Consumer Behaviour †Theory and Practice The WritePass Journal

Consumer Behaviour – Theory and Practice 1.0 Introduction and Discussion – 20% Consumer Behaviour – Theory and Practice 1.0 Introduction and Discussion – 20%2.0 Critical Analysis (Theory) – 50%2.1 Definition of Consumer Boycott2.2 Advantages of Boycotting2.3 Disadvantages of Boycotting2.4 Example of Successful Boycott2.5 Solution for Companies to handle boycott3.0 Conclusion – 20% 1.0 Introduction and Discussion – 20% 2.0 Critical Analysis (Theory) – 50%2.1 Perception2.2 Attitudes2.2.1 Definition of Attitudes2.2.2 The functions of Attitudes2.2.3 Attitude Models2.2.4 Measuring Attitudes2.2.5 Marketer changing consumer attitudes3.0 Conclusion – 20% Reference ListRelated 1.0 Introduction and Discussion – 20% Consumer buying is important to society because it is a key component of the economic system of many countries, it can influences by political, religious, spiritual, environmental, social and cultural aspects of society (Jim Blythe, 1997). Nowadays, consumers are more toward to ethical purchasers because they are more aware that their consumption pattern is part of global political and economic system (Solomon, M., G. Bamossy, S. Askegaard and M. Hogg, 2009). Generally, consumers reflect their values and beliefs by what they do or do not buy (Dickinson and Hollander, 1991). For example, consumer perceptions will signify the strengths and weaknesses of countries by favouring or dislike goods produced in a particular country. Sometimes consumer negative experience generate boycott of a company’s products, or even protests against everything from a politically undesirable country by discourage consumption of products from certain companies or countries, like boycotting Israel products. Boycotting is a form of ethical purchase behaviour. The term â€Å"boycott† arose in the year 1880 after Captain Charles Cunningham Boycott, an English land agent in Ireland whose ruthlessness in evicting tenants led his employees to refuse all cooperation with him and his family (Hazem Jamjourm, 2008). According to an Environics, the trend to boycott and warn against those irresponsible companies are strongest in North America and Oceania, and Northern Europe, while in Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Latin America taken boycott is very unlikely (Rob Harrison, Terry Newholm, Deirdre Shaw, 2005). Boycotts have become a pervasive and effective instrument of consumer dissatisfaction in today’s marketplace. Economist (1990, p. 69) writes: ‘Consumer boycotts are becoming an epidemic for one simple reason: they work to initiate organizational and social change’; a recently conducted survey reports that 50% of Americans claim to have taken part in a product boycott (Dolliver, 2000). Between 1988 and 1995, over 200 firms and over a thousand products were actually subject to organised boycotts in the US. On the other hand, according to the Co-operative Banks latest research the value of boycotts in 2007 was up by 15% in the food and drink sector and 20% in the clothing s ector. Money talks, they say. So listen to these figures food and drink boycotts in 2007 in the UK  were valued at  £1,144m, travel boycotts  £817m, and clothing boycotts  £338m (Ethical Consumer, 2008). 2.0 Critical Analysis (Theory) – 50% 2.1 Definition of Consumer Boycott Boycotts are a widely used movement tactic to gain influence over corporations to adopt some change in practice or policy. It can be anti-corporate, labour, and other social change movements (Manheim, 2001). In this few years, a number of theorists have studies and outline the theory of boycott. Smith (1990b:258) explain boycott was essentially a moral act; an expression by the consumer of disapproval of the firms activities and disassociation from them. Friedman (1999, p.4) defines consumer boycotts as â€Å"an attempt by one or more parties to achieve certain objectives by urging individual consumers to refrain from making selected purchases in the marketplace.† Laidler (1968) defines boycotting as â€Å"an organized effort to withdraw and induce others to withdraw from social or business relations with another.† From different view of the theorists, consumer boycotts can be explain in more specifically that consumer boycotts is a collective act from the consumers to refusing buying a company’s services or products, consumers express their dissatisfaction with intention and make political claims about corporate practices. 2.2 Advantages of Boycotting Although boycott would seriously hurt the business, in fact, boycott has advantages. The main advantage of boycott is a way that consumers can use their power for positive social change. Another advantage is the exposure of irresponsible company with less people buying their products and buying substitute goods. As result, demand and supply for substitute goods will increase to enhance competition in the market and firms will reduce their process as a result to compete and also to gain the extra consumers this will benefit the smaller firms to gain more of the market share (Baumeister, Roy F., 1998). 2.3 Disadvantages of Boycotting Boycotts are an unwelcome act to marketers because firms targeted by a well-supported consumer boycott have apparently failed to sustain a sufficient customer focus. In the recent world, most of the companies are sensitive to boycotts because they can have serious financial implications (Pittman, Thane S., 1998). Observably, there are lots of disadvantages to boycotts though. One of drawback is boycotting could be a large reduction in jobs. After boycotting a company, there can cause an unfavourable impact on individuals and communities which become innocent victims of the economic damage. Secondly, the company reputation will be harmed as a result on the impact of consumer boycott. Hence, this is not good for company as it would need to lower its prices to get back the consumer purchasing demand. Somehow, consumers boycotting not purchase particular countries produce cause a loss of worldwide specialisation and technology in third world country because most of the company may not do business with them. Also this action may limit consumer choice from the market. Another disadvantage to the company is that the company budgets will get ruined and will need to be analysed and changed. Furthermore the gross domestic product of the host country could fall. Besides that, there can also result irregularly violence and antipathy from the boycotts. As conclude, although consumer boycotting brings lot of drawback to companies as well as it also bring advantages. Marketer should make a balance view of boycott and learn from other companies’ mistake to enhance the operation and create positive value to consumers. 2.4 Example of Successful Boycott In fact, empirical examinations of corporate recognition to boycotters demands found that only a quarter of all publicized boycotts were successful (Friedman, 1985). Boycotts can be successful because when result in increased public scrutiny of the company. This in turn will cause concerns inside the company about lost profits from the loss in consumer interest and companies are always concerned about their financial position. Countless successful boycott examples could be given of the boycott in use by many different groups of people in past centuries. One well-known successful boycotting example is boycotting Barclays Bank in year 1986. Boycotter choosing to boycott Barclays Bank because they have strongly believed Barclays’ company as the largest bank in South Africa supported apartheid is a wrong consequence. Besides that, consumers participate in the boycott may have been motivated by the belief that supporting boycott could helping people from South Africa by forcing Barclays’ withdrawal and speeding the downfall of the apartheid regime, secondly is the consumers desire not be associated with a company that directly or indirectly benefits from apartheid, a â€Å"clean hands† motivation; and lastly it show that a reluctance to be seen patronizing the â€Å"apartheid bank,† an avoidance of unseemly conspicuous consumption. As result, Barclays was forced to pull out of the co untry after protests against its involvement during the apartheid regime. Also at that time, Barclays led to a drop in its share of the UK market from 27 percent to 15 percent. Consumer boycotts upon environmental arguments are a strategy commonly used by many environmental NGOs. Procter and Gamble has been focus of a long running boycott from the Uncaged Campaign due to the use of animal testing. PG declare that animals are used in their ‘product safety research’, as well as cats and dogs in pet food experiments, Uncaged’s investigations continue to expose disturbing examples of PG’s ongoing involvement in a painful and dangerous animal tests. PG test on animals because of their desire to get new chemical ingredients on the market and to make as much money as possible. Garrett’s (1987) review of the boycott literature hypothesized six factors in boycott participation: the awareness of consumers; the values of potential consumer participants; the consistency of boycott goals with participant attitudes; the cost of participation; social pressure; and the credibility of the boycott leadership. However, according to the report on boycott PG Day 2010 actions, the fourteenth global boycott PG Day on 8 May 2010 has ratcheted up the pressure on PG to stop their cruel and unreasonable animal testing. Moreover, another famous boycott case is the Nestlà ©. A number of groups, many of which are coordinated by the International Baby Milk Action Network (IBMAN), have called for the boycott of Nestlà © products due to Nestlà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s marketing practices in promoting infant formula in poor countries. IBMAN points to the dangers of formula feeding in developing countries (most notably, lack of clean water to use in mixing formula powder). Further, it maintains that Nestlà © is exploiting susceptible customers and contributes to increased infant mortality. To examined the boycotters’ intentions to participate, motivations for participating, and actual product choice, as result their participation is based on product judgments and their perceived badly of Nestlà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s actions, boycott participation and brand image. According to observers of boycotts, boycotters have this feeling because they are referring to the ‘moral outrage’ (Smith 1990). The latest Update of Baby Milk Actions Boycott News, the international boycott is having an important impact on Nestle, not only in direct economic terms but also in manipulate damage to its corporate image, management morale and management time the company must spend struggle it. 2.5 Solution for Companies to handle boycott It is not possible to study consumer boycott effectiveness without studying the target’s reaction to the protest. A satisfactory response, complying with a campaign’s demands, can stop a boycott before it has even got under way, whereas a reaction that is deemed insufficient or abusive could potentially recruit new members to the campaign. Smith identified four key types of management response: ignore, fight, fudge/explain or comply (1990b: 254). One increasingly popular solution used by marketers is to set up a joint task force with the boycotting organization to try to iron out the problem. For instance, in the US, McDonald’s used this approach with the Environmental Defence Fund, which was concerned about its use of polystyrene containers and bleached paper. The company agreed to test a composting programme and to switch to plain brown bags and to eliminate the use of antibiotics in such products as poultry. 3.0 Conclusion – 20% In conclusion, consumer boycott is an effort to punish those irresponsible companies. Yet consumer boycotts often have a large number of participants, and sometimes be successful in changing the behaviour of firms. Generally, participation may be driven by individual motivations such as guilt, the maintenance of self-esteem, and the avoidance of dissonance; individuals may seek a thrill of victory; or behaviour may be influenced by a false consensus bias. Despite the problems of causation, many writers agree that there is persuasive and widespread evidence of boycott actions delivering on social or environmental goals. Examples include PG anti animal testing in production; keep away from Barclays Bank apartheid in South Africa and persuade Nestle to take responsible the problem in third world. Obviously consumer boycotts cannot effectively address the full range of social and environmental issues, because it requires choice and competitive markets to function. Finally, consumer boycotts have the potential to harm many innocent parties, including guiltless workers and the various economic entities that depend on the boycotted firms. 2) B) Discuss the various ways in which marketers can attempt to influence consumer perception and attitudes, using examples to illustrate your argument. (60%) 1.0 Introduction and Discussion – 20% According to International Monetary Fund (2010), analyse that in year 2010 the world spending is at GDP 62,909274. United States have the highest GDP, which are 14,657,800. Consumer is the most important person to marketer because marketer takes into account consumer likes and dislikes on the production of goods and services. Marketing and consumer behaviour are basically connected.   By clearly understanding of consumer behaviour to support all marketing activity, it is a necessity to organizations for being marketing orientated and thus profitable. However, to understanding what consumers buy or not to buy is the most challenging concept to marketers. As consumer buying behaviour is difficult to be understanding clearly because factors affecting how consumers make decision are extremely complex. Buying behaviour is deeply rooted in psychology with dashes of sociology. The reason is, since every person in the world is different, it is impossible to have simple rules that explain how buying decisions are made. In general, there are three main factors that influence consumers buying decision which are personal, psychological and social. Besides that, involvement also can be a major factor in consumer’s decision making. Because consumers often form emotional attachments to products, for example most people would be familiar with the feeling of having fallen in love with a product. But, studying consumers can help marketers improve strategies. Through obtaining a view into how consumers think, feel, reason and choose. Marketers can use this information to design products and services that will be in demand. By understanding customers better it can improved trading relationships. Next is can reduced cost and greater efficiency, for example, through better targeting of marketing efforts, which reduced the cost per sale. Third is improved competitiveness, by understanding consumer, marketer can through consumer feeling adapt in marketing practice to result more effective. Lastly, it will gain more sales. 2.0 Critical Analysis (Theory) – 50% 2.1 Perception Before making purchase, consumers go through series of steps. These steps include problem recognition, information search, alternative evaluation, purchase decision and post purchase evaluation (Appendix 1). In the information search process, psychological element that influences consumer is perception which influences the way consumers receive information. Jim Blythe (2001) explains perception is the way people build up a view of the world. While William D.Wells and David Prensky (1996) define perception as the process by which an individual uses his or her perceptual processes to selects stimuli, organizes information about those stimuli, and interprets the information to form a coherent, meaningful view of the world (Appendix 2). Stimuli are inputs into any one of the five senses – vision, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. The explanation of the stimuli can be subjective on individual’s environment that becomes the basis for the behavioural processes of learning, attitude formation, and decision making. At the same time, it has cultural, social, economic, and psychological bases since it requires the selection, organization, and interpretation of what the individual senses. For example, consumers manage to purchase certain products and leave the store without becoming overwhelmed. This is because of their background characteristics, past experiences and motivations to satisfy their needs help to assign meaning to the stimuli and recognize products that will offer certain benefits to them. Therefore, marketers should design their packages so that consumers will be able to distinguish them from other stimuli in this hectic retail environment. For instance, Innocent created a range of smoothies especially targeted to kids. In the packaging of this range of products, the Innocent brand identity is enriched with some funny details on the logo, in order to immediately distinguish this product from the others and appeal the children. Perception plays important part in marketing programmes, where the use of pictures, images, spoken and written language, colour, noise, music, tastes and smells are used in such abundance. At the information search stage communication campaigns should be informative in nature, so when marketers make an advertisement it should provide information about the product and its attributes to consumers. This helps in creating brand awareness and dispelling doubts regarding the product among consumers. Individual’s perception is unique and powerful in its inferences for marketers. Usually, consumer purchase will take place when individual perceives that product or service will offer benefits of needs. Hence, marketers must understand how perception works in order to communicate successfully a product’s benefits. In reality, consumers exposed to advertising and promotion do experience information overload.   Hence, the perceptual process includes a component called selective perception, which allows individuals to screen out some stimuli while allowing other stimuli to be perceived. Therefore marketer can use clear communication as strategy. Advertisements should be copy tested to ensure consumers get the message. Things to avoid include incorrect understanding of imagery, inappropriate humour, and double entendre. Also, lengthy communications are less likely to pass through consumer’s mental filters. Perception is also subjective. People understand things differently. The manner in which consumers organize and interpret information is individualistic and biased. That is, people experience subjective perception; perception deviated from reality due to individual differences in the perceptual process. 2.2 Attitudes 2.2.1 Definition of Attitudes The next step of consumer buying process is evaluation of alternatives which information is gathered. Another key element that influences the evaluation process is the attitude of the consumer towards the product. Attitudes are learned, it will be affected by new information and experience. Consumers use perception and learning to gather new information and combine with knowledge about product’s quality and benefits. This serves the basis for evaluating the choice products from which consumer will make purchase decision. An attitude is how positive or negative, favourable or unfavourable, or pro or con a person feels toward an object. This definition views attitudes as a feeling or an evaluative reaction to objects. A second definition represents Attitude can be defined as ‘a learned tendency to respond to an object in a consistently favourable or unfavourable way’ (Onkvisit and Shaw, 1994). This definition is slightly more complicated than the first because it incorporates the notion of a readiness to respond toward an object. A third definition of attitude popularized by cognitively oriented social psychologists is: ‘an enduring organization of motivational, emotional, perceptual, and cognitive process with respect to some aspect of the individual’s world’ (Krech and Crutchfield, 1948). This views attitudes as being made up of three components: (1) the cognitive, or knowledge, component, (2) the affective, or emotional, component, and (3) the cognitive, or behavioural-tendency, component. As conclude, an attitude is a learned tendency to act in a consistent way toward an object based on feeling and opinions that result from an evaluation of knowledge about the object. Yet, attitude formation is the process by which individuals form feeling or opinions toward other people, products, ideas, activities, and other objects in their environment (Michael R. Solomon, 2004). Attitude toward object is combine with three factors, first is learned knowledge form previous experience, second is evaluation based on individual’s knowledge, last is tendency to act based on evaluation. Attitudes are important to marketers because consumer will based on their attitude towards the product to buy or not to buy. But marketer cannot directly observed attitudes as attitudes are the result of motivation, perception, and learning. By understanding consumer attitudes, marketers can use interviews and surveys to measure consumers’ attitudes. 2.2.2 The functions of Attitudes Daniel Katz (1960) has developed functional theory of attitudes to explain how attitudes facilitate social behaviour. Attitudes provide individuals to apply their knowledge to an evaluation of alternative products and, consequently, to make faster, easier, and less risky purchase decisions to satisfy their needs. Obviously, attitudes help individuals with four primary functions, which are utilitarian, value-expressive, ego-defensive and knowledge function. To clarify, utilitarian function is gain utilitarian benefit from the product, while value expressive is product express individual’s values and lifestyle, and ego defensive is about a product that support self-concept and finally knowledge function is organize individual’s knowledge about product in his or her environment. 2.2.3 Attitude Models Consumers’ attitudes to products can be complex. They vary according to valence, extremity, resistance, persistence and confidence (Jim Blythe, 2008). Attitude has three components: affect, which is about the consumer’s emotional attachment to the product; behaviour, involves the person’s intentions to do something with regard to an attitude object and cognition, which is to do with the conscious thought processes. These three components are known as tri-component attitude models or as the ABC model of attitudes (Appendix 3). This model emphasizes the interrelationships between knowing, feeling and doing. Consumers’ attitudes towards a product cannot be determined simply by identifying their beliefs about it. The second attitude model is multi-attribute models. This model is unlike tri-component models cause it focus on an object’s multiple attributes and suggest individual’s attitude toward the object is the result of the aggregation of his or her evaluations of each one. There are three components is this models too, which are attributes on which the object is evaluated, beliefs about whether an object possesses the attribute and an evaluation of the importance or relevance of each attribute in determining the individual’s overall attitude toward the object (Martin Fishbein, 1963). This model is emphasizes that beliefs and evaluations both require evaluation of knowledge. Next is the attitude-toward-the-ad model. This model is an effort to understand how advertising influences consumer attitudes toward a particular product (Terence A. Shimp, 1981). Variables in these models include where, when, and in what context the as is seen as well as the effectiveness of the ad in generating feelings and dispelling negative beliefs. Mean that, an advertisement influences not only consumer’s attitudes about the ad itself but also their view of the product. As conclude, attitude-toward-the-ad model is consumers form feeling and judgments as the result of their exposure to an ad. 2.2.4 Measuring Attitudes In order for marketers to use that various attitude models, they need to measure all of these beliefs and evaluative components. There are three common methods used to measure attitude components. First is the observation of behaviour, second is qualitative investigations then attitude scales. Each has unique advantages, depending on the circumstances and all are helpful in determining the strength and direction of particular attitudes. The most often use by marketer is the attitude scales like consumer survey questionnaires with quantitative scale taken by consumers. In fact, this method may be hard for participants to recall information or to tell the truth about a controversial question. 2.2.5 Marketer changing consumer attitudes Marketer can attempt to influence consumer’s belief, affect, and conative intention by providing information about the attributes and benefits consumers use to form attitudes by influencing the social context in which consumers form those attitudes. For example, usually consumers look to members of their reference group for information and advice, marketers use communication tool to influence consumers and the information and advice can change their attitudes. In actuality, marketer changes consumers’ beliefs or evaluation of the product by promote their product offers benefit and will satisfy their needs better than competitors or previously product. The strategies marketers employ to influence and promote attitude change include adding benefits, changing product or package, changing the criteria for evaluation and linking products to existing favourable attitudes. The most often strategies use to influence attitude change are adding benefits and changing product or package. To enhanced product value, the product must offer multiple benefits to consumers. As consumer’s attitudes will become more positive by product’s perceived value increase. For example, Johnson’s Baby Oil claims to soften a baby’s skin, condition adults’ skin, remove makeup, and promote tanning. Besides that, consumers often form attitudes in response to changes that improve a product’s ability to deliver benefits. Softso ap, for instance, introduced liquid hand soap and in turn favourably influenced consumers’ attitudes about the convenience of the product. An alternative to changing the product itself is changing its packaging. For example, Jif peanut butter available in a plastic container. As result, changing package consumers’ attitudes are formed in part by evaluating packaging features that offer convenience and environmental benefits. The drawback of this changes will increased costs for company to maintain competition within market place and maintain their share hold of market. Also works against the consumer, as newer products make older product obsolete, resulting in more costs to remain current. 3.0 Conclusion – 20% In conclusion, according to Katona and Strumpel (1978), attitudes and perception are closely related. Both concepts tend to affect one’s perceptions and shape one’s behaviour. To identify consumer perception and attitude concept and function, several theories and models were represented. This is to focuses attention on how some of the factors that can contribute to those concepts and how they are evaluated by the consumers. Besides that, some examples are listed to support and identify various way that marketer attempt to influence consumer perception and attitudes. Lastly, it is useful that marketers have a better understanding on consumer’s attitudes and perception so that strategies can be applied in a proper manner to gain competitive advantages from other competitors and also can capture consumers’ attention for products to leading successful. Reference List Jim Blythe, (1997) The Essence of Consumer Behaviour. London, Prentice Hall. Solomon, M., G. Bamossy, S. Askegaard and M. Hogg (2009) Consumer Behaviour: A European Perspective. FT Prentice Hall (4th Edition). Dickinson, R., and S.C. Hollander, Consumer Votes, Journal of Business Research, Vol.23, No.1, 9-20. Hazem Jamjourm, (2008) BDS The Global Anti-Apartheid Movement. Badil Resource Resource Center. Rob Harrison, Terry Newholm, Deirdre Shaw, (2005) The Ethical Consumer. London, Sage Publications Ltd. The Economist (1990), Boycotting Corporate America, The Economist, May 26, 69-70. Dolliver, M. (2000). Boomers as boycotters. Adweek, (Eastern edn), 12 April, 44. Ethical Consumer, (2008) Consumer Boycotts. [Internet] Available from: ethicalconsumer.org/Boycotts/aboutboycotts.aspx [Accessed 10 April 2011] Manheim, J. B. (2001) The death of a thousand cuts: Corporate campaigns and the attack on the corporation. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum. Smith, N. Craig (1990), Morality and the Market: Consumer Pressure for Corporate Accountability, London: Routledge. Friedman, M. (1999). Consumer Boycotts, New York: Routledge. Laidler, H. (1968). Boycotts and the Labor Struggle: Economic and Legal Aspects, New York: Russell and Russell. Baumeister, Roy F. (1998), â€Å"The Self,† in Handbook of Social Psychology, Daniel T. Gilbert, Susan T. Fiske and Gardner Lindzey ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill. Pittman, Thane S. (1998), â€Å"Motivation,† in Handbook of Social Psychology, Daniel T. Gilbert, Susan T.Fiske and Gardner Lindzey ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill. Friedman, M. (1985). Consumer boycotts in the United States, 1970–1980: contemporary events in historic perspective. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 19, 98–117. Garrett, Dennis E. (1987), â€Å"Effectiveness of Marketing Policy Boycotts: Environmental Opposition to Marketing,† Journal of Marketing 54 (April), pp. 46-57. International Monetary Fund, (2010) World Economic Outlook Report. [Internet] Available from: imf.org/external/ns/cs.aspx?id=28 [Accessed 12 April 2011] Jim Blythe, (2001) Essentials of Marketing. London, Prentice Hall. William D.Wells and David Prensky, (1996) Consumer Behavior. New York, John Wiley Sons, Inc. Sak Onkvisit and John J. Shaw, Consumer Bahaviour, Strategy and Analysis (New York: Macmillan, 1994). D. Krech and R. Crutchfield, Theory and Problems in Social Psychology,   McGraw-Hill, New York, 1948. Michael R. Solomon, (2004) Consumer Behaviou: buying, having, and being. London, Prentice Hall. Jim Blythe, (2008) Essentials of Marketing. London, Prentice Hall. Martin Fishbein (1963), An investigation of the Relationship Between Beliefs About an Object and the Attitude Toward That Object, Human Relations, 16, 233 – 240. Terence A. Shimp (1981), Attitude toward the Ad as a Mediator of Consumer Brand Choice, Journal of Advertising, 10 (2), 9-15 ff. Katiba, G., and B. Strumpel. (1978) A New Economic Era. New York: Elsevier.

Abbreviations and Titles Used in College

Abbreviations and Titles Used in College Some abbreviations are appropriate in academic writing, while others are not appropriate. Below youll find a list of abbreviations you are likely to use in your experience as a student. Abbreviations for College Degrees Note: The  APA doesnt recommend using periods with degrees. Be sure to consult your style guide as recommended styling may vary.   A.A. Associate of Arts: A two-year degree in any specific liberal art or a general degree covering a mix of courses in liberal arts and sciences. It is acceptable to use the A.A. abbreviation in place of the full degree name. For example, Alfred earned an A.A. at the local community college. A.A.S. Associate of Applied Science: A two: Dorothy earned an A.A.S. in culinary arts after she earned her high school degree. A.B.D. All But Dissertation: This refers to a student who has completed all the requirements for a Ph.D. except for the dissertation. It is used primarily in reference to doctoral candidates whose dissertation is in progress, to state that the candidate is eligible to apply for positions that require a Ph.D. The abbreviation is acceptable in place of the full expression. A.F.A. Associate of Fine Arts: A two-year degree in a field of creative art such as painting, sculpting, photography, theater, and fashion design. The abbreviation is acceptable in all but very formal writing. B.A. Bachelor of Arts: An undergraduate, four-year degree in liberal arts or sciences. The abbreviation is acceptable in all but very formal writing. B.F.A. Bachelor of Fine Arts: A four-year, undergraduate degree in a field of creative art. The abbreviation is acceptable in all but very formal writing. B.S. Bachelor of Science: A four-year, undergraduate degree in a science. The abbreviation is acceptable in all but very formal writing. Note: Students enter college for the first time as undergraduates pursuing either a two-year (associates) or a four-year (bachelors) degree. Many universities have a separate college within called a graduate school, where students may choose to continue their education to pursue a higher degree. M.A. Master of Arts: The masters degree is a degree earned in graduate school. The M.A. is a masters degree in one of the liberal arts awarded to students who study one or two years after earning a bachelors degree. M.Ed. Master of Education: The masters degree awarded to a student pursuing an advanced degree in the field of education. M.S. Master of Science: The masters degree awarded to a student pursuing an advanced degree in science or technology. Abbreviations for Titles Dr. Doctor: When referring to a college professor, the title usually refers to a Doctor of Philosophy, the highest degree in many fields. (In some fields of study the masters degree is the highest possible degree.) It is generally acceptable (preferable) to abbreviate this title when addressing professors in writing and when conducting academic and non-academic writing. Esq. Esquire: Historically, the abbreviation Esq. has been used as a title of courtesy and respect. In the United States, the title is generally used as a title for lawyers, after the full name. Example: John Hendrik, Esq. It is appropriate to use the abbreviation Esq. in formal and academic writing. Prof. Professor: When referring to a professor in nonacademic and informal writing, it is acceptable to abbreviate when you use the full name. It is best to use the full title before a surname alone. Example: Ill invite Prof. Johnson to appear as a speaker at our next meeting.Professor Mark Johnson is speaking at our next meeting. Mr. and Mrs. The abbreviations Mr. and Mrs. are shortened versions of mister and mistress. Both terms, when spelled out, are considered antiquated and outdated when it comes to academic writing. However, the term mister is still used in very formal writing (formal invitations) and military writing. Do not use mister or mistress when addressing a teacher, a professor, or a potential employer. Ph.D. Doctor of Philosophy: As a title, the Ph.D. comes after the name of a professor who has earned the highest degree awarded by a graduate school. The degree may be called a doctoral degree or a doctorate. Example: Sara Edwards, Ph.D. You would address a person who signs correspondence as Sara Edwards, Ph.D. as Dr. Edwards.

Philosophy (Socrates) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Philosophy (Socrates) - Essay Example At the end, he refused to leave the city, to moderate his uncompromising stance, or to suggest a reasonable counter-penalty. By this point, the jury had no real choice but to deliver the death penalty. The context of recent political events in Athens, and the official charges brought against Socrates forced the issue, but he died because his strong personal religious conviction placed him radically outside mainstream society, prevented him from making his behavior more acceptable to his fellow citizens, and prevented him from seeing any alternative to death. Socrates had been resented in the city for decades. The nature of his defense at the trial may have had little bearing. From the mid-fifth century, professional teachers, or Sophists, appeared, and charged fees for an education. They believed in questioning traditional values – ‘the eternal verities’, and modifying or rejecting them as appropriate. This bred concerns over the threat to established systems. Alt hough Socrates did not charge fees, and there were fundamental differences of opinion between he and the Sophists, there was a link in the public mind. Aristophanes’ The Clouds makes this plain. ... It was not just The Clouds either, as quotations from other comedies suggest a similar attack on Socrates. Aristophanes’ choice of Socrates to represent the new thinkers is telling. He insisted on pushing his opinions on the streets of the city. Socrates seemed to understand this. Many of the other teachers were from outside of the city, and only visited infrequently. He spent his time in the most public places, especially the Agora, while his poverty and physical ugliness might also have made him stand out. For the nearly fifty years during which he chose to live thus, the Athenians had had to tolerate his impertinent questions. A quarter century of attacks on Socrates must have biased the jurors in 399 BCE. In Plato’s Apology, Socrates acknowledges this, even mentioning the Clouds to the jury. He says ‘You have seen it for yourselves in the play by Aristophanes, where Socrates is lifted around, proclaiming that he is walking on air, and uttering a great deal of nonsense’ (39). Nevertheless, the fact that they tolerated his existence for so long suggests that a unique conjunction of other circumstances also must have precipitated the trial in 399. Socrates’ political ideas, and the fact that he allowed rich young men to listen to them, was considered to be a cause of instability in the polis. As Hypereides reminded the Athenians in his speech against Antokles, they had punished Socrates epi logois, for his words, rather than for his actions. However, these words had a distinctly anti-democratic quality. He considered that only the virtuous should govern. He believed that by nature and training, each person was suited to a particular task in life,

Spanish Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Spanish - Essay Example La competencia en los mercados internacionales a causado que muchas empresas reconsideren su cyclo supplidores para optimizar la eficiencia de las empresas. En paises desarroyados como Estados Unidos y Inglaterra muchas companies exportan fases de su producion para usus costos atraves de la exportacion de trabajos. Por ejemplo si Ford Motors decide producir la suspension de sus vehiculos en China para bajar costo eso ayuda a la empresa poder proveer mejores precios a sus consumidores. El publico en general aveces esta bajo la presumcion que la exportacion de trabajo es mala para la economia porque se pierden trabajos directos. Se una fabrica cierra y se muda para otro lugar parace que el resultado de expertacion de trabajo es negativo. El ejemplo dado en el corto plazo el impactacto a pais que piede afecta adversamenta la economia de una region. Para mejor evaluar dicho escenario’ hay que visualizar el efecto del evento en el mediano y largo plazo. En el largo plazo la exportacion de trabajo tiene efectos positivos como la restructuracion economica para mejorar la competividad del pais, precios mas bajos en la material prima de las empresas, y mejorar las validad de vida del ciudadanos en paises en via al dessarollo como por ejemplo Argentina. En el mediado plazo cuando empresas contrata a empresas extranjeras para realizar una porcion de su production el efecto en el empleo de empresas nativas es positivo porque ayuda a incrementar la ganacia de los empre sarios. La exportacion de trabajos tambien se puede interpretar como la imigracion de talento humano local a otras regiones. Debido a la alta demanda de profesionales en diversos campos especializados como medicina, ingenieria, y biotecnologia en la economia mucha personas optan por mudarse a otras partes del mundo en busca de oportunidades. El libre traffico de capital humana le conviene a todas las naciones debido a que todos los paises tiene deficit en talento y diversas concentraciones

EasyJet Essay -- Business and Management Studies

EasyJet EasyJet has become the European leader in a no frills frenzy for low cost, cheap air travel. This market however has since the mid nineties gone from strength to strength and we have witnessed the arrival of a number of low cost airline companies which cater for the no frills approach. In Europe the top two competitors in this market are EasyJet and Ryan Air which serve their customers from London Luton and Dublin respectively. They offer a differentiated product compared with the major traditional airlines and the key to their success has been to offer the lowest cost/fare structure possible and the differentiated â€Å"no frills† product is purely a consequence of the implementation of this rigorous low cost strategy. Background information about the companies is listed below: Comparative Company statistics EasyJet Ryanair Date of commencement 1995 1985 Date of IPO 2000 1997 Passenger Numbers 20.3m 15.7m Number of Staff 3,453 1,897 Aircraft 73 67 Routes served 109 133 Source: http://www.easyJet.com, http://www.Ryanair.com Comparative Key Financial Data EasyJet ( £) Ryanair (Ââ‚ ¬) Share Capital 758,461,000 563,732,000 Earnings per share 8.24pence 31.71cents Operating revenue 931.8m 842.5m Retained profit 32. 4m 239.3m Source: Company Accounts 2004 Both airlines have adopted similar business models and strategies. Key common features of the business model of both companies are: - Point to point se...

Left Brain vs Right Brain: How Does It Impact Learning

| | | | | | |The left and right hemispheres of our brain process information in different ways. We tend to process information using our dominant side. However, the learning and thinking process is | |enhanced when both side of the brain participate in a balanced manner. This means strengthening our less dominate hemisphere of the brain. In trying to differentiate between the left and | |right brain, My paper will show information processing styles that are characteristically used by our right or left-brain hemisphere. | |According to Coballis M. C (2007) The left side of the brain processes information in a linear manner. It processes from part to whole. It takes pieces, lines them up, and arranges them in a| |logical order; then it draws conclusions. The right brain however, processes from whole to parts, holistically. It starts with the answer. It sees the big picture first, not the details. If| |one is right-brained, he or she may have difficulty following a lecture unless he or she given the big picture first. That is why it is absolutely necessary for a right-brained person to | |read assigned chapter or background information before a lecture or to survey a chapter before reading. Predominantly Right-brained people have trouble outlining. They rather wrote the | |paper first and outlined later | | | |In addition to thinking in a linear manner, the left-brain processes in sequence. They love to make a list of things they need to accomplish during the day. Left brained enjoy making | |master schedules and daily planning. They complete tasks in order and take pleasure in checking them off when they are accomplished. Learning things in sequence is relatively easy for them. | | | |By, contrast, the approach of the right-brained student is random. If you are right-brained, you may flit from one tack to another. You will get just as much done, but perhaps without | |having addressed priorities. An assignment may be late or incomplete, not because you weren't working but because you were working on something else. You were ready to rebel when asked to | |make study schedules for the week. Because of the random nature of your dominant side, you must make lists, and you must make schedules. This may be your only hope for survival in college. | |You should also make a special effort to read directions. Oh yes, the mention of spelling makes you cringe. Use the dictionary, carry a Franklin speller, use the spell checker on your | |computer. Never turn in an assignment without proofing for spelling. Because the right side of the brain is color sensitive, you might try using colors to learn sequence, making the first | |step green, the second blue, the last red. Or you may want to â€Å"walk† a sequence, either by physically going from place to place or by imagining it. For the first step of the sequence, you | |might walk to the frond door; for the second, to the kitchen; for the third, to the den, etc. Or make Step One a certain place or thing in you dorm room or study place, and Step Two | |another. If you consistently use the same sequence, you will find that this strategy is transferable to many tasks involving sequence. | |Symbolic Vs. Concrete Processing | |The left brain has no trouble processing symbols. Many academic pursuits deal with symbols-such as letters, words, and mathematical notations. The left brained person tends to be | |comfortable with linguistic and mathematical endeavors. Left-brained students will probably just memorize vocabulary words or math formulas. The right brain, on the other hand, wants things| |to be concrete. The right brain person wants to see, feel, or touch the real object. Right brain students may have had trouble learning to read using phonics. They prefer to see words in | |context, to see how the formula works. To use your right brain, create opportunities for hands-on activities, use something real whenever possible. You may also want to draw out a math | |problem or illustrate your notes. | |Logical Vs. Intuitive Processing | |The left brain processes in a linear, sequential, logical manner. When you process on the left side, you use information piece by piece to solve a math problem or work out a science | |experiment. When you read and listen, you look for the pieces so that you can draw logical conclusions. If you process primarily on the right side of the brain, you use intuition. You may | |know the right answer to a math problem but not be sure how you got it. You may have to start with the answer and work backwards. On a quiz, you have a gut feeling as to which answers are | |correct, and you are usually right. In writing, it is the left brain that pays attention to mechanics such as spelling, agreement, and punctuation. But the right side pays attention to | |coherence and meaning; that is, your right brain tells you it â€Å"feels† right. | |Verbal Vs. Nonverbal Processing | |Left brain students have little trouble expressing themselves in words. Right brain students may know what they mean, but often have trouble finding the right words. The best illustration | |of this is to listen to people give directions. The left brain person will say something like â€Å"From here, go west three blocks and turn north on Vine Street. Go three or four miles and then| |turn east onto Broad Street. † The right brain person will sound something like this: â€Å"Turn right (pointing right), by the church over there (pointing again). Then you will pass a McDonalds | |and a Walmart. At the next light, turn right toward the BP station. † So how is this relevant to planning study strategies? Right brain students need to back up everything visually. If it's | |not written down, they probably won't remember it. And it would be even better for right brain students to illustrate it. They need to get into the habit of making a mental video of things | |as they hear or read them. Right brain students need to know that it may take them longer to write a paper and the paper may need more revision before it says what they want it to say. This| |means allowing extra time when a writing assignment is due. | |Reality-Based Vs. Fantasy-Oriented Processing | |The left side of the brain deals with things the way they are-with reality. When left brain students are affected by the environment, they usually adjust to it. Not so with right brain | |students. They try to change the environment! Left brain people want to know the rules and follow them. In fact, if there are no rules for situations, they will probably make up rules to | |follow! Left brain students know the consequences of not turning in papers on time or of failing a test. But right brain students are sometimes not aware that there is anything wrong. So, | |if you are right brain, make sure you constantly ask for feedback and reality checks. It's too late the day before finals to ask if you can do extra credit. Keep a careful record of your | |assignments and tests. Visit with your professor routinely. While this fantasy orientation may seem a disadvantage, in some cases it is an advantage. The right brain student is creative. In| |order to learn about the digestive system, you may decide to â€Å"become a piece of food! And since emotion is processed on the right side of the brain, you will probably remember well anything| |you become emotionally involved in as you are trying to learn. |These are just some of the differences that exist between the left and right hemispheres, but you can see a pattern. Because left brain strategies are the ones used most often in the | |classroom, right brain students sometimes feel inadequate. However, you now know that you can be flexible and adapt material to the right side of your brain. Likewise, those of you who are | |predominantly left brain know that it would be wise to use bot h sides of the brain and employ some right brain strategies. |

The Issue Of Gender Inequality - 904 Words

The issue of gender inequality towards women in male-dominated fields still occurs today despite an equality law implanted over 50 years ago. The purpose of this collected research is to address the issues of sex-discrimination in traditional male careers such as segregated stereotypes, unfair career advancements and the gender based wage gap. Throughout the research process, discoveries revealed that women are viewed by males as incapable of completing work in male-based fields such as construction and engineering, are rarely eligible for management positions in careers (based on their gender, not skill level) and only make 73-85% income as compared to their male colleagues. When women enter a field that is male-based, women are stereotyped as incompetent and incapable of completing the job because of different physical and social capabilities. According to Rudy Mulligan, an interviewee in an upcoming documentary featuring blue-collared women, she explains how women are â€Å"reinforced throughout childhood that you are quiet, polite and not messy and construction is the opposite of that. Tools are taken out of our hands and put into those of our brothers or male friends instead† (R. Mulligan, personal communication, 2014, Huffington Post). This shows females are raised to not pursue trade jobs because males should pursue jobs involving tools and dangerous work while women should seek the caretaker role. This all derives from past segregation in the 1950’s where women’s roleShow MoreRelatedThe Issue Of Gender Inequality1415 Words   |  6 PagesThe issue of gender inequality is an issue that cuts across all demographics in all regio ns of the world. Gender inequality is one of the most recognizable limitations to female prosperity. Male dominance coincides with gender inequality to create a lack of female prosperity and a gender gap, and this is a prevalent issue for all women who seek employment within any organization. Gender inequality is a complex social and organizational issue that demands comprehensive evaluation, especially if itRead MoreThe Issue Of Gender Inequality947 Words   |  4 Pagesto be on the horizon. Now, in the 21st century, the issue of gender inequality is still being discussed. Feminism is a growing trend among the new generation of Americans, but an aspect that is continually overlooked is the workplace. In the workplace, females are not treated the same as their male counterparts. They receive lesser pay, and because of discrimination, fewer employment opportunities are offered. The wage gap has been an ongoing issue. 50 years ago, women earned 59 cents to every dollarRead MoreThe Issue Of Gender Income Inequality1060 Words   |  5 Pagesthe issue of gender income inequality in terms of age. Gender income inequality can be described as the unequal treatment between men and women in terms of revenue, and has been an issue for women for a long period of time. According to Workplace Gender Equality Agency, the average gender pay gap between full-time men and women increases in accordance to age, when the gap begins to narrow due to reduced income in retirement. This report will explain the main issue of gender income inequality in termsRead MoreGender Inequality : A Global Issue756 Words   |  4 Pages Keisha Theodore 12/05/16 Gender inequality: Economics Gender inequality is a global issue as no country has achieved gender parity. I chose this topic because I am a female and will soon be entering the work force and this information pertains to not only me, but to other females who are unaware. I think it is important that we stay informed, so that we can work together to solve this issue. I think gender inequality is an issue that should be addressed for the reason that it goes againstRead MoreThe Social Issue Of Gender Inequality1939 Words   |  8 PagesThe Social Issue of Gender Inequality between Men and Women Nakia Bell University of South Alabama Abstract In this paper, I will be discussing the social issue of gender inequality between men and women. Gender inequality is a problem that is widely recognized and affects men and women alike. Gender inequality affects employment, earnings, how individuals are viewed, etc. This issue is one that needs to be resolved so women, and men, can make progress toward a gender-neutral societyRead MoreGender Inequality Is A Prominent Issue Globally1864 Words   |  8 Pages311 Gender inequality is a prominent issue globally. Gender inequality is defined as unequal treatment or perceptions of individuals based on their gender. Around the world, women are not treated as equally as men. In 2015, only 50% of the world’s working-age women were in the labor force, compared to 77% of working-age men. In this essay, I will be focusing on gender inequality in China and Japan and the causes and effects of gender inequality in both countries, as well as whether gender inequalityRead MoreThere Are Many Issues Regarding Gender Inequality In The1812 Words   |  8 PagesThere are many issues regarding gender inequality in the U.S. One of the many examples is gender inequality in the workforce. Women are unequally treated in the workforce due sex segregation. One of the main issues in the workforce is hiring discrimination. Hiring discrimination in the U.S. is illegal under the Civil Rights Act that was passed in 1964 (Pg. 275 Sociology project 2.0), but the law has not totally ended discrimination. Many businesses have biased leaders. Women are more likely to getRead MoreGender Inequality : An Ongoing Issue That Occurs Everywhere1420 Words   |  6 Pages Gender inequality is an ongoing issue that occurs everywhere. The Oxford Dictionary of Sports Science Medicine defines gender inequality as â€Å"Social process by which people are treated differently and disadvantageously, under similar circumstances, on the basis of gender† (Kent). This inequality is deeply related to the social view of the gender and inherent biological factors. According to Jay Mcsherry in his paper The Gender Divide, he claims that gender inequality can be seen from differencesRead MoreA Brief Note On Global Gender Inequality Issues1334 Words   |  6 Pages Global Gender Inequality Issues Continuing Problem Gains and Progress More than 110 million children in the world are not in school. Among them two third of it accounts for girls. Some of the developing countries including Jamaica, Philippines and South Africa has worked on gender inequalities and made such policies that women literacy rate has gone higher. Women represents an average of less than 10% in the parliaments of various countries around the world. In 2005 Iraqi government decided thatRead MoreGender Inequality Is A Grave Issue Throughout The History Of Time972 Words   |  4 PagesGender inequality is a grave issue throughout the history of time. However, black women have gotten the shorter end of the stick, and Marita Bonner addresses this issue in her essay, â€Å"On Being Young – a Woman – and Colored.† Bonner believes that time will heal the disjunction between men and women, and more specifically the ignorance of black women’s presence in society. This essay proves that Bonner’s solution – allow time to heal – is pragmatic and history proves that it worked. Women in the