Abstract The paper discusses the qualitative versus quantitative issue in educational research. The paper describes the four main purposes to using statistics in educational research. The paper also looks at four types of descriptive statistics and at inferential statistics. The paper addresses the counterbalancing of data.
From the Paper "Where educational research is concerned, the qualitative versus quantitative issue likely plagues every study that has ever been done, regardless of whether it is qualitative or quantitative in nature, because there are concerns about how each study was carried out. This is largely due to the fact that there are always various arguments and differing opinions as to which one method is better for which type of study. Since most educational studies focus on the qualitative side of things, they do not address statistical figures as much as they would if they were quantitative. Some will see this as a problem with these types of studies, and will want hard and fast data that they can analyze."
Abstract The paper provides an overview of recent research on the economic and labor impact of offshoring IT services to low-cost destinations. The research identifies key determinants, recent trends, occupations affected, magnitude, and benefits of offshoring to the U.S economy. The analysis indicates that the current wave of offshoring involves IT services threatens mainly white-collar occupations in the low-income group, but is counterbalanced by job creation in the high-income sectors. The research argues that the jobs lost to offshoring are a negligible percentage; on the other hand, the reduction in costs of IT services due to offshoring will increase labor productivity, job creation, boost Gross Domestic Product, and further strengthen the U.S. economy.
Table of Contents
Abstract
1 Background
2 Definition of Terms
3 Determinants of Offshore Outsourcing
4 Outsourcing and Productivity
5 Protectionist Measures
6 Conclusion
References
From the Paper "Traditionally, cost reduction has been the overwhelming motivation and perceived payback for outsourcing. While offshore outsourcing is not new (companies have been offshoring manufacturing for many years and reaping significant cost and productivity improvements), the offshoring of business processes is still in its infancy. In the past, outsourcing has often been used tactically, as a rapid and often short-term solution to a particular need or problem, which did not form part of an overall business strategy. The experience of manufacturing illustrated that when it is possible to do things cheaper elsewhere in the world, the work will migrate there. With the relentless pursuit of the lowest global costs, offshoring is getting institutionalized in many companies. So much that firms might resort to a strategic use of outsourcing by working with one or more suppliers in order to effect a significant improvement in business performance. This enables the firm to focus on those products that lie closest to the company's core capability set and consider jettisoning the rest. "
Abstract In this paper the author takes a critical look at the changing U.S. policy in the Middle East since 1991. He examines how prior to 1991, American policy was aimed primarily at using some countries led by Israel as a bulwark against communism in the Cold War years. He highlights that with the end of a bipolar world there was a radical shift in American policy towards the Middle East. The paper examines how this was brought about by the threat America saw to its most vital interest -oil in the region as a result of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait; at the same time, with the sudden demise of the hitherto counterbalancing factor, the Soviet Union, the stage was set for a decisive policy. In conclusion, the author argues that the American policy of planting democracy in societies that do not have the necessary preconditions and institutional frameworks of accepting and absorbing the system could mean risking backlashes and other actions.
From the Paper "In the absence of the Soviet factor, American policy in the Middle East has become more intrusive; American policy could have a positive impact if its moves towards establishing its policy are perceived as being salutary. A prime test case of this policy is the way its role is seen in the Israeli-Palestine issue. (Cantori, 1994, p. 452) The immediate years after the Gulf War led to a hyperactive engagement in the region under president Bill Clinton, for whom resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict was a principal goal. In his presidency, America assumed the role of an 'honest broker' in bringing about a peaceful settlement of issues bedevilling the region. However, before substantial headway was made, a new regime took guard under Bush Jr., under whom the same vigour was not enforced. American interventionism, which became low-key under the new dispensation, has led to suspicion in Arab quarters that America, with its uncompromising tilt towards Israel, has not been the 'honest broker' that it promised to be."
Tags: policy, arab, gulf, administration, political, foreign, affairs
Abstract The paper details e-health's many benefits to consumers and providers but emphasizes how they must be counterbalanced with ethicacy, privacy and security requirements. The paper contends that the development of e-health platforms is inevitable as scalability and agility of applications are going to be critical well into the future.
Outline:
Executive Summary
Benefits and Limitations from a Consumer Perspective
Benefits and Limitations from a Provider Perspective
Conclusion
From the Paper "There are many varying definitions of what e-health is today, yet all these varying descriptions of the collection of processes, technologies and applications when taken together share the common attribute of defining a platform that can scale both in usage levels and complexity of applications. Swartz (2006) has defined e-health as a process- and needs-based IT infrastructure capable of staying agile enough into design to respond to patients' and health practitioner's unmet needs. The concept of e-health being predicated on a very high level of system integration, including real-time in-bound and outbound data streams and accompanying analytical tools to measure and refine performance through medical informatics is another perspective (James, 2005)."
