Sunday, January 26, 2020

HIV/AIDS: Stigma and discrimination

HIV/AIDS: Stigma and discrimination Stigma and discrimination face by people living with HIV/AIDS It has been defined by Roura et al., (2009) that the stigma associated with a precise kind of relationship between the behvaiours, perceptions and stereotypes is concerned with a deep sense of social deprivation. Despite the fact, that the concept of stigma is around 40 years old, it has been much researched on and is widely used to draw implications both in social and cultural contexts. All societies have imparted convictions and implications which help them translate encounters and conduct. Implanted inside that framework are the regulations based on which is to be demonized and who is definitely not. Despite the fact that these guidelines may contrast from society to society, shame is for the most part considered an adverse, moral or judgemental meaning of an individual or social circumstance, regularly joined with disparaging, disrespect, fault, and attribution of obligation regarding the condition. Disgrace is not just connected to persons with undesirable physical properties. A great many people are acutely mindful that persons with undesirable characteristics, whether physical, mental or passionate, are effectively and immediately defamed. In British society, a great many people will concur that individuals are obviously disparaged on the premise of their race, society, financial status, sex and age. Notwithstanding, the presence of disgrace can be more treacherous when connected to those with physical and dysfunctional behaviour, inability or physical impedances, or when connected with ugliness, indiscrimination, kid/grown-up ill-use, same-sex introduction, medication utilization/misuse and passing. Once derided, the individual is discriminated as a worthy part of society, subsequently the expression ruined personality stated by Pearson et al., (2009) to depict the division of the deprived individuals from ordinary parts of society. Once named as an other, the slandered individual is then subjected to separation, the activity emulating the cognitive met hodology of derision.   LO1: Characteristics of Quantitative and Qualitative research methods It has been stated that in the current era of Modern science there are multiple ways of thinking and identifying qualitative and quantitative research. The disagreement between qualitative examination methodologies and other research techniques is in inconsistency with the methodological aspects, as well as shows up in the opposition, in the epistemological field. This implies that the instruments, as well as in the focal methodologies describe the generation of information. I accept that the qualitative epistemology is focused around standards that have vital methodological outcomes. Alternately, quantitative outline addresses the numerical delineation of proof examined and information gathered. Logical information from qualitative exploration is not legitimized by the quantity of subjects examined, however by the nature of its outflow (Bernard Bernard, 2013). The quantity of subjects to study reacts to a quantitative paradigm, characterized essentially by the needs of the learning procedure found sometime during the examination in factual means. Singular statement of the subject in both the techniques gets centrality as the spot which may have at one point for the generation of thoughts by the analyst. The data passed on by a specific subject can be a critical minute for the generation of learning, without essentially must be rehashed in different subjects and information gathering techniques. Qualitative exploration offers numerous perspectives with quantitative examination morals. Along these lines, the moral issues are appropriate to science as a rule to both the examination plans. Clearly, knowing the multifaceted nature of morals and good logic, it is prescribed that an exchange that is expected to approach moral judgements of qualitative examination ought to be upheld by a few hypotheses. At the same time there are such a variety of hypotheses that a well meaning push to actualize large portions of them in the investigation of a particular examination can get to be inefficient. Especially on account of quantitative exploration, it is important to incorporate individuals with capacity and readiness of reflection and correspondence that they comprehend social qualities, needs and powerlessness, and the concerns of potential study subjects (Bernard Bernard, 2013). Leading qualitative exploration is similarly less immoderate than directing quantitative examination. Qualitative research likewise turns out to be viable when the exploration obliges unlimited measure of data. LO2: Is Research evidence appropriate to health and social care practice Since the first instances of AIDS were distinguished in 1981, HIVs have been disparaged. The examination confirmation existed on this point involves to the broad accessibility of information and databases. Cao et al., (2010) recommended that in social and medicinal services connection, the dread of AIDS spread over our country, HIVs being deprived from their occupations, ousted from their homes, denied restorative tend to, savagery and expelled from their own particular families. Additionally, HIV-positive kids have been denied admission to schools, games groups and clubs, and have encountered badgering from other youngsters and folks of other kids. This social derision of HIVs is not restricted to the United Kingdom, either. In different nations, HIVs have been beaten to death; disregarded by neighbours, managers and social insurance specialists; and even compared to rehearsing witchcraft. As a result of its relationship with the unthinkable subject of male-to-male sex and the trepidation of tainting, society has reacted to HIV/AIDS by disparaging persons to avoid them as much as possible. Is this belittling got from outsiders, as well as it can be gotten from the HIVs relatives, companions and health awareness experts too. It is interesting to note that during an era when HIVs need social backing like never before, they are rather subjected to the threatening vibe and dismissal connected with HIV-related disgrace. Radcliffe et al., (2010) characterized the expression Helps related shame as a term that alludes to preference, reducing, undermining, and segregation guided at individuals saw to have AIDS or HIV, and the people, gatherings, and groups with which they are related. This belittling can be showed in numerous diverse ways, frequently focused around the current generalizations of the society. In the United Kingdom, HIV-related disgrace showed through seclusion, dismissal, stereotyping, segregation and off and on again savagery. Social Factors of HIV-Related Stigma HIV/ AIDS confront shame on numerous distinctive levels. Medicinal diseases as of now can be a disgrace of their own, particularly focused around the reality of the condition. Since there is right now no cure for HIV/ AIDS, the condition is viewed as deadly, a term which strikes fear in the hearts of the vast majority. In an examination article on Supports and Stigma, Wagner et al., (2010) demonstrates that there are four particular qualities of HIV/AIDS that inspire disgrace from society, specifically: 1) apparent obligation of the PWHIV in getting the illness, 2) the unalterable or degenerative nature of the malady, 3) the way that it can be an infectious infection and 4) the promptly obvious indications of the sickness which show as the ailment advances. Rao et al., (2012) draw a qualification between instrumental AIDS disgrace (identifying with the transmittable and deadly nature of HIV) and typical AIDS shame. Instrumental AIDS shame is an after-effect of societys characteristic apprehension of the illness and the absence of instruction on infection transmission. LO3: Examining research evidence with consideration to validity and reliability In assessing studies, numerous methodological concerns do develop. Maybe, the most vital concerns are reliability and validity of the exploration procedure. Reliability appraisal of a study device is a centre segment of behavioural research and can be used effectively into immediate perceptions by deciding best conceivable levels of presentation. A few strategies have been utilized that can give reliability of the survey estimation routines, including test-retest, Pearson coefficient, Kendalls coefficient, odd-even, and the proportional structures strategy. Social approval systems are substantial to the degree that they gauge what they claim to quantify. It is basic that great inward and outer validity be expressed as a social approval method. In addition, the outside validity of the evaluation methodology can be evaluated and still is faulty (Ritchie et al., 2013). The measurements analysts accept they are measuring may have little connection to what is really being measured and tha t face validity is deficient as the sole paradigm for assessing the validity of appraisal gadgets. One approach to survey validity would be to have the social approval evaluation created or reassessed by a board of masters or judges who are not included straightforwardly in the examination. An alternate technique would be to have a social approval evaluation of the social acceptance instrument. Case in point, in the wake of reacting to a poll, raters would react to a second survey that let them know the reason for the first survey and requested that the rate how well they thought the inquiries surveyed the reason (Ritchie et al., 2013). Also, analysts need to be mindful of radiance impacts, inclinations to tolerance or seriousness, focal propensity reactions, and position or closeness predispositions of raters, which might misleadingly improve the reliability of estimation without enhancing reaction exactness or validity. LO4: Demonstrate knowledge of the relationship between research theory and health and social care practice Investigation demonstrates that social help whether perceived or genuine is especially paramount for females as they depend all the more on social connections contrasted with men in comparable circumstances. A few studies have recommended that apparent social backing is more vital than genuine backing. Social backing has been demonstrated to impact both well being conduct and well being conclusions. Further, social backing has been indicated to cradle the impact of natural stressors, in this way, minimizing antagonistic results of upsetting circumstances. There is an overall reported backwards relationship between social backing and misery among HIV-positive populaces. Albeit much is thought about HIV-related shame and HIV-divulgence, an audit of the writing uncovers an absence of understanding of how they influence misery. Consequently, the general objective of this study is to look at the connections between sorrow (a mental result of HIV illness) and HIV-related shame, exposure of HIV positive status, and social backing among African-American ladies with HIV infection. Cao et al., (2010) portrayed social backing as an indispensable asset that an individual must draw upon for survival. As a safety asset, social backing is hypothesized to have an immediate impact on both cognitive evaluation and adapting endeavours. Social backing can help more positive examinations of individual life circumstances and backing more powerful adapting. Social backing can serve to lessen instability and stress and give the individual a method for diversion, passionate help, sensitivity and sympathy, and accommodating data. Ritchie et al., (2013) further developed the idea of social help, expressing that there is an agreeable refinement between the number and sorts of social connections and the view of the estimation of such connections. The quantity of social connections is termed the informal community. The view of social connections is termed seen social backing. At long last, Ritchie et al., (2013) recommended that there are distinctive sorts of social backing, for example, passionate, instructive, or substantial, and the sort of help must additionally be considered notwithstanding the span of the informal community and the impression of the nature of help that is accessible. Cao et al., (2010) remarkable various studies that have demonstrated how social connections maintain wellbeing and on the other hand how low social help identifies with negative wellbeing results. Broad exploration has showed that social combination has significant physical and mental medical advantages for more established grown-ups. Whats more, social backing has been indicated to be identified with positive conclusions in individuals living with HIV and, all the more particularly, to gay men living with HIV. Actually, adults matured 50 years and more seasoned include in excess of 10% of the HIV-positive populace in the United Kingdom. This rate is most likely excessively low focused around the way that more established grown-ups are rarely tried for HIV. Not their doctors or the more established grown-ups themselves see that they are at danger for the sickness. This is further convoluted on the grounds that numerous manifestations of HIV can be camouflaged as results of maturing. Alongside ladies and minorities, more seasoned grown-ups are right now one of the quickest developing HIV-contaminated populaces. They are particularly defenceless against disease (by physical changes in the body with age and by disappointment to utilize proper insurance amid sex) and, when tainted, they are more averse to recognize the side effects, get tired and look for the help they require. LO5: Gather evidence from a variety of research sources, including charts, graphs and tables, from text and online sources Although, emotional distress serves as a motivator for help-seeking behavior, the fear of being stigmatized may cloud the person’s cognitive process of making the decision to seek help. As time is of the essence with HIV/ AIDS, this delay in seeking health or social services presents a real problem. HIV/AIDS cases are also on the rise in such marginalized groups as African-Americans, women and older adults. Therefore, in many cases, HIVs are already stigmatized prior to disclosure of their HIV-positive condition. They know all too well the results of being stigmatized and, therefore, may be even more unwilling to disclose their HIV-positive status. The HIV-related stigma, then, becomes a second or even third type of stigma that is forced upon them. In their study of HIV-related stigma received by African-American caregivers, Rudolph et al., (2010) stated that â€Å"social isolation stemming from HIV-related stigma may be exacerbated for women, for elderly people, and for people of colour†. Persons who get HIV through circumstances which were out of their control (i.e., blood transfusions, needle-sticks or mother-to-kid) are even subject to this kind of slander, particularly as their infection advances. Typical AIDS shame is a statement of the general publics negative state of mind connected with the transmission of HIV. Due to the way of HIV/ AIDS, it will in the end get to be important for the contaminated individual to look for restorative consideration, at any rate. The forceful enthusiastic impacts going with the ailment might likewise make the requirement for usage of social administrations.. As time is of the pith with HIV/ AIDS, this deferral in looking for well being or social administrations exhibits a genuine issue. To confound matters, more established grown-ups and some ethnic gatherings are now uncertain of western solution hones, human services associations and mental health administrations and, moreover, might not have equivalent access to these administ rations. Albeit one may think divulgence to administration suppliers may not act like incredible a danger of being criticized as exposure to family, companions or associates, it still has dangers. Conclusion Since, the situation of HIV/ AIDS, is inevitably vital for the HIV-positive individuals to look for restorative consideration, at any rate, the compelling passionate impacts going with the disease might likewise make the requirement for use of social administrations. To entangle matters, more established grown-ups and some ethnic gatherings are as of now uncertain of western medication hones, human services associations and mental health administrations and, moreover, might not have equivalent access to these administrations. Albeit one may think deprivation to administration suppliers may not act like incredible a danger of being derided as exposure to family, companions or associates, it still has dangers. Notwithstanding the hazard that the HIVs status may not be kept totally private, there is likewise the danger of being defamed by the very administration experts to whom the HIVs turns for help. Despite the fact that health awareness experts may not have any desire to confess to slandering HIVs, the examination has confirm that HIV-related shame keeps on being available among some of them (Wagner et al., 2010). Notwithstanding the solid impact HIV-related disgrace can have on the self, it is characteristic for individuals to oppose being disparaged, and in this way, the social shame of HIV/ AIDS may make unnecessary deterrents to get social and health awareness administrations. On the off chance that the HIVs urge to oppose defamation is stronger than their urge to look for help for themselves, they may evade usage of HIV-related administrations until such time that they cannot maintain a strategic distance from it any longer, maybe because of a hospitalization. References Bernard, H. R., Bernard, H. R. (2013).Social research methods: Qualitative and quantitative approaches. Sage. Cao, H., He, N., Jiang, Q., Yang, M., Liu, Z., Gao, M., Detels, R. (2010). Stigma against HIV-infected persons among migrant women living in Shanghai, China.AIDS Education and Prevention,22(5), 445. Pearson, C. R., Micek, M. A., Pfeiffer, J., Montoya, P., Matediane, E., Jonasse, T., Gloyd, S. S. (2009). One year after ART initiation: psychosocial factors associated with stigma among HIV-positive Mozambicans.AIDS and Behavior,13(6), 1189-1196. Radcliffe, J., Doty, N., Hawkins, L. A., Gaskins, C. S., Beidas, R., Rudy, B. J. (2010). Stigma and sexual health risk in HIV-positive African American young men who have sex with men.AIDS patient care and STDs,24(8), 493-499. Rao, D., Feldman, B. J., Fredericksen, R. J., Crane, P. K., Simoni, J. M., Kitahata, M. M., Crane, H. M. (2012). A structural equation model of HIV-related stigma, depressive symptoms, and medication adherence.AIDS and Behavior,16(3), 711-716. Ritchie, J., Lewis, J., Nicholls, C. M., Ormston, R. (Eds.). (2013).Qualitative research practice: A guide for social science students and researchers. Sage. Roura, M., Urassa, M., Busza, J., Mbata, D., Wringe, A., Zaba, B. (2009). Scaling up stigma? The effects of antiretroviral roll-out on stigma and HIV testing. Early evidence from rural Tanzania.Sexually transmitted infections,85(4), 308-312. Rudolph, A. E., Davis, W. W., Quan, V. M., Ha, T. V., Minh, N. L., Gregowski, A., Go, V. (2012). Perceptions of community-and family-level injection drug user (IDU)-and HIV-related stigma, disclosure decisions and experiences with layered stigma among HIV-positive IDUs in Vietnam.AIDS care,24(2), 239-244. Wagner, A. C., Hart, T. A., Mohammed, S., Ivanova, E., Wong, J., Loutfy, M. R. (2010). Correlates of HIV stigma in HIV-positive women.Archives of womens mental health,13(3), 207-214.

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Financial Service and Industry

Asset Transformation Purchase primary securities by selling financial claims (secondary securities) to households Secondary securities are more marketable BECAUSE Less information asymmetry Less monitoring costs More liquid Less risky Without financial intermediaries, households will find direct investments in corporate securities unattractive due to information/monitoring costs, liquidity cost and price risk.Thus flow was funds are less, little monitoring and risk of investments would increase.Specializes of financial institutions General areas (LIP TM) Liquidity services Information services Price- risk reduction services Transaction cost services Maturity intermediation services Institution- specific (McCall) Money supply transmission Credit allocation Denomination intermediation Intergenerational transfers Payment services Information costs Agency costs 0 costs relating to the risk that firm owners and managers use savers' ends not in the best interest of the savers Financial ins titutions collect funds from households in order to avoid free- rider problem (incentive for information collection and monitoring), reduce costs of information collection and monitoring and to develop new secondary securities to more effectively monitor borrows.Liquidity and price risk Financial intermediaries provide secondary claims to household savers – high liquidity and low price risk and invest in these illiquid and risky sectors Advantage of financial institutions managing liquidity and price risk Diversification (due to size of funds) Development of better risk management techniques Disadvantage of delegated institutions Intermediary services are not free Agency issues Risk management Monitoring financial institutions Other special services Reduced Transaction Cost, I. E. Economies of scale Maturity Intermediation 0 Ability to bear the risk of mismatched maturities of assets and liabilities.Credit Allocation (Depository Flu) – Financial intermediaries are the major source of finance in particular sectors of an economy: residential real estate (US and UK), farming (Australia) . Intergenerational Wealth Transfer or Time Intermediation (life insurance, superannuation and pension funds) Payment Services – IFS provide efficient payment services to the society. Denomination Intermediation – Give individuals indirect access to large denomination markets (Money market managed funds, Debt-equity managed funds, Unit trusts) The Transmission of Monetary Policy (Banks) Financial intermediaries are widely used medium of exchange in the economy.Intermediaries' liabilities play significant role in the transmission of monetary policy Money supply in Australia (Don't need to know these term 0) MI : currency + bank rent deposits by private non-bank sector MM: currency + all bank deposits by private non-bank sector Broad money: MM + net borrowing of Non-bank IFS from private sector Specializes and Regulation Financial institutions receive spe cial regulatory attention Negative externalities caused by IFS is costly to households and firms using financial services Special services provided by IFS Institution- specific functions Example: money supply transmission, credit allocations, payment services Australian Regulation System The traditional industry- based regulation entailed separate regulators for individual industry sectors – banking, insurance and security firms. Asses 0 Australia's current financial regulatory framework originated from ‘Financial System Enquiry (Wallis Committee), Australia switched from industry-based regulation to function- based regulation. This introduced 3 regulatory agencies, each in charge of specific functional responsibilities. This reform was necessary as the distinction between the activities of different types of financial institutions was becoming more vague and also because of the overlap in regulation and grey areas.Reserve Bank of Australia (ARAB) 0 Responsible for the development and implementation of monetary policy and for overall financial system stability Australian Prudential Regulation Commission (PARA) 0 Responsible for the prudential regulation and supervision of the financial services industry Regulation of deposit- taking institutions Life and general insurance Superannuation Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIA) 0 Responsible for market integrity, consumer protection across the financial system and ensures equal and fair access to financial services. Protects against abuses (example: insider trading), lack of disclosure, malfeasance, breach of fiduciary responsibility.Major types of regulation(Scale) Safety and soundness regulation Consumer protection regulation Credit allocation regulation Investor protection regulation Monetary policy regulation Entry and chartering regulation 1. Risk reduction Encouragement for intermediaries to diversify assets Disclosure of large credit exposure 2. Minimum capital requirements 3. Safety valve Central banks' open market operations to provide exchange settlement fund 4. Monitoring and surveillance The ARAB directly controls outside money and the bulk of the money supply is inside money (deposits). Regulators commonly impose a minimum level of cash reserves to be held against deposits. Cash reserves add to intermediaries' net regulatory burden. There is no explicit liquidly requirement in Australia but Flu' liquidity management policy need to be approved by PARA.Supports lending to socially important sector Example: US' Qualified Thrift Lender test (QUIT) set a minimum amount of loans made to residential mortgages to quality as Thrift Entry Regulation Regulations define scope of permitted activities under a given charter Increasing/ Decreasing entry barriers affect profitability of existing competitors. High direct/ indirect entry costs result in larger profits for existing companies Future of Regulation Implications of SGF questioned – more regulations or more efficient regulations The major provisions include expanding and centralizing powers for Federal agencies, more restrictions and disclosures about risk taking activities by financial institutions and enhancing protection of investors and consumers. The changing dynamics of specializes Potential secular trend away from intermediation by investing directly in primary securities Decline in the relative cost of direct securities investment Growing sophistication of investorsFalling costs of information acquisition and transaction Credit Risk: Individual Loan Risk Types of loans 1. Commercial and industrial loans Short term (1 year) – financing the purchase of real assets, new venture start up costs Syndicated loans 0 financing provided by a group of lenders, usually to finance large commercial and industrial loans Secured/Unsecured loans Fixed/Floating rate Spot loan 0 borrower takes down the entire loan amount immediately Loan commitment 0 can taken down anytime any amo unt, as long as within a maximum loan amount and a maximum period of time predetermined Commercial paper 0 unsecured short- term debt instrument 2. Real estate loans 3. Individual (consumer) loans 4.Other loans, such as, government loans, farms loans Calculating the gross return on a loan Factors affecting the promise loan return Loan interest rate = Base/Prime lending rate (BRB) + Credit risk premium (m) Direct fees (f), such as loan origination fee Indirect feeds, such as, compensating balance requirement (b), reserve requirement Credit Risk and the Expected Return on a Loan 1 -p = probability of default 0MAYBE there is a negative relationship between k and p, however k and p are not independent. As return (k) increases, the probability (p) that the borrower pays the promised return may decrease. Simply increasing k does not lead to a higher return (r). As a result, IFS usually have to control for credit risk – price/promised return and the quantity or credit availability d imensions. Retails Loans Size = Small Higher cost associated with collection of borrower's personal credit information Control credit risk through credit rationing – limit the total exposure/amount loaned Wholesale Loans Different interest rates to compensate for different levels of risks Credit rationing to limit credit exposure Measuring credit risk 1.Qualitative credit risk models Borrower- specific factors Example: reputation, leverage, volatility of earnings, collateral Market- specific factors Example: business cycle, level of interest rate 2. Credit scoring models Calculate a score as a proxy of borrower's default probability Sort borrowers into efferent default classes The scoring model should establish factors the help explain default risk and evaluate the relative importance of these factors Major models 1. Linear probability model 1 if default, otherwise Weakness: the estimated default probability Z may lie outside of [0,1] Employing linear probability model is not often used as superior statistical 2.Logic model Overcomes weakness of the linear probability model using a transformation that restricts the probability to the [0,1] interval 3. Linear discriminate models Altar's Z score model for manufacturing firms Z 2. 9, highly quality loans, low default risk Z Term structure based methods Under market equilibrium, expected return of a risky loan = risk- free rate (after accounting for probability of default (1 -p)) Assuming a zero default recovery rate 0 p(l+k) = 1+1 p: probability of repayment k: return on the corporate debt I: expect return on the risk- free treasury security Example: What is the default probability for a one- year corporate bond? 10% expected return on the risk- free treasury bond k= 15. 8% expected return on the risky corporate debt p = 0. 95 Therefore the probability of default is 0. 05 Realistically, the Fl lender can expect to receive some partial repayment even if the borrower becomes bankrupt. Alton and Ban estimated that when firms defaulted on their bonds in 2002, the investor loses 74. % on average. = recovery rate when default occurs (1 – p) y (1 + k) = payoff to Fl when default occur p (1 + k) = payoff when no default Marginal default probability 0 probability that a bond will default in any given year t Conditional on the fact that the default has not occurred earlier = Marginal probability of default in individual periods Example: 2-period bond Default probability in period 1 Marginal default probability in period 2 Cumulative probability of default over 2 periods We can extract from these yield curves the market's expectations of the multi- period default rates for corporate borrowers Example: Yield Yield Year 1 Year 2 T- Bonds Corporate Bonds 15. 8% One year forward rate on risk- free T-bonds One- year forward rate on corporate bonds 0 The expect probability of default in year 2 0 4.Mortality rate models Marginal mortality rate (MR.) Forward- looking 0 extract expected default r ates from the current term structure of interest rates Backward looking 0 analyses the historic or past default risk experience, the mortality rates, of bonds and loans of a similar quality Non- default probability in year 1 the probability of the loan surviving in the 2nd year given that default has not occurred during the firs year, I. E. Prop(default in year 2 | survive yearly) Cumulative mortality rate (CM) Cumulative probability of default MR. is based on historic or backward-looking data, and it is highly sensitive to the period over which the Fl calculates the Mars. 5. RAZOR models It is based on market data.ROAR concept – balanced expected interest income against expected loan risk Loan approval 0 RAZOR > benchmark return on capital, example: return on equity One year net income on a loan 0 (spread + fees) * dollar value of loans outstanding Loan risk 0 duration or loan default rate Method 1: Use Duration to estimate loan risk The percentage change in the market value of an asset such as a loan is related to the duration of the loan and the size of the interest rate shock Capital at risk (Vary approach) 0 the potential loan Los under adverse credit scenarios 0 Increase in risk premium under adverse credit scenarios Example: Suppose we want to evaluate the credit risk off $1 million loan with duration of 2.

Friday, January 10, 2020

Cultural Dimensions of Two Countries

According to Geert Hofstede there five dimensions of culture. The five dimensions are Power Distance, Individualism or Collectivism, Masculinity-Femininity, Uncertainty Avoidance, and Short or Long-Term Orientation. Power Distance The dimension of Power Distance is the attitude toward the inequalities amongst individuals in a society. Power Distance is â€Å"the extent to which the less powerful members of institutions and organizations with a country expect and accept that power is distributed unequally† (Hofstede). Trinidad scores low in power distance with a 47 (Hofstede).Individuals in Trinidad tend to be very independent. The hierarchy present is merely for convenience. There are equal rights for all. Superiors are very accessible and coaching. Management facilitates and empowers the individual. Power is decentralized. Managers rely on the experience of team members and individuals expect to be consulted. Relationships between managers and employees is informal and genera lly on a first name basis. The United States also scores low in power distance with a 40. The US also has equal rights, a hierarchy for convenience only, accessible managers, and informal communication.Individualism Individualism is â€Å"the degree of interdependence a society maintains among its members† (Hofstede). It is whether an individual views their self-image as â€Å"We† or â€Å"I†. A society that is Individualistic, its members look after themselves and their direct family only. Trinidad scores low in the dimension of Individualism with a 16 (Hofstede). It is a collectivist society. Its members have close long-term commitments and strong relationships. Relationships between employers and employees are seen in moral terms. Hiring and promotions take into account the employees of the group.Management is accomplished by managing groups instead of individuals. The United States is a very individualistic culture. The US scores 91 in this dimension. People look after themselves and their immediate family (Hofstede). Individuals are expected to be self-reliant and display initiative. Hiring and promotions are merit based. Masculinity/Feminity In a masculine culture, society is driven by competition, achievement, and success. Successful individuals are considered to be the winners or the best in their field. A feminine culture has cares for others. The quality of an individual’s life is a sign of success.Being different is not a trait that is admired. Trinidad, with a score of 58 is a masculine culture (Hofstede). Management is decisive and assertive. Competition and equality is stressed. Conflicts are resolved by fighting it out. The United States is also considered a masculine culture with a score of 62 (Hofstede). In the US, people tend to talk about their successes and achievements. The goal is always to win. Conflicts are resolved individually. Uncertainty Avoidance Uncertainty Avoidance is how a society reacts to the fact the future is not known. Different cultures deal with the anxiety that this can bring.The people of Trinidad prefer to avoid uncertainty and score a 55 (Hofstede). They have strong beliefs and expectations for behavior. The Trinidad culture is not accepting of beliefs and behaviors that are outside the norm. The people are very precise, punctual, hard working, and busy. Their culture is very resistant to innovation. The US scores a 46 and is uncertainty accepting (Hofstede). In the US, new ideas and products are welcomed. Individuals are open to trying new ideas and technology. The culture does not require many rules. People in the US do not express their emotions are openly.Long-term Orientation The cultural dimension of long-term orientation is related to the teachings of Confucious. It deals with a cultures search for virtue. A society with a high score in long-term orientation has a future oriented view. A society with a low score has a short-term point of view. Trinidad has no score in this dimension. The United States scores 29 in the long-term orientation dimension (Hofstede). It has a short-term point of view. Its people focus on tradition. American business measure their success with financial statements issued quarterly. Individuals work for fast results.

Thursday, January 2, 2020

Caffeine and Sleep Deprivation Pros and Cons for Tired...

The intent of caffeine and sleep deprivation is to help the students through pressure and stress of studying from courses that they are taking. However, in actuality, caffeine and sleep deprivation effectively enlarge the gap between proper sleep and restfulness needed for body to function efficiently. However, the effects of caffeine on elevated cognitive processes are well researched even though it is â€Å"useful for restoring basic alertness and vigilance† (Huck 489). Although, caffeine seems to provide an equal opportunity for students to excel in their studies regardless of the lack of sleep that they are receiving, there is evidence that suggests caffeine may have a distinct advantage over needed sleep. Furthermore, the paper will†¦show more content†¦Nevertheless, caffeine, also known as â€Å"recreational caffeine† (Kluger), is commonly used to counter-attack sleep deprivation for people, especially for students, who need caffeine to have their studyin g done. However, with no proper sleep and restfulness, the body can become over-worked and can build up pressure where medical issues can occur, such as effects on blood pressure and tension. Over the years, caffeine is routinely used to minimize lack of performance and alertness which is â€Å"impairing effects of both total and partial sleep deprivation† (Sun 91). Evidence suggests that the loss of sleep is induced by deficits in alertness and vigilance that can be minimized by stimulants such as caffeine. It is known that caffeine â€Å"improve[s] reaction times and lapses that are induced by sleep deprivation† (Gottselig 37). In neurophysiologic and functional studies show that frontal regions of the brain are for the most part responsive to homeostatic, the stability, of sleep pressure (32). Therefore, sleep deprivation causes impairments in the prefrontal cortical function (32), where this part of the brain’s basic activity is to be made up of thoughts and actions. Thus, without the proper hours of sleep, students are not able to function and think on a high level and recover from the impairments that were caused from sleep deprivation and from caffeine intake. Also, together with sleep deprivation, cognitive abilities like wakefulness, attention,Show MoreRelatedMarketing Mistakes and Successes175322 Words   |  702 Pageswould be so enduring? Many of you are past users, a few even for decades. I hope you will find this new edition a worthy successor to earlier editions. I think this may even be my best book. The new Google and Starbucks cases should arouse keen student interest, and may even inspire another generation of entrepreneurs. A fair number of the older cases have faced significant changes in the last few years, for better or for worse, and these we have captured to add to learning insights. After so