Abstract This document discusses a series of descriptive statistics questions. These range from the four types of errors related to measurement as well as response and non-response related errors. Finally, the paper makes several statistical calculations in order to establish the efficacy and practicality of descriptive statistics. Specifically, these problems rectify issues of accuracy and estimation.
From the Paper "The four major sources of measurement error are respondent, situation, measurer, and instrument. Respondent errors might occur through respondent misinterpretation of a given question or, in the case of a written survey or questionnaire, actual response error (Lomax, 2001, pp.29-31). A situational error would occur when, for example, a political survey for a given district was being taken in another district. Measurer originated errors can occur in several ways from construction and design of the actual study to poor selection of participants as well as misinterpretation of study results or actual errors in compilation of results. Instrument, such as surveys or questionnaires, often occur because they question or respond to something other than what is being tested or researched. "
Abstract This example of descriptive writing highlights the author's perceptions of a woman in a grocery store. The essay's narrator describes her late night trip to the grocery store and a young mother she encounters there. The author speculates on the young mother's situation and her character, comparing it to how she raised her own children. The narrator concludes by seeing the commonalities in the young mother's situation and her own, despite the differences in their stages of life.
From the Paper "Her voice was rich, surprisingly rich, and husky, but it sounded tired, too, like the troubles of the world weighed it down. She pushed away a strand of hair again and reached into her bag for her wallet. She looked at the cart, glanced at the contents of the wallet, and shrugged to herself. I so wanted to hand her a twenty and tell her to buy the roast and the ground beef, but I knew in my heart she would never take a handout from a stranger. She probably wouldn't even take one from her own family. It was clear she was proud and struggling as she gathered her brood together and headed for the check stands."
Abstract The job description is a concise, complete, organized outline and description of the tasks, priorities and time allocations of a particular position, often accompanied by designation of the competencies and skills required by the work. The paper shows that rather than merely describing the manner in which a job is being done at the moment, it should describe the manner in which the job should be done. Job descriptions can be created prior to a position being activated or can be produced for existing jobs. The paper shows that in their most complete forms, job descriptions are one of the most valuable tools Human Resource (HR) managers possess and, if properly executed, published, and comprehended, can be of equal value to managers and employees throughout the organization.
From the Paper "Job analysis typically produces a great deal of information--all of which is not directly applicable to the job description. But since the purpose of the description is to provide a basic source of information, on which employees, supervisors, senior management, and the HR specialist can draw, the larger knowledge base produced by job analysis is entirely desirable. As Siegel notes, as many as 14 different types of data might be assembled in job analyses, including government-mandated licensing or training, professional standards, job responsibilities, environmental information, identification of outputs (products and services), specific machinery and equipment employed, work performance standards, physical job demands, elemental motions, activities, trait requirements (knowledge, skills, abilities and personal attributes), and examples of outstanding or inferior performance in the position (Siegel 12)."
Abstract This paper takes a look at the method of descriptive analysis and assessment. According to the paper, descriptive analysis can provide useful solutions in terms of individual behavior analysis and observation. There are various descriptive analysis techniques, which this paper reviews and discusses.
From the Paper "As such, related to observance and the difficulties that occur in such situations, Kazdin brings into question and discusses the nature of the observation, in terms of realism, accuracy and convention ((Kazdin, 1977)). Indeed, descriptive analysis relies on one of the essential tools: observation. If we look at the descriptive assessment as an evaluation of the "how", observing and recording how this "how" will determine the eventual outcome of the analysis. The problem that Kazdin is debating is the existence of a multiple number of observers and, more importantly, the complexity deriving from having different observations and from checking their reliability. The accuracy of the observation is one of the main issues to be discussed when referring to the challenges and implementation of descriptive analysis. "
An examination of hte importance of job descriptions from corporate andemployee perspectives, includes creation, revising, flexibility, uses, effectiveness, titles and human resource issues.
1,575 words (approx. 6.3 pages), 10 sources, 2000, $ 55.95
Abstract The job description is a concise, complete, organized outline and description of the tasks, priorities, and time allocations of a particular position, often accompanied by designation of the competencies and skills required by the work.
From the Paper "The job description is a concise, complete, organized outline and description of the tasks, priorities, and time allocations of a particular position, often accompanied by designation of the competencies and skills required by the work. But, rather than merely describing the manner in which a job is being done at the moment, it should describe the manner in which the job should be done. Job descriptions can be created prior to a position being activated or can be produced for existing jobs (often with a combination of incumbent self-report, supervisor input, and administrative contributions and control). They can be the result of extensive job analysis or they may be less formally prepared. But, in their most complete forms, job descriptions are one of the most valuable tools Human Resource (HR) managers possess and, if properly executed, published, and..."
Abstract This paper assesses the writing techniques that are found in the short descriptive essays of "Po- Po" by Eric Liu, "Caught in the Widow's Web" by Gordon Grice, "Nameless, Tennessee" by William Least Heat Moon, and "The Inheritance of Tools" by Scott Russell Sanders. Through describing these techniques, the reader is made aware of the variety of literary devices that are used to form a cohesive story. An emphasis on characterization - or the techniques that the authors use to convey the natures of their characters - is the descriptive technique that is investigated in this paper.
Abstract This is a humorous essay that describes a day of mowing the lawn using the five senses (smell, taste, touch, sight, and sound) required when writing a descriptive essay.
From the Paper "I woke up this morning in dread knowing that today was the day I had to cut the grass in my back yard. Slowly, I dragged myself out of bed. I reached over to grab my worn sneakers. I was not looking forward to this day. I always dread having to mow the lawn in the hot Texas sun. I looked over to the clock. The steady red light illuminated the numbers ?7:10.? Seven o?clock in the morning. I knew that by now the temperature outside was 75 degrees if I was lucky since most of the time it is 80 degrees as soon as the sun comes up."
Abstract This paper discusses a small golf community situated in North Carolina. The paper explains the set up of the Richmond Pines Country Club and provides a hole-by-hole description of the golf course. The paper examines the variety offered by each hole, and offers the explanation that this is thanks to the designer, Donald Ross, who set this as one of his priorities in designing a golf course.
From the Paper "Richmond Pines Country Club is very exquisite and unique to be in such a small place as Rockingham, North Carolina. Only a short drive away from the bustling Pinehurst No. 2, Richmond Pines is a quite getaway for golfers of all skills. Richmond Pines has a beauty all its own, its fairways are green and the greens are slow compared to the fast bent grass greens elsewhere. In this paper I will give you on an in depth look into this small golf community."
Tags:Descriptive, getaway, rockingham, greens, donald, ross, pinehurst, variety, game, sport
Analytical research paper that reviews the historical as well as a highly political event pertaining to the September 11 in the light of the ?Thick Description? analysis as explained by Clifford Geertz.
Abstract This paper attempts to provide a brief analysis of September 11, 2002 in the light of thick description. It uses a semiotic approach to cultural analysis to facilitate a better understanding of cultural differences and their impact on the world today.
From the Paper "Since, the "cultural theory is not a master of itself, it is not heavily predictive or a mere post facto" (Geertz, p. 26) therefore the thick description vehemently opposes considering the theoretical context of the cultural similarities and dissimilarities. Thus as an ethnographer, I have applied thick description to this new interpretive political event of September 11, 2002 thereby basically focusing on the symbolic signs either dormant or apparent in the process of the review and research as well as interpretation. "The aim is to draw large conclusions from small but very densely textured texts; to support broad assertions about the role of culture in the construction of collective life" (Geertz, p. 28)."
Abstract This paper describes Sweden, its ethnic composition, and its political and judicial systems. The writer provides statistics on crime in Sweden and shows that, compared to other EU countries and the U.S., the overall crime rate is relatively low, specifically with regard to violent crimes. The writer discusses how membership in the European Union has altered the manner in which crime is treated and the legal system is structured in Sweden, and describes in detail how the police force is organized and trained. The writer describes the judicial system and the prisons, giving statistics for the latter.
Outline:
Overview of the Country: Sweden
Description of Crime and Crime Statistics
Description of the Legal Tradition
Description of Law Enforcement System
Organization of Police Force
Description of the Criminal Justice Court System
Description of the Corrections System
From the Paper "Swedish penal code does not classify crimes and infractions separately and crime itself is based on legal definitions of crime based on the penal code. There is however a grouping of crimes together in subgroups which are guided by principle and pragmatism and have developed over time. In Sweden the age of criminal responsibility is 15, though there are many provisional exceptions to conviction and sentencing for those under 21, and those under the age of 18 are very rarely sentenced to prison terms. Special circumstances must exist for the occurrence of prison sentencing for those under 18 and in many cases also those under 21. Sweden also has a very strict comparative policy on drug offences. It is illegal to possess, bring in, buy or use narcotics in Sweden and narcotics are classified by a list that includes 170 substances, including cannabis. Use of narcotics was criminalized in 1988."
Tags: monarchy constitution parliament government legislation, death penalty, trainee discrimination minority investigation
This paper discusses "The Problems of Philosophy" by Bertrand Russell (1872-1970), widely regarded as one of the great philosophers of the 20th century.
Abstract This paper explains that Bertram Russell is considered the founder of analytic philosophy, the tradition dominating 20th century Anglo-American philosophy. He is know for his writings in the fields of epistemology, logic, the foundations of mathematics, ethics, political and social philosophy, the philosophy of science and antiwar. The author points out that Russell in Chapter V of "The Problems of Philosophy" emphasizes that the knowledge of things is comprised of two components: (1) "Knowledge of Acquaintance" wherein the person is knows directly through his or her acquaintance with the object, without the intermediary of any process of inference or any knowledge of truths and (2) "Knowledge by Description" wherein, similar to Plato's "Forms" analysis, the person knows a description and knows that there is just one object to which this description applies. The paper relates that Russell states that people process information in different ways, but everyone must use the same fundamental steps to arrive at an accurate perception of the world and to understand it.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Review and Discussion
Background and Overview
Knowledge of Acquaintance
Knowledge by Description Evaluation and Critique of Russell's Position and Arguments
Conclusion
From the Paper "Russell was not trying to develop a comprehensive definition of his ideas about how and why people think about the world in the ways they do; rather, he was attempting - to borrow a phrase from the academicians - operationalize the terms involved in understanding. Certainly, in order to understand the subtle nuances of how people think about "things," "ideas," and "truths," there must be some solid basis for describing the components involved. For instance, Russell sums up Chapter V by pointing out that "We shall not at this stage attempt to answer all the objections which may be urged against this fundamental principle. For the present, we shall merely point out that, in some way or other, it must be possible to meet these objections, for it is scarcely conceivable that we can make a judgment or entertain a supposition without knowing what it is that we are judging or supposing about.""
Abstract This paper provides instructions and descriptions of a BCL-145XL Bearcat police scanner. The instructions described show how to perform the step-by-step programming of the scanner. The technical description details the scanner and its purpose. Definitions that are needed to understand the process are included. The report is broken down into three sections: the instructions, which describes the major and minor programming process steps; the technical description, which provides insights into the scanner itself; and unfamiliar terms and definitions.
From the Paper "Scanners allow individuals to listen in on tomorrow's news as it is happening. Because there are constant dramas unfolding from domestic abuse to a police chase of a bank robber, scanning can be exciting and often fun. There is a serious side to scanning as well. There are professionals such as news teams, private investigators and even ambulance chasing lawyers who use scanners to get the scoop on the competition. The key to using a programmable scanner is to get the necessary frequencies and program them into the scanner so that you can listen in to what you actually want to hear."
This paper is an extensive discussion of pedagogic grammar, written and spoken discourse for English language, as applied to ESL English language learning.
Abstract This paper explains that pedagogic grammar is grammar that provides useful descriptions of language forms and their function for pedagogical purposes, which can be organized and sequenced in textbook form to provide systematic teaching and learning as a descriptive and explanatory complement to other language learning activities. The author points out that implications drawn from learner-centered grammar instruction are that these extensive grammar rules and explanations should be presented in such a manner as to approximate the learner's hypothesis-formative process as far as possible. The paper concludes that the deformalization of pedagogical grammars may be through the avoidance of the jargon or keeping this jargon to a minimum to avoid elaborate or complicated analyses.
Table of Contents
Objective
Introduction
Psycholinguistics - Theoretical Framework
Descriptive - Prescriptive Grammar
Pedagogic Grammar
Communicative Competence in English-Language/Grammar
Linguistic
Two Cognitive Principles
Form-based: The Structuralist Theory
Form Selection
Concepts and Factors for Consideration in Analysis
Setting
Ends: Transnational, Interactional and Performative
Speech Events: Speech, Discourse or Speech
Learner-Centered Grammar Instruction Facts
Purpose of Analysis
Implications and Conclusion
From the Paper "Pedagogical grammar within the English language is based historically on over 400 years of grammar the first of these being in 1580 by William Bullokar followed by the work of John Wallis in 1653 who studied English grammar not on the basis of the models in Latin grammar but within its own frame of reference. Due to the fact that most of the grammar was based on the Latin models there existed a heavy influence in the view of the expert in relation to the English language in the nature of and the terms for the descriptions."
Abstract This paper provides a brief description of Victor Vroom's expectancy theory which states that people are motivated if they can see a link between their effort (of completing a task) and the expected performance, as well as a link between the expected performance and the desired outcome or reward. In particular, the author applies the theory to his personal experiences while serving in the navy.
Outline:
Introduction
Description of Theory
Description of Experience
Analysis Using Expectancy Theory
Evaluation and Alternatives
Conclusion
From the Paper "Vroom's expectancy theory can be considered invaluable in terms of serving as a basis for further analysis and helping to "understand the complexity of motivation." (Callahan et al. 1986, p.96) Moreover, it aids managers to reflect on the different outcomes of behaviour, it clarifies the relationship between organizational and individual goals and even suggests some managerial action, such as the design of training schemes and job design. David J. Cherrington suggests that "motivation problems are solved by altering the components of expectancy theory: expectancy, instrumentality, and valence." (1994) "
Abstract In this article, the writer discusses whether nature, especially gardens, has a special place in Katherine Mansfield's work. After a closer look at a selection of her stories, the role of gardens and their symbolic meanings are examined. As the description of nature, often gardens and their flowers, constitute a considerable part of Mansfield's stories, her personal connection to nature is also taken into account. Finally, expression through the language of nature is analysed.
Outline
Introduction
Descriptions of Gardens
Descriptions of Landscapes
Symbolism
Nature Images in Language Choice
Conclusion
References
From the Paper "Katherine Mansfield grew up near the coast, surrounded by New Zealand's varied landscapes. However, she did not take the beauty of nature for granted. In fact, she paid attention to the details of nature and appreciated the landscapes. On her Urewera camping trip in 1907 she makes notes of the landscapes she sees, writes letters to her friends and family and experiments with literature (Scott 1997). Her notebook is a mix of notes about her trip, poetry, short stories and letters. It shows that Mansfield felt and inhaled the nature, rather than describing it as an external observer. She was part of the landscapes in which she stayed. It is likely that her conscious and close observation of the New Zealand nature strongly contributes to the descriptions in her short stories. Even when Mansfield lives abroad, she remembers the landscapes of New Zealand so vividly, that she can portray them very accurately in her stories."
