Abstract This paper examines how, although it has taken a century for the concept of a practical hybrid car to become a reality, it is clear that the hybrid has found its time and how thanks to the improvement in hybrid system technology, the increased concerns surrounding the environment and the relatively limited supply of fossil fuels, hybrid cars are closer to mainstream than ever before. It uses as an example the Toyota Prius, the world's first volume production hybrid car and looks at how the five-passenger Prius has since become by far the world's most popular hybrid with current total sales of over 110,000 units worldwide.
Outline
Introduction and Background Information on Toyota Prius
Product Logistics
Materials Procurement System
Bill of Materials System
Intellectual Property
Patents
Trademarks
Designs
Copyrights
U.K. Market Information
Market Size and Trends
Market Segmentation
User Benefits
Performance Specifications for Improved Product
The Competition
Problems and Complaints
'Must Have? Features
From the Paper "The notion of a hybrid car is nothing new however Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive is, because of the way it works. In conventional hybrid cars or mild hybrids, which rarely develop further than the concept stage, the batteries were recharged either through a dynamo or simply by plugging it to a power source. The Prius however is much more sophisticated in this sense because it recharges the batteries by restoring the kinetic energy of the car which would otherwise be wasted during breaking. This is also called regenerative breaking. This makes Prius and the Hybrid Synergy Drive superior to other forms of hybrid technologies. The main component of this system is the Power Split Device (patent number: WO2004100202), which directs the kinetic energy generated during breaking to be restored in the batteries which are located at the rear section of the Prius."
Abstract This paper presents a proposal for a dissertation about the current health care crisis brought about as a result of rapidly increasing medical malpractice premiums. The paper explains the detrimental effects of such increases, the focus of each section in the proposed dissertation, the questionnaire and methodology to be used, and the intended goal of the dissertation.
From the Paper "During the last decade, medical malpractice premiums have increased exponentially, resulting in a decreased pool of qualified physicians operating in the medical arena. The medical industry is facing many crises, including rapidly increasing health insurance premiums which affect consumers directly. One arena consumers may not have considered evaluating however that of medical malpractice is."
This paper is a research proposal to examine the effects of work-related stress on job performance and to determine whether estrogen, a female sex hormone, plays a key role in job-related stress in the nursing industry.
Abstract This paper explains that work-related stress is correlated negatively to the job performance of nurses in the health care profession. The author points out the research hypothesizes that the job performance of male nurses and post-menopausal female nurses is more negatively correlated to stress than the job performance of pre-menopausal female nurses because men and post-menopausal women have less estrogen than pre-menopausal women do. The paper relates that previous literature suggests that stress hormone levels in older women receiving hormone replacement therapy are lower than in men of the same age, reinforcing the belief that estrogen lowers stress hormone levels in women.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Sources and Consequences of Stress
Method
Participants
Materials
Job Performance
Gender and Menopausal Status
Procedure
Expected Results and Discussion
From the Paper "There is a great deal of research suggesting that nursing is a stressful job and that the stress experienced by nurses can lead to a broad variety of work-related problems, including absenteeism, conflict, staff turnover, morale issues, and overall decreased worker effectiveness. Too much stress frequently results in burnout and the high turnover of nursing personnel. Thus, the causes and correlates of work-related stress, and the outcomes for job performance are of great concern to the overall nursing industry."
Abstract This paper discusses the roles of hair and fibers as physical evidence in forensic science. It concentrates on the physical composition, identification methods, recovery techniques and implications as evidence. This forensic science research paper also provides an analytical discussion of the implications that the various methods have in the field of criminology.
From the Paper "Hair and fibers are superficially similar. They may frequently be found together as trace evidence, and the methods of studying them are often similar. In fact, hair and fibers are quite different: Hair as an appendage of human or animal skin, growing out of an organ known as the hair follicle; fibers are strands of natural or manufactured material. Some animal-hair coverings such as wool and mohair are classified as natural fibers, but such issues of terminology are just that and do not affect the process of identification. Although hair is discovered as evidence at many crime scenes and often appears on the bodies of victims of violence, it represents class or general evidence, rather than individual evidence. One person's hair cannot yet be individualized to the exclusion of anyone else, although DNA research, which involves testing the root of the hair, may make near individualization possible. Hair is valuable evidence and much can be learned from a few strands. It also resists chemical decomposition and retains its structural features for a long time. In contrast to hair, fibers and cloth fragments offer much greater evidential value because they incorporate numerous variables. These include the number of fibers in each strand, the diameter of strands and fibers, the direction and number of twists, the type of weave, the dye content, as well as the presence of any foreign material that may be adherent to fibers or embedded among them."
Abstract This paper explains that the emotional condition of the individual social worker can be understood as being directly related to the professional's job satisfaction, which is no longer understood to result from a monetarily successful practice or other extrinsic factors that affect the social worker. The author points out that the nature of human service occupations often attracts people who are empathetic, sensitive, and tend to be people-oriented, but also who are anxious, introverted, and overenthusiastic. The paper reports that the cross-design research will break the surveyed population into groups by age and gender demographics and will attempt to identify common experiences, factors, and perceptions, which affect the appearance of burnout in the professional's career path.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Literature Review
Research Methods
Part One
Part Two
Sampling Plan
Measurement Variables
From the Paper "Burnout, on the other hand, is defined as a negative psychological experience that is a reaction of workers to job-related stress. Burnout refers to a cluster of physical, emotional, and interactional symptoms, including but not limited to emotional exhaustion, a sense of lacking personal accomplishment. This condition often results in the professional depersonalizing clients their clients, and detaching from the lists of emotional and psycho-social needs which clients bring into their office each day. Burnout symptoms also can include physical symptoms, emotional exhaustion, depression, or other serious emotional dysfunction. Recurrent bouts of flu, headaches, fatigue, poor self-esteem, difficulty in interpersonal relationships, substance abuse, inability to concentrate, rigidity, and tendency to blame clients for their problems can appear singularly, or in combination as evidence of burnout."
This paper evaluates research reported in the "Journal of Abnormal Psychology" on February 1, 2004, in the article, "Difficulties in Comprehending Causal Relations among Children with ADHD: The Role of Cognitive Engagement," by Elizabeth Pugzles and assoc
915 words (approx. 3.7 pages), 1 source, APA, $ 32.95
Abstract This paper explains that the overall conclusion of this research is that children with ADHD are no less capable of comprehending information from stories presented in television shows than non-ADHD children; however, if there are distractions present, ADHD children will not pay as much attention to the television and, therefore, will not have as complete of an understanding of the story presented as non-ADHD children who did not become distracted by the toys. The author points out that one of the reasons children with ADHD, as well as adults with ADHD, do not keep their visual attention fixed in one place for as long as non-ADHD children is their inability to maintain attentional inertia, which is linked to cognitive engagement. The paper raises some questions criticizing this article: (1) who wouldn't be distracted by toys rather than watching television, and (2) does the withdrawal from the medication skew results?
From the Paper "The results show that without the toys as a distraction, ADHD and non-ADHD children have very similar test results; 90 percent visual attention is paid to the television by all children if there is not a source of distraction. These children also had similar test results when asked questions to show their understanding and recollection of the show they watched. However, when toys (distractions) were added to the experiment, there was a very measurable difference between the ADHD children and non-ADHD children in their ability to understand causal relations and understanding of factual events from the TV show."
Abstract Thomas S. Kuhn's structural account on the production of scientific knowledge constructs a generalized picture of the process by which a science is born and undergoes change and development. This paper explains that for Kuhn, science is a social system. It looks at how Kuhn analyzes the structure of scientific revolutions using several key concepts. He uses the term paradigm for an archetypal experiment or problem solution that implicitly tells scientists how to look at the world. This paper discusses how Kuhn's thesis about scientific authority utilizes the notion of normal science which he defines as science that uses a past achievement as a model and guide for formulating and solving new problems about the world which are based on paradigms. In addition, scientific revolutions occur when one paradigm is replaced by another. The writer also explains that as a result, paradigms play an important role in both normal science and scientific revolutions.
From the Paper "The production of scientific knowledge undergoes six main steps. The first is a pre-paradigm stage in which the natural phenomena that later form the subject matter of a mature science are studied and explained from widely differing points of view. Next comes the emergence of a paradigm, embodied in the published works of one or more recognized scientists, defining and exemplifying the concepts and methods of research appropriate to the study of a certain class of natural phenomena, and serving as an inspiration to further research by its promise of success in explaining those phenomena. The third stage in the development of scientific knowledge is a period of normal science in which theories are explored and scientific puzzles are solved. A critical stage is the discovery of natural phenomena that violate the expectations governed by paradigms. In this stage, new theories are designed to explain these anomalous facts and then an abrupt transition to a new paradigm takes place in which a new conceptual and methodological framework arises which replaces the old. The final stage in the structure of scientific knowledge is the continuation of normal science within the new paradigm. This continues until the whole process repeats itself."
Abstract This paper discusses how the quantitative and qualitative designs should be adopted based on the design's appropriateness to the problem of the study. The paper explains how the dichotomy and differences between the qualitative and quantitative research designs led to the emergence of specific perceptions about each design. The paper contends that quantitative research is considered more scientific than qualitative, while the latter is considered more in-depth in acquiring information than the former. The paper states that while they differ in methodology and analysis, quantitative and qualitative research designs actually present two facets of a social phenomenon or action.
From the Paper "In the conduct of sociological research, the qualitative and quantitative research designs remain the predominant structures in which scientific studies on social phenomena are discovered, analyzed, and interpreted. However, the emergence of quantitative research design prior to the development of the qualitative design created a dichotomy in the field of social science research, wherein preferences for each research design emerged. This dichotomy had been the central focus of discussions and debates about social science research: quantitative research is commonly associated with rigid scientific methodology and analysis, while qualitative research is considered more intrusive and less rigid in terms of data collection and analysis."
Abstract This report looks at research methods including the debate between qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and relates these methodologies to the healthcare field in terms of providing cost effective solutions to healthcare problems like Medicare and other problems.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Paradigms and Theoretical Underpinnings
Mixed Methods Research
Conclusion
From the Paper "The first paradigm considered is logical positivism. This paradigm can roughly be equated as mentioned above with the quantitative approach to research methodology. It is a kind of research that comes from the theory that science is capable of providing definitive and objective statements regarding the proving or disproving of hypotheses, based on proof and deduction as well as statistics and mathematical reasoning. The theoretical underpinnings of logical positivism go back to the early twentieth century reliance on science and mathematical progress to solve the problems of the world, in healthcare and other environments. And logical positivism is still very strong in healthcare research, in terms of clinical trials and new drugs. But it is not as popular in the areas of healthcare the include improving cost effectiveness in government programs, because politics and science don't traditionally tend to travel too closely."
This paper reviews an experiment relating to false confessions as conducted and reported by Saul M. Kassin and Katherine L. Kiechel (1996) in the article "The Social Psychology of False Confessions: Compliance, Internalization, and Confabulation".
Abstract This paper examines research about coerced-internalized false confessions, which occur when innocent suspects actually believe that he or she is guilty of the crime; many of which are the result of police interrogation in which deceptive and deceitful practices may be used and accepted by the judicial system. The author points out that the article "The Social Psychology of False Confessions" tested the hypothesis that the presentation of false evidence can lead individuals who are vulnerable to confess to an act, which they did not commit, and, more important, to internalize the confession and perhaps confabulate details in memory consistent with that new belief. The paper relates that the researchers used an experimental method, which the paper describes, and concludes that this experiment was well-executed and well-reported.
From the Paper "There were two independent variables in this experiment. First, the subject's level of vulnerability was manipulated by varying the pace of the task. Therefore, the confederate read at either a fast or slow pace. Second, the experimenters varied the use of false incrimination evidence. The confederates either "witnessed" or acknowledged the mistake or some confederates did not "witness", or see the subject touch the ALT key. The dependent variable was the confessions. Three forms of social influence were evaluated: compliance, internalization, and confabulation. To assess compliance, the experimenter handwrote a confession and asked the subject to sign it. "
Abstract This paper explains that because absenteeism is a financial burden to management, causing increased stress on the remaining workers and decreased productivity, research is needed to understand the relationship between the levels of absenteeism in the workforce and (1) demographic factors, such as age, marital status, income, and gender and (2) employee behavior, which is derived from stress, motivation, family health and personality. The author constructed a custom-designed questionnaire, which seeks the nominal or interval data through single-response multiple-choice, multiple-response multiple-choice, simple dichotomous category scales, and modified versions of the Likert scale. The paper suggests that based on the information to be gained from this study, companies can alter human resource policies to make wiser employment decisions from their pool of applicants and can work closely with employees to provide more perks to ensuring that the work environment stimulates the motivation and reduces behavior associated with absenteeism. Custom-design questionnaire included.
Table of Contents
Problem Statement
Purpose Statement
Hypothesis
Research Objectives
Definition of Terms
Independent variables
Dependent variables
Constructs
Literature Review
Research Design
Participants
Materials
Data Collection Method
Instrumentation
Questionnaire Design
Construct
Logistics
Pilot Test
Evaluation of Response Bias
Design and Procedure
Ethical Considerations
Budget
Questionnaire Layout and Printing
Cost Summary
Schedule
Facilities
Project Management
From the Paper "The study will have two independent variables (descriptive and employee behavior) with multiple levels and one dependent variable. The dependent variable is the frequency of absences from work reported to the company within the last full-year of employment. For the independent variables it examines either the descriptive factors or the employee behavior influence the frequency of absenteeism in the workforce. Of the descriptive factors (seven levels) under study, the research examines the following factors: age, gender, education, socio-economic status, ethnicity, employment status, and marital status. The employee behavior factors (five levels) include motivation, stress, relationship with colleagues and management, repetition of job, and family responsibilities."
This paper discussed the development of a research proposal to examine the demand differences between traditional face-to-face versus non-traditional web-based learning delivery methods for a training course in a multi-national corporation.
Abstract This paper explains that, because a large number of corporations and schools, now using traditional face-to-face classroom training, are looking to increase the convenience and to improve the quality of instruction while decreasing costs, they are switching from the traditional form of training and instructional materials to web-based methods and materials. The author points out that management seeks recommendations toward curriculum changes based on the result of the proposed research to assess students' performances and preferences between these methods of delivery. The paper reports on the procedure and findings of a completed small pre-research project, which concluded that web-based training will be in demand.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Research Question
Literature Search
Purpose Statement
Ways Data Might Be Collected to Support the Research
Research Analysis
Conclusion
Table: Sample questionnaire Answers for Research Study
From the Paper "Based on the research question, the literature review was conducted by looking into various resource engines such as EBSCOhost and ProQuest. The keywords needed for the search - in our case we used "web-based training" - comes from the question proposed. Then some abstracts were read as well as some articles that pertained to our subject. We then chose the ones that had the information that will aide us in our decision towards our research."
Abstract This paper details the benefits of solution focused brief therapy (SFBT), which was introduced as an alternative method of treatment, which could be accomplished in a shorter period of time, as opposed to the more traditional forms of long-term therapy and psychoanalysis. The writer contends and explains why SFBT is significantly more efficient in terms of time, scope and cost when compared to long-term therapy. This paper delves into the literature and research published on this particular form of therapy. This paper cites the various techniques involved in successfully implementing SFBT. This paper discusses the advantages of SFBT and success rates attained in both family and couples therapy, while also citing various experts in the field who oppose this particular form of treatment.
From the Paper "Miracle questions are created to provide the therapist a 'preview' of how the patient views his/her future life. These questions engage patients by allowing them to contemplate about specific possibilities that may happen in their lives. Questions may be hypothetical situations that focus on the individual's action when confronted with mundane events followed after by thought-provoking inquiries by the therapist. This technique probes into the patient's capability to think about alternative solutions to specific life situations or problems, enabling the therapist to come up with a suggested resolution that is within the understanding of the patient. This also makes the patient feel that s/he had an active role in the solution-making process that took place during the therapy. Scaling is a more quantitative means by which problems are assessed by the therapist."
This well-researched paper analyzes the cause and effect of ventilator-acquired pneumonia (VAP) while also discussing treatment and prevention by way of routine oral care positioning.
Abstract This paper defines ventilator-acquired pneumonia (VAP) as a specific strain of bacterial pneumonia which takes place when one's general pulmonary defense system ceases to function properly due to high levels of bacteria. The writer of this paper contends and explains why this particular strain of infectious bacterial pneumonia is often incurred during extended hospital stays. This paper details the manner in which the disease is spread via bodily fluids such as tears and saliva. This paper analyzes the use of specialized oral care positioning to both treat and prevent cases VAP. This paper also examines the success rate of preventative oral care at the Vanderbilt Medical Center in Tennessee.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Oral Care to Reduce Ventilator Acquired Pneumonia
Elevating Heads of Beds for Patients on Mechanical Ventilation
Other Precautions
References
From the Paper "One of the places where changes have been implemented through oral care and there have been improvements is the surgical intensive care unit at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. The incidence of ventilator assisted pneumonia was increasing at this hospital from 1999 to 2001. This led the center to start using comprehensive oral care from January 2002 as a part of a total program to remove the incidence of ventilator assisted pneumonia from the center. The change began to give perceptible results to the therapists and the nurses within a period of months. The changes were noted and within a two year period, there was a reduction of ventilator assisted pneumonia by as much as 46 percent. When the figures for 2002 are compared to figures for 2001, there is a clear decrease by 35 percent and there is another decrease that is seen in 2003 when compared to the figures of 2002."
Tags: cdc, intensive, care, unit, disease, saliva, plaque, oral, care, treatment, prevention
Abstract This paper describes a research study that involves the observations of a heterosexual researcher who was immersed in the homosexual culture for a period of twenty-four hours. The author discusses observations on social justice, prejudice, discrimination and nonverbal communication. The paper cites misperceptions by mainstream cultures often exhibit toward subcultures in society.
From the Paper "My day of living research included my immersion in the gay area of town with its shops restaurants and bars dedicated to the homosexual community. Within this environment, I discovered a variety of forms of prejudice discrimination."
