HDTV: Implications for High Definition Television Essay -- Exploratory

HDTV: Implications for High Definition Television    HDTV (High Definition Television) has many positive attributes and is the television set of the future, but the primary concern is how this revolutionary standard can coexist and eventually replace the existing color TV system.   This vital problem associated with HDTV is similar to the obstacle that color TV encountered in 1954 - which was enabling the color signal to be read simultaneously with the monochrome signal, without interference. There is an estimated 600 million television sets dispersed throughout the world and about 70 percent of them are color.   (Kuhn, 2001: 1).   A significant and precarious matter is whether the modern criterion of HDTV should be attuned with existing, color TV standards, succeed the existing standards, or be concurrently transmitted with the accessible standards (with the conception that the existing standards would obliterate over time).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   High Definition Television is any system developing vitally enhanced picture resolution than that of the usual 525-line (625-line in Europe) television monitor.   Digital HDTV systems, by dissimilarity, broadcast pictures and sounds in the arrangement of digital data.   These numerical data are transmitted, utilizing the identical high radio frequencies that contain analog waves, and computer processors in the digital television system that then decipher the information.   Digital HDTV can transmit sharper, clearer images and sound with very diminutive interferences or other flaws.   Of more significance, digital television systems will apparently be adept to send, store, and influence pictures as well as receive them, thus combining the functions of the television set and the compute... ... 1998. http://query.nytimes.com/search/abstract?res=F00D17FE3A540C718DDDAA0894D0494D81.   Accessed on April 7, 2002.       â€Å"Maier, Susan.†Ã‚   HDTV:   Who Needs The FCC?.   HDTV Magazine. Advanced Television Publishing: Oregon, 1999.   http://web-star.com/hdtv/whondsfcc.html. Accessed on April 7, 2002.    â€Å"HDTV.†Ã‚   Internet. Yahoo.com.   Britannica Concise. http://education.yahoo.com/search/be?lb=t&p=url%3Ah/high_definition_television Accessed on April 7, 2002.    â€Å"A Proposal For Public Interest Obligations Of Digital TV Broadcasters.†Ã‚   Executive Summary.   Internet.   http://www.nntia.doc.gov/pubintadvcom/aprmtg/Sohn.htm. Accessed on April 9, 2002.    â€Å"HDTV.† Internet.   http://www.crs4.it/~luig/MPEG/hdtv.html.   Accessed on April 11, 2002.   Ã‚   â€Å"Beckman, Jeanne.† Television Violence: What Research Says About its Effect on Young

The Importance Of Playgrounds Education Essay

The Special Care Center in Abu Dhabi, an commissioned organisation for Disabled Care and Rehabilitation, is seeking proposals from experient technology companies for the design of a resort area that should be appropriate for kids with assorted disablements. Therefore, the Alta Vista squad decided to transport on the undertaking and design an equal resort area for those kids. Keeping in head that similar jobs have been resolved and similar merchandises have been designed before, which means that we should happen out what is already known about the topic. Thus, farther research on assorted facets of the job should be done as it will supply us with a better apprehension to the job and assist us develop the conceptual design. Furthermore, we will be discoursing the importance of resort areas for handicapped and normal kids and specifically how can playgrounds prepare kids for the remainder of their lives? The desire to play and bask games is a natural desire in all kids no affair how rich or hapless their households are or how much they can travel independently, hear, talk or see. This is supported by Wilson [ 1 ] ; â€Å" All kids and immature people need to play. The urge to play is unconditioned. Play is a biological and psychological and societal necessity, and is cardinal to the healthy development and good being of persons and communities. † Playing times are cherished and valuable for all ages non merely kids, as those memories are unforgettable. If you ask any grownup about a favourite drama memory from their childhood, they will non merely retrieve what they did but they will besides retrieve how they felt [ 1 ] . Well, it is every kid ‘s right to play and experience the equality. Furthermore, David Lloyd George [ 1 ] supported this by stating ; â€Å" The right to play is a childaa‚ ¬a„?s foremost claim on the community. Play is natureaa‚ ¬a„?s preparation for life. No community can conflict that right without making digesting injury to the heads and organic structures of its citizens. † We believe that the above information is valuable for our design undertaking as it highlights some of import points ; 1 ) the construction of the resort area should be interesting adequate and gratifying to be sketched in those kids ‘s memories. 2 ) The resort area should non be particular for handicapped kids merely but accessible for all kids, as this might impact their psychological position by experiencing alone and discriminated from others. The most obvious feature of resort areas is that they provide a interruption from the twenty-four hours ‘s modus operandi. Taking interruptions are considered indispensable for people of all ages and in all Fieldss as it helps increasing the productiveness and watchfulness of the encephalon. This was supported by the experimental research conducted by [ 2 ] , as the consequences found that callback is improved when acquisition is spaced instead than presented all at one time. Furthermore, physical activities in resort area where supported by [ 2, 3 ] to increase fittingness, better attitudes and support acquisition. Those activities do non merely back up instruction, but they besides support kids ‘s wellness ; by cut downing inaction which is associated with fleshiness, which causes wellness jobs such as high blood force per unit area and high cholesterin [ 2, 3 ] . Therefore, resort areas play an indispensable function on kids ‘s physical wellness, and physical wel lness plays an of import function in kids ‘s instruction. As a consequence, supplying particular physical activities that are suited for handicapped kids and accessible for normal kids should be considered while transporting out our design undertaking. The bulk of bing literature has focused on modifying or altering the equipments of resort areas to accommodate kids with particular demands [ 4 ] . However, this is non what is supposed to be done in order to implement inclusion in resort areas, because these discriminatory patterns will frequently do it hard for handicapped kids to fall in in [ 5 ] . What is truly meant by â€Å" Disabled Children † are those who experience favoritism on the land of their damage [ 5 ] . This is supported by [ 5 ] , the societal theoretical account attack developed by handicapped people in 1981, â€Å" Damage is what we have, Disability is what we experience. † Therefore, teacher mediated intercessions and thoughts for developing activities that do non necessitate important environmental alterations are required [ 4 ] . Furthermore, attending should be shifted to the methodological analysiss that might be used in the development of those kids ‘s societal accomplishments as most of those kids exhibit societal accomplishments shortages. Harmonizing to [ 4 ] , toys that promote societal interactions instead than lone drama should be provided, in order to further concerted interactions between kids in resort areas. Therefore, developmentally appropriate playthings and stuffs should be designed and chosen with attention, as to develop the utile accomplishments required to fix those kids for their maturity [ 4, 6 ] . Playgrounds initiate the development of two sorts of indispensable and needed accomplishments for handicapped kids [ 3, 7 ] ; 1 ) motor and physical accomplishments, which are helpful for their fittingness and wellness, 2 ) Soft accomplishments, are those which complement difficult accomplishments ( portion of a individual ‘s IQ ) . We can reason that these accomplishments are good for those kids ‘s instruction. Therefore, we should be able to cognize how to develop these accomplishments and through what sorts of games while carry oning ou r design undertaking? While playing in resort areas, kids do non recognize that they are constructing accomplishments and coordination while they are busy holding merriment [ 3 ] . Play affecting balls, running, starting bubbles, or edifice things are great methods to construct motor accomplishments. In fact, all verbs normally associated with childhood games, such as ; ascent, walk, kick, slide, skip, balance, pull, swing, crawl, and etc, besides go on to be activities that better physical motor accomplishments [ 3 ] . Some activities, mounting constructions and siting bikes, aid in edifice musculuss and increasing fittingness, which makes the pupils healthier and more active [ 3 ] . This is of import for the pupils in the Special Care Center, as handicapped kids do non merely have mental jobs but they besides suffer from physical jobs and need an chance to trip their musculuss and increase their motor accomplishments. Soft accomplishments help kids in constructing their character every bit good as defining and polishing their personalities for those coming grownup old ages [ 7 ] . Each and every game in a resort area has a intent and every game a kid plays in a resort area teaches him a lesson. We will be discoursing the most important and critical lessons that are tough by playing and better kids ‘s soft accomplishments. See-saws give the chance to interact with another kid and develop balance and coordination [ 3 ] . Climbing a slide for the first clip can be a great assurance builder and aid kids learn to take little hazards which increase their bravery [ 3 ] . This is besides depending on how friendly and swearing the environment is, as it gives the childs a opportunity to set themselves on the line a small spot. This teaches them that if they do a error, it is non the terminal of the universe [ 7 ] . Furthermore, resort areas can learn kids how to get by when things do non work out thei r manner, set ends, work toward a common end and keep their self-respect [ 7 ] . The critical portion of playing is larning that they can non ever reach what they want. There are regulations on the resort area, merely like there are regulations in the existent universe [ 7 ] . In order to acquire along or to win, childs have got to understand and stay by those regulations. Therefore, kids have to larn forbearance, how to allow out their defeat without harming themselves or others [ 7 ] . No 1 wins every clip, the resort area is non the lone topographic point to larn that but it provides an chance for it. Once kids learn it on the resort areas they can use it in other topographic points in their lives. They can reassign the accomplishments from the resort area to existent life. Children learn how to voyage through the development of societal and emotional accomplishments, which increases their job work outing accomplishments later in life [ 7 ] . Finally, the resort area offers kids different ways to happen themselves through test and mistake and this is how they learn and win in their hereafter lives [ 7 ] . It besides offers them with an opportunity to ramify out of their comfort zone, prove things out, and experiment with new wonts, behaviours and traits. It gives them a opportunity to take a deep breath and happen the bravery to plunge in and allow travel of errors [ 7 ] . When it comes down to it, it is non an issue of larning how to cover with failure but how to cover with success [ 7 ] . The resort area can assist disenable childs experience more confident about who they are, their abilities and what they are good at. So while carry oning our design we should stress on the importance of equality between the handicapped kids in the Special Care Center and normal kids. In decision, this background reading has provided the Alta Vista squad with important information that will help and back up the design undertaking. In order to hold a successful design, we should see the layout or the construction of the design, by doing it colourful and interesting plenty for kids to research. Furthermore, the construction or the design of the resort area should non be particular for disabled childs merely. The resort area should be accessible by both handicapped and normal kids. As playing together gets kids to concentrate more on what they have in common and less on their differences. When they have an environment that focuses more on their similarities, it is traveling to be more inclusive and respectful of single differences [ 7 ] . Furthermore, before planing each game in a resort area a list of what kids can larn or profit by playing in this game should be planned. In order to be able to supply all the necessary accomplishments required by those kids in their coming up hereafter and back up their instruction and success.

My First Conk essays

My First Conk essays Malcom X and his article titled My First Conk say that black men conked their hairs to unify their existence in the society of white people. This was never done to truly satisfy a personal desire. Conking was a popular procedure done in black males to straighten their hair in 1940s. The author explains that getting his hair conked was definitely not a delightful experience. Going through the pain of the hot lye burning in his scalp was part of the conking procedure. This was to be done every time someone had to be conked, but evidently was a procedure worth going through each time. Malcom X looked at himself in the mirror admiring his straight hair like he had gone under some kind of miracle transformation of a white man, and told himself that he would never be without one. This type of change gave him a some type of recognition to himself. The author stated that no matter where a negro resided, there was conking going around, and black woman wearing wigs of various colors to endure a white womans appearance that hoped to give them a sense of class to their name. But in actuality only made them look foolish pretending to be someone they are not. What they failed to realize was that they have lost their sense of identity, stated Malcom X. They are black men and woman trying to live their lives in a community where the whites are superior and the blacks are inferior. This became a standard in which almost everybody grew up to believed in. Malcom X also implied that the black community tried to change their ways of physical appearance to get appreciated and they were just as human as the white community. They were simply changing materialistic properties of themselves to become what they think the white community wanted to see. The author identified that while the black community was so rapped up in their conking stages, they neglected to realize that their intellectuality still strongly ...

Battle of Fallen Timbers - Northwest Indian War

Battle of Fallen Timbers - Northwest Indian War The Battle of Fallen Timbers was fought August 20, 1794 and was the final battle of the Northwest Indian War (1785-1795). As part of the treaty ending the American Revolution, Great Britain ceded to the new United States the lands over the Appalachian Mountains as far west as the Mississippi River. In Ohio, several Native American tribes came together in 1785, to form the Western Confederacy with the goal of dealing jointly with the United States. The following year, they decided that the Ohio River would serve as the border between their lands and the Americans. In the mid-1780s, the Confederacy began a series of raids south of the Ohio into Kentucky to discourage settlement. Conflict on the Frontier To deal with the threat posed by the Confederacy, President George Washington instructed Brigadier General Josiah Harmar to attack into Shawnee and Miami lands with the goal of destroying the village of Kekionga (present-day Fort Wayne, IN). As the US Army had essentially been disbanded after the American Revolution, Harmar marched west with a small force of regulars and approximately 1,100 militia. Fighting two battles in October 1790, Harmar was defeated by Confederacy warriors led by Little Turtle and Blue Jacket. St. Clairs Defeat The following year, another force was dispatched under Major General Arthur St. Clair.  Preparations for the campaign began in early 1791 with the goal of moving north to take the Miami capital of Kekionga. Though Washington advised St. Clair to march during the warmer summer months, incessant supply problems and logistical issues delayed the expeditions departure until October. When St. Clair departed Fort Washington (present-day Cincinnati, OH), he possessed around 2,000 men of which only 600 were regulars. Attacked by Little Turtle, Blue Jacket, and  Buckongahelas on November 4, St. Clairs army was routed. In the battle, his command lost 632 killed/captured and 264 wounded. In addition, almost all of the 200 camp followers, many of whom had fought alongside the soldiers, were killed. Of the 920 soldiers who entered the fight, only 24 emerged uninjured. In the victory, Little Turtles force only sustained 21 killed and 40 wounded. With a casualty rate of 97.4%, the Battle of the Wabash marked the worst defeat in the history of the US Army.   Armies Commanders United States Major General Anthony Wayne3,000 men Western Confederacy Blue JacketBuckongahelasLittle Turtle1,500 men Wayne Prepares In 1792, Washington turned to Major General Anthony Wayne and asked him build a force capable of defeating the Confederacy. An aggressive Pennsylvanian, Wayne had repeatedly distinguished himself during the American Revolution. At the suggestion of Secretary of War Henry Knox, the decision was made recruit and train a legion which would combine light and heavy infantry with artillery and cavalry. This concept was approved by Congress which agreed to augment the small standing army for the duration of the conflict with the Native Americans. Moving quickly, Wayne commenced assembling a new force near Ambridge, PA at a camp dubbed Legionville. Realizing that previous forces had lacked training and discipline, Wayne spent much of 1793 drilling and instructing his men.   Titling his army the Legion of the United States, Waynes force consisted of four sub-legions, each commanded by a lieutenant colonel. These contained of two battalions of infantry, a battalion of riflemen/skirmishers, a troop of dragoons, and a battery of artillery. The self-contained structure of the sub-legions meant they could operate effectively on their own.   Moving to Battle In late 1793, Wayne shifted his command down the Ohio to Fort Washington (present-day Cincinnati, OH). From here, units moved north as Wayne built a series of forts to protect his supply lines and the settlers in his rear. As Waynes 3,000 men moved north, Little Turtle became concerned about the Confederacys ability to defeat him. Following an exploratory attack near Fort Recovery in June 1794, Little Turtle began to advocate in favor of negotiating with the US. Rebuffed by the Confederacy, Little Turtle ceded complete command to Blue Jacket. Moving to confront Wayne, Blue Jacket assumed a defensive position along the Maumee River near a copse of fallen trees and close to British-held Fort Miami. It was hoped that the fallen trees would slow the advance of Waynes men. The Americans Strike On August 20, 1794, the lead elements of Waynes command came under fire from Confederacy forces.   Quickly assessing the situation, Wayne deployed the his troops with his infantry led by Brigadier General James Wilkinson on the right and Colonel John Hamtramck on the left.   The Legions cavalry guarded the American right while brigade of mounted Kentuckians protected the other wing.   As the terrain appeared to preclude the effective use of cavalry, Wayne ordered his infantry to mount a bayonet attack to flush the enemy from the fallen trees.   This done, they could be effectively dispatched with musket fire. Advancing, the superior discipline of Waynes troops quickly began to tell and the Confederacy was soon forced out of its position. Starting to break, they began to flee the field when the American cavalry, charging over the fallen trees, joined the fray. Routed, the Confederacys warriors fled towards Fort Miami hoping that the British would provide protection. Arriving there found the gates closed as the forts commander did not wish to start a war with the Americans. As the Confederacys men fled, Wayne ordered his troops to burn all of the villages and crops in the area and then withdrawal to Fort Greenville. Aftermath Impact In the fighting at Fallen Timbers, Waynes Legion lost 33 dead and 100 wounded. Reports conflict regarding the Confederacys casualties, with Wayne claiming 30-40 dead on the field to the British Indian Department stating 19. The victory at Fallen Timbers ultimately led to the signing of the Treaty of Greenville in 1795, which ended the conflict and removed all Confederacy claims to Ohio and the surrounding lands. Among those Confederacy leaders who refused to sign the treaty was Tecumseh, who would renew the conflict ten years later.

Assessment of impact of risk analysis on delivery of e

Assessment of impact of risk analysis on delivery of e Methodology has been described by Collis and Hussey (2007, p.78) as an approach used in research to organize and plan the general approach in which the research goals and questions are addressed. In addition, different tasks are carried to ensure that the research is successful since the findings and analysis depend heavily on the methodology applied. In other words, methodology is the core of a research.Advertising We will write a custom dissertation sample on Assessment of impact of risk analysis on delivery of e-learning programs in universities of Saudi Arabia: Methodology specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to Goddard and Melville (2001, p.1), research methodology as a process helps in answering researcher’s unanswered questions and creating which that did not exist in the first place. In respect to the research study, different research variables which include risk analysis theory shall be applied. To achieve the r esearch aim and objectives, qualitative research method and exploratory research design will be used. The collected data is relevant and related to risk assessment in e-learning in Saudi Arabia universities. The research approach A well defined research approach plays an integral role in making a research richer in content by following a logical and stepwise framework for the collection of data. According to Gliner and Morgan (2000), there are two research approaches which are commonly, namely inductive and deductive approaches. The research will use deductive research approach because of its applicability in collecting a large volume of data which was required for the research. In addition, compared to the inductive approach, deductive research approach is more supportive to the collection of more authentic data. In course of the research, the researcher shall move from general points to more specific points. For instance, the concept of e-learning will be discussed followed by its impacts on students learning, followed by discussion on the impact of risk analysis on e-learning programs by universities in Saudi Arabia. This will ensure that the goals of the research were achieved throughout the research process. The deductive research approach is appropriate and authentic as it reduces vagueness and bias in the research findings and conclusions. The research method Because of the nature of the research, the researcher will adopt qualitative research method. This is because a qualitative research method allows a researcher to understand a particular social phenomenon and discover the most innermost meaning (Pratt 2006; Newman Benz 2006). In reference to the research study, qualitative research method will be used to understand perspectives, views, and meaning of major interest of members of the Ministry of Higher Education in the National Center for E-Learning and Distance Learning Saudi Arabia. This will allow the researcher to get in-depth information and d ata relative to the subject under study. In addition, it will be possible to get at personal level with the participants since interview which is a qualitative data collection method will be used.Advertising Looking for dissertation on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More From the perspective of the participants, it will be possible for the researcher to understand the situation of e-learning in Saudi Arabia. Since no quantification of the collected data is required, qualitative research method will ensure that extrapolation, understanding and illumination of the situation understand study is realized (Golafshani 2003, p.600). The research design Marczyk, DeMatteo Festinger (2005) note that a research design is pivotal facet of a research study as it assists in the identification of the appropriate research methods so as to meet the requirements of the research approach. Iacobucci and Churchill (2010, p.58) ha ve defined research design as a plan in study, which is used as a guide while collecting and analyzing data. In this line of context, exploratory research design shall be adopted because it allows a researcher to gather preliminary information required in defining the research problem. Furthermore, it is important as is assists in exploring key facts and information about the research problem. For example, exploratory research design will be adopted to get the facts of e-learning from the members of the National Center for E-Learning and Distance Learning Saudi Arabia. The reason why exploratory research design shall be used is because it specifies a reliable, valid and generalized approach to the collection of data. Consequently, errors can be examined in an appropriate way and in a timely manner (Greig, Taylor Mackay 2007; Iacobucci Churchill 2010, p.60). Furthermore, exploratory research design signifies the relevance of data that is collected during the defined process. The us e of the exploratory research design will make possible by combining it with qualitative research method. In addition, information gathered shall be integrated together through risk analysis theory adopted in the study. Lastly, exploratory research has been chosen because of its ability to offer the researchers pertinent information as well as help in answering the research question. This was achieved through information and data gathering and creating theories related to the research study. The data collection Before data collection is carried, consent shall be sought from 70 participants from the Ministry of Higher Education in National Center and Distance Learning in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, the participants shall be informed of the nature of the study, its goals, objectives, and why the research is being carried. In addition, a letter from the university and a cover letter outlining the purposes of the research study will also made available to the participants and the relevant a uthority. It is imperative to note that in this study both secondary and primary data collection methods shall be used.Advertising We will write a custom dissertation sample on Assessment of impact of risk analysis on delivery of e-learning programs in universities of Saudi Arabia: Methodology specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Because of the nature of the research study, face to face interviews coupled with personally administered questionnaires shall be used to collect data and information from the selected participants from the Ministry of Higher Education in National Center and Distance Learning. The researcher will use semi-structured interview schedules to get the required information from the participants. This implies that the systematically structured questions shall be asked starting with general to the specific. To avoid bias during the data collection method, leading questions shall be avoided. The researcher is aware of th e consequences of asking any leading questions and to ensure originality and both internal and external validity and reliability, the researcher shall offer explanation where the participants may not understand in understandable knowledge possible. Sampling procedure Generally, it is usually impossible to carry a research study on an entire population such as in all universities in Saudi Arabia. As a result, sampling is necessary in ensuring that a section of the population is selected to represent the entire population. Although qualitative research does not require the use of the collected results for generalization purposes, the researcher found it important to carry out sampling to ensure that unbiased sample was selected. In this particular study, simple random sampling method shall be used for sample selection purposes. According to Greene and Hogan (2005), simple random sampling is used to give an equal chance to every member of the university to be selected to be part of the sample used. Simple random sampling has been described as a sampling technique which involves the selection of a group of participants for the purpose of studying a larger population. In addition, each participant is chosen on the basis of chance, meaning that each individual in the large population shares the same chance as the selected participant. In this line of thought, the researcher shall adopt random sampling to select 65 members of the Ministry Ministry of Higher Education in National Center and Distance Learning in Saudi Arabia. To ensure that each of the individual from the Ministry of Higher Education in Saudi Arabia was well represented in the sample, the list of all members of the Ministry of Higher Education in National Center and Distance Learning in Saudi Arabia shall be formulated. Out of the population, 65 random numbers shall be selected which shall form the representation of the sample of the research study. Among the 65 subjects, 15 will undergo face to face i nterviews while the 50 be part of self administered questionnaire.Advertising Looking for dissertation on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The major advantage of using simple random sampling in the research is its ability to reduce any potential human bias during the selection of the subjects included in the study sample (Fink 2006, p.48). Consequently, simple sampling shall provide the researcher with a study sample which is a representative of the population under study. In addition, generalizations of the results can be easily done since the sample under study shall represent Ministry of Higher Education in National Center and Distance Learning in Saudi Arabia which is the body which acts as custodian for e-learning in Saudi Arabia. This shall ensure that the researcher achieves external validity which is important in a study. However, the sampling technique does not lack anticipated challenges such difficulties in getting a list with the individual population representing the Ministry of Higher Education in National Center and Distance Learning in Saudi Arabia. However, although the process of compiling the list is time consuming and cumbersome, measures shall be undertaken to ensure that the population list is generated for sampling purposes. Research subjects/Participants The research is to be undertaken in the Ministry of Higher Education in National Center and Distance Learning in Saudi Arabia. Only 65 members of the Ministry of Higher Education in National Center and Distance Learning shall be selected for 15 interview and 50 self administered questionnaires to collect pertinent information about the impact of risk analysis on the delivery of e-learning programs in universities of Saudi Arabia. The major characteristic of the participants is to be over 30 years and above as well as an active member of the Ministry of Higher Education in National Center and Distance Learning for the at least two years. The age bracket and the experience are necessary as it shall assist the researcher get the required perception, experiences and opinions necessary in achieving the research study objects. A lthough the issue of having women work in male dominated fields is highly sensitive in Saudi Arabia because of cultural practices and beliefs as well as the low levels of women with university level education, the researcher shall include women as part of the research participants. This shall reduce bias resulting from gender and enabled the researcher to have different views from both males and female participants. Although the sample is small compared to the number of university representatives in Saudi Arabia, it is justifiable and easy to work with since the research is more of qualitative than quantitative. The major strengths associated with the selected sample size are its gender, age and experience considerations. In addition, the sample is easy to access and considerably appropriate for the research study. Since the participants shall be selected through simple random sampling, the data collected from the sample shall not biased and it generalization was possible. The only drawback is that some of the respondents may have busy schedules and the researcher may be forced to re-schedule the data collection timetable to make sure all the participants participate. Instrumentation and Administration For the purposes of carrying out the research study, the researcher shall use structured interviews schedules and personally administered questionnaires. Interviews have been described by Pratt (2006) as one of qualitative research methods applied in research study for its ability to gain rapport and confidence with the respondents. The interview schedule has been designed in such a way that it starts from general questions to more specific questions and a part of closing remarks on implementation of e-learning in Saudi Arabia. The structured research schedule has 10 questions which shall act as guidance during the data collection process. The 15 participants shall undergo face to face interviews for approximately 40 minutes. The formulated questions shall be di rected to the interviewee and their responses recorded. Before the recording is done, consent shall be sought from each of the participants to ensure that they are comfortable with the recording. Audio recording will be carried during the 40 minute interview session. Once the process of interviewing is completed, the responses will be transcribed and the transcripts validated by each of the participants. The data shall then be imported to enhance representation which will later be used for analysis and discussion. The transcripts shall be read and listened over and over so that the researcher could get the key data categories. The collected data and information will now ready for analysis and discussions. Face to face interviews are justifiable because they are cheap, time saving and allow the researcher to collect first hand information (Opdenakker 2006; Valenzuela Shrivastava n.d, p.2; Leon 2003, p.93). Based on this observation, the researcher will be able to use less financial costs and collect information which will directly come from the participants’ point of view. In addition, the researcher will be able to have a rapport and infiltrate the social space of each participant during the interviewing process. As noted by Denscombe (2007, p.175), this allows a researcher to make the participant more comfortable during the interviewing process. Lastly, interviews have a high return rate compared to other data collection methods such as the use of questionnaires (Leon 2003, p.93; Knox Burkard 2009). The major limitation of interviews is that participants can manipulate the responses being given thus comprising the validity of the study results (Crowther Lancaster 2008). In addition, time wastage may be experienced while rescheduling interview. There is high probability of getting biased data if the researcher asks biased questions or concludes the answers on behalf of the participants to meet the researcher’s expectation. Personally administe red questionnaires The researcher will also use questionnaires to collect data from 50 participants from Ministry of Higher Education in National Center and Distance Learning. The questionnaires will be personally administered by the researcher to each of the 50 participants. Personally administered questionnaires are administered personally to the participants where the participants fill them in the presence of the researcher. The major reason why this form of data collection has been selected id because of its capability to sufficiently collect data from an area where the participants are jointly assembled or found. Therefore, since that data will be collected from Ministry of Higher Education in National Center and Distance Learning which offers a convenient setting for the use of personally administered questionnaires. In addition, the use of the personally administered questionnaires will enable the researcher to gather the participants and collect the data. Therefore, compared to interviewing, personally administered questionnaires is less expensive and takes less time thus saving finances, energy and time. In addition, administering questionnaires does not require many skills as in the case of face to face interviews. The major benefit associated with administered questionnaires is that the researcher is afforded the chance to briefly introduce the topic understand as well as motivate the participants to give honest and frank responses. This aspect increases the research finding reliability and viability at the same time. The most probable limitation of using personally administered questionnaires disinclination of Ministry of Higher Education in National Center and Distance Learning of Saudi Arabia to allow the questionnaires to be self administered during working hours. However, this limitation may be countered by leaving blank questionnaires for the participants to complete them in a few days and have them mailed back, or collected by the researcher from a central point. Ethical issues The research endeavor was carry risk assessment on delivery of e-learning programs in universities of Saudi Arabia. To ensure the restoration of professionalism in research study, the researcher shall ensure ethical code of conduct is followed. Ethical considerations shall be taken into account to provide validity to the research study, which is entirely based on an ethical code of conduct. In addition, through ethical considerations, research will be made reliable and credible in the sense that the research study can undergo debriefing process. Prior undertaking the research, the researcher will seek consent from the participants and the Ministry of Higher Education in National Center and Distance Learning. The participants shall be given surety that the information recorded during the data collection process is to be kept confidential and that it would not be made available to third party (Jackson 2008). In addition, the researcher will give su rety that privacy and anonymity are to be observed and maintained throughout the research study. Given that the information being collected from participants was original and the content not copied from any source, consent shall be sought from the participants. An explanatory letter shall be sent to each of the 65 participants prior the interviews and the use of questionnaires. The letters sent to each of the participants will be signed by the university faculty. In addition to the explanatory letter, a cover letter outlining the purpose of the research, its aim and surety that the research is for academic purposes will be sent. It should be noted that no participant will be coerced, forced or acted under duress during the sample selection and interviewing process as well as during the completion of the questionnaires. The participants voluntarily agreed to be part of the research and were part of the debriefing process. Before the interviews are audio taped, the researcher will see k consent to record all their responses. Furthermore, the participants will be assured of the possibility of having the results back to authenticate whether they conformed to what they had said during the interviewing process. On the secondary data used in the study, the researcher will ensure that literary works from the secondary materials were acknowledged. Academic requirements in relation to copyrighted materials will also be put into consideration to avoid plagiarism. All these ethical considerations will be carried to ensure that originality, validity, and reliability of the research are achieved. The information used in the research study will be verified from different sources before being presented in a methodical way. Lastly, the information used in the literature review and adopted during the discussion process was used to provide literal support and provide references to the information included in the dissertation paper. Reliability and validity of the study The concep ts of validity and reliability are very important in a study. Threats of these two elements as noted by Cohen, Manion, Morrison and Morrison (2009, p.133) â€Å"can never be erased completely; rather the effects of these threats can be attenuated by attention to validity and reliability throughout a piece of research.† Different instruments of data collection are used to address both validity and reliability. Although reliability is important in a research study, it acts as a precondition for ensuring validity of the methodology. To begin with, validity is used to mean the extent to which an instrument used in a study measures what it was intended to measure (Miller n.d, p.3; Stemler 2001, p.7; Kirk Miller1986). Furthermore, it is applied in qualitative research to determine the authenticity of the collected data. Cohen et al. (2009, p.134) note that validity of qualitative research is not concentrated on collected data but on the meaning in which the collected data is attac hed. In this line thought, the researcher shall be honest enough while self-reporting of the collected data and information. There are some principles which need to be observed for validity to exist. For example, the source of the collected data should be from the natural setting. In addition, the collected data should be descriptive and be represented in terms of the participants rather than that of the researcher (Cohen et al. 2009, 134; Connaway Powell 2010, p.61). To ensure that face validity was achieved, the researcher will ensure that the instrument used in the research which is structured interview and questionnaire schedules, measures what they are designed to measure which is e-learning in Saudi Arabia’s universities. Another kind of validity that will be tested in the research is content validity which according to Miller (n.d p.3), measures the degree to which the designed instrument fully measures the domain of interest. For example, in the study, the researcher will carry the research to explore risk assessment analysis of the implementation of e-learning in Saudi Arabia. In this line of context and drawing from the interview research schedule, the researcher shall ensure that all the questions are fully a representative of the domain under which the study was being carried. On the other hand, reliability has been defined as the degree to which a measurement procedure is able to produce similar results if the research was repeated (Miller n.d, p.1; Thanasegaran 2009, p.35). To ensure that the collected data is reliable, the researcher shall develop openness and trustworthiness. This shall ensure that the researcher gets the intended results from the participants. As a result, duplicability could easily be achieved. Furthermore, the sampling technique adopted will ensure reliability since random sampling gives equal chances to each individual in a population. The data to be collected is believed to be sufficient to facilitate adequate data analysis thus enhancing reliability of the research findings. Limitations The major limitation is the use of qualitative research method only which may be influenced by the researcher or the subjects used in the study. Quantitative research method could have been applied to measure the degree of the risks involved in e-learning implementation. According to Anderson (2010, p.141), subjects used in a qualitative study may influence the responses given leading to bias in the collected data. To avoid this limitation, the researcher shall avoid leading or directive questions as well as developing a rapport with the participants. Another limitation in the research is difficulty in interpreting some of the responses since different people have different ways of expressing their opinions, perceptions and views. To minimize this problem, the researcher shall adopt respondent validation to ensure that any complications and inconsistencies are dealt with. The research methodology is highly de pended on qualitative research method which is less likely to ensure reliability given that the participants could change their responses if the research was repeated. Time barrier because of geographical representations of the two countries may delay the research. Lastly, there is high probability that the participants may not exhaust their responses fully thus exhibiting some level of bias. Appropriateness of the research design The study is based on exploratory research design which explores facts and information about the research problem. In respect to the study, the design is adopted with the attempt to explore the facts of e-learning implementation in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, exploratory research design shall allow the researcher to use the most effective research method to reach reliable and validated outcomes. Additionally, both primary and secondary data shall be used in the study where the secondary data will be used to compliment the data collected through interviews a nd questionnaires. This shall enable the researcher to get the facts with no bias and errors whatsoever. Furthermore, the research design signifies the relevance of data that is collected during the defined process. Summary Qualitative research design will be adopted in the research study and used together with exploratory research design. The researcher will use qualitative research design since only views and opinions of the participants in regard to the research objectives and aim will be required. Exploratory resign design will be used to get the facts and employ the most appropriate data collection methods. By adopting deductive research approach, the researcher will be able to move from general to more specific elements and aspects of the study. Both secondary and primary data collection methods shall be used in the research study. During the data collection process, 25 participants will be interviewed through structured interviews to provide primary data. Secondary data has b een collected from literary sources such as journals, magazines, books, reports, Ministry of Higher Education in National Center and Distance Learning in Saudi Arabia website, and news articles among other relevant materials. The mixed method will ensure that data compliment is realized. The advantages of interviews are that it is cheap, time saving, and information collected is based on the participants’ point of view. On the other hand, data collection methods are also cheap, time saving and have information which is already interpreted and analyzed. Simple random sampling method will be used to select the required sample of 70 participants. The participants will be selected from the Ministry of Higher Education in National Center and Distance Learning in Saudi Arabia thus representing all universities in Saudi Arabia. Simple random sampling will be chosen because of its ability to minimize human bias and at the same time providing a sample which forms the representation of the Ministry of Higher Education in National Center and Distance Learning in Saudi Arabia. As a result, external validity will be realized. The selected participants are supposed to be 30 years and above and to have worked in Ministry of Higher Education in National Center and Distance Learning of at least two years. The data will be collected through the use of face to face interviews and personally administered questionnaires. Each participant shall be interviewed for 40 minutes and the responses audio taped. In addition, notes were also collected during the interview process. Different ethical considerations such as participants consent, confidentiality, and anonymity shall be maintained throughout the study. Explanatory letters and cover letters will be sent to each of the participants indicating the research purpose and the intention to carry the study. The participants have voluntarily accepted to be part of the sample and given consent to the audio taped. Secondary materials have been acknowledged and so was plagiarism. To ensure validity and reliability in the research instrument, different methods will be adopted which minimizes validity and reliability threats. The major limitations of the methodology include the use of qualitative research design only, bias from the collected data, and the influence of researcher or the participants on the collected data. Reference List Anderson, C 2010, Presenting and evaluating qualitative research, Am J Pharm Edc, vol. 74, no. 8, p.141. Cohen, L, Manion, L, Morrison, K Morrison, K R B 2009, Research Methods in Education, New York, Routledge Collis, J. Hussey, R 2003, Business Research: A practical guide for undergraduate and postgraduate students, Hampshire, Palgrave Macmillan. Connaway, L S Powell, R R 2010, Basic research methods for librarians, Santa Barbara, Libraries Unlimited. Creswell, J W 2003, Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Method Approaches. 2nd ed. London: SAGE. Crowther, D Lancaster, G 2008, Research Methods: A Concise Introduction to Research in Management and Business Consultancy. 2nd ed. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann. Denscombe, M 2007, The good research guide: For small-scale social research projects, McGraw-Hill Education. Fink, A 1998, Conducting Research Literature Reviews: From Paper to the Internet, Thousand Oaks, Sage. Fink, A. 2006, How to conduct surveys: a step-by-step guide, Thousand Oaks, Sage Publications. Fowler, F J 2002, Survey Research Methods, (3rd ed), London, SAGE. Gliner, J A Morgan, G A 2000, Research Methods in Applied Settings: An Integrated Approach to Design and Analysis, New Jersey, Routledge Goddard, W Melville, S 2001, Research methodology: an introduction, Lansdowne, Juta. Golafshani, N 2003, Understanding reliability and validity in qualitative research, The Qualitative Report, vol.8, no.4, pp.597-607. Greene, S Hogan, D 2005, Researching Children’s Experiences: Methods and Approaches, London, Sage. Greig, A , Taylor, J Mackay, T 2007, Doing Research with Children, (2nd ed), London, Sage. Iacobucci, D Churchill, G A 2010, Marketing research: methodological foundations, Mason, South-Western. Jackson, S.L 2008, Research Methods: A Modular Approach, Cengage Learning. Johnson, P Duberley, J 2000, Understanding Management Research: An Introduction to Epistemology. London: SAGE. Kirk, J Miller, M L 1986, Reliability and validity in qualitative research, Beverly Hills, Sage Publications. Knox, S Burkard, A 2009, Qualitative research interviews, Psychotherapy Research, vol.19, no. 4-5, pp.1-18. Leon, J J 2003, Survey research: in-person, mail, telephone and web methods, Honolulu, Streamline Surveys, Inc. Marczyk, G R, DeMatteo, D Festinger, D 2005, Essentials of Research Design and Methodology, USA, John Wiley and Sons. Miller, M J n.d, Reliability and validity: Graduate Research Methods, Western International University Newman, I Benz, C R 2006, Qualitative-quantitative research methodo logy: exploring the interactive continuum. Carbondale, Southern Illinois Univ. Press. Opdenakker, R 2006, Advantages and disadvantages of four interview techniques in qualitative research, Forum: Qualitative Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research,.vol.7, no.4. Pather, E 2005, Methodology, http://wiredspace.wits.ac.za/bitstream/handle/10539/1811/04Chapter4.pdf?sequence=7. Pratt, N 2006, Qualitative research, edu.plymouth.ac.uk/resined/qualitative%20methods%202/qualrshm.htm#2.%20METHODS%20OF%20QUALITATIVE%20RESEARCH. Stemler, S 2001, An overview of content analysis, Practical Assessment, Research Evaluation, vol.7, no.17, p.7. Thanasegaran, G 2009, Reliability and validity issues in research, http://econ.upm.edu.my/researchbulletin/artikel/Vol%204%20March%202009/35-40%20Ganesh.pdf. Valenzuela, P Shrivastava, P n.d, Interview as a method of qualitative research, public.asu.edu/~kroel/www500/Interview%20Fri.pdf.

Financial Reporting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 2

Financial Reporting - Essay Example Here the items are specific and these are compared over a specific accounting period. This method can further be classified into two sub categories, namely absolute dollar and percentage comparison (Edmund, et.al., 2006). b) Vertical Analysis: The vertical analysis on the other hand is when the analysts use separate figures to one specific figure of a financial report. This comparison is generally performed in percentages. Here unlike the horizontal analysis, the analyst use one certain item and compare several different items with it, in the same accounting period. This is generally used to gather enough data to build a trend. This method is also divided into two main styles, income statement analysis and balance sheet analysis (Edmund, et.al., 2006). Narrative reports in annual reports are a very useful tool. These often cover a number of different aspects of the annual report. The narrative reports have been taking up higher portions of the annual reports. It has been noted by Deloitte research that these take up as much as 54% of the total annual reports (Reed, 2008). The role of the narrative reports is very clear, it is mainly present in the annual reports to provide the readers with a clear knowledge of the history of the company, a brief analysis of the changes made in the year, future plans of the company and also the illustrations and photographs that are relevant. This forms a source of information for the readers and to some extent can be considered to be a monologue. The role is to provide for a complete overview of the company. In terms of the analysing the financial statements, these reports provide the analysers with straight forward information. It includes a five to ten years of financial summary which proves to be very beneficial especially if the analyser aims at gaining comparative information over a few years of historical data of the company (Bear,

Chinese Media Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Chinese Media - Research Proposal Example In the endeavor to maintain their hold on the conventional media, the Chinese government has blocked the popular sites of facebook, twitter, and YouTube amongst other sites that are a platform for free expression. The Chinese people are left with the option of building their own sites that conform to the policies of their government. One of these sites is Sina Weibo. This site has been revolutionary since its inception in the year 2009. Much of its success is owed to the closure of Twitter, in China, around that year. In order to show the significance Weibo in the context of Chinese media freedom, this paper will analyze its role in reporting the high-speed train collision in Wuhan. Weibo has been instrumental in propagating social justice, as such; it has become a precipitate of government accountability that has been lacking in China. Sina Weibo has registered approximately two hundred and fifty million users to date. Chinese Weibo has the largest following in comparison to any one of the global sites operating in the world at the moment. Owing to the large Chinese population, Sina Weibo is larger than the sum of all other sites combined. Out of this, ten percent are frequent users on a daily basis. Ten percent of two hundred and fifty million is quite a considerable figure. It has become a platform of discussion of the most contagious issues pertaining to China. Most of these, however, arise from social, political and cultural issues. This is contrary to the social sites in the west. Western sites are primarily social interaction enhancing mediums. This is exemplified by the interactions on Facebook. The power of Sina Weibo is sourced from its function as a major forum for hosting public opinion. Unlike Twitter which is mainly a social networking site, its counterpart Sina Weibo mainly focuses on public opinion o f ongoing affairs. It achieves this by providing for its users a free opportunity to participate in public affairs. An avenue via which the public could voice out its concerns has been all but lacking.  Ã‚