea of God there must have been a God to put it in us in the first place. As Descartes described it, it is â€Å"the mark of a craftsmen stamped on his work. † This can be simplified by using a series of points to structure the argument.The cause of anything must be at least as perfect as its effectMy ideas must be caused by somethingI am imperfectMy idea of God is of a perfect being so†¦I cannot be the cause of my idea of God and†¦Only a perfect being could cause such an idea so†¦God (a perfect being) placed the idea within us and exists.That is the argument in its simplest form. Over the many years since Descartes revealed his findings in his work â€Å"meditations† there have been many supporters and backers of the argument, most of whom are rationalists who as explained before, like the a priori style of the argument.Other supporters we can assume could be major religions for exampl e, such as Islam which would share the same view as Descartes that our idea of God is innate the implanted within us by God himself which can also be seen as a major strength of the argument. So, Descartes believes he has proved that in order for us to have the idea of God as a supremely perfect being it must be innate within us and must have been placed in us by God himself. However there are many critics to this argument which must be considered in order to assess the argument.Firstly, many philosophers have encountered problems with the Causal Adequacy Principle. Descartes considered this principle true for many reasons, one of the main ones we think that he believed in was you cant get more out of the effect than what was already in the cause, otherwise it would be something for nothing. This however may not be true because there are examples in the world which we can see as having more in its effect than what was in the cause. One of which is can we not light a large bonfire ju st with the aid of one match? Also can we start an avalanche with just the sound waves from one whisper?There are many other more scientific examples such as Chaos Theory, Quantum Physics and also Evolution. In the case of evolution, single celled organisms evolve into more complex beings just through the passage of time, once all life on earth was just single cell organisms but now there are millions of different species all more complex than what came before. Hume also criticised the causal adequacy principle by saying we cannot determine the cause of anything by looking just at the effect. Can we know what caused a window to shatter before inspecting the evidence to find the cause within?All we know it must have been big enough with enough power behind to smash through the window but we cant even know this a priori. Hume said that we learn a posteriori that for a window to shatter it must have been caused by a large object with lots of power behind it. From this Hume seems to sug gest that to know what actually caused our idea of God we much observe its cause. Hume also said that even if the principle is correct then how could Descartes assume that the principle can just be transferred from physical things to ideas without it changing?However there are philosophers who have defended the principle stating that lots of rules have exemptions and why, if a rule does need exemptions which were not originally set out, is it immediately untrue. Things such as evolution, chaos theory and my examples of lighting a large bonfire with a single match and causing an avalanche with a whisper may just be exemptions to the rule however it still applies to many other things. Some philosophers have also criticised Descartes for defining his idea of God and an incoherent God. For example, Descartes describes God as being Omnipotent, meaning that he is all powerful.This would seem to satisfy many peoples ideas of God however on close examination it is indeed incoherent. To illu strate this I shall use a paradox which undermines God’s power. Can God create a rock that he himself could not lift? Either way one thing he can not do for if he can create the rock then he can’t lift it but if he cant create the rock there is still something he cant do. This paradox suggests Descartes idea of God is flawed and imperfect so a perfect being can not be the only possible cause of the idea according to the causal adequacy principle.From this we can deduce that its far more likely that Descartes himself created this imperfect idea rather than a perfect being. The final criticism I shall look as it one formed collectively by the arch-rationalists: empiricists. This group of philosophers would consider themselves to rival rationalism as they believe that the mind at birth is blank and we gain all our ideas from experience, not reason or innate ideas. Hume, one of the leading empiricists, amongst others argued that we observe qualities in other people and so recognise there are degrees of certain qualities such as knowledge, power and benevolence.With these ideas in our head from the experiences we have had of other people, we can then extend these qualities until we arrive at infinite knowledge, power and benevolence. This way we have arrived at the idea of these things joining and making a perfect being with infinite qualities however we have arrived through it in a much less perfect way than through God. If this is correct then the origin of our idea is not innate and certainly not caused by God but just us manipulating what we have experienced to suit our needs as imaginative human beings. In conclusion there are many strengths and weaknesses to Descartes Trademark Argument.It is a compelling argument to follow because of the way it is structured and how it sets out to explain out idea of God in an untainted way, free of what can be misleading experiences and just work it out through the power of reason however once examining the po tential problems that have arisen since Descartes time it would be difficult to believe the argument is the truth, and for myself it is incredibly difficult to believe in it knowing that there is an equal and possibly more valid reason why we have an idea of God, as explained by the empiricists.