An Analysis of The Graduate - 1391 Words

Mike Nichols 1967 film The Graduate entertained American audiences with its stark portrayal of seduction, betrayal, and inter-generational conflict, ultimately winning Nichols the Academy Award for Best Director. The film seemed to speak to the political and social events of the era, and its message of youthful escape from the dictates of the old guard resonated with a generation of young people growing up in the midst of The Greatest Generations stunning failure to live up to the ideas that supposedly defined their generation. However, a close look at the films plot alongside the mis-en-scene of dramatic final scene reveals that far from offering a message of rebellion or escape, The Graduate just reinforces conservative ideology by celebrating the concept of marriage and chastity. Ultimately, The Graduate turns out to be nothing more than a slickly produced piece of conservative propaganda, using the themes of the 1960s emerging sub-cultures in order to mask its own destructive mes sage. To begin one may note the almost ridiculous piety with which the film views the institution of marriage. Mrs. Robinson is made into a villain due to her decision to have sex outside of her marriage, and the film presents her and Bens relationship as a one-sided seduction, even though they do not actually act on their desires until Ben initiates a second meeting. That the older, sexually-active woman is made into a villain is simply one element of the films otherwise mundaneShow MoreRelatedAnalysis of the Graduate Essay1031 Words   |  5 PagesThe Graduate is a great example of a film where lens and camera choices were used effectively to convey the director’s point of view. It seemed like every choice made by the director Mike Nichols director and the director of cinematography Bob Surtees was justified. The outcome of each shot played an important role in shaping the message of the film. The cinematography of Bob Surtees is very complicated and thoughtful but at t he same time seems poetic and spontaneous. All of Mrs. Robinson andRead MoreAnalysis Of The Movie The Graduate Essay1611 Words   |  7 PagesEdward Brambila English 2—Prof. Sosner 12/16/2016 The Art of Symbolism in â€Å"The Graduate† The movie â€Å"The Graduate† is a struggle story of a fine caliber that falls under the genre of comedic drama. Some might even argue that it was one of the best films of its time and even till this day. The way the movie blends characters is anything but superficial and its use of symbolism to describe said characters leaves little more to be desired. While some may not like the movie and say it falls short theRead MoreFilm Analysis of The Graduate Essay2038 Words   |  9 PagesFilm Analysis of â€Å"The Graduate† The 1967 film by Mike Nicoles â€Å"The Graduate† is about Benjamin Braddock, a recent college graduate, who is at a crossroads in his life. He is caught between adolescence and adulthood searching for the meaning of his upper middle class suburban world of his parents. He then began a sexual relationship with the wife of his father’s business partner, Mrs. Robinson. Uncomfortable with his sexuality, Benjamin and Mrs. Robinson continue an affair during which she askedRead MoreGraduate Admissions Committee : Behavioral Analysis752 Words   |  4 PagesGraduate Admissions Committee, I am applying to your master’s program in Criminal Justice / Applied Behavioral Analysis, to begin in March 2016. Since earning my undergraduate degree in Psychology from Fordham University, I have been employed as a Therapeutic Support Specialist, with Pathways of Pennsylvania, and I am also a Corrections Officer, with the Department of Justice, Bureau of Prisons. I have had an interest in criminal justice since I was in the seventh grade. Growing up in the neighborhoodRead MoreGraduate Level Writing Analysis And Development Plan802 Words   |  4 PagesGraduate-Level Writing Analysis and Development Plan Communication in writing skills for the past six weeks were standards information on different sorts of sources for rapidly flowing needs of today’s writers. This form of writing shows the role of strategies in writing on subjects. It demonstrated contracts between oral communication and written communication. The main ideas in this course discovery, objectives, critical thinking, and tension, valuing course resources time managementRead MoreStatistical Analysis: Consumption of Alcohol by Undergraduates and Graduates2619 Words   |  11 Pagesa recent graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, I have found that a person’s whole lifestyle changes with the simple act of graduating college. One of the most obvious lifestyle modifications for many recent graduates is the decrease in the amount of partying, and the realization that it ends when college does. I conducted a statistical analysis on the consumption of alcohol for those still enrolled in und ergraduate programs compared to the consumption of recent graduates. My researchRead MoreFilm Analysis of American Beauty and the Graduate Essay1320 Words   |  6 PagesJessica Burns 309164 Jmbf6b@mail.missouri.edu Film Studies 1800 Sequence Analysis/ Assignment No. 2 American Beauty -From when Carolyn arrives home until the end of the scene with Lester in their living room (Chapter 19: 1:14:35–1:17:40) The movie â€Å"American Beauty† literally is trying to express how much beauty there is in America but it is not always so easy to see. Often in the film objects normally thought of as ordinary are magnified to express deeper meaning andRead MoreFilm Analysis of The Graduate Directed by Mike Nichols Essays2026 Words   |  9 Pages Mrs. Robinson, you are trying to seduce me, says Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman). The Graduate, directed by Mike Nichols in 1967 is an influential satire/comedy film about a recent East Coast college graduated who finds himself alienated and aimless in the changing, social and sexual general public of the 1960s, and questioning the values of society. The theme of the film is of an innocent and confused youth who is exploited, mis-directed, seduced (literally and figuratively) and betrayedRead More A Genre Analysis of Graduate-Level Reading Response Blogs Essays2192 Words   |  9 Pagesdiscussions of course texts, which traditionally t ake place in the classroom after the students have written a response to the text, to be initiated or conducted entirely within a social and public space. In this particular analysis, I will analyze examples of this genre from a graduate seminar, where students are responding not only to the texts but to the ideas and reflections of their peers as well. These examples are all drawn from public blog postings from a single week’s readings, early in the semesterRead MoreAcademic Procrastination And Statistics Anxiety1394 Words   |  6 Pagesquantitative statistical analysis that attempts to demonstrate varying degrees of procrastination in graduate students, the correlation between statics anxiety and how this type of anxiety effects the graduate student in accomplishing deliverables for a registered course. The research methodology in the article was designed around previously established theories in statistic anxiety with the intention to further examine the relationship of procrastination and statistic anxiety at the graduate level. This critical

Importance of Organizational Behavior Essay Example For Students

Importance of Organizational Behavior Essay The environment of business is ever changing. Because of this fact, the role of the manager has become increasingly more important. With recent increase in workload and responsibilities, managers have found that their importance in a working environment has also increased. In order to help managers and supervisors learn more about the complexity of the new workforce many different areas of study have been developed. One area of study that has increased in importance over the years is the study of organizational behavior. In order to understand the Importance of Organizational Behavior Essay, we must first define exactly what organizational behavior is and what it covers. Organizational behavior is the study of attitudes and behavior of individuals and groups in organizations (Johns 6). Organizational behavior tries to examine different types of workers in all types of different situations. Organizational behavior aims to help managers and supervisors in many ways. It plays a role in all facets of an organization. Finance, marketing, and production are just departments within an organization. In todays business world, managers are paying more attention to how employees react to situations rather than if they respond. They are beginning to view organizational behavior as an intricate piece of training and development of the workforce. Soft skills were never a part of management training and it was rare that managers were commended for having those skills. In the business world today, I feel organizational behavior is an essential tool for managing effective teams. If you can zone in on an employees personality, creativity, and adaptability, motivating that employee the way they need to be motivated is never a gray area and a guaranteed success. Organizational Behavior or as I call it Discipline principles is a field of study that investigates the impact that individuals, groups, and structure have on behavior within organizations for the purpose of applying such knowledge toward improving an organizations effectiveness (Robbins, S. 2001). Organizational Behavior studies three main areas in order to help organizations work more effectively; they are individuals, groups, and structure. Everyone and everything in an organization makes an impact on the way an organization functions, therefore knowing what makes your employee tick is a key factor in success. In an organization an employee is expected to have skills pertaining to the specific job description. Hiring a ballet dancer to play hockey is not only absurd but also non productive. Technical skills, depending on the position in your organization is sometimes required and absolutely necessary. But, in most organizations if you can find someone that has excellent interpersonal skills and common sense, you can train them on the technical aspect of the position. As a manager in todays business arena, your interpersonal skills must be fine-tuned. Maslows Hierarchy of Needs is now falling into play with employees and managers decisions. Proper management of the work lives of human beings, of the way in which they earn their living, can improve them and improve the world and in this sense be a utopian or revolutionary technique. Abraham Maslow (Maslow, A., 1998). Employees are people with needs and wants just like managers. Hard-nosed managers want productivity and numbers, soft skilled managers concentrate on what they can do to make their employees satisfied then they ask for the productivity and numbers. Employees need many things to survive on a daily basis as stated in the Hierarchy of Needs; they expect their managers to provide theses needs. If your employees feel that you have confidence and trust in them they feel like they have to produce and be an intricate part of your team. Good managers know the characteristics of their employees according to age, marital status, wants, needs, and tenure. They are familiar with the dimensions of each employees skills, purpose, goals, and intellectual ability. .u0b9b731dc643c781f062d0edbcf3ba9e , .u0b9b731dc643c781f062d0edbcf3ba9e .postImageUrl , .u0b9b731dc643c781f062d0edbcf3ba9e .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u0b9b731dc643c781f062d0edbcf3ba9e , .u0b9b731dc643c781f062d0edbcf3ba9e:hover , .u0b9b731dc643c781f062d0edbcf3ba9e:visited , .u0b9b731dc643c781f062d0edbcf3ba9e:active { border:0!important; } .u0b9b731dc643c781f062d0edbcf3ba9e .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u0b9b731dc643c781f062d0edbcf3ba9e { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u0b9b731dc643c781f062d0edbcf3ba9e:active , .u0b9b731dc643c781f062d0edbcf3ba9e:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u0b9b731dc643c781f062d0edbcf3ba9e .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u0b9b731dc643c781f062d0edbcf3ba9e .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u0b9b731dc643c781f062d0edbcf3ba9e .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u0b9b731dc643c781f062d0edbcf3ba9e .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u0b9b731dc643c781f062d0edbcf3ba9e:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u0b9b731dc643c781f062d0edbcf3ba9e .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u0b9b731dc643c781f062d0edbcf3ba9e .u0b9b731dc643c781f062d0edbcf3ba9e-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u0b9b731dc643c781f062d0edbcf3ba9e:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Tragic Heroes Essay Summary Most of all a good manager knows an employees personality and how to make that work to the advantage of the manager and the organization. Organizational Behavior studies suggest that values and attitudes are factors that a major role in the workplace, therefore management is able to perceive employee expectations and make the necessary adjustments to ensure job satisfaction. Studies prove that organizations will benefit all around when there is a better understanding of people in the work place. A good employer-employee relationship is established when .

What is man free essay sample

This is a question that has been debated since the beginning time and over and over again to this day. The real question is, is there truly an answer? Mark twain seems to believe, as stated in his essay what is Man Which is a conversation between an old man and a young man as some of his other essays were written, that the answer to this question as old as life that men are simply machines. Machines that can only act and think because of what they have seen, heard, or been taught.Now lam no philosophy buff, I have never studied the human brain, and I m certainly no psychiatrist and I dont try and make myself out to be one but I have met many people in my short life so far and to be a cliche as possible every man Ive met have been like a snow flake some look eerily similar but have small details that are different, some are polar opposites, and many are somewhere In between. We will write a custom essay sample on What is man or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I would have to disagree with Mark Twains answer to this question which Is hard to because he is one of the smartest men and greatest writers to ever live. I disagree because men have a conscious, men have personalities, and there is no answer.One reason I Disagree with mark twain is that one huge difference between man and machine is that a man has a conscious and a machine does not. A man thinks before he acts no matter how short or long that they think about it everything they do runs through there conscious. A man cant act without the approval of his conscious If he thinks something Is wrong by his conscious he wont do It. However a conscious can be a very delicate subject because people may argue why is there bad things that happen If this is true, why are there murder and rape and child abuse appending.This is Just more proof that man or not machines, some men cannot fathom killing or raping someone their conscious would never allow it. However, some men think that If they want something to happen anything they have to do to achieve that goal is acceptable and okay by their conscious. This goes to show how all men while created equal are all different and not machines. Machines have no conscious and have nothing to shape their behavior after it is made. Machines do not see things and react to them they simply do as they are told; as they are aerogramme to do machines dont have feelings or a thought process.In fact Mark Twain proves my point in his own argument when the old man says It Is worked solely from the outside. That Is the law of Its make; It is the law of all machines. and No. You cant yourself, but exterior Influences can do It. This Is true In a sense as our experience, the people we surround ourselves with, and the education we receive both in school and on the streets affects all of our decisions and is what forms our conscious or what we think is right. This is exactly what separates us from machines, s man has a choice to make he can decide what to listen to and make his creed while machines cannot.Machines have no personalities. Machines is that all men have personalities. All men have personalities no matter how similar all are different. No matter how many try it is a lost battle from the start, it is impossible to tell a man what to do. You can tell a man what he supposed to do, his Job or, what you want him to do but theres no way to be sure if hell say yes or no. Some men will Jump right up and say yes sir or yes mama and complete his task and mom may even do more then you asked.Some men will say theyll do it but only do some of it, some will say theyll do it and do none. There are also many who will tell you no and to go kick rocks, flip you the bird, and be on his way. With a machine once you turn it on and hit the correct buttons in the correct sequence it will do its Job without a word. Men dont have any buttons some may say our fatal flaw but still there are none. Also there is no guarantee that he will do it right or the way you want it but once you program a machine to how you want it, itll do as its told.One season some could think that men are Just machines is that they dont realize they have a choice they have done what theyre told and had a regiment for daily activities their whole lives. Also huge difference between man and machine is feelings. No machine can truly laugh or cry or be happy, sad, or mad. These feelings affect man every day and in everything he does. This is the one thing that does come from the outside world, you dont learn to be happy or sad and smile or cry its Just something that happens even if you dont want it it happens because its something inside of you.No one wants to cry but sometimes your emotions get moved to tears when something hurts you. Also when something that makes you happy happens you smile. No machine can feel emotions. The biggest reason I disagree with mark twain that the answer to the seemingly unsolvable question is that man is machine is because the question does not have just one answer. There have been some amazingly smart men who tried to tackle this question, all of them geniuses Just like Mark Twain and there is a reason all of the answers theyve come up with havent been totally correct.That reason is that here is no one answer it is almost a trick question. A man is a machine like an engine its heart, brain, and stomach and all organs are. A man I nothing but an animal like a lion doing everything it can to survive in this world killing predators and making a family. A man is like the wind with its spirit you cant see it but you feel it, it emanates out of a person their eyes and actions. Man is no one thing, a man cannot be defined. A man is a accumulation of many great things and some poor. It has many perks and flaws. A man is everything and nothing. A man is what he makes himself.Another reason while all of the men have failed to find the answer to this question is because they are also Just men, and no man can define another man or all man. The only a man can do is define himself The reasons I disagree with Mark Twains answer to what is man are because men have a conscious, men have personalities, and there is no answer as stated below. Man is a very complicated thing so I believe that it would take more than a man to define one. That is exactly what happens when you finally meet your maker and are standing in front of the pearly gates trying to get in.Every man defines himself through his life most of them dont write essays on it or try to define anything but there daily actions define it for them. I am not a genius like mark twain or other be all for not as I said earlier I am no philosophy buff, I have never studied the human brain, and I am certainly no psychiatrist and I dont reckon to be one. To conclude my answer and rebuttal to mark twain is that man is man and machine is machine. However I believe, with no disrespect to Mr.. Twain youd have to be a fool to attempt to define a man that is not yourself.

Criminology Research Paper essays

Criminology Research Paper essays According to The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, human sex trafficking, not far behind the illegal drug-trade, has become the second fastest increasing criminal industry in todays world. This type of slavery has been traced back to the ancient Mesopotamian and Mediterranean civilizations and has continued to grow. What is human sex trafficking? Commonly referred to as "modern-day slavery, its the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act. This horrific yet ever-increasing issue is one that desperately needs to end quickly, since each day thousands of innocent children around the world are losing their freedom to this barbaric lifestyle. First, Ill start with some statistics. In an article written by Initiative against Sexual Trafficking, it is estimated that somewhere between 700,000 and four million women, children and men are trafficked each year, and no region is unaffected. An estimated two million children, the majority of them girls, are sexually exploited in the multi-billion dollar commercial sex industry. Around half of trafficking victims in the world are under the age of eighteen. Sixty-eight percent of female sex trafficking victims meet the clinical criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder, and more than two-thirds of sex trafficked children suffer additional abuse at the hands of their traffickers. Trafficked children are significantly more likely to develop mental health problems, abuse substances, engage in prostitution as adults, and either commit or be victimized by violent crimes later in life. Women who have been trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation experience a significantly higher rate of HIV and other STDs, tuberculosis, and permanent damage to their reproductive systems.(UNICEF). One would think with such disturbin...

Why does J. A. Fodor think that there must be a language of thought Is Essay

Why does J. A. Fodor think that there must be a language of thought Is he right - Essay Example Specifically, Fodor advanced a notion of a language of thought. Fodor’s Language of Thought Hypothesis (LOTH) states that the thought process occurring in the mind is a symbolic system that parallels a language in structure. Jerry Fodor’s presented LOTH in his aptly titled book The Language of Thought (Fodor 1975). Through an examination the major platforms of the LOTH hypothesis, as well as prominent criticisms, this essay examines the extent that Fodor is successful in articulating the existence of a language of thought. Language of Thought Philosophers have formulated LOTH by considering the multiplicity of thoughts, or propositional attitudes. One can identify propositional attitudes in sentences like ‘A wishes that B’, or ‘A thinks that B’, or ‘A intends that B’. A is the subject of attitude, B is the sentence, and ‘that B’ is the proposition or the object of the attitude. If we say that C stands for verbs like â €˜wishes’, ‘thinks’, and ‘intends’, then the propositional attitude sentences would take the form: ‘A Cs that B’. Therefore, LOTH can be considered as a hypothesis that features how we create propositional attitudes in our ‘mental language’, and how we relate our thought and thinking with them. Our conceptual thinking takes place in a mental representation of language-like structure; however, this is not direct representation of spoken language. Rather, this ‘language of thought’ is a form of representation where the human mind perceives concepts and symbolizes them rather than using words for those concepts. Hence, the mind uses internal forms of representation, different from traditional linguistic ‘words’, to represent these concepts. Still, these symbols combine to form mental sentences, called the propositional attitudes, which are consistent with the grammatical rules of language. This conc eptual thinking has a computational nature that extracts thinking from processing the series of mental symbols according to algorithms. Representational Theory Jerry Fodor specifically implements representational theory in supporting his position (Fodor 1987). According to representational theory, thinking occurs in the form of symbols that are actually the propositional attitudes described earlier (Fodor 1987). While Fodor argues that propositional attitudes should be represented not only as symbols but also as a language, he believes this ‘language of thought’ is different from spoken and written languages like English, French or German (Fodor 1987). Consider the following: ‘I don’t want to eat ladyfingers, so I’d better tell mom to make me French fries.’ According to representational theory, there is a state of a section of this individual’s brain that represents his or her unwillingness to eat ladyfingers (Fodor 1987). There is anot her section of this individual’s brain that represents his or her way of avoiding ladyfingers; namely, to tell their mom to cook something else (Fodor 1987). Thirdly, there is a small piece of brain circuitry that is linking these two states and instigating an action (Fodor 1987). LOTH asserts that the representation of the decision in this example here has to be structured. That is, it has to be structured just like a sentence articulating that decision. Fodor’s LOTH further states that the structure of symbolic representation in the mind and the linguistic representation of that symbolic representation must be related. That is, the structure of the brain state matching the decision of eating French fries will be equivalent to the structure of the sentence articulating the decision. One considers another example: ‘There is a suspicion crossing my mind that a rat is under my bed’

Motivation in the workforce Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Motivation in the workforce - Essay Example A strong corporate culture is the key for a corporation to attain success in its operation. "Company culture is based on shared values and workplace norms (e.g., innovation, risk-taking) not necessarily personality likenesses. Company cultures pervade the entire organization, not just certain departments or levels of employees."(Rao, 2003). Corporate culture is the underlying element inside a corporation. A strong corporate culture enables a company to deal with challenges effectively especially on its expansion worldwide. A strong corporate culture is characterized by cohesiveness and cooperation. It is of known fact that companies are not run by only one man. Companies are driven by groups of men with the goal of achieving success. It is important to achieve this state of order because companies really do need cohesiveness and teamwork in facing different challenges. Cohesiveness will bring the companies to have a smooth operation that is essential in attaining success. Every membe r is vital and plays a role of significance in the quest to have corporate success in every corporation around the world. "Culture has a vital and measurable impact on the organization's ability to deliver on its strategy. Thus culture is central for a successful operation and to long-term effectiveness of the company" (Gupta, 2007). BARRIERS IN MAKING A STRONG CORPORATE CULTURE In building a strong corporate culture which is tantamount to success is not an easy task. There are also barriers that must be overcome in order for an organization to have a strong corporate culture and succeed in its business endeavor. There are things that can be detrimental to building a strong corporate culture. "During the early 1900s, leadership was by fear and threats, forcing people to follow orders. This is man's natural instinct. This led to the policy of abuse which produced undesirable results" (http://www.motivation-tools.com/workplace). Man always has the tendency to be superior and being on top seems to have a strong feeling of superiority over others. Basically, a very autocratic leadership does not result to a strong corporate culture. A leadership that is abusive does not appeal to the heart of his employees. It may result to rebellion that sometimes manifested in non-cooperation. At times, autocratic leadership results in misbehaviors by leaders or managers. Some leaders take advantage of being a leader and tend to do sexual advances towards his employees. Some taking advantage is manifested in insulting employees even there is no apparent reason in doing so. A culture of immorality then plagues an organization and it is then in opposite direction of building a strong corporate culture because it creates a culture of destructive laziness. Destructive laziness is manifested in lack of interest in job activities because of perceived moral disintegration of leadership. MOTIVATION Motivation is a term we often hear which we generally associate with behavior. Most likely, we experience

Research Critique of Qualitative Research on Registered Nurses

Research Critique of Qualitative Research on Registered Nurses All healthcare professionals are required to understand and promote evidence based practice, and therefore are required to identify and evaluate primary research which is relevant to their own areas of practice and professional activity (Rycroft-Malone et al, 2004 p. 81-82). Nurses can critique evidence for practice that is available within peer reviewed publications, and can choose from a spectrum of research evidence derived within qualitative and quantitative contexts. While it has long been established that within medicine and healthcare, the scientific paradigm and the quantitative domain are considered to provide the best evidence to inform practice, (Upshur, 2001 p. 5; Sackett et a, 1996 p. 71), there is an increasing drive for the recognition of the contribution of qualitative research to the evidence base of an essentially human-oriented discipline (Rycroft-Malone et al, 2004 p. 81, Upshur, 2001 p. 5; Stevens and Ledbetter 2000 p. 91). In this essay, the author will undertake a critical evaluation of an identified qualitative research study. The article will be reviewed using the Cormack (2000) framework for evaluation of primary research articles, and will draw on other published research on qualitative methodologies to evaluate the article and its importance for nursing knowledge and practice. Critique of the Article The chosen article is Pang et al (2009, p. 312), a study of professional values of Chinese nurses, published in the journal Nursing and Health Sciences. It is published in a reputable, peer-reviewed publication, which would suggest that it is likely to be of sufficient quality to warrant a full critique. Title The title is concise: Nursing values in China: the expectations of registered nurses. (Pang et al, 2009, p. 312). As such, it informs the reader of the focus of the study, and its subject matter. However, it does not indicate in this title the nature of the study. Authors The authors qualifications and places of work are given. All are registered nurses, and four out of the five have doctoral qualifications, while the fifth has a masters level qualification. This suggests that they have both the clinical knowledge and experience and the research expertise to carry out such a study. They are all employed in academic settings, and four out of the five are employed within the Chinese/Asian context, while one is employed at an American university. This could be argued to be a positive strength of this study, because the authors have the local and contextual knowledge to research within this cultural arena, but have a non-partisan author as well to provide balance and a wider perspective. Abstract The article starts with an abstract which immediately introduces the reader to the purpose of the research, which was to identify the essential professional values of Chinese nurses and their manifestations in the current health-care environment (Pang et al, 2009, p. 312). This is a positive aspect of this article because it clearly indicates to the reader the focus of the article. The abstract then summarises the sample, data collection method and method of analysis, followed by the results and an evaluation of the findings and their implication for practice. However, this abstract does not at any time discuss the qualitative approach used in this study, or make reference to ontological framework or any influencing models or theories (Silverman, 2001 p. 85). Introduction/Literature Review The introduction contextualises the research by introducing the reader to the Chinese context, in terms of cultural change and its relationship to a global context. They link the evolution of professional ethics to reform and the working conditions of nurses within China, with specific reference to values (Pang et al, 2009, p. 312). This author would argue that it would have been better to perhaps provide more detail here so that the reader could better understand Chinese culture and politics. The authors introduce key concepts within the introduction, which is a strength of the reporting of this study. This relates to their focus on values, and they explore this concept with reference to relevant literature, linking values to key aspects of nursing knowledge and practice. This allows the reader who is a nurse to understand and identify the importance of this study for their own practice, and the relationship between their practice and professionalism and this analysis of values. They further discuss the rationale for the research by making reference to nurses awareness of their values and how these values impact their behaviour and link this to humanistic nursing practice (Pan et al, 2009, p. 312). They then show that the issue of professional values in China is something reasonably novel, and therefore, worthy of investigation. Because the concept of professional values is relatively new in China, there is limited research to guide professional development. (Pang et al, 2009, p. 312). This introduction, therefore, is the only aspect of the study which involves a critical review of the literature, in terms of contextualisation of the research and providing a rationale for the study. While this is appropriate, there is no evidence of any real critical analysis of the quality of the research cited within this section, although more research is referred to later on in the discussion section of the paper. This author would argue that a wider range of research which demonstrates the importance of the concept of values in nursing should have been included here. Cormack (2000) argues that the literature review should identify the underlying theoretical frameworks and present a balanced evaluation of material which supports and goes against the position that the authors propose, and in this paper, there is not enough exploration of the theoretical frameworks, and certainly no attempt at a balanced evaluation of the focus on values here. The hypothesis There is no hypothesis in this paper as this is a qualitative study, and qualitative studies do not use hypotheses these are a characteristic of quantitative studies (Silverman, 2001, p. 80). Operational Definitions The authors do identify terms used in relation to nursing values, and to the Chinese context, but this author would argue that there is not enough exploration of operational definitions, particularly in relation to the methodological approach which has been used. Methodology Cormack (2000) suggests that the methodology section should provide a clear statement about the chosen research approach, and the authors clearly state that they have used a qualitative approach to obtain thick description of nurses perceptions and experiences of professional values (Pang et al, 2009, p. 313). However, this is the only reference to the nature of the study. Sandelowski (2009 p. 77 states that using qualitative description as a distinctive research methodology in its own right is erroneous. It does justify the choice of approach, because of the paucity of related research in China (Pang et al, 2009, p. 313). However, the authors have made no attempt to describe, explore or evaluate any philosophical orientation, research paradigm, framework, ideological underpinnings, or qualitative theories which relate to the work they are carrying out. The field of qualitative research methodology is vast, complex and full of a wide range of methodological frameworks and theoretical models (Silverman, 2001 pp. 85-102), and there are a number of ways in which qualitative research principles are applied to research projects. Therefore, it could be argued that this paper has a serious lack of methodological explanation and transparency, which would not only limit the ability to replicate and reproduce this study, but also limits its transferability to populations beyond the study sample (Blaxter et al, 1996 p. 185; Dale 2005 p. 184). The reporting of the study does not provide enough transparency to allow this author to evaluate its methodological rigour, as there is no exploration of any of the above concepts, and no evidence that the authors of the study have attempted to justify their approach or evaluate the pros and cons of their methodological framework. However, the use of a qualitative method is justified. Subjects The authors of the study do clearly identify their subjects (Cormack, 2000). Sample Selection The sample is described as a purposive sample (Pang et al, 2009 p. 313), and this is an appropriate method of sampling for a qualitative study such as this (Dale, 2005 p. 183). However, the authors could have explained the nature and rationale for purposive sampling, to make this report more accessible to the reader who is less familiar with research terms and concepts. The sample size is described, but no details are given of how the participants were recruited, which does not allow the reader to evaluate this process and its appropriateness. Data Collection Cormack (2000) suggests that the reader should consider whether data collection procedures are adequately described. Pang et al (2009 p. 313) have used focus groups and in-depth interviews to collect data, and they justify their use of focus groups. They describe their individual interviews as semistructured, which is an appropriate approach within most qualitative methodologies (Bowling, 2000). However, they further state that the participants were allocated to either method according to their interests. Based on the available time, the focus group participants were assigned to homogenous groups. (Pang et al, 2009, p .313). While this is not necessarily outside the remit of a qualitative study, it does suggest that the ordering of the data collection process may include or introduce some bias, particularly as participants who preferred it went into focus groups. There is good clarity about the process of data collection, but it would have been useful, particularly for replication studies, if the authors had included a table or chart with the questions used, and provided examples of the additional probing questions that were used to explore the answers to the main questions (Pang et al, 2009, p. 313). Silverman (2001 p.85-101) supports the use of supplementary questions within semistructured interviews, and certainly this is a valid way of eliciting as much information as possible from the participants. Ethical Considerations The authors of the study do include a section on ethical considerations, which is crucial in nursing research which involves vulnerable individuals, including nursing staff themselves. There appears to be ethical approval from appropriate bodies, and some level of review. The authors state they gained informed consent, maintained confidentiality and assured participants of the right to withdraw (Pang et al, 2009 p. 313). Results The results are presented within the text, under sub-headings. The authors provide demographic data, and then an exploration of the themes which were found under the sub-heading of Essential professional values (Pang et al, 2009, p. 313). There is a good level of detailed description of each theme, and there are several direct quotes from the research data, which aids transparency and auditability of the research (Dale, 2005 pp. 183-186). However, there is no graphic representation of findings, or modelling of themes or how themes were arrived at. Using models or other graphical representations of thematic findings can enhance accessibility. Data Analysis In the case of qualitative research, it is important that the reader can identify the processes involved in arriving at thematic results such as this (Silverman, 2001, pp. 85-101; Kearney, 2001 p. 145). The process of thematic analysis is described in detail, which not only shows a degree of methodological rigour but also enhances replication. However, this author would argue that more detail could have been included here for even greater clarity, and there could have been some explanation of the justification for this methodological approach, showing the provenance of this type of analytical process, as well as usefulness of the measures used to promote rigour. The trail of the analysis could have been made clearer (Koch, 2006 p. 91). Discussion The discussion included in this article is very interesting, particularly to the non-Chinese reader. It presents some of the issues in relation to culture and ideology. Cormack (2000) asks whether the discussion is balanced, and reading this, there does appear to be a balanced evaluation, especially of conflicts between Chinese or personal ideologies, and professional ideologies. Each theme is discussed sequentially in this section, making reference to key literature, and to other research which is relevant to the findings. The differences between Western and Chinese values are highlighted, as would be expected given the focus of the article. Limitations of the study are described and discussed in a separate section, but there is not really much explicit evaluation of the implications for practice. The discussion clearly links the findings of these studies with a number of universal concepts and concerns of the nursing profession and healthcare practice. Nursing values are linked wit h nursing ethics (Arman and Rhensfeldt, 2007 p. 372). This is closely linked to viewing patients as individuals, and with the concept of caring (Arman and Rhensfeldt, 2007 p. 372), which is also a central theme of the critiqued article. Issues of conflict with personal and professional ideologies also appear elsewhere in nursing research and debate, and can occur outside of cultural conflicts (Juthberg et al, 2007 p. 329). There are ongoing debates on how much nurses change during their professional lives, in relation to their personal and professional values, and Lindh et al (2007 p. 129) argue that nurses should not have to compromise their values in order to practice their profession. Pang et al (2009 p. 315) show that nurses in China were entrenched in positive ideologies and that nursing values relate closely to the identified themes. Conclusions The article presents a small conclusion, but no separate recommendations for practice. The conclusion summarises the findings, of identifying these seven essential values of Chinese nurses, and their correlation with established codes of ethics for nurses (Pang et al, 2009 p. 315). They state that professional values are influenced by traditional Chinese culture and the current socioeconomic trends (Pang et al, 2009, p. 315). They recommend the development of a culturally sensitive professional values scale for China, for use in future quantitative or mixed methods designs, suggesting that this study provides useful information for development of such an instrument (Pang et al, 2009, p. 315). This author would argue that this is a sad state of affairs, to only see these qualitative findings as contributing to future quantitative studies, but it reflects the general perception of qualitative research being of significantly lower status than quantitative in relation to evidence for pra ctice (Upshur, 2001 p. 5). This author would argue that this study provides a good exploration of Chinese nursing ethical and value-based meaning, and as such demonstrates the commonality of nursing practice across what are considered to be significant and clearly demarked cultural boundaries. Conclusion This review has highlighted the relevance of this article to wider nursing theories and concepts, and has shed light on the values possessed by Chinese nurses which appear to be similar to those of other nurses. There are issues with the quality of reporting of this study, particularly in relation to methodological transparency, but this author would argue that the study does contribute to nursing knowledge in a very real way. The type of reporting may be the limitation, not the research itself. 2. Research Critique (on Quantitative research) Nurses are expected to provide the best standards of care possible for their patients and clients, and in order to do this, they are required to provide evidence-based practice wherever possible. Part of this process of providing care based on the best available evidence involves appraising primary research (Elliott, 2001, p. 555). If nurses are to improve their practice, and apply evidence to improve their clinical and theoretical knowledge and skills, they must be able to assess the quality of the available research which is relevant to their practice (Freshwater and Bishop, 2003k p23; Hek, 2000, p. 19). According to Hek (2000 p. 19-21), evidence based practice incorporates professional expertise, patient need and preference, and the best available evidence. But in order to identify this best evidence, the nurse must undertake an evaluation and critical review of research studies, to see if the research is useful and of sufficient quality to be applied to their practice (Fink, 2005 ). This essay evaluates a quantitative research article which has relevance to nursing practice, because it deals with a chronic condition and one which is prevalent in worldwide populations. The author will review Tangkawanich et al (2008 p. 216) Causal model of health: health-related quality of life in people living with HIV/AIDS in the northern region of Thailand. This article is published in a reputable journal, The Journal of Nursing and Health Sciences which addresses issues of interest and concern to nurses internationally, and as such, offers specific insight into HIV/AIDS and nursing within a global context. There are a number of appraisal tools available to healthcare practitioners to assist them in analysing and critiquing primary research articles. Such models are developed over time in relation to standardised conceptualisations of what constitutes quality and rigour in research and in its reporting. For the purposes of this essay, the primary tool used is that proposed by Cormack (2000), but the author will make reference to other critiquing guides and information, including the popular CASP tool (PHRU, 2009, online) Discussion 1. Title The title is concise (Cormack, 2000) and describes the focus of the research itself. While it clearly indicates what the purpose of the study was (Cormack, 2000), it could be clearer and more indicative of the nature of the study. While the nature of the research in setting out to examine the causal relationships between age, antiretroviral treatment, social support, symptom experience, self-care strategies and health related quality of life (Tangkawanich et al, 2008 p. 216) in the chosen sample and population, is apparent in the abstract, there is little indication of these particular variables in the title, although the description of the causal model (Tangkawanich et al, 2008 p. 216) does indicate the nature of the research. The use of the word causal (Tangkawanich et al, 2008 p. 216) also suggests that this is a quantitative research article. It does not clearly indicate the research approach used (Cormack, 2000). To the less research-aware reader, it would be difficult to divine this information from the title alone, and it could be argued that it would be better to include in this title a clearer indication of the nature of the study. This would then help the reader to identify if this is the type of research study that would be applicable to their own practice or learning. 2. Authors The authors qualifications are provided, and they all are registered nurses, all of which have postgraduate degrees, and two of which have doctorates. They all work within nursing education within a University context. This would suggest that they have the research skills and expertise to carry out such a study. However, there is no indication in the author list whether or not any of them have the statistical expertise for the study. 3. Abstract Tangkawanich et al, (2008 p 216) provide an abstract, which is identified by Cormack (2000) as an important introduction to the article. The study effectively summarises the research, by identifying the variables being tested. The authors do not, however, present the hypothesis in the abstract (Cormack, 2000). The abstract contains a summary of the study sample, and also identifies the research tools that have been used. They include the results and a summary of conclusions from these findings. As such, the abstract does represent the article itself (PHRU, 2009, online), and for the reader, it does make it easy to identify whether or not the article is relevant to their interest. In particular, it does indicate clearly that it is a quantitative paper which uses recognisable data collection tools. 4. Introduction and Literature Review Although Cormack (2000) separates these two into distinct subheadings, within this article, the introduction and literature review are contiguous. The author has noted that this is often the case in the reporting of such studies, but this may simply be a convention of the publication itself, and not the preference of the authors of the study. The authors use the introduction to contextualise the problem in relation to published research, stating the importance of health-related quality of life (HRQL) for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), because of the impact of the disease on these individuals daily lives (Tangkawanich et al, 2008 p. 216). They discuss changes and advances in treatment options for this condition, and relate this to HRQL, and then discuss the disease itself, and how these impact upon HRQL (Tangkawanich et al, 2008 p. 216). They summarise some research about this topic, and also look at self-care strategies, symptom management and treatment (Tangkawanich et al, 200 8 p. 216). There is some exploration of HRQL and its relationship to nursing and to existing literature on this topic, which aids understanding of the concept prior to reading the rest of the article. They highlight some important topics in relation to the focus of the article, including treatment, social support, and other issues (Tangkawanich et al, 2008 p. 216). Although the introduction/literature review contextualises and introduces this study, this author believes that a more detailed critical analysis of the literature would be warranted here. It is not enough to cite previous research as a means of establishing the credentials of the study, as it were. A wider range of research could have been included (Gerrish and Lacey, 2006, 38; Fontana, 2004, p.93), and this research could have been evaluated to identify its quality. It is left to the reader to pursue this matter and determine the quality of the research upon which they base the premise and justification for this study. This could be considered a limitation in the reporting of this research. 5. The Hypothesis The authors do not state a hypothesis (Cormack, 2000), as such, but instead present a research question. The purpose of this study was to examine the causal relationships between age, antiretroviral treatment, social support, symptom experience, self-care strategies, and the HRQL in Thai PLWHA ((Tangkawanich et al, 2008 p. 217). The nature of this statement would suggest that it is not an experimental study, but that it is within a quantitative research paradigm. 6. Operational definitions Cormack (2000) suggests that people appraising research question whether operational definitions are clearly presented. In this study, operational definitions are explained within the introduction but in language that would make it inaccessible to the less experienced or less knowledgeable reader. 7. Methodology The methodology section does not clearly state or discuss the choice of a quantitative approach (Cormack,2000). The focus of the section on Methods is rather on the instruments that are being used. The quality of this study seems to rest in the choice of a quantitative approach, and the choice of data collection instruments. Quantitative research approaches offer a better standard of evidence, with generally greater ability for replication and greater rigour (Kitson et al, 2000 p. 149; Duffy, 2005, p. 233). As far as research for healthcare practice is concerned, quantitative studies hold better status than those based with a qualitative paradigm (Hek, 2000 p. 19; Newman et al, 1998 p. 231; Pepler et al, 2006, p. 23). There is however no real discussion of the underpinning principles of quantitative research (Parahoo, 2006). It is good that the research instruments are explained in such detail, because it helps overcome one of the limitations of quantitative research, that of not asking the right questions to elicit answers that relate to person al experience (Johnson and Onwuegbuzie, 2004 p. 14). 8. Subjects There is very limited detail given of sample selection, save stating that eight hospitals were randomly selected using a lottery method without replacement and that the 422 participants were randomly sampled (Tangkawanich et al, 2008 p. 217). This could constitute a limitation of this research, as it is not possible to identify if there was any sampling bias, how participants were recruited, who recruited them, and any ethical issues in relation to participant recruitment (Hek, 2000, p. 20; PHRU, 2009, online, Bowling, 2002). This author would argue that this is a weakness of the study, as these are crucial elements of quality measurement in primary research within healthcare (Austin, 2001 p. 1; Cooper, 2006, p. 439; Nuremberg Code, 1949, online). 9. Sample selection Sample selection is not discussed in any detail, which could be a weakness of the study, as mentioned above (Cormack, 2000). Sample size is stated, but it is not stated whether this was statistically determined, which could also be considered a weakness, as achieving a statistically sound sample size is important within quantitative research (Daggett et al, 2005, p. 255; Donovan, 2002). 10. Data Collection Data collection procedures are not adequately described in this study (Cormack, 2000). This would be problematic for replication and for rigour. There is no indication who administered the questionnaires, whether or not they were self-report in the participants own time and convenience, or whether a researcher was present at the time of completion. This could be considered a weakness of this studys reporting. The issue of researcher bias is important in the completion of data collection tools, and while questionnaires may be considered a way of avoiding this, if they are remotely administered, it is not always possible to check they are full, or honest, or completed by the intended target (Gillham, 2000, p. 48). Having the researcher present, however, could introduce bias or influence of some kind, particularly in vulnerable people (Bowling, 2001). As these are vulnerable adults attending clinics for their chronic condition, not discussion how the data was collected from them is a se rious failing and may also constitute an ethical issue. However, a strength of this study could be considered to be the use of multiple data collection instruments, and the detail with which they are described, and their provenance accounted for. They have used the Social Support Questionniare, the Symptom Experience Questionnaire, the Self-Care Strategies Questionnaire, and the Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire (Tangkawanich et al, 2008 p. 217). These are described in detail, and where they are based on previously developed research or derived directly from previous studies, this is also described. As these are established research data collection tools, this would suggest they have been previously validated, which adds to the quality of the research (Yu and Cooper, 1983 p. 36; Oppenheim, 1992; McDowell and Newell, 1996; McColl et al, 2001 p. 1). The demographics of the sample are addressed to some extent, and the use of multiple tools also helps to address potential confounding variables or factors (PHRU, 2009, online). 11. Ethical Considerations It is clearly stated within the study that ethical approval was derived from an appropriate body, and that informed consent was achieved, both of which signify good ethical consideration here (Cormack, 2000). However, there is no explanation of what information was given to the participants, how informed consent was achieved, or if there was any issue with communication or accessibility for people with different communication needs. It does not specifically address issues of anonymity and confidentiality (Cormack, 2000), but instead seems to focus on safety (Tangkawanich et al, 2008 p 218). 12. Results The results of this study are presented in tables, diagrams, and in great detail within the text of the paper. The key results and demographic issues are presented, but data presentation is summarised in a results section and then in more detail in the discussion. The findings are not very accessible, but p values are clearly stated, which is important in a study of this kind. PHRU (2009, online), within the CASP tool, poses the question of do you believe the results?. This is an important question. The results seem plausible, and relate to established statistical analysis procedures (see below). But because of the lack of detail about the sample, and the selection method, it is not possible to eradicate the doubts about these findings, in relation to potential bias. But in the context of the authors wider knowledge and understanding about people living with HIV/AIDS, the results seem believable. However, the issue of bias cannot be overlooked. More transparency in reporting of key e lements of this study would have made it easier to determine whether these results constitute good evidence for practice (Rosswurm and Larrabee, 1999 p. 317; Pepler et al, 2006, p. 23). 12. Data analysis The authors carried out the statistical analyses using SPSS, which is an established statistical programme, and LISREL, which is not a programme this author is familiar with. They describe generating descriptive statistics for each of the variables under consideration, but do not present these in any detail (Tangkawanich et al, 2008 p. 218). They then describe the use of multivariate analysis for specific model development, and using other tests, some of which are familiar to the author, some of which are not. While the multivariate analysis and X2 tests are acceptable tests of inference or relationships between variables (Duff, 2005 p. 234), anyone who does not have the specialist knowledge of the other tests would find it hard to determine their appropriateness here. The level of specialist statistical knowledge required to understand this would be significant. More transparency could have been achieved by including an explanation of these tests. 13. Discussion The discussion appears quite balanced (Cormack, 2000), and is very detailed, which is good, given the complexity of this study, involving as it does multiple data collection instruments. The study relates the findings back to a wide range of other research studies, which is a strength of this part of the report, showing congruence with many other findings in relation to quality of life, age, socioeconomic status, social support, antiretroviral treatment, symptoms, and self-care (Tangkawanich et al, 2008 p. 219). Limitations of the study are also acknowledged (Cormack, 2000). However, the implications for practice are presented in a separate section. 14. Conclusions The conclusion supports the results obtained (Cormack, 2000), although it is not a very detailed summation of the complexity of the findings. H