Talk Shows

If social order is not a given, if it is not encoded in our DNA, then to some extent we are always in the process of producing â€Å"virtual realities,† some more functional than others. Habits, routines, and institutions are the patterns that create the â€Å"world taken for granted. † Knowledge of how to behave is contained in cultural scripts that are themselves products of human interaction and communication about the nature of â€Å"reality. † Shame, guilt, embarrassment are controlling feelings that arise from â€Å"speaking the unspeakable† and from violating cultural taboos. Society is a result of its boundaries,of what it will and won’t allow. As we watch, listen, and are entertained, TV talk shows are rewriting our cultural scripts, altering our perceptions, our social relationships, and our relationships to the natural world. TV talk shows offer us a world of blurred boundaries. Cultural distinctions between public and private, credible and incredible witnesses, truth and falseness, good and evil, sickness and irresponsibility, normal and abnormal, therapy and exploitation, intimate and stranger, fragmentation and community are manipulated and erased for our distraction and entertainment. A community in real time and place exhibits longevity, an interdependence based on common interests, daily concerns, mutual obligations, norms, kinship, friendship, loyalty, and local knowledge, and real physical structures, not just shared information. If your neighbor’s house is on fire, you are motivated to help put it out, or at least interested in having it put out, because you care about your neighbor and the fire is a threat to your own house. Television talk shows create an ersatz community, without any of the social and personal responsibilities that are attached to real life. Therapy as entertainment is the appeal of these shows. The so-called hosts rely on the cynical use of the therapeutic model for psychological sound bites. The need to educate and inform the audience is the voiced rationale for getting the so-called guests to give ever more titillating details of their misdeeds, or of the misdeeds done to them by family or friends (often not on the show). The underlying assumption — that most social pathology is the result of a medical problem beyond the control of the so-called â€Å"victim† — encourages, at least indirectly, people to come on to these shows confessing outrageous stories of anti-social behavior to millions of strangers. Rather than being mortified, ashamed, or trying to hide their stigma, â€Å"guests† willingly and eagerly discuss their child molesting, sexual quirks, and criminal records in an effort to seek â€Å"understanding† for their particular disease. Yet these people remain caricatures, plucked out of the context of their real lives, unimportant except for their entertaining problem. (In real life someone might question the benefits of publicly confessing to people who really don’t care about you or don’t have the expertise to give advice. Exploitation, voyeurism, peeping Toms, freak shows all come to mind. ) The central distortion that these shows propound is that they give useful therapy to guests and useful advice to the audience. And that they are not primarily designed to extract the most riveting and most entertaining emotional displays from participants. This leads to such self-serving and silly speeches by hosts as: â€Å"I ask this question not to pry in your business but to educate parents in our audience† (Oprah, trying to get graphic details from a female guest who claims to have been sodomized by her father) and â€Å"Do I understand, Lisa, that intercourse began with your dad at age 12, and oral sex between 5 and 12? Do I understand that you were beaten before and after the sexual encounters? (Phil, reading from prepared notes, to a crying teenager). The audience at various points in the hour has a chance to get on television too. Their questions are often rude by conventional standards and reinforce the host’s requests for more potentially entertaining details. Their advice ranges from merely simplistic, under the circumstances, to misleading and erroneous. For example, in a recent Sally Jessy Raphael Show entitled â€Å"When Your Best Friend Is Sleeping With Your Father,† the daughters on stage were advised to â€Å"just love them both and accept the situation. † The most problematic part of this is the generally nonjudgmental tenor of the dialogue. Society’s conventions are flouted with impunity, and the hidden message is that the way to get on television is to be as outrageous and antisocial as possible. The 20 million home viewers have no direct contact, physically, with the social situation in the studio. Home viewers can be listening to people recounting concentration camp horrors while popping a frozen dinner into the microwave. The ordinary, everyday world of the home audience is made bizarre by the contrasting tales of horror and woe they are only half listening to. The viewer has two basic options: He or she can, like the hero of Nathanael West’s tragic Miss Lonelyhearts, go crazy listening to these stories of hideous pain and pathology. Or he or she must become inured, apathetic, or amused, or, to use the darkly delicious German word schadenfreude, he or she may get a deep sense of glee at another’s misfortunes. People come into view, talk, cry, disappear, and in between we watch the commercials for consumer products that promise to improve our lives. Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? revolves around the seemingly out-of-place confessions by a husband and wife of their most private life together to two guests in their home who are virtual strangers. Traditional expectations of polite formalities and barriers are constantly breached within the action of the play. The husband, at one point says, â€Å"Aww, that was nice, I think we’ve been having a, a real good evening, all things considered. We’ve sat around, and got to know each other, and had fun and games.. .† Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? , however disconcerting to the audience, is just a play with actors. Television talk shows are arenas for real people. Their manipulation by â€Å"hosts,† who alternate between mocking, a patronizing cynicism (†I want to be as smart as you someday† — Phil), and a carefully constructed verisimilitude of caring (†Thank you for sharing that with us† — Oprah) must have repercussions for the â€Å"guests† after the show is over. These people may really be seeking help or understanding. Appropriate reactions seem virtually impossible under the circumstances. We the viewing audience have entertained ourselves at the disasters of real lives. This is one of the more shameless aspects of the talk show spectacle. As passive witnesses, we consume others’ misfortunes without feeling any responsibility to do anything to intervene.

Renewable energy architecture

Chapter One: IntroductionRationaleRenewable energy is energy generated from natural resources that are renewable, invariably replenished by nature such as sunshine, air current, rain and geothermic heat. All of these signifiers of renewable energy can be used as a cleaner beginning of energy in houses. As these signifiers of renewable energy can be harnessed to bring forth sufficient electricity even for the most demanding of houses and so some, the electricity generated from renewable resource would be clean, safe, environmentally friendly, cost effectual and efficient. â€Å" Our present happy progressive status is a thing of limited continuance † William Stanley Jevons 1865 This citation shows that as far back as the mid 1800s civilization knew the that worlds resources were non infinite and that one twenty-four hours they could run out, so for the past 150 old ages or so civilization could hold been be aftering for this and looking for alternate types of energy such as renewable energy. â€Å" Traditional Fossil fuels are running out, they are acquiring harder and more expensive to obtain, and their emanations are fouling our planet. Newer, greener, alternate, renewable, energy solutions are available today. Emerging engineerings are doing them more efficient, and more low-cost, with shorter payback times. This makes them a feasible option to traditional energy beginnings. Energy costs have snowballed in recent old ages. U.K energy wholesale monetary values have risen by 100 % for electricity, and 230 % for Gas since February 2007. Coal has seen a, monolithic leap with a 400 % addition in the last 10 old ages, from merely ?23 a ton in 1999 to ?100 a ton in 2008. Oil monetary values have increased dramatically late and are ever prone to fluctuation. Oil has reached peak supply and increasing demand from developing states is likely to maintain monetary values high † . ( line.3,4,5. par 2 from place page of www.renewable alternative.co.uk web site for Caron alternate energy systems. ) The Author found this quotation mark to be really acute as it non merely shows that traditional fuels are no longer traveling to be an option in the hereafter but with current demand for energy the monetary value is traveling to flip projectile. This citation besides looks at how promoting and utilizing renewable energy systems can assist you to make a cleaner and more environmentally friendly environment, the quotation mark besides looks at how renewable systems can be more cost effectual non merely in the overall life span but besides in the installing aswell as many authoritiess of states are now giving out grants to householders in order to advance renewable energy. The writer will travel into the inside informations of the grants in greater item later in the thesis.PurposesIn this thesis the writer aims to demo that put ining renewable energy systems in domestic houses is non merely promoting green energy but besides cost-efficient and every bit productive as traditional heating systems in places. Throughout the thesis the writer plans to call and depict the different types of renewable energy systems that are available to a home to do it more energy efficient.AimsTo set up an appropriate research methodological analysis to back up the research needs of the thesis.To analyze and measure the different types of renewable energy systems.Conduct a study of consumers who have purchased/installed a renewable energy system in their house.To look into the advantages and disadvantages between renewable energy systems and traditional warming systems.Formulate decisions and do recommendations on the footing of my findings.HypothesisIs Renewable energy in domestic houses more good than traditional heating systems?Structure of DissertationIntroductionChapter one introduces the reader to the thesis. It provides a brief overture to the subjects that will be discussed in the thesis. It besides discusses the purposes, aims and the construction of the thesis.Research method ological analysissIn chapter two the writer discusses the research methodological analysiss used to research information and this includes the research procedure, primary and secondary literature beginnings.List of renewable energy systemsIn chapter three the writer makes a list of the different types of renewable energy systems available to the consumer.List of traditional warming systemsIn chapter four the writer makes a list of the traditional warming systems available to the consumer.Detailed description of renewable energy systemsIn chapter five the writer gives a elaborate description of the different types of renewable energy systems and lists the advantages and disadvantages.Detailed description of traditional warming systemsIn chapter six the writer gives a elaborate description of the different types of traditional warming systems and lists the advantages and disadvantages.Analysis of questionnairesThis chapter analyses the sentiments of the place proprietors who have inst alled renewable energy systems in their places. In this chapter the writer has made up a client study and given it to place proprietors ( who have installed renewable energy systems in there house ) to finish. The writer will roll up and analyze the consequences of this study.Case surveyIn this chapter the writer looks at different illustrations of similar research.Decision and recommendationsThis chapter provides the decisions and recommendations of the thesis.Bibliography and MentionsThe bibliography and mentions is a list of all the books, articles and web sites used to research the thesisChapter Two Research MethodologiesIntroduction:In this chapter the writer outlines the assorted methods used to bring forth this thesis. It identifies the different beginnings used and illustrates how with comprehensive research the information was collated. The writer besides discusses the restrictions encountered in researching for this thesis.Research ProcedureThe research procedure begins by the writer fixing a preliminary literature reappraisal. This enables the writer to get a sufficient appreciation of the theories and methods of analysis in renewable energy systems. The preliminary literature reappraisal help the writer develop his cognition of the planning system and statute law. The preliminary literature survey besides helps spread out an overview of the primary beginnings of information available. The preliminary literature survey in the initial phases in the research procedure presents a big sum of the stuff needed for the thesis. The writer uses this information to contract his research. This focused his purposes on specific countries. The writer so had to make up one's mind on what format the thesis would take and how to travel about bring forthing it. By analyzing past thesiss on similar topics it will help in the enlargement of the initial thought and will show the right method to put to death a thesis. Throughout the research procedure different information is collected. This information can be broken up into different headers primary and secondary beginnings.Beginnings: Primary and SecondaryPrimary Literature Beginnings:â€Å" Primary literature is the most accurate beginning of information as it publishes original research † ( Naoum, 2007 ) . The lists of primary beginnings included in this thesis were academic research diaries, thesiss, authorities publications and studies on the capable affair. Discussion was carried out with the bibliothecs in both Robert Gordon University and Carlow Institute of Technology this broadened the research avenues. The chief beginnings of information included:Documents from the European UnionDocuments from the Irish authoritiesSustainable Energy without the hot air by David JC MackayRenewable Energy Policy by Paul KomorSecondary Literature beginnings:Secondary literature beginnings are those that cite primary beginnings such as text editions, trade diaries, newspaper articles etc. The secondary beginnings were chiefly conducted during the writer ‘s research period. The writer used many different beginnings such as the cyberspace and the library comfortss available. The utilizations of hunt engines specifically orientated to renewable energy were of great significance to the writer. Th e cyberspace was a really good beginning for up to day of the month stuff. The writer concentrated on the local sustainability web sites, Departments of Environment in Austria, Germany, Ireland, United Kingdom European Parliament, and the national newspaper websites to beginning information for this information.RestrictionsDuring the research for this thesis there were assorted restrictions. One of the greatest restrictions the writer encountered was the clip limitation. Roll uping the information needed clip it takes clip to treat the information and piece the thesis. A job the writer encountered was there were really few books that discussed the issues of the â€Å" the public presentation of renewable engineering in domestic houses † . One other trouble was the response rate was really hapless to the writer ‘s electronic mails and letters. The response rate was really hapless and therefore effected the writer ‘s overall nonsubjective position on this thesis.Literature ReviewThe writer undertook a literature reappraisal to beginning the relevant research involvements. The literature reappraisal provided the background information for the principle. In researching for this thesis the writer used text editions, newspapers, statute law and published studies as the principal beginnings.Past DissertationsPast thesiss in the Robert Gordon University provided a valuable beginning of information. The past thesiss were a considerable aid with the layout and format of the thesis and besides helped with developing the content.QuestionnaireThe usage of questionnaires was a important aid in having feedback from the people who are most influenced by the renewable energy systems ( the people who have had them installed in there houses ) on their sentiments and experiences.Chapter 3 List of Renewable Energy SystemsThe list of renewable energy systems falls under certain different standards for illustration solar, air current power, biomass etc. these are some of the systems that the writer will be looking at in greater item later on in the thesis.SolarSolar panel s.Photovoltaic cells.Evacuated tubing aggregators.Heat pumpsGeothermal heat pumps.Wind energyWind turbinesBiomassWood Chip or Pellet BoilersWater directionRainwater reapingChapter 4 List of Traditional Energy SystemsThe list of traditional energy systems that the writer has decided to research falls under the undermentioned standard Gas, Oil and Coal the writer will be looking at these systems in greater item later on in the thesis.Traditional warming systemsGasOilCoalChapter 5 Detailed Description of Renewable Energy SystemsSolar PanelsSolar thermal ( heat ) energy is frequently used for heating H2O used in places and for heating the interiors of edifices ( â€Å" infinite warming † ) . Solar infinite heating systems can be classified as inactive or active. Passive infinite warming is what happens to your auto on a hot summer twenty-four hours. The Sun ‘s beams heat up the interior of your auto. In edifices, the air is circulated past a solar heat surface and through the edifice by convection ( intending that less heavy warm air tends to lift while denser cool air moves downward ) . No mechanical equipment is needed for inactive solar warming. An active solar thermal system relies on solar aggregators to transform sunshine into heat that can be used for infinite warming or more normally to bring forth hot H2O. Active systems frequently include some type of energy storage system. Information taken from: ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyexplained/renewable/flatplate.html )Solar Energy & A ; the EnvironmentUsing solar energy produces no air or H2O pollution and no nursery gases, but does hold some indirect impacts on the environment. In add-on, big solar thermic power workss can harm desert ecosystems if non decently managed. Birds and insects can be killed if they fly into a concentrated beam of sunshine, such as that created by a â€Å" solar power tower. † Some solar thermic systems use potentially risky fluids ( to reassign heat ) that require proper handling and disposal. Concentrating solar systems may necessitate H2O for regular cleansing of the concentrators and receiving systems and for chilling the turbine-generator. Using H2O from belowground Wellss may impact the ecosystem in some waterless locations.Photovoltaic CellsWhat are Photovoltaic Cells and how do they work?Photovoltaic Panels are normally situated on a roof and usage semi music directors to change over sunshine to bring forth electricity for your place. Unlike Solar Panels which use the energy of the Sun to heat H2O, Solar PV ( photovoltaic ) converts the suns energy into electricity. The panels are made up of an array of cells which are made of stuffs such as Si. The Solar PV ‘s are made up of a negative and positive field similar to a battery. The photovoltaic panels do non necessitate sunshine to be effectual as they operate from daytime instead than sunlight specifically, although they do supply more electricity in sunnier climes. The more Sun, the more electricity produced. The photovoltaic cell is activated by visible radiation. Electricity is created by the creative activity of an electric field across beds of semi-conductors in the cell.Advantages of Solar PVPhotovoltaic cells are low care, but do necessitate checking of the wiring and guaranting the Photovoltaic panels are unbroken clean and debris free.For new physique or redevelopments, photovoltaic installing costs will be lower as they can be incorporated with other plants.Photovoltaic reduces your C footmark.Alternative energy systems can better overall marking for ‘Energy Performance Certificates ‘ which form a mandatory component of the Home Information Packs ‘HIPS ‘ which house Sellerss now have to roll up.Alternative, renewable energy systems increase the value and saleability of your belongings.Photovoltaic panels are low noise.Photovoltaic panels can be used to supplement air current energy.SuitabilityPhotovoltaic panels should be placed so that they are South or c hiefly South confronting to derive most benefit from them, on an country where they will non blockade or overshadowed by edifices or trees. If they are in the shadiness for portion of the clip their end product will be less. Whilst traditionally these have been available in panels, Photovoltaic is now besides available in a signifier which mimics traditional tiles, and besides as units which can be used in the building of conservatories where they can besides supply shadiness. For larger Photovoltaic installings you may necessitate be aftering permission. A single system design will supply you with the best options for your single demands. We are able to plan and provide ‘off grid options ‘ which can let you to be self sufficient for electricity, heating and hot H2O. Photovoltaics ( pvs ) which convert sunshine straight into electricity, have many attractive characteristics. They are quiet, reliable, have no moving parts, can be installed really rapidly, and can be sized to power anything from a individual visible radiation to an full community. However they are rather expensive, with current costs of 20 per to 40 us cents per kWh for grid connected systems ( compared to 3 to 5 cents per kWh for coal or natural gas systems ) . Although costs have come down well in recent old ages and will go on to drop, PVs are presently nowhere near cost competitory with fossil fuels. ( l.3,4,5 par.2 pg 39 Renewable Energy Policy by Paul Komor )Evacuated Tube CollectorsEvacuated cellular tubings are made up of a series of modular tubings mounted in parallel.these tubings can be added to or taken away in conformity to hot H2O demands. These aggregators consist of rows of parallel see through glass tubings in which each contain an absorber tubing. In an evacuated tubing aggregator the sunshine passes through the glass tubing and heats up the absorber tubing by agencies of a heat money changer. The thickened fluid so flows back into the underside of the heat pipe. The pipes must be placed at a certain angle so that the method of vaporisation and compression will work to the best of it ‘s capableness.Advantages of Evacuated Tube CollectorsThe tubings can be separately replaced easy without particular tools and the H2O does non hold to be drained from the solar hot H2O system.The E.C.T ( evacuated tubing aggregators ) work like a thermos and maintain up to 93 % of the Sun heat in and lose between merely 3-5 % of the heat gained.The E.C.T will work in cold conditions up to -40 grades Fahrenheit.Geothermal Heat PumpsA geothermic heat pump is a cardinal warming and/or chilling system that pumps heat to or from the land. The geothermic heat pump uses the heat from the land as a beginning of heat ( in the colder months ) or a heat storage ( in the warmer months ) . This design takes advantage of the sensible temperatures in the land to better efficiency and cut down the costs of runing warming and chilling systems. The systems work a batch like a icebox or an air conditioner. Heat pumps can reassign heat from cold countries to warm countries, against the natural way of tally, or the systems can better the natural rush of heat from a warm country to a cool one. But unlike air-source heat pumps, which preponderantly transfers heat to or from the colder outside air, a land beginning heat pump takes its heat from the land. The fact that belowground temperatures are much more changeless means that geothermic heat pumps are much more energy efficient than air beginning heat pumps. What a land beginning heat pump does is it extracts the heat from the land in the colder months ( for heating ) and transfers the heat back into the land in the warmer months ( for chilling ) . During the summer months, the process can be changed so that the heat pump takes the heat from the edifice and channels it to the land. In order for a land beginning heat pump to work it must hold a heat money changer connected with the land to take or scatter heat. Direct exchange systems move refrigerating resistance, closed cringle systems use a combination of anti-freeze and H2O, where as natural groundwater is used in unfastened cringle systems. â€Å" Geothermal electricity has one compelling advantage over air current and solar. It ‘s non limited by the caprices of the air current or the Sun and can therefore provide base burden electricity. Typical geothermic workss operate at capacity factors of 90 per centum, compared to weave ‘s 25 to 30 per centum. This means that a geothermic power works is presenting near to its maximal end product most of the clip. This makes it a much more valuable and reliable beginning of electricity † .Wind TurbinesWhat are wind turbines and how do they work?Wind turbines are the most common of the alternate energies, they are efficaciously the modern equivalent of the old fashioned windmill. The rotors or blades of the air current turbines are placed on a pole high up, where they need comparatively small air current to turn them. The whirling blades of the turbines create electricity by revolving a lasting magnet to bring forth electricity, which can be used for a assortment of intents. The more electricity required the bigger the air current turbines required. When most people think of air current turbines they think of the really big commercial air current farms, with really high, really big air current turbines. Wind turbines are now available on a much smaller graduated table for domestic homes, and are capable of bring forthing sufficient electricity for the family, and dependent upon size, there is besides the possibility of selling extra electricity to the grid.Advantages of Wind TurbinesWind turbines are environmentally friendly.Once installed air current turbines provide free electricity.Wind turbines are a more constituted engineering, they are a cheaper option and have a lower payback period.During periods of good air current, electricity produced by Wind turbines and non used or stored can be sold to electricity companies.Our new coevals air current turbines non merely look different, they are quieter and more efficient. Their light-weight and compact de sign allows them to be located on edifice roofs.SuitabilityIn the chief, wind turbines are used for supplementing an bing electricity supply. You will necessitate a suited environment to be able to turn up the turbine, as far off as possible from trees and edifices. You will necessitate a suited base or pedestal on which to mount the air current turbine. Wind turbines merely generate electricity while there is sufficient air current so a uninterrupted supply of electricity can non be achieved. If there is no bing supply of electricity, electricity will either necessitate to be stored for unproductive periods, and/or used in concurrence with another beginning of renewable energy. Not all locations are suited for air current turbines, the placement of the turbine and the surrounding environment are critical for optimal public presentation. Any local planning limitations need to be taken history of in England and Wales be aftering permission is necessary to put in a little air current turbine. Wind turbines are best suited for rural belongingss, farms, community edifices, industrial estates, schools etc. The cardinal thought behind wind power is appealingly simple: the air current turns the blades, the blades turn the generator, and the generator makes electricity. The world of class is much more complex. Today ‘s air current turbines are technically sophisticated and finely engineered, integrating the latest progresss in stuffs, microprocessor controls, and computational fluid kineticss ( for blade design ) ( line 5, par 2, pg 34 Renewable Energy Policy by Paul Komor )Biomassâ€Å" Most common procedure of biomass burning is firing of wood. In developed states replacing oil or coal-burning cardinal heating boiler with a wood firing one can salvage between 20 and 60 % on warming measures, because wood costs less than oil or coal. At the same clip wood firing units are eco-friendly. They merely emit the same sum of the nursery gas CO2 as the tree absorbed when it was turning. So burning wood does non lend to planetary heating. Since wood contains less sulphur than oil does, les s sulfate is discharged into the ambiance. This means less acerb rain and less acid in the environment † . ( This is the sentiment of the industries of the frohling company who manufacture biomass boilers. ) Biomass can be converted to different signifiers of energy including heat, power, combined heat and power or liquid bio fuels.Direct burning of biomass stuff. Some processing of biomass may be carried out anterior to combustion e.g. sorting, splintering, pelleting or drying.The chemical processes-where solid biomass is upgraded to a liquid or a gas by pyrolisis and gasification.Decomposition of solid biomass to liquid or gaseous fuels by procedures such as anaerobiotic and agitation.Whilst the writer was researching biomass energy he came across a really interesting article on the importance of biomass energy in Germany this is what it states â€Å" Biomass is one of the most of import and most diverse renewable energy beginnings in Germany † . Quote taken from ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.bmu.de/english/renewable_energy/doc/42722.php ) .As Germany is one of the taking states in sustainability in the European Union the writer thought that this would be rather good to t he thesis. Biomass can be used in solid, gas and liquid signifier to make electricity and heat and to bring forth bio-fuels. It is estimated that of the entire concluding energy created from renewable beginnings in the twelvemonth stoping 2007 biomass contributed 69 % this is a astonishing figure when you take that more than two tierces of renewable energy came from biomass. Harmonizing to the concluding energy ingestion bio energy is responsible for about 4 per centum of entire electricity usage, merely over 6 per centum of entire heat required and 7.6 per centum of entire fuel needed. â€Å" The usage of bio-energy is to be farther expanded. The proficient potency required for this is available in Germany. In the agricultural and forestry sector, portion of the 17 million hectares of agricultural land ( approx. 12 million hectares of cultivable land and approx. 5 million hectares of grassland ) and of the 11 million hectares of forest are available for biomass production. By far the most of import beginning of bioenergy in Germany is wood. About one one-fourth of Germany ‘s wood production ( lower quality line of production ) is used for bring forthing energy, about three quarters are used as stuff. Waste wood and used wood are besides used for energy production. Model computations by the Federal Research Centre for Forestry and Forest Products have shown that there are militias to spread out the usage of wood without impairing sustainable forestry. † quotation mark taken from ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.bmu.de/english/renewable_energy/doc/42722.php ) this quotation mark shows how the German people are utilizing at that place natural resources to farther heighten the solution to fossil fuel jobs. Economically biomass energy has become rather important in Germany with about 100,000 occupations being created in the bio energy sector, specifically in the agricultural and forestry subdivisions, where they are fabricating stuffs such as pellets, wood french friess or biogas from biomass. The entire net incomes from the bio-energy sector came to 10.23 billion euro in 2007. ( Information was taken from the web site of the Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety of the German Government )Rainwater HarvestingRainwater harvest home is the collection and maintaining of rainwater. It can supply H2O for imbibing, for farm animate beings, for irrigating land and for H2O to replenish acquifies in the procedure known as groundwater recharge. In some instances rainwater is the lone sensible or available H2O beginning. The systems are really suited in countries where the rainfall is greater than 200mm per twelvemonth. There are two types of reaping land H2O harvest home and roof harvest home. Land H2O reaping systems feed H2O from a prepared catchment country into a storage country. They are normally merely considered in countries where rainwater is highly limited and extra supplies of H2O are missing or non available at all. They are really suited for little communities. If good designed, land catchments systems can roll up big sums of rainwater. Roof reaping systems feed rainwater that falls onto a roof into storage through a system of troughs and pipes. The initial bustle of rainwater after a dry enchantment should non be stored as it could be polluted with soil, bird dungs etc. Roof troughs must hold sufficient incline to avoid any opportunity of a back log of H2O. The troughs must be strong plenty, and large plenty to transport maximal flows. In order to cut down the hazard of taint and fungus growing the storage armored combat vehicles should be covered. In order for the Rainwater reaping systems to be kept hygienic and clean they require regular cleansing and care this will protract the good working order of the systems. Rainwater reaping in towns or metropoliss can be really utile for many grounds. One of the chief grounds rainwater reaping can be implemented in metropoliss is to provide excess H2O for the metropolis ‘s demands, to refill flora to better the scenic beauty of a town/city, to increase the land H2O tabular array through unreal recharge, to relieve urban implosion therapy and to better the quality of groundwater. Another ground that rainwater harvest home can be utile for is in families the H2O can be used to flush lavatories and for rinsing apparels, sometimes it can be more good to utilize rainwater to make laundry as some country the brinies H2O may hold hints of calcium hydroxide which could consequence the lavation machine over clip. It can besides be used for lavishing or bathing. It will necessitate extremist violet intervention prior to utilize for imbibing.Chapter 6 Detailed Description of Traditional Energy SystemsIn this chapter the writer decided to look at the stuffs used to heat the traditional types of heating systems.GasHow Was Natural Gas Formed?â€Å" The chief ingredient in natural gas is methane, a gas ( or compound ) composed of one C atom and four H atoms. Millions of old ages ago, the remains of workss and animate beings ( diatoms ) decayed and built up in thick beds. This rotten affair from workss and animate beings is called organic stuff – it was one time alive. Over clip, the sand and silt changed to sway, covered the organic stuff, and trapped it beneath the stone. Pressure and heat changed some of this organic stuff into coal, some into oil ( crude oil ) , and some into natural gas – bantam bubbles of odourless gas. †Advantages of Natural GasThe procedure of firing natural gas is cleaner than firing other fossil fuels. It releases fewer emanations of sulfur, C, and N than oil or coal. As natural gas is one of the cleaner fuels it has become much more popular in recent old ages.Disadvantages of Natural GasNatu ral gas may be cleaner than other fossil fuels but like other dodo fuel, the combustion of natural gas will bring forth C dioxide. Carbon dioxide is the 2nd biggest nursery gas lending to the nursery consequence. Natural gas besides has a negative consequence on the environment while it is being manufactured, polishing and transporting.OilOil was created from the remains of workss and animate beings that existed 1000000s of old ages ago in a maritime environment.Heating oil is a liquid with gluey characteristics, it is a combustible liquid crude oil merchandise used as a fuel for heating systems or boilers in edificesHeating oil is really similar to diesel fuel, and both are classified as distillations. It consists of a mixture of crude oil and hydrocarbonsDisadvantages of OilOil merchandises help us achieve many things. We use them oil merchandises to fuel many of our conveyance systems such as cars, planes trains etc to heat our places, and to develop merchandises such as medical specialties and plastics. Even though oil merchandises make life easier – discovering, fabrication, transporting, and the usage of them can harm the environment through H2O and air pollution.Harmful gases and emanations are produced from firing Oil merchandises.Some of these harmful emanations include:Particulate affair ( PM )Carbon dioxide ( CO2 )Sulfur dioxide ( SO2 )Carbon monoxide ( CO )About all of these byproducts of firing oil have a negative consequence on peoples wellness and the environment:Carbon dioxide is a nursery gas, which is of class a beginning of planetary heating.SO2 is known to causes causes respiratory unwellnesss and bosom diseases and besides acerb rain, which is damaging to animate beings and workss that live in H2O.Particulate affair is known to lend to the undermentioned wellness jobs lung malignant neoplastic disease, emphysema, asthma and chronic bronchitis.CoalCoal is a readily combustible black or brown-black sedimentary stone. It is composed ch iefly of C along with fickle sums of other elements, chiefly S, H, O and N. Coal starts out as a movie of works substance builds up at the underside of a organic structure of H2O. In order for the process to go on the works substance affair must be sheltered from biodegradation and oxidation, normally by clay or acidic H2O. This trapped atmospheric C in the land in huge peat bogs that finally were covered over and profoundly buried by deposits under which they metamorphosed into coal. Coal, a dodo fuel, is the largest beginning of energy for the coevals of electricity worldwide, every bit good as one of the largest worldwide anthropogenetic beginnings of C dioxide emanations. Coal is the largest emmittant of C dioxide of all the fossil fuels it emits about double the sum of Co2 that natural gas emits. Coal is extracted from the land by excavation, either belowground or in unfastened cavities. Coal is chiefly used as a solid fuel to make heat and electricity.What are some of the disadvantages with excavation coal?â€Å" Without proper attention, excavation can hold a negative impact on ecosystems and H2O quality and alter landscapes and scenic positions. Debris that chokes mountain watercourses can ensue from surface excavation like mountaintop remotion, and acidic H2O can run out from abandoned belowground mines. Today reconstructing the land damaged by surface excavation is an of import portion of the excavation procedure. Because excavation activities frequently come into contact with H2O resources, coal manufacturers must besides travel to great attempts to forestall harm to land and surface Waterss.What Emissions and By merchandises Are Produced from Burning Coal?The burning of coal produces several types of emanations that adversely affect the environment. The five chief emanations associated with coal ingestion in the energy sector are:Sulfur dioxide ( SO2 ) , which has been linked to acid rain and increased incidence of respiratory unwellnesssNitrogen oxides ( NOx ) , which have been linked to the formation of acerb rain and photochemical smogParticulates, which have been linked to the formation of acerb rain and increased incidence of respiratory unwellnesssCarbon dioxide ( CO2 ) , which is the primary nursery gas emanation from energy usage. †Chapter 7: Analysis of Questionnair e:Introduction:In this chapter the writer will measure some of the sentiments of householders from Scotland and Ireland. These people represent the householders who have installed renewable energy systems in there houses of, so their sentiments will give an honest position of the systems. The questionnaire will assist me compare my ain beliefs on the renewable energy systems with the people most accustomed to them. The questionnaire was sent out with a cover missive as shown in Appendix A. There were 40 questionnaire sent out. 30 respondents sent their questionnaires back. I posted the questionnaires with a return cast addressed envelope included.Question 1:How satisfied are you with sing the following points? Merchandise, overall quality, value, installing ( first usage ) , usage experience and after purchase service. The intent of this inquiry is to see whether the people who have purchased renewable energy systems are happy in the above countries. The consequences of the study prove that big proportion of the people who have installed renewable energy systems in their places have been preponderantly happy with there purchase.Question 2:Overall, how satisfied are you with the merchandise? The consequences of this study are reasonably conclusive in turn outing that the bulk of the people surveyed are either really satisfied or highly satisfied with there merchandise.Question 3:Compared to other merchandises that are available, would you state that the merchandise is? The intent of this inquiry is to see whether the people who have purchased renewable energy systems are happy with there merchandises compared to traditional energy systems. Looking at the consequences of the questionnaire it is obvious to see that the people who have had the renewable systems installed are happy with there purchase with a bulk of 53 % happening the new system to be better and 27 % of the people.Question 4:Would you travel back to your old system? The intent of this inquiry was to happen out what per centum of the people surveyed would be happy to travel back to there original system. Once once more the consequences of the study were reasonably conclusive with the bulk of the people more than happy to remain with there renewable systems.Question 5:How likely are you to urge this merchandise to others? The intent of this inquiry was to happen out what per centum of the people surveyed would be happy to urge this merchandise to there friends and household. The consequences of this inquiry shows that out of 30 people who answered the questionnaire a bulk of 54 % of people would be willing to urge a renewable energy system to people they know, with 30 % of the people being open.Question 6:Based on your experience with this sort of merchandise, how likely are you to put in a similar merchandise in your house once more? The consequences of this inquiry are really concise with a bulk of 73 % likely or highly likely to put in a similar renewable energy system in the hereafter and a minority of 23 % who would non be willing to put in another renewable energy system.Chapter 8: Case StudyAs portion of the instance survey chapter the writer has looked at the new E.U. statute law brought in on the 23rd January 2008 entitled â€Å" Renewable Energy in the twenty-first century: edifice a more sustainable hereafter † . This enterprise is aimed at holding Renewable energy history for 20 per centum of the brotherhoods overall Energy ingestion by 2020. As portion of this instance analyze the writer looked at how four different states viz. Austria, Germany, Ireland and the United Kingdom intend to run into foremost the interim marks and secondly there overall mark by 2020. The writer will besides be looking at the different grant strategies grants for renewable energy in domestic places awarded by differen t states within the European Union. First the writer will demo the statute law given by the EU below and demo what marks have to be met by each state in the European brotherhood and the interim marks set out for each state listed below.Member provinces ‘ marksOn 23 January 2008, theCommission put frontward a proposal for a newdirective on renewable energies to replace the bing steps adopted in 2001.EU authoritiess and the European Parliament reached a wide understanding on the proposal on 9 December 2008, which was so adopted by the Parliament in a plenary ballot on 17 December Harmonizing to the text, each member stateshouldincrease its usage ofrenewable energies – such as solar, air current or hydro -in a bidto encouragement the E.U. ‘s portion from 8.5 % of the axis ‘s energy mix today to 20 % by 2020.A 10 % usage of ‘green fuels'in transportis besides included within the overall EU aim. To accomplish the marks, every state in the 27-member axis is required to increase its portion of renewables by 5.5 % from 2005 degrees, with the staying addition calculated on the footing of per capita gross domestic merchandise ( GDP ) :Interim marksThe Commission alsoproposes aseries of interim marks, in order to guarantee steady advancement towards the 2020 marks.25 % norm between 2011 and2012 ;35 % norm between 2013 and 2014 ;45 % norm between 2015 and 2016, and ;65 % norm between 2017 and 2018.OesterreichsIn researching the proposals of each of the four states the writer intended to look at, the writer found it highly hard to happen a finalised proposal as the finalised proposals do non hold to be submitted to the European Union until June of 2010. the best the writer was able to make was research proposals forwarded by MPs to each authorities. The Austrian authorities set up a plan to analyze the effects of holding to make 34 % renewable energy of the entire energy end product by 2020 and the impact this will hold on the environment, the economic system and on society. In order to analyze the inquiries posed, the undertaking comprises two chief blocks: the development of the simulation theoretical account â€Å" e3.at † which integrates energy, economic and environmental facets in one individual and consistent modeling model, and its application within a participatory scenario patterning procedure. After the creative activity of the simulation theoretical account and the development of the scenarios, the scenarios had to be implemented into the theoretical account. The undertaking consists of:An economic theoretical account, dwelling of an input-output theoretical account, the system of national histories ( SNA ) , and the labour market.An energy theoretical account, exemplifying the relationship between economic development, energy usage and CO2 emanations. It comprises energy demand, transmutation and supply.A resource theoretical account, apportioning the domestic and imported stuff inputs to those sectors responsible for the material extraction.The theoretical account acts as a footing for quantifying the effects of different scenarios of a more ambitious usage of renewable energy in Austria.GermanyThe German authorities has estimated that they will non merely make the mark by 2020 but beat it by.7 % the authorities. The German authorities have done up a tabular array gauging how much per centum of energy they are traveling to do from renewables from 2010 to 2020.Irish republicHarmonizing to the Irish authoritiess section of communicating, Marine and renewables white paper papers, presenting a sustainable hereafter for Ireland the authorities intends to make the followers:Encourage biomass in power coevals by back uping biomass engineering transportation, investing in specific biomass R & A ; D and tackling of supply side ( biomass feedstock ) issues ;They will extinguish the dedicated oil demand for the power coevals sector by 2020 while reexamining the strategic necessity for double fire at gas workss ;They will accomplish 15 % of electricity ingestion from renewable beginnings by 2010through bing and new undertakings under the refit strategy ;They will accomplish 33 % of electricity ingestion from renewable beginnings by 2020 through support for research, development, commercialisation, and engineering transportation every bit good as grid connexions and be aftering issues for offshore air current, ocean engineering and biomass ;They will restrict Irelands dependance on natural gas for power coevals to about 50 % b y 2020.They will guarantee the necessary transmittal system planning and development in support of renewables by EirGrid SONI and the Regulators in the all-island model.Besides in the white paper papers was a estimated tabular array of the electricity coevals between 2005 and 2020.United KingdomIn relation to the United Kingdom the writer was able to come across a proposal by Mr John Hutton MP sketching his proposals to assist the United Kingdom make its recommended renewable energy mark of 15 % by 2020. The proposals are as follows:â€Å" Extending and raising the degree of the renewables duty to promote 30-35 % of our electricity to come from renewable beginnings by 2020.Introducing a new fiscal inducement mechanism to promote a really big addition in renewable heat.Widening more effectual fiscal support for heat and electricity microgeneration engineerings in places and other edifices.Helping the planning system to present.Guaranting appropriate inducements for new electricity g rid substructure.Exploiting the full potency of energy from waste by sing farther limitations on land make fulling biomass.Necessitating all biofuels to run into rigorous sustainability standards to restrict inauspicious impacts on nutrient monetary values, and other societal and environmental concerns.Promoting the development of new renewable engineerings by guaranting effectual support peculiarly where the UK has the possible to be a market leader.Maximizing the benefits for UK concern by supplying a clear long-run policy model. â€Å" Taken from ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.energyportal.eu/component/content/article/6175.html )Chapter 8.2 Grant allotmentAs portion of this thesis the writer researched the grants available to householders, who wished to put in renewable energy systems in there homes. The writer decided to look at the grants available in the four European states he had looked at for the E.U enterprise viz. Austria, Germany, Ireland and the United Kingdom. T he writer thought that this would be really good as the chief ground for non put ining renewable energy systems in peoples places was the monetary value of it, but if the grants available can be significant plenty to cut the monetary value of installing down to a minimal so there should be no ground for non put ining renewable energy systems.OesterreichsSome European states, such as Germany, Ireland, Portugal and Spain, already established renewable edifice codifications on a national degree. Austria has chosen a different way. Alternatively of an amendment to the bing edifice codifications, which would do a portion of renewable energy mandatary in new or refurbished edifices, Austria agreed on a ordinance which is linked to the lodging aid programmes. The model for this political instrument is an agreement ( paragraph 15a B-VG ) between the national and the province authoritiess to cut down the nursery gas emanations of the edifice sector. It stipulates that all Austrian provinces implement regulations for paying lodging aid merely if the warming system of the house fulfils certain ecological demands. Efficient oil/gas boilers with a solar thermal system are eligible in most provinces, every bit good as wood boilers, heat pumps and territory warming. 7 of 9 Austrian provinces already approved these demands last twelvemonth. Austrian provinces that implemented demands for an ecological warming system for new and refurbished residential edifices, desiring to gain from lodging aid. In most instances, the householder can take between different heating engineerings, one of them being an efficient oil/gas boiler combined with a solar thermal system.GermanyHarmonizing to the German authorities they are apportioning 350 million euros each twelvemonth to in the signifier of grants to householders for the installing of renewable energy systems such as solar panels, biomass boilers and heat pumps. However the German authorities expects most householders to take solar panels. Under the new ordinances, solar panels will necessitate to hold an country equal to 4 % of the entire country of a house. The German authorities has besides brought in a statute law that all new places built in Germany from January 1st 2009 will be required to put in renewable energy heating systems under a new jurisprudence called the Renewable Energies Heating Law ( Erneubare-Energien-Warmegesetz ) . Harmonizing to the new statute law 14 % of a family ‘s entire energy ingestion must be met by renewable energy beginnings. For bing houses from 2010 onwards the recommendations are that 10 % of the warming and domestic supplies will hold to be provided by integrating renewable energy. For old houses, 10 % of the warming and domestic hot H2O energy demands will hold to be provided by renewables. Fines of up to 500,000 euros will confront anyone who fails to exchange their warming systems. ( information for this was taken from the German federal ministry for the environment, nature preservation and atomic safety of the German authorities )Irish republicIn Ireland the Irish authorities have been giving out grants to place proprietors since the 27thof March 2006 under the grant strategy the applier.United KingdomThe United Kingdom besides allocates grants to householders who are put ining renewable engineering in there houses but certain criterions have to be met first these criterions are as follows: The grants are merely available to place that have:Insulated the whole of the loft of the belongings to run into current edifice ordinances e.g. 270mm of mineral wool loft insularity or suited option.Installed pit wall insularity where possible.Fitted low energy visible radiation bulbs in all appropriate light adjustments.Have thermostatic controls and a coder or timer for your warming.In many of the grants available the grants will besides pay for 30 % of the installing fee. So in decision with the grants in each of the four states researched covering at least 30 % of the installing fee if non more there should be no ground for non put ining renewable engineering systems.Decision:The chief purpose of this thesis is to place whether the renewable energy systems could work every bit if non better than the traditional warming systems. The 2nd purpose was to bring out if the renewable energy systems be more cost effectual and significantly more environmentally friendly than the bing warming systems. In order to carry through these purposes and to prove the hypothesis of â€Å" Is Renewable energy in domestic houses more good than traditional heating systems? the writer set out specific aims to accomplish these ends. In the of all time altering universe of renewable energy it is apparent that the progresss and on-going progresss in the field of renewable energy agencies that better engineering will be bought at a more competitory monetary value. This will portend good for both the consumer and the environment with the consumer being able to buy renewable engineering cheaper than he would a traditional dodo fuel he/she will be cutting down on the nursery gas emanations that are fouling the environment every twenty-four hours. To demo one illustration of this Evacuated cellular tubings are perchance the best solar thermic devices on the market right now but they are besides the dearest but with progresss in engineering ( e.t.c ‘s ) will go cheaper doing them more popular. Another decision that the writer came to while he was researching for this thesis is that non merely is the use of fossil fuels earnestly harming our environment but they are besides running out at an dismaying rate which means if we do n't move every bit shortly as possible to rectify our errors we will non merely have created irreversible harm to our environment, by breathing harmful gases into the ambiance but we will hold sucked dry all of the earths dodo fuels. It is rather clear to see this go oning now all we have to make is look at the surging monetary values of oil, gas and coal e.g. monetary values have risen 230 % for Gas since February 2007. Coal has seen a, monolithic leap with a 400 % addition in the last 10 old ages, from merely ?23 a ton in 1999 to ?100 a ton in 2008. figures taken from ( Caron alternative energy web site. ) Consequences from the who installed renewable energy systems in there places were more than happy questionnaires, proved that 74 % of the people that were surveyed with either the heat generated or the electricity generated and the comfort provided by the renewable energy systems. As the bulk of the people surveyed either switched from traditional heating systems to renewable energy systems or were brought up in life in a house with traditional heating systems the writer thought that this was a true contemplation of the position of the people most affected.Recommendations:There should be more accent put on the fabrication of renewable energy systems as the writer noted earlier if there were more renewable devices supplied so the overall monetary value would travel down as it is simple marketing â€Å" supply and demand †Although the European Union have brought in a new directive where by 2020 40 % of the corporate European states energy should be renewable energy, the writer b elieves that each authorities in each state should make its uttermost to excel this demand.The authorities of each state should convey in a statute law that all new houses have to run into a certain criterion of renewable end product to advance both the sale and usage of renewable energy. The authorities should besides see presenting stricter clip frames for enforcement of this statute law.Governments could besides give greater grants to advance the sale of renewable systems and revenue enhancement an over usage of fossil fuels.

Ecology Paper Review Essay

It is necessary to note that information provided on both sites is rather interesting and important, because it reflects the latest events and trends in ecological issues. Both sites are devoted to ecological problems discussing climatic changes, global warming, birds’ migrations, etc. for example, it is interesting to know that, according to the National Climatic Data Centre, the year of 2006 is considered the warmest year in the United States, though in the global context 2006 takes only the sixth place. It is mentioned that the previous warmest years in the UA was ranked 1998 caused by El Nino exacerbated warming. El Nino appeared this year and caused the effect of global warming leading meteorological offices to predict that â€Å"worldwide average tempts would hit a new high in 2007†. (Warming Trends 2007) According to statistics the hottest ten years noted in records have been logged since 2004: â€Å"The past nine years have all been among the 25 warmest years on record for the contiguous U.S., a streak which is unprecedented in the historical record†. According to reporter from New York Times, global warming becomes a fundamental factor affecting annual climate reports meaning that global warming is one of the serious problems not only in the USA, but in the rest of the world. (Warming Trends 2007) It is necessary to underline the article â€Å"Poverty & the Environment† providing discussion of economic and environmental injustice. For example, the author thinks that poverty and environmental degradation are combined factors characterizing the USA. Certainly, the lower income the family has, the higher the chances to be exposed to toxins either at home or at work. Apparently, low-income families have greater risk to develop asthma or cancer caused by environmental factors. Not all families are able to afford healthy food and safe outdoor spaces. Furthermore, such families are more vulnerable to human-made tragedies and natural disasters. The author says that â€Å"the worst consequences of environmental degradation are visited on the homes, workplaces, families, and bodies of the poor†. Nowadays more than 12% of the US population is behind the poverty line. (Poverty & the Environment 2006) References â€Å"Poverty & the Environment†. (2006, February 13). Retrieved January 11, 2007, from http://www.grist.org/news/maindish/2006/02/13/pate/index.html â€Å"Warming Trends†. (2007). Retrieved January 11, 2007, from http://www.sierraclub.org/compass/   

Catholicism Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Catholicism - Assignment Example Therefore, to discover more about the traditions, theological characteristics and the way the Orthodox worship, I visited the Holy Orthodox Trinity Cathedral in San Francisco on November 15 at 6 pm. Because I do not identify with any religion, the purpose of the visit was purely to discover about the traditions and the practices of the Orthodox Christians. Upon entering the church service, I was amazed to discover that the Orthodox Christians have certain customs and traditions, which form a critical part of their worship. In fact, I was told that some are cultural in nature while others are just sanctimonious customs. The first most important tradition that came to my attention was the lighting of the candles. Just before the church service could begin, one of the bishops would light candles of different colors, including red and white (Holy Trinity Cathedral, 2014). The lighting candles would then be placed strategically at the altar. One of the congregants informed me that the lighting of the candles is an important part of the prayer since it acts as an offering that accompanies the prayers of the congregants. However, midway through the prayers, the candles were blown out and taken away. When I inquired why that was happening, a congregant who sat beside me, informed me that the there are instances when the candle is not supposed to be lit. These instances include when the Gospel and Epistle is being read, during sermons, when the congregants are standing, as well as during Great Entrances. The Orthodox Church is also very particular on the attire that a congregant is expected to wear when attending a church service. Although the Orthodox believes that God would accept mankind regardless of what one wears, the church encourages decent dressing. Accordingly, the Orthodox discourages to impress others. Instead, the church encourages all the faithful to dress respectfully in a manner that pleases God (Holy Trinity Cathedral, 2014).

Arab learners of English Avoid using phrasal verbs Research Paper

Arab learners of English Avoid using phrasal verbs - Research Paper Example Such an observation has been made on the basis of wide ranging studies conducted by various researchers in this regard. As mentioned earlier, recently there has been observed a trend, which indicates the avoidance of phrasal verbs by Arab learners of the English language. Several papers and research articles have focused on this phenomenon which indicates such an avoidance (Kano (2006), Tarone (1981), Kleinmann (1977), etc.) as well as the manner of avoidance i.e., semantic, topical, lexical, phonological, morphological, graphological or void, (Brown,1994). This trend, hence, has been identified as a classic problem or issue of concern among the researchers in the field of linguistic studies. However, consensus on the actual occurrence and the reasons behind such a trend is yet to be arrived, owing to the differing views presented by various researchers. For instance, Schachter (1974) who first observed such avoidance behavior claimed that the learners, who resorted to avoid usage of phrasal verbs, did so, owing to difficulties in constructing sentences using such verbs. Researchers such as Klienmann (1977), Chiang (1980), Dagut and Laufer (1985) etc supported the claims made by Schachter, that the avoidance was mainly on account of difficulty experienced by the learners with respect to structure and semantic aspects of the target language. While yet others such as Seliger, (1989) argues that, there is no clear definition of avoidance and further states that avoidance can only occur in situations wherei the learners are able to form a target structure but lack knowledge regarding appropriate distributional rules. The native language plays a significant role in influencing the manner in which a learner produces different structures. This claim was substantiated by Kleinmann (1977) in his experiments whereby he studied a group of Arabic speakers as well as Spanish / Portuguese speakers with regard to the use of passives, present

IKEA Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

IKEA - Case Study Example It calls the Netherlands its home and has its head quarters in the place called Lei den that is in the South of Holland. The person that is responsible for giving the world this fine brand and company for manufacturing designer label yet economically affordable furniture is none other than the companies founder Ingvar Kamprad. This man founded this company in the year 1943. He has since then had the help and support from a number of people who have helped bring the company to its internationally renowned status. The name given to this company has been thought of very carefully and hidden in the name are the roots on which this company has flourished and grown to what it is today. The word IKEA is actually comprised of acronyms that are that each alphabet is the initials of the name of the founder and his home town village. That would be Ingvar Kamprad, and home village, Elmtaryd, Agunnaryd. The president of this company is currently Anders Dahlvig along with another name that is Hans Gydell, president of the inter IKEA group. Being a company that deals in the production and sale of low cost home products Ikea is a privately owned company, it is an internationally known and an international company. ... Founded in the year 1943 this company has grown to a world widely famous consumer and household goods producing company and has done so with the hard work and efforts of a number of key people. This company was founded in Sweden to be more exact it was founded in Almhult, Smaland. It calls the Netherlands its home and has its head quarters in the place called Lei den that is in the South of Holland. The person that is responsible for giving the world this fine brand and company for manufacturing designer label yet economically affordable furniture is none other than the companies founder Ingvar Kamprad. This man founded this company in the year 1943. He has since then had the help and support from a number of people who have helped bring the company to its internationally renowned status. The name given to this company has been thought of very carefully and hidden in the name are the roots on which this company has flourished and grown to what it is today. The word IKEA is actually comprised of acronyms that are that each alphabet is the initials of the name of the founder and his home town village. That would be Ingvar Kamprad, and home village, Elmtaryd, Agunnaryd. The president of this company is currently Anders Dahlvig along with another name that is Hans Gydell, president of the inter IKEA group. IKEA 4 IKEA The owner and the franchiser of the IKEA trademark and the concept behind IKEA itself if the company Inter IKEA systems that has the words B.V after it as well. This company that is Inter IKEA systems has its offices and head offices situated primarily in the Netherlands, in Sweden and also in the country Belgium. Several other companies which have complex kinds of ownerships have the

The Rise of Strategic Management Accounting Essay

The Rise of Strategic Management Accounting - Essay Example Management accounting systems ideally provide information regarding all aspects of an organisation’s transactions; by covering all spectrums of the organisation they represent an important source of information for decision making. As mentioned above, traditional management accounting has come under attack for failing to provide sufficient information for strategic decision making purposes. This failure lies in the inability of traditional management accounting to fulfil those information requirements that would contribute to both the competitiveness of the organisation vis-a-vis its competitors in the industry, and its long term performance. Langfield-Smith states that surveys of practice in the 1990’s suggested that the adoption of SMA was slow; others also go on to mention that it was ill—defined and it is unclear in terms of coverage. Others have said that there are gaps in the understanding provided by SMA and this is attributed to various interpretations th at have been put forward by writers advocating its use. This paper explains the difference between management accounting and financial accounting. ... Management Accounting versus Financial Accounting Management accounting is distinct from financial accounting in that it provides information to persons internal to the organisation to facilitate decision making, while financial accounting provides information for external stakeholders. Internal stakeholders are the management personnel of the organisation, based within various departments/sections/divisions working together to achieve organisational goals. External stakeholders include shareholders, advisors, potential investors, regulators, government authorities and creditors – including suppliers, banks and holders of debt instruments (Atkinson et al, 2003). This however does not imply by any means that financial accounting information is not used for internal purposes; it is in fact, crucial. The only difference is that it is not necessarily appropriate to apply it in the same format as it is for external purposes; although, it does derive from the same integrated account ing system. While financial accounting information conforms to standards and guidelines that have been instituted by standard setting bodies such as the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), management accounting does not conform to any particular standard since it is used for internal purposes only. Management accounting deals with both financial and non-financial information. Traditional Management Accounting versus Strategic Management Accounting In his seminal work entitled â€Å"Strategic Management Accounting† (SMA) Simmonds (1981) defined SMA as â€Å"the provision and analysis of management accounting data about a business and its competitors, for use in developing and monitoring business strategy.† Bromwich (1990, p.28) defines it as:

Emaar Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Emaar - Research Paper Example It is composed of EMAAR’S resources and comprises of factors that it can effectively use in adapting to the changing external environment. Unlike external environment, the internal environmental factors are much within the control of the management of EMAAR Company (Crum and Palmatier, pg 23). The factors include: The emaars resources that are mainly tangible e.g. production or operation factors: like plants, equipments and machinery; marketing factors like sales force, channels of distribution; personnel/ labor relations e.g. employees and relations with the trade unions and financial factors e.g. funds available and their sources e.g. loans. Intangible such as location factors e.g. suitability of the present location, reputation, research and development. Emaars internal environment assessment hence helps pinpoint the company’s strengths and weaknesses with which it faces and counteracts challenges in the global markets. The strengths in the firm’s internal env ironment enable it to exploit environmental opportunities or to overcome the problems thereon, hence its capacity to successfully enter the market despite competition (Martz, Pg 49). Such assessment is based on two specific areas namely Physical resources and the personnel competencies (Crum and Palmatier, pg 63). ... Another important consideration is the degree of integration that exists within the operating units of EMAAR Company (Madura pg, 67). The company uses â€Å"Vertical Integration† that is the ownership of all the assets needed to produce the goods and services to customers. The company purchases the controlling interest of their suppliers so as to ensure that the materials are available when needed. They also use the â€Å"Vertical Integration† which is the ownership of the core technologies and the manufacturing capabilities needed to produce outputs coupled with dependence on outsources to produce all the inputs needed. Personnel Competencies, The Company examines these because they reflect their strengths and weaknesses, that is an outstanding Research and Developments departments leads to the high development of high state quality outstanding of the products (Madura pg,97). VALUE CHAIN ANALYSIS A complementary approach to the internal environment assessment used by E maar is the examination of the firm’s value chain. It is the way in which the primary support activities are combined to produce valuable goods and services and increase the profit margin. The primary activities in EMAARS value chain include: Inbound logistics; Concerned with the receiving, storing, material handling and warehouse activities. Operations, in which inputs are converted into products form by the performance activities like machining, assembling, testing and packaging. Marketing and Sales, the Company uses this to inform and encourage customers to buy products and services they produce. In addition, the Emaar Company determines its competitive scope which is the breadth of its target markets within the

What I would do with the remaining time if found out to have only 24 Assignment

What I would do with the remaining time if found out to have only 24 hours to live - Assignment Example Despite the fact that my doctor’s pronunciation has taken me by surprise and I must die within the next 24 hours, I strongly believe that this is the time for me to focus on physical, spiritual, family and emotional issues. Knowing that I have lived my life imperfectly before my creator, I will dedicate a lot of my last moments in prayer and repentance. Although it will be difficult to praise and worship God, I will try to dedicate some moments to focus on my life and praise and worship God for the time He gave me on earth. I will also delve into scriptures for reassurance about a brighter future after death. I will as much as possible make my path straight before God so that my eternity may be spent in paradise. The reality of death is a harsh one even to the bravest of people. This being the case, I have no doubt that I feel very scared about the whole experience of dying. I imagine myself kicking and struggling to disentangle myself from the grip of death in vain. I imagine seeing my mother and close family members weeping at the news of my death. I wish I was never born in the first place so that I would not have to endure the pain of death. Stressed about having to leave my loved ones behind shortly, I will try and share my last moments in the company of my family and closest friends. I will take some time to share my goals, expectations, and concerns with them to ensure that I leave everything in order. Since most families tend to engage in a dispute over sharing of properties after their beloved ones have passed on, my first move will be to avoid such happenings by drafting a will. In the will I will direct how I would wish my property to be shared among my family members. I will also detail my debts and obligations to other people and instruct my family to repay the debts and if possible fulfill the obligations that I will not have fulfilled within the time left. In addition to the will, I will write a letter of instructions. The letter of instru ction will help my family make decisions at the end of my life, and once I am gone. In the letter of instruction, I will include a list of names and phone numbers of those I want to be contacted after my death. To ease the tension that I am feeling, I take a short walk around our garden and within town alone. As I walk about, I will focus on what life is all about and how I spent my life. I will take note of my achievements and failures and try to convince myself that I did my part in life the best I could albeit as an imperfect person. In overall, I will pray that my eternal destiny would be a good one. # 2. My Funeral Plan Funeral is one of the most important stages in a person’s â€Å"life†. Once a person is dead, the next stage is usually to organize a funeral service in accordance with the deceased’s wishes. However, in order for the funeral service to be conducted in accordance with the deceased’s desires, it is important for the deceased to live be hind a plan of funeral service, stating how he/she wants the service conducted. However, very few people normally get the chance to draft their funeral plan. I am among the lucky few who have had the opportunity to write a funeral plan. Below is a plan of how I want my funeral service conducted once I am dead and gone. I would like to be given a decent send off once I am dead. Immediately I am pronounced dead, my body should be taken to the private wing of a mortuary where my body will be well preserved. I would not wish to have my loved ones see my body in bad shape when I am gone. I wish to see my funeral attended by as many of my friends and acquaintances as possible. For this reason, I will

Physics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Physics - Essay Example In this respect, Nuclei that are accelerated by the effect of the gradient tend to move faster than their precessional path as opposed to the case in which the phase encoding gradient is switched on. On the contrary, for nuclei that are slowed down, the reverse is true. It is the degree of the steepness in the phase encoding gradient slopethat detects the amount of phase shift between the two different points throughout the axis of the gradient. In essence, it implies that a steep gradient creates a large shift in the phase between these two points along the gradient axis. However, the shallow gradient create smaller shift between these two points (Kaut-Roth et al, 2005). Response to Question 2: This part deals with the Nyquist’s theorem. This is a theorem that is used for determining accurately the speed of digitizing frequency of the sine curve. For this to apply, the process of sampling the signal should always be equal or larger than double the signal frequency. When such happens, more points acquired results in better defined frequency. Dwell time is experessed mathematically as: Dwell time = 1/ (2?sweep width) (MRES7004, 2012). Dwell time = 1/(2?20,000) = 2.5 microseconds While acquisition time is, on the other hand, expressed mathematically as: Acquisition time = dwell time ?no. of data points Acquisition time = 0.64 miliseconds. Response to Question 3 This question is based on analyzing diagram of five lines have five processes. The 90 degrees RF pulse (excitation pulse) causes the longitudinal magnetization vector to move along the Z axis into the x-y plane (transverse plane). Due to the magnetic field inhomogeneity... Physics Frequency encoding gradient helps locate signals along the long axis of the part that is imaged.In the event that the slice is selected, the signal that originates from the slice should always be positioned on both axis of the image.In respect to this, the signal position along the axis of the gradient can be determined from its frequency. This is achieved through establishing a difference in the frequency either linearly fashion or through a shift in the signal along the gradient axis, in which case the frequency encoding gradient is turning on.In the course of acquiring the signal it is often the frequency encoding gradient that is turned on. This is explains why it is often referred to asa readout gradient. As has been established through research, the degree of the steepness of the frequency encoding gradient slope often determines the field of view of the anatomy that undergoes scanning and it is known to be the last period of spatially encoding the signal. For the case of the Phase encoding gradient in the diagram, the gradient is to be applied immediately prior to the application of the 180 degrees RF pulse. Whenever it is applied, the net magnetization phase (lose coherence) leading to signal reduction. The phase gradient is altered in every repetition time (TR), following the use of rephrasing gradients for filling different lines in the K space with data. Using the high phase encoding gradient causes a decrease in the signal intensity.

Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 5

Assignment Example This process of accommodation is known as Homeostasis. All living things respond to a stimulus that is a given force or energy form. This energy is formed though a combination of sunlight and chemical energy. The whole process involves chemical energy that in turn lead to certain reactions. This can be related or human body can be used as specimen. As man continues with his struggle of maintaining diet, vitamins have remained one of the darlings that he always seeks. The scientists have considered vitamins as having relatively equal importance, to that of carbohydrates and proteins, in maintaining the life of man. Its importance led the scientist into studying deeply what the vitamins may comprise. This leads to the categorization of the vitamins into types depending on how they contribute to the life of man. Among the categories included vitamin c also known as ascorbic acid. The characteristics of the ascorbic acid, as a compound, contribute to its uses in the life of man. Some of the known characteristics include less stable, soluble in water, only slightly stable in acids and presence potent. Human or nature contributes to the sources of the ascorbic acid in the daily life activities. ... The following is the structure of vitamin C Ascorbic acid/isoascorbic acid exists on earth as radicals at a physiological ph. As indicated in the structure, the ascorbic acid has unpaired electrons contribute by the C atom. The differences between the two radicals occur when there is application of the electron spin technique. The compound radical forms a cyclic structure composed of hydrogen bonds between the carbon atoms and oxygen atoms, and carbon atom to HO (Kastner, 2). The hydrogen bonds surround the sodium ion in ascorbyl radical while in isoascorbyl the bonds surround the potassium ion. Both of the radicals are electroneutral especially when considering the reasoning that they comprise sodium and potassium. The presence of glutathione normally triggers the action, which alters the electronic configuration of the carbon atom back to its original value of 4 (Biophys, 207). This together with the electroneutral properties allows for the transportation through of sodium and the potassium ion through the membrane. The optimum temperature for the function of the radicals is approximately 370C while it has a neutral ph at around 7. The temperature and the ph features always occur at the physiological values. Considering the physiological conditions, there is the presence of the specific enzyme systems, which helps in maintaining the stability of balance between the two radicals (ASC and Iso-ASC) and their corresponding semi- and fully oxidized states (Biophys, 207). The balance of these two (forming the mechanism of complex redox) helps in ensuring that there are suitable physiological conditions. The unbalance between the two may form a platform for the occurrence of many diseases. Uses and application They

What Students Have to Say Middle School Students Essay Example for Free

What Students Have to Say Middle School Students Essay Abstract The central research question of the study asks: how do middle school students experience learning mathematics in middle school mathematics class? The additional research questions that guide the study ask: what are some of the barriers to learning mathematics in middle school mathematics class and what causes students to understand certain mathematics concepts in middle school mathematics class? The purpose of the study is to discover and understand middle school students’ experiences learning mathematics in middle school mathematics classes. Qualitative methods are utilized, and a basic design is employed that uses the interview, document collection, and field notes in order to gather data. The results of the study show repetitive themes communicated by the participants related to how hard middle school mathematics is, how students have to work on mathematics problems by themselves, the fast pace at which middle school students have to work, student disruptions in the mathematics classroom, students playing and talking in the mathematics classroom, and that there are many skills, tools, and resources within the middle school mathematics class that help middle school students learn mathematics. It is concluded that learning mathematics in middle school mathematics classes can be an intimidating experience especially in light of the fact that some of the teachers give little help and that the pace at which some teachers move may be a little too fast for some students. It is also concluded that middle school mathematics students cannot learn mathematics effectively in the presence of competing stimuli such as students talking about things other than mathematics or students simply playing in class. Conversely, however, it is concluded that students have positive experiences learning and understanding mathematics in middle school mathematics classes as a result of certain skills, tools and resources being in place. Based off of the findings of the study, it is recommended that the study be replicated using other American sub-cultures, the â€Å"new† findings of the study be tested as hypotheses, the data from the study be rereviewed, and that the study be completed using observations as the primary means of data collection. Dedication I thought long and hard about to whom (or what) this work should be dedicated. The list would be too many if I were to dedicate to the many possible prospects. As such, I finally remembered who was there with me—unconditionally—up to and through this point in my 44 years on this earth. So, I dedicate this work to myself. Selah. iv Acknowledgments To me, it would make no sense whatsoever if I did not acknowledge my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It would be almost just as nonsensical if I did not acknowledge my wife and children who endured the time I took away from the family as I completed this dissertation—for the former, all praise is due, and, for the latter, thanks for hanging in there with me. This work represents the culmination and expression of a journey I began many years ago. Beyond the journey, the completion of this dissertation is the truest of paradoxes in that it is the beginning of the end. Yes, the acknowledgements already made go without saying; however, and unbeknownst to many, acknowledgement must be made to an individual who is responsible for the impetus and motivation that is and has been an integral part of my journey from having no high school diploma to completing a terminal degree. This individual was the only person who had the effect on  me that engendered a desire to embrace education, so (just under God—smile), one of my greatest acknowledgments go to (the then) Lieutenant Michael Evans (during our tour at the Anti-Submarine Warfare Operations Center [ASWOC] at Guam). I can say with an utmost of certainty I would not be making this acknowledgment if it were not for all of his positive words about the importance of education and the related encouragement about why I should embrace it—Thanks Lieutenant Evans. v Table of Contents Acknowledgments List of Tables CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION Introduction to the Problem Background of the Study Statement of the Problem Purpose of the Study Rationale Research Questions Significance of the Study Definition of Terms Assumptions Limitations Nature of the Study Organization of the Remainder of the Study CHAPTER 2. LITERATURE REVIEW Theoretical Framework of the Study Mathematics Achievement Mathematics Underachievement In the United States Factors that Impact Mathematics Achievement—the Child Other Factors that Effect a Child’s Achievement in Mathematics Factors that Impact Mathematics Achievement—the Teacher vi v ix 1 1 2 5 6 8 11 11 13 14 16 17 18 20 20 21 24 26 33 37. Other Problems Linked to the Teacher that may Impact Student Achievement in Mathematics Factors that Impact Mathematics Achievement—School Climate Summary CHAPTER 3. METHODOLOGY Statement of the Problem Research Questions Research Methodology Research Design Population and Sampling Procedure Panel of Experts Sources of Data Validity Reliability Data Collection Procedures Data Analysis Procedures Ethical Considerations Summary CHAPTER 4. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Descriptive Data Data Analysis Results Summary vii 42 43 52 57 59 60 60 61 63 65 67 70 72 73 80 86 92 94 95 95 103 105. CHAPTER 5. RESULTS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS Summary of the Study Summary of Findings and Conclusion Recommendations Implications REFERENCES APPENDIX A. INTERVIEW QUESTION GUIDE/PROTOCOL APPENDIX B. COMPLETE LIST OF CODES AND THE FREQUENCIES IN WHICH CODES OCCURRED ACROSS ALL CASES/PARTICIPANTS 107 107 109 121 124 127 142 144 viii List of Tables Table 1. Student Demographic Data and Student Dynamics Data for the School District During the 2011-2012 School year 96 Table 2. Participant Descriptive Data Table 3. Participant Responses to Research Question Three 96 119 ix CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION Introduction to the Problem Within American schools, the current standards-based reform prompts school districts to use standardized tests to account for and highlight the academic progress of its students. In short, these standardized tests emphasize core content areas of learning. Of these core areas, mathematics and reading are the subjects upon which most states report (No Child Left Behind [NCLB] Act of 2001, 2002). Between mathematics and reading, today’s American youth experience lower achievement in mathematics than in reading (Boe Shin, 2005; Ketterlin-Geller, Chard, Fien, 2008). Researchers highlight a myriad of factors that have a potential for contributing to why students experience lower achievement in mathematics to include both cognitive and affective explanations (Koutsoulis Campbell, 2001). However, American mathematics underachievement, at least from grades three and four to grades seven and eight, cannot be explained by a number of important factors since factors that impact mathematics achievement have been shown to be consistent across grade levels through much of the research (Boe Shin, 2005). As a result and because little research has been found related to student perceived experiences in mathematics, it is the intent to listen to what the much ignored student in educational research has to say about his or her experiences in mathematics classes. In previous studies, when getting information about or directly from the student, much of the research involves post-secondary students (Anthony, 2000; Moody, 2003). Therefore, the current study attempts to directly garner the collective voices of a small 1 group of regular education middle school students. The study is accomplished by using a qualitative research methodology and a basic research design (Creswell, 2009; Merriam, 2009). Consequently, students participate in face-to-face semi-structured interviews in order to gather data about the experiences they have had in mathematics classes. Incidental to the interview process, documents offered by participants or asked for by the researcher are collected. Additionally, as suggested by Miles and Huberman (1994), field notes are collected as a third source of data. In turn, in an attempt to â€Å"make sense out of text and image data† (Creswell, 2009, p. 183), a systematic process is used to analyze collected data from student participants so as to identify some themes, patterns, and relationships that emerge between the participants’ experiences in mathematics classes and the actual phenomenon of being a part of the middle school mathematics class. Background of the Study Student learning of mathematics has been characterized as being either cognitive or affective (Singh, Granville, Dika, 2002; Winstead, 2004). For a long time, researchers have only considered the cognitive aspects of the student when providing explanations for student learning and academic achievement; however, recent research has considered the affective component of the student when providing explanations for learning and academic achievement (Singh et al. , 2002). Despite the explanation for how students learn, it is now known that there are a number of factors that play a role in student learning and achievement both in general, and more germane to this study, in middle school mathematics classrooms (Stevens, Olivarez, Lan, Tallent-Runnels, 2004). 2 In a study conducted by Singh et al. (2002), a number of important factors were pointed out as salient pieces to students’ learning of mathematics. Within middle school mathematics classrooms, a student’s achievement is a behavioral outcome that is impacted by other factors within that environment  (Schweinle, Meyer, Turner, 2006). More specifically, the researchers of the above mentioned study observed how a mathematics teacher’s instructional practices greatly impact a student’s impetus and subsequent achievement within that environment. Other researchers support the idea that student mathematics achievement is an outcome response that stems from factors such as test-taking, the level of mathematics, task difficulty, self-perception, and utility or intrinsic value (Eklof, 2007; Trautwein, Ludtke, Marsh, Koller, Baumert, 2006; Watt, 2006). In the case of test-taking, evidence points towards students taking low-stakes test less serious than high stakes tests (Eklof, 2007). In one study, it was found that a positive correlation existed between providing eighth grade students with a monetary incentive and their subsequent effort and test achievement (O’Neil, Abedi, Lee, Miyoshi, Mastergeorge, 2004). However, in the same study, it was found that a similar incentive had no effect on twelfth graders and their respective effort and test achievement (O’Neil et al., 2004). Karmos and Karmos (1984) found that the level of motivation to achieve in mathematics was stronger in boys than in girls, but, in a study conducted by Brown and Walberg (1993), no correlation was found between the level of motivation to achieve in mathematics and the sex of the child. All of the aforementioned research has made it known that test-taking is a factor that impacts student mathematics achievement in both negative and positive ways. 3 Other research has shown that there is a connection between the level of mathematics (i. e. , Pre-Algebra, Algebra, or Geometry) and how difficult the mathematics task is and student mathematics achievement (Trautwein et al. , 2006; Watt, 2006). Both studies conducted by the aforementioned researchers showed that despite the level of mathematics or the difficulty of the mathematics task, boys were still more motivated and displayed higher levels of achievement within higher level mathematics classes. The level of mathematics was shown to impact student mathematics achievement in the case of middle school students who show a decline in their ability to obtain success in mathematics courses (Eccles et al. , 1993). Another study showed this same diminished achievement ability in mathematics at the high school level (Chouinard Roy, 2008). A study conducted by Watt (2006) showed, although indirect, the difficulty of mathematics tasks impacts a female student’s mathematics achievement, choices in advanced mathematics classes, and choices in mathematics related career choices. In similar fashion, student achievement in mathematics has been impacted by such things as the student’s own self perception of mathematics as well as the student’s intrinsic and extrinsic values. Students’ achievement at higher levels of mathematics courses dwindles as they get into higher grades as these higher levels of mathematics are perceived by students as being more challenging (Eccles et al. , 1993; Chouinard Roy, 2008). In this same vein, Skaalvik and Skaalvik (2004) found that boys may perceive themselves as being better at mathematics than girls. Other literature suggests that mathematics achievement can be an outcome construct of one’s intrinsic and extrinsic value (Ryan Deci, 2000). Andrews and Hatch (2002) clarify that intrinsic value is the desire to do something that is self-satisfying while extrinsic value is the desire to do 4 something to get an outside reward (such as pay). Unfortunately, factors that deal with the student and teacher are not the only variables impacting student performance within the United States. Other researchers have pointed towards the climate of the school as yet another piece that effects mathematics achievement for students within the United states with the brunt of the effects of diminished mathematics achievement being felt by students at the middle school level (Cohen, Pickeral, McCloskey, 2009; Good Weinstein, 1986; Kuperminc, Leadbeater, Emmons, Blatt, 1997; Rutter, 1983). According to Boe and Shin (2005), data from the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) presents a larger problem that involves American students lagging behind other industrialized nations in mathematics achievement at all grade levels. For American students in the middle school, 31 percent of included industrialized nations scored better in mathematics. For many of these American students, there are a myriad of factors that come into play that impedes access to and achievement in mathematics; many of these factors have been proven to negatively impact a student’s overall success in mathematics (Center for Teaching/Learning of Mathematics, as cited in Newman, 2008; Pustjens, Van de gaer, Van Damme, Onghena, Van Landeghem, 2007; Fuchs et al.  , 2008; Newman, 2008; Walsh, 2008; White-Clark, DiCarlo, Gilchriest, 2008). As for middle school mathematics students, providing some explanations of the phenomena of learning mathematics has become a continued priority of research (Singh et al. , 2002). Statement of the Problem There is a gap in literature regarding regular education middle school students’ experiences learning mathematics in mathematics classes. This gap in literature 5  perpetuates a practice problem for administrators of education as administrators focus more on the needs and wants of the administration instead of the needs and wants of the student (Armstead, Bessell, Sembiante, Plaza, 2010). For many of the studies completed concerning today’s youth, the research does not taken into account the perceptions of the student except in cases in which the research involves post-secondary students (Angier Povey, 1999; Anthony, 2000; Moody, 2003). Armstead et al.(2010) suggest that when soliciting information directly from the student, a clearer picture of what has and has not changed in the classroom is garnered. Furthermore, DeFur and Korinek cite the importance of getting information directly from students and state that, overall, getting information directly from the student is the equivalent of a â€Å"powerful tool for school improvement† (2009, p. 15). Preble and Taylor (2008) put it succinctly by stating the voice of the student is a valuable source of information. As a result of the aforementioned absence of the much ignored student in educational research and because little research has been found that asks middle school students about their experiences learning mathematics within the mathematics classroom, it is the goal of this dissertation to investigate those experiences as perceived by this group of students. Purpose of the Study Ultimately, the purpose of this study is to discover and understand middle school students’ experiences learning mathematics in mathematics class. Collected data regarding these experiences will more than likely have spoken to the larger problem that involves American students lagging behind other industrialized nations in mathematics achievement at all grade levels (Ross, 1992; Tschannen-Moran et al. , as cited in Charalambous, Philippou, Kyriakides, 2008; Chouinard Roy, 2008). In American 6 schools, underachievement in mathematics has placed us far behind other industrialized nations (Boe Shin, 2005). Much research has been done in an attempt to explain possible causes to mathematics underachievement, and this study is completed in order to provide further contributions to that body of research. Research on mathematics at the middle school level is important as achievement in mathematics at the middle school level may determine course enrollment and mathematics choices in high school (Singh et al. , 2002). Additionally, mathematics achievement at the middle school level is an indicator of other things such as students’ abilities to handle advanced mathematics courses that are predicated on middle school mathematics skills. Moreover, mathematics achievement at the middle school level makes available or limits postsecondary and occupational opportunities for students as they move from childhood to adulthood (Gonzales et al. , 2008; Singh et al. , 2002). Unfortunately, while there is a great deal of literature on mathematics that highlights such things as mathematics achievement as well as other mathematics phenomena, little is done in terms of interviewing the middle school student directly when it comes to mathematics research (Angier Povey, 1999). To date, when students are involved directly in mathematics research, the participants are postsecondary students (Anthony, 2000; Moody, 2003). As a result, the purpose of this dissertation is to listen to sixth, seventh, and eighth grade middle school students from one middle school within a large school district in the eastern United States regarding their experiences learning mathematics in mathematics classes. In a few past studies, getting information directly from the student provided for an assessment of the needs and wants of the student as opposed to the needs and wants of 7  the administration (Armstead, Bessell, Sembiante, Plaza, 2010). In the same fashion, by soliciting the thoughts and experiences of the student, a clearer picture of what has and has not changed in the classroom can be ascertained (Armstead et al. , 2010). Having provided a collection of experiences pertaining to learning mathematics in mathematics classes, data students share about such experiences should resonate in the form of their beliefs, attitudes, likes, dislikes, motivation, lack of motivation, etc. when it comes to being a part of a middle school mathematics class. By gaining this type of information, the proposed study is also meant to contribute to mathematics instruction by providing teachers, principals, superintendents, and curriculum specialists with data that highlights both impediments and compliments to middle school students’ acquisition of and overall achievement in mathematics courses. Simultaneously, the intent of this study is to yield data that may also help school administrators to determine whether or not the proper resources are available for students to learn mathematics as well as to train school personnel and teachers in matters regarding the presentation of mathematics concepts. Rationale A study such as this one requires the view of the participants being studied—the students. Accordingly, a Social Constructivist philosophical stance has been undertaken that follows under the assumption that â€Å"individuals seek understanding of the world in which they live and work† (Creswell, 2009, p.8). For many of the studies completed concerning today’s youth, the research does not taken into account the perceptions of the student (Angier Povey, 1999). When gathering information directly from the student, much of the research involves post-secondary students (Anthony, 2000; Moody, 2003). Therefore, the current study takes the Social Constructivist stance in an attempt to 8 construct some meaning from what middle school students have to say concerning their experiences in mathematics classes. In many studies, listening to what the student has to say about his or her own experiences pertaining to a specific phenomenon provides for an assessment of the needs and wants of the student as opposed to the needs and wants of the administration (Armstead, Bessell, Sembiante, Plaza, 2010). In the same fashion, listening to what students have to say about their own experiences provides a clearer picture of what has and has not changed in the classroom (Armstead et al. , 2010). Although little has been gathered in the way of actually interviewing and listening to the middle school student concerning mathematics in general, the research suggests the importance of considering that actual words of the student as, in the case of the current study, listening to the experiences of the middle school student regarding their experiences learning mathematics in mathematics class can be the equivalent of a â€Å"powerful tool for school improvement† (DeFur Korinek, 2009, p. 15). Preble and Taylor (2008) conclude that the voice of the student is a valuable source of data. Mertens (1998) suggests that qualitative research usually dictates a Social Constructivist approach. In identifying the phenomena as described by middle school students, such a stance should provide for the collection of qualitative data surrounding their experiences in mathematics classes through â€Å"multiple stages of data collection and the refinement and interrelationship of categories of information† (Creswell, 2009, p. 13). As part of a larger basic design, the collection of data within this study is accomplished through face-to-face interviews (of which middle school students are the participants), the collection of report card documents, and the collection of field notes. Collected data is constantly compared with emerging categories of information (i. e. , relationships between 9 the students’ experiences and their actual beliefs, attitudes, likes, dislikes, motivation, and/or lack of motivation when it comes to being a part of a middle school mathematics class (2009). In short, the Social Constructivist, qualitative, basic approach of this study provides for the most complete investigative and exploratory coverage of the phenomenon experienced by middle school students in the form their collective experiences in middle school mathematics classes. Because little research has been found that asks the middle school student directly through interviews about his or her experiences within the mathematics classroom, this study is a rational choice and contributes to current mathematics practices used in America with the overall goal being to get children to do better in mathematics. Additional rationale behind conducting a study such as this one evolves from following recommendations for further research by previous researchers surrounding motivation and mathematics. Such recommendations include (a) â€Å"further research on the relationship between test-taking motivation and test achievement† (Eklof, 2007, p. 311), (b) how different aspects of affect interact with each other (Hannula, 2006), (c) the â€Å"need for more research regarding the measurement of affective and motivational variables† (Singh et al., 2002, p, 331), or, in the case of this study, (d) what are the learning experiences of middle school students in mathematics classes. The reason behind conducting a study dealing with students’ perceived experiences in learning mathematics is to contribute to a body of knowledge in which a gap exists. Ultimately, this dissertation is closely linked to providing educational practitioners and educational law makers with some understanding of the phenomenon at hand that could be used to further fine tune teacher quality and selection, modify school—based as well as educational 10  policy in general, create relevant, appropriate, and applicable curriculum, and/or create appropriate placements for students during their matriculation through middle school. In this sense, doing a study such as this one is worthwhile. Research Questions The central research question that guides the dissertation is as follows: R1. How do middle school students experience learning mathematics in middle school mathematics class? The additional research questions that guide the dissertation are as follows: R2. What are some of the barriers to learning mathematics in middle school mathematics class? R3. What causes students to understand certain mathematics concepts in middle school mathematics class? Significance of the Study The current standards-based reform is largely predicated upon education being conducted utilizing research-based ideals (Deshler et al. , 2001). The reform has been occurring in order to provide some cohesion and consistency across local and state educational lines. Engaging in research-based educational practices also provides for a standardization of such practices that is the sounding board and foundation for our current standards-based educational practices and the larger No Child Left Behind (NCLB) policy. In this same vein, the current study is significant. At a federal level, there are many boards and councils that attempt to document mathematics achievement as well as provide suggestions to improve such achievement (Gonzales et al. , 2008; National Mathematics Advisory Panel [NMAP], 2008; National 11 Council of Teachers of Mathematics [NCTM], 2000). In an attempt to continue to contribute to the larger body of research that mandates proven ideas and practices, mathematics research has become a major priority (McKinney, Chappell, Berry, Hickman, 2009). As such, the current study is being offered in order to augment research that seeks to contribute to current mathematics practices used in America. Of course, the overall goal is to get children to achieve at higher levels in mathematics. In terms of mathematics learning and achievement, much has been written about mathematics achievement as an outcome variable that is preceded by a multitude of factors that impact the subsequent behavioral response of students in mathematics classrooms (Schweinle et al. , 2006; Singh et al. , 2002). As a result, doing a study such as this one is in keeping with recommendations for further research by previous researchers. Within the realm of identifying the experiences of middle school students learning mathematics in mathematics classes, a gap exists in the literature when it comes to such experiences as perceived by these students that necessitates that further research be conducted. Studying this area in mathematics contributes to an area of research that has not taken into account what the actual middle school students say about their experience learning mathematics in the middle school mathematics classroom. Overall, the significance of conducting this study is closely linked to providing educational practitioners and educational law makers with some scientific information that could be used to further fine tune teacher quality and selection, modify school—based as well as educational policy in general, create relevant, appropriate, and applicable curriculum, and/or create appropriate placements for students during their matriculation through school. 12 Definition of Terms The following terms are used operationally in this dissertation according to the definitions provided: Affective learning. The dimension of learning that is concerned with the reactions, feelings, and emotions of the learning (Buchanan Hyde, 2008). Attitude. A predisposition to think or act in a particular way in response to a specific stimulus (Fitzsimmons Barr, 1997). Child. An individual who has not attained the age of consent for medical care or for research activities in the jurisdiction in which the research will be conducted (Jonsen, 1978). Coding. The process of organizing qualitative research information in chunks or segments before ascribing any interpretation or meaning to the collected information (Rossman Rallis, 1998). Content standards. Broad, measurable statements about what students should know and be able to do (MSDE, n. d. d). Cross-sectional. A process used to gather data over the course of a few weeks as opposed to over several months as with a longitudinal process (Creswell, 2009). Mathematics Belief. Describing what students see as true in mathematics, in the classroom, and within themselves (Op ’T Eynde, De Corte, Verschaffel, 2002). Middle school. A school configuration in the United States, which in recent decades, includes students in grade six through eight, or occasionally grade five through eight (National Center for Education Statistics [NCES], 2000). 13 Middle School Mathematics. Middle school mathematics is a specific set of learning expectations for the middle school level that emphasizes the learning, development, and strengthening of computational fluency with fractions, decimals, and integers, measurement, statistics, problem-solving, reasoning and proof, communication, connections, representation, and, the ability to represent ideas algebraically and geometrically (NCTM, 2000). Nuremberg Code. A set of standards established for the conduct of human research as a result of Nazi leaders committing and conspiring to commit war crimes against humanity during World War II (Byerly, 2009). Social constructivist philosophical stance. A basic set of beliefs that guide a researcher’s actions during research. A Social Constructivist stance is a stance that follows under the assumption that â€Å"individuals seek understanding of the world in which they live and work† (Creswell, 2009, p. 8). Standardized test. A tool used (either in paper and pencil or on the computer) to measure student academic achievement (Higgins, 2009). Standards-based reform. â€Å"An attempt to boost the academic achievement of all students by establishing rigorous educational standards for all, aligning instruction with those standards, and using accountability assessments to measure progress toward meeting those standards† (Voltz Fore, 2006, p. 331). Assumptions The following assumptions, based off of the characteristics of qualitative research outlined by Creswell (2007), are present in the study: 14. 1. Data is collected in the students’ natural setting where students experience the phenomena. 2. In qualitative research, the researcher is the primary instrument. In this sense, although data is collected by conducting face-to-face interviews, gathering documents, and taking field notes, that data is mediated through the researcher (Patton, 2002). 3. Multiple sources of data (the interview, documents, and field notes) are collected. 4. A variety of procedures are employed in order to check the accuracy of findings within the study (Gibbs, 2007). 5. In an attempt to â€Å"make sense out of text and image data† (Creswell, 2009, p. 183), a systematic process is used to analyze collected data from student participants so as to identify themes, patterns, and relationships that emerge between the participants’ experiences in mathematics classes and the actual phenomenon of being a part of the middle school mathematics class. 6. The research follows under the assumption that themes and categories emerge as the research process progresses. 7. An inductive form of data analysis is used. 8. The study uses a Social Constructivist lens. 9. The researcher makes interpretations of what research participants reveal in each interview as well as what the researcher collects in terms of documents. It is assumed that such interpretations cannot be separated from the researcher’s own background, history, context, and prior understanding (Creswell, 2009). 10. A holistic account of the phenomenon under study is reported. Additionally, 15 11. The sample size is large enough to provide an understanding of the experiences of middle school students learning mathematics in mathematics classes.