Mktg 390 Exam 3 Study Guide

MKTG 390, Exam 3 1. Marketers often mislead consumers by misrepresenting marketing research findings in ads and sales presentations. What are six ways in which they do this? (1). Incomplete or misleading reporting of survey or product testing results; (2). Reporting only the percentage of survey respondents answering in a given way (for example, â€Å"55% of those surveyed said†¦. †) but not the absolute numbers or the sample size; (3). Misleading specification of the competitors tested in reported comparative tests; (4).Using survey techniques that confuse respondents or bias their answers, but not revealing the questions and interview procedure. Sometimes corporate researchers intentionally design the company’s product testing and marketing research studies so as to generate deceptive findings. (1). Testing the company’s drug against a comparison during theta is well known not to work well. (2). Testing the company’s drug against too low a dose of t he comparison product, to make the company’s drug appear â€Å"more effective† , or against too high a dose of the comparison product to make the company’s drug appear â€Å"less toxic†. 3). Reporting only that part of a product trial that favors the company’s drug, and hiding the rest of the results. (4). Funding many different studies about the same product but reporting only the one or two that make the company’s product look desirable. 1) Tell lies about risks or limitations 2) Omit disclosing risks or limitations entirely 3) Bury or conceal disclosures among other information 4) Report only % of respondents who answer in a specific way 5) Incomplete reporting of testing results 6) Using survey techniques that confuse respondents 2.Explain the â€Å"number of subgroups† method for determining sample size. In any sample size determination problem, consideration must be given to the number and anticipated size of various subgroups o f the total sample that must be analyzed and about which statistical inferences must be made. For example, a researcher might decide that a sample of 400 is quite adequate overall. However, if male and female respondents must be analyzed separately and the sample is expected to be 50 percent male and 50 percent female, then the expected sample size for each subgroup is only 200.Is this number adequate for making the desired statistical inferences about the characteristics of the two groups? If the results are to be analyzed by both sex and age, the problem gets even more complicated. Assume that it is important to analyze four subgroups of the total sample: men under 35, men 35 and over, women under 35, and women 35 and over. If each group is expected to make up about 25 percent of the total sample, a sample of 400 will include only 100 respondents in each subgroup.The problem is that as sample size gets smaller, sampling error gets larger, and it becomes more difficult to tell whet her an observed difference between two groups is a real difference or simply a reflection ofsampling error. Other things being equal, the larger the number of subgroups to be analyzed, the larger the required total sample size. It has been suggested that a sample should provide, at a minimum, 100 or more respondents in each major subgroup and 20 to 50 respondents in each of the less important subgroups. Number of Subgroups to Be Analyzed . Subgroups–the number and anticipated size of various subgroups of the total sample that must be analyzed and statistical inferences must be made should be seriously considered. b. Sample Size–dependent on the number of subgroups to be analyzed–the more needed the larger the required total sample size. c. Minimum Needs–100 or more respondents in each major subgroup and 20 to 50 respondents in each of the less important subgroups. 3. You need to hire a marketing research firm to work with you on a new product research pro ject.Five factors you might consider in choosing among different research firms are the price they charge, their apparent honesty, their punctuality (ability to meet deadlines on a project), their flexibility, and their capacity to deliver the specified work. What are five other important factors for you to consider in making your choice? Briefly explain why each of these five factors is important. Maintains client confidentiality Provide high-quality output Responsive to the clients’ needs High quality-control standards Customer oriented in interaction with clients Keep clients informed throughout a project (1).Maintains client confidentiality (2). Delivers against project specifications (3). Provides high-quality output (4). Is responsive to the client’s needs (5). Has high quality-control standards (6). Is customer oriented in interactions with client (7). Keeps the client informed throughout a project 4. What two aspects of a research firm’s chosen research method and data collection process can decrease the firm’s ability to meet a deadline for completing a research project? What two aspects of a research firm’s internal management operations can decrease the firm’s capacity to meet key deadlines for a research project? 1) A discussion of questionnaires would not be complete without mentioning their impact on costs and profitability. Factors affecting costs and profits include overestimating, overbidding, incidence rate, roadblocks to completed interviews, and premature interview terminations. (2) Generally research firms do not have design and analytical capabilities. This means that their clients may, on occasion, need to seek other providers to meet their fully service needs. It also could decrease the firms’ capacity to meet key deadlines for a research project. not pretty sure yet) 5. A research firm’s â€Å"flexibility† is an important factor for clients to consider in deciding whether t o hire that firm. Why is flexibility important and what information would you seek to learn about a firm’s flexibility? Flexibility is important to see how a firm reacts in a crisis-management situation. Unexpected happenings occur often and flexibility shows how a firm will react to these situations. Flexibility also refers to a firm’s control over internal operations, and how they handle personnel issues, such as personnel turnover. . Research management has eight important goals. Three of these are (a) excellent communication, (b) staff development and retention, and (c) cost management. What are four other goals in successful research management? Briefly explain these four goals. (1). Organizing the supplier firm: large suppliers have separate departments for sampling, questionnaire programming, field, coding, tabulation, statistics, and sales? Even the client service staff may be separate from those who manage projects and write questionnaires and reports.Each of these departments has a head who is expert in the functions of that department and manages work assignments within the department. So in response to problems like this, some companies are organizing by teams. (2). Data Quality Management: this is the most important objective of the research management. Marketing research managers can help assure high-quality data by having policies and procedures in place to minimize source of error. Marketing researchers must not only attempt to minimize error, but must also do a better job of explaining the term margin error.Also, managers must have in place procedures to ensure the careful proofing of all text, chart, and graphs in written reports and other communications provided to the clients. (3). Time management:it is very important becasue clients often have a specified time schedule that they must meet. Two problems that can play havoc with time schedules are inaccuracies in estimates of the incidence rate and the interview length. The pro ject manager must have early information regarding whether or not a project can be completed on time.Time management requires that systems be put in place to inform management as to whether or not the project is on schedule. (4). Client Profitability Management: while marketing research departments may be able to focus on doing â€Å"on-demand† projects for internal clients, marketing research suppliers have to think about profitability. Customer Research Incorporated (CRI) divided its clients into four categories based on the client’s perceived value to CRI’s bottom line. CRI spent too much time and too many valuable employee resources on too many unprofitable customers. (5).Outsourcing:One way that research firms are cutting costs is outsourcing. The term outsourcing as used in this text is having personnel in another country perform some, or all, of the functions involved in a marketing research project. When a research firm sets up a wholly-owned foreign sub sidiary, it is called captive outsourcing. Simple outsourcing is where a domestic research company enters into a relationship with a foreign company that provides a variety of marketing research functions. For example, Cross-Tab Services of Mumbai, India, offers online survey programming, data processing, data analysis, and other services.Other services that are beginning to be outsourced are data management and panel management. A number of issues need to be considered when one is outsourcing, as shown in Exhibit 15. 10. India is most likely the world leader in marketing research outsourcing firms. Over 110 marketing research outsourcing firms in India (noncaptive) employ over 9,000 people. The country’s revenues Research management has seven important goals beyond excellent communication: building an effective organization, assurance of data quality, adherence to time schedules, cost control, client profitability management, and staff management and development. ) Building an effective organization–having an organization in which people work in their areas of highest strength (technical people doing tech stuff and charismatic people doing customer service activities) 2) Assurance of data quality–to ensure the integrity of the data produced 3) Adherence to time schedules (time management)–keep the project on schedule with specific time schedules the client has specified 4) Client profitability management–projects for clients are a priority but the bottom line is the most important; make sure the clients you’re serving are maximizing profitability and not stretching yourself too thin. . To retain key staff members, a research firm can help them develop their professional skills and meet their goals. What are three specific things a research supply firm can do to help retain key marketing research staff members, beyond paying them well? a. Conduct regular performance reviews that give continuing feedback on a job well d one—or offer ways to improve. Many staff members think their bosses play favorites during performance reviews. So department heads try to use clear performance criteria for each position and offer objective appraisals for everyone. . Offer public recognition for great work. Some groups mention great work during staff meetings; post client comments on a â€Å"wall of fame† in the department; have bosses send personal letters to staff members at home, praising their work; hold pizza parties for teams that have performed â€Å"above and beyond†; or simply have the head of the department stop by a staff member’s office to offer congratulations and thanks. c. Give differential pay raises that recognize superior performance.While across theboard, uniform pay increases are often used (because they are the easiest to administer), they do not recognize the high performers—and they allow the lower performers to believe they are doing adequate work. d. Vary t he work. In order to keep everyone interested, some research groups identify one-off projects and then allow staff members to volunteer for them. Examples of special projects could include a project that will feed into the firm’s strategic plans, formation of a high-visibility cross-functional team, or a project that uses a new technique or addresses an unusually interesting topic. 8.What is â€Å"stratified sampling†? What are the three steps involved in implementing a stratified sample? A stratified sampling procedure divides a population by a specific strata (some demographic characteristic pertinent to the population of interest) then people are chosen randomly within each stratum, usually proportionate to the total number of people in each stratum. Stratified samples are probability samples that are distinguished by the following procedural steps: (1). The original, or parent, population is divided into two or more mutually exclusive and exhaustive subsets (for ex ample, male and female). (2).Simple random samples of elements from the two or more subsets are chosen independently of each other. Three steps are involved in implementing a properly stratified sample: (1). Identify salient (important) demographic or classification factors. Factors that are correlated with the behavior of interest. For example, there may be reason to believe that men and women have different average consumption rates of a particular product. To use gender as a basis for meaningful stratifi cation, the researcher must be able to show with actual data that there are significant differences in the consumption levels of men and women.In this manner, various salient factors are identifi ed. Research indicates that, as a general rule, after the six most important factors have been identifi ed, the identification of additional salient factors adds little in the way of increased sampling efficiency. (2). Determine what proportions of the population fall into the various su bgroups under each stratum (for example, if gender has been determined to be a salient factor, determine what proportion of the population is male and what proportion is female).Using these proportions, the researcher can determine how many respondents are required from each subgroup. However, before a final determination is made, a decision must be made as to whether to use proportional allocation or disproportional, or optimal, allocation. (3). Select separate simple random samples from each stratum. This process is implemented somewhat differently than traditional simple random sampling. Assume that the stratified sampling plan requires that 240 women and 160 men be interviewed.The researcher will sample from the total population and keep track of the number of men and women interviewed. At some point in the process, when 240 women and 127 men have been interviewed, the researcher will interview only men until the target of 160 men is reached. In this manner, the process generate s a sample in which the proportion of men and women conforms to the allocation scheme derived in step 2. Stratified samples are not used as often as one might expect in marketing research. The reason is that the information necessary to properly stratify the sample is usually not available in advance.Stratification cannot be based on guesses or hunches but must be based on hard data regarding the characteristics of the population and the relationship between these characteristics and the behavior under investigation. Stratified samples are frequently used in political polling and media audience research. In those areas, the researcher is more likely to have the information necessary to implement the stratification process. 9. The American Marketing Association’s Code of Professional Ethics cites data collection principles that all marketing research firms should follow.One is â€Å"treat the respondent with respect and do not influence a respondent’s opinion or attitu de on any issue through direct or indirect attempts, including the framing of questions. † What are six other data collection principles that are cited in the AMA Code? Explain each of these briefly. (2). will conduct themselves in a professional manner and ensure privacy and confidentiality. (3). will ensure that all formulas used during bidding and reporting during the data collection process conform with the MRA/Council of American Survey Research Organizations (CASRO) Incidence Guidelines. 4). will make factually correct statements to secure cooperation and will honor promises made during the interview to respondents, whether verbal or written (5). will give respondents the opportunity to refuse to participate in the research when there is a possibility they may be identifiable even without the use of their name or address (e. g. , because of the size of the population being sampled). (6). will not use information to identify respondents without the permission of the respo ndent except to those who check the data or are involved in processing the data.If such permission is given, the interviewer must record it, or a respondent must do so, during all Internet studies, at the time the permission is secured. (7). will adhere to and follow these principles when conducting online research:  ¦ Respondents’ rights to anonymity must be safeguarded.  ¦ Unsolicited e-mail must not be sent to those requesting not to receive any further e-mail.  ¦ Researchers interviewing minors must adhere to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).  ¦ Before collecting, using, or disclosing personal information from a child, the researcher must obtain verifiable parental consent from the child’s parent. 8). for Internet research, will not use any data in any way contrary to the provider’s published privacy statement without permission from the respondent. (9). will respect the respondent’s right to withdraw or refuse to co operate at any stage of the study and will not use any procedure or technique to coerce or imply that cooperation is obligatory. (10)will obtain and document respondent consent when it is known that the personally identifiable information of the respondent may be passed by audio, video, or Interactive Voice Response to a third party for legal or other purposes. 11). will obtain permission and document consent of a parent, legal guardian, or responsible guardian before interviewing children 13 years of age or younger. Prior to obtaining permission, the interviewer should divulge the subject matter, length of interview, and other special tasks that may be required of the respondent. (12). will ensure that all interviewers comply with any laws or regulations that may be applicable when contacting or communicating to any minor (18 years old or younger) regardless of the technology or methodology utilized. (13). ill not reveal any information that could be used to identify clients withou t their written authorization. (14). will ensure that companies, their employees, and subcontractors involved in the data collection process adhere to reasonable precautions so that multiple surveys are not conducted at the same time with a specific respondent without explicit permission from the sponsoring company or companies. (15). will consider all research materials provided by the client or generated as a result of materials provided by the client to be the property of the client.These materials will not be disseminated or disposed of without the verbal or written permission of the client. (16). will, as time and availability permit, give their client the opportunity to monitor studies in progress to ensure research quality. (17). will not represent a nonresearch activity to be opinion and marketing research, such as:  ¦ the compilation of lists, registers, or data banks of names and addresses for any nonresearch purposes (e. g. , canvassing or fund raising).  ¦ industrial , commercial, or any other form of espionage.  ¦ the acquisition of information for use by credit rating services or similar organizations. sales or promotional approaches to the respondent.  ¦ the collection of debts. Companies engaged in data collection: (1) Will treat the respondent and the respondent’s opinions or beliefs with respect, and not influence a respondent’s opinion or belief on any issue through direct or indirect behavior, including the framing of questions or verbal or non-verbal reactions to what a respondent says. (2) Will ensure privacy and confidentiality (3) Will ensure that respondents are given information needed for â€Å"informed consent† to participate, e. , purpose, tasks, type of questions, length, right to refuse/withdraw. (4) Will make truthful statements to secure cooperation and will honor promises made before and during the interview to respondents, verbal or written (5) Will explain, promise and respect the respondentâ€⠄¢s right to withdraw or refuse to answer at any stage of the study, and will not try to coerce or to imply that cooperation and completion is obligatory. (6) Will give respondents the opportunity to refuse to participate when there is a possibility they may be identifiable even without using name or address (e. . , a small population of respondents). (7) Will obtain permission and document consent of a parent, legal guardian, or responsible guardian before interviewing any person under 13 years old. (8) Will disclose the study’s subject matter, length of interview, and special tasks required of before participation begins, to parents and guardians of children under 13. (9) Will not misrepresent as opinion research or marketing research any non-research activity. (10)Will not disclose to respondents any information that could identify a client without the client’s permission. ) Ensure privacy and confidentiality. 2) Assure that respondents are given information needed for â€Å"informed consent† to participate, e. g. , purpose, tasks, types of questions, length, right to refuse/withdraw. 3) Make truthful statements to secure cooperation and honor promises made before and during the interview to respondents verbal or written. 4) Explain and promise respect of the respondent’s right to withdraw or refuse to answer any stage of the study and will not try to coerce or to imply that cooperation and completion is obligatory. ) Give respondents the opportunity to refuse to participate when there is a possibility they may be identifiable even without using their name or address. 6) Will obtain permission and document consent of a parent, legal guardian, or responsible guardian before interviewing any person under 13 years old. 10. Snowball sampling is one method for doing â€Å"non-probability sampling†. Explain how and why â€Å"snowball sampling† is done. How? In snowball samples, sampling procedures are used to select addit ional respondents on the basis of referrals from initial respondents.This procedure is used to sample from low-incidence or rare populations—that is, populations that make up a very small percentage of the total population. The costs of finding members of these rare populations may be so great that the researcher is forced to use a technique such as snowball sampling. For example, suppose an insurance company needed to obtain a national sample of individuals who have switched from the indemnity form of healthcare coverage to a health maintenance organization in the past 6 months. It would be necessary to sample a very large number of consumers to identify 1,000 that fall into this population.It would be far more economical to obtain an initial sample of 200 people from the population of interest and have each of them provide the names of an average of four other people to complete the sample of 1,000. Why? The main advantage of snowball sampling is a dramatic reduction in sea rch costs. However, this advantage comes at the expense of sample quality. The total sample is likely to be biased because the individuals whose names were obtained from those sampled in the initial phase are likely to be very similar to those initially sampled.As a result, the sample may not be a good cross section of the total population. There is general agreement that some limits should be placed on the number of respondents obtained through referrals, although there are no specific rules regarding what these limits should be. This approach may also be hampered by the fact that respondents may be reluctant to give referrals. Snowball Sampling–involves the selection of additional respondents on the basis of referrals from the initial respondents. a. Main advantage– the dramatic reduction in search costs. b.Disadvantage–reduction in sample quality. Snowball sampling procedures ask respondents to recommend other individuals who share the characteristic of inter est. If you are looking for individuals who have been a victim of a particular crime, and you know there is a victim support network in the area, you might use this technique. There may be no other way to obtain the respondent’s names. The danger associated with this type of sample is, of course, the bias that may occur because of the method. The sample may not be a good cross section, also respondents may be reluctant to give referrals. 1. What are the first five steps in the questionnaire design process? Explain briefly what each step involves. 1. Determine survey objectives, resources, and constraints: know objective and information want to get out of the survey 2. Determine the data collection method: Way to gather info such as internet, phone ect†¦ 3. Determine the question response format: open ended, yes/no, multiple choice (check al that apply to you, age/ethnicity questions), scaled-response questions 4. Decide on the question wording: clear, avoids bias, willin gness to answer 5.Establish questionnaire flow and layout: screening questions to find people qualified for the survey, first question brings in interest, capitalize important things Step 1: Determine Survey Objectives, Resources, and Constraints The research process often begins when a marketing manager, brand manager, or new product development specialist has a need for decision-making information that is not available. a. Survey objectives–should be spelled out as clearly and precise as possible, as well as the available resources and budget and other constraints.Step 2: Determine the Data-Collection Method Given the variety of ways in which survey data can be gathered, such as via the Internet, telephone, mail, or self-administration, the research method will have an impact on questionnaire design. An in-person interview in a mall will have constraints (such as a time limitation) not encountered with an Internet questionnaire. A self-administered questionnaire must be exp licit and is usually rather short; because no interviewer will be present, respondents will not have the opportunity to clarify a question.A telephone interview may require a rich verbal description of a concept to make certain the respondent understands the idea being discussed. In contrast, an Internet survey can show the respondent a picture or video or demonstrate a concept. Step 3: Determine the Question Response Format Once the data-collection method has been determined, a decision must be made regarding the types of questions to be used in the survey. Three major types of questions are used in marketing research: open-ended, closed-ended, and scaled-response questions. Step 4: Decide on the the Question Wording 1). Make Sure the Wording Is Clear a. The questions must be stated so that it means the same thing to all respondents. b. Clarity is the goal. The questionnaire designer must use terminology native to the target respondent group and not use research jargon. It should c ustom-tailor the wording to the target respondent group. c. State the purpose of the survey. d. Avoid double-barreled questions–two questions in one. (2). Avoid Biasing the Respondent a. Leading questions. b. Biased wording of the question. c. Sponsor identification early in the interviewing process. (3).Consider the Respondent’s Ability to Answer the Questions a. A respondent may have never acquired the information to answer the question. b. A respondent may have forgotten details. c. To avoid this problem, keep the referenced time periods short. (4). Consider the Respondent’s Willingness to Answer the Question. a. Embarrassing topic must be phrased in a careful manner to minimize measurement error. b. Ask the question in the third person. c. Ask about â€Å"most people†. d. Using counterbiasing statements technique–state that the behavior or attitude is not unusual prior to asking the question.Step 5: Establish Questionnaire Flow and Layout (1). Use Screening Questions to Identify Qualified Respondents (2). Begin with a Question That Gets the Respondent’s Interest (3). Ask General Questions First (4). Ask Questions That Require â€Å"Work† in the Middle (5). Insert â€Å"Prompters† at Strategic Points (6). Position Sensitive, Threatening, and Demographic Questions at the End (7). Allow Plenty of Space for Open-Ended Responses (8). Put Instructions in Capital Letters (9). Use a Proper Introduction and Closing 12. Step 6 in the questionnaire design process is â€Å"Evaluate the questionnaire†.What are three key issues in evaluating a draft of the questionnaire? (1) Is the Question Necessary? Perhaps the most important criterion for this phase of questionnaire development is the necessity for a given question. Sometimes researchers and brand managers want to ask questions because â€Å"they were on the last survey we did like this† or because â€Å"it would be nice to know. † Excessive numbers of demographic questions are very common. Asking for education data, numbers of children in multiple age categories, and extensive demographics on the spouse simply is not warranted by the nature of many studies.Each question must serve a purpose. Unless it is a screener, an interest generator, or a required transition, it must be directly and explicitly related to the stated objectives of the particular survey. Any question that fails to satisfy at least one of these criteria should be omitted. (2) Is the Questionnaire Too Long? At this point, the researcher should role-play the survey, with volunteers acting as respondents. Although there is no magic number of interactions, the length of time it takes to complete the questionnaire should be averaged over a minimum of five trials.Any questionnaire to be administered in a mall or over the telephone should be a candidate for cutting if it averages longer than 20 minutes. Sometimes mall-intercept interviews can run slightly l onger if an incentive is provided to the respondent. Most Internet surveys should take less than 15 minutes to complete. Common incentives are movie tickets, pen and pencil sets, and cash or checks. The use of incentives often actually lowers survey costs because response rates increase and terminations during the interview decrease.If checks are given out instead of cash, the canceled checks can be used to create a list of survey participants for follow-up purposes. A technique that can reduce the length of questionnaires is called a split-questionnaire design. It can be used when the questionnaire is long and the sample size is large. The questionnaire is split into one core component (such as demographics, usage patterns, and psychographics) and a number of subcomponents. Respondents complete the core component plus a randomly assigned subcomponent. (3) Will the Questions Provide the Information Needed to Accomplish the Research Objectives?The researcher must make certain that th e questionnaire contains sufficient numbers and types of questions to meet the decision-making needs of management. A suggested procedure is to carefully review the written objectives for the research project and then write each question number next to the objective that the particular question will address. For example, question 1 applies to objective 3, question 2 to objective 2, and so forth. If a question cannot be tied to an objective, the researcher should determine whether the list of objectives is complete.If the list is complete, the question should be omitted. If the researcher finds an objective with no questions listed beside it, appropriate questions should be added. Tips for writing a good questionnaire are provided in the Practicing Marketing Research feature on page 263. (1). Is the Question Necessary? a. Each question must serve a purpose. b. Is it directly and explicitly related to the stated objectives of the particular survey? (2). Is the Questionnaire Too Long? a. Mall or telephone administered questionnaires should be limited to 20 minutes. b. Internet surveys should be less than 15 minutes. . Incentives can lower the cost of surveys because the response rates increase and terminations decrease. (3). Will the Questions Provide the Information Needed to Accomplish the Research Objectives? a. Review the written objectives for the research project–write each question number next to the objective that the particular question will address. b. If the question cannot be tied to an objective–determine if the list of objectives is complete. If complete, eliminate the question. c. If an objective has no questions, then appropriate questions should be added. 13.Compare â€Å"probability sampling† to â€Å"non-probability sampling†. What is probability sampling? What is non-probability sampling? Why is non-probability sampling used more often than probability sampling in actual marketing research projects? Probability samp les are selected in such a way that every element of the population has a known, nonzero likelihood of selection. Simple random sampling is the best known and most widely used probability sampling method. With probability sampling, the researcher must closely adhere to precise selection procedures that avoid arbitrary or biased selection of sample elements.When these procedures are followed strictly, the laws of probability hold, allowing calculation of the extent to which a sample value can be expected to differ from a population value. This difference is referred to as sampling error. The debate continues regarding whether online panels produce probability samples. Nonprobability samples are those in which specific elements from the population have been selected in a nonrandom manner. Nonrandomness results when population elements are selected on the basis of convenience—because they are easy or inexpensive to reach.Purposeful nonrandomness occurs when a sampling plan syste matically excludes or over represents certain subsets of the population. For example, if a sample designed to solicit the opinions of all women over the age of 18 were based on a telephone survey conducted during the day on weekdays, it would systematically exclude working women. See the Practicing Marketing Research feature above. On the other hand, probability samples have a number of disadvantages, the most important of which is that they are usually more expensive than nonprobability samples of the same size.The rules for selection increase interviewing costs and professional time spent in designing and executing the sample design. Non-probability sampling VS Probability sampling Disadvantages of Probability Samples a) More expensive than nonprobability samples b) Take more time and money to design and execute. Advantages of Nonprobability Samples a) Cost less than probability samples. b) Can be conducted more quickly than probability samples. c) Are reasonably representative if executed in a reasonable manner. , 14. Step 8 in the questionnaire design process is â€Å"Pretest and Revise†. a) How do you do a pretest a first-draft of a questionnaire? (b) Under what conditions can this step be skipped? (a) A pretest is done by the interviewers who will be working on the job and is administered to target respondents for the study. The pretest should be conducted in the same mode as the final interview. In a pretest, researchers look for misinterpretations by respondents, poor skip patterns, additional alternatives for pre-coded and closed-ended questions and general respondent reaction to the interview. Interviewers want find out if respondents were confused at all during the interview. b) There are NO reasons to not pre-test! No survey should be conducted without a pretest. 15. In a well-organized questionnaire, there is a logical flow of questions. The first questions are called â€Å"Screeners†. After Screeners are asked, what types of questio ns are asked in the next four sections of the questionnaire, in correct order? 16. In class and a handout, we discussed a method called â€Å"Information Acceleration† that companies can use to understand how people may react to a complex innovative product (e. g. , new self-driving car; new medical diagnostic system) when it is marketed sometime in the future. i) Explain the goals of the â€Å"Information Acceleration† method; (ii) Explain how to do the â€Å"Information Acceleration† method — what are its key features? (i) The goals of the â€Å"Information Acceleration† method (1)Test how exposure to an overall set of product-related messages influences consumer attitude toward the product, especially when test ads are mingled with non-marketing messages from other sources, eg, news articles, journals, competing ads, etc (2)Test how exposure to a company’s overall set of marketing materials affect consumers beliefs and impressions.For exa mple, does exposure to the assorted marketing messages for a product launch (TV ads, magazine ads; mailed brochures; point-of –purchase information; sales presentations; packaging) confuse consumers or mislead them about some aspect of the product, eg, risks, limitations, the key usage benefits? (ii)How: IA places consumers in a â€Å"virtual† learning and decision making environment, and stimulates (via computer) a set of information sources potentially available to a consumer, including advertising; news articles; showroom or store visits; and world-of-mouth opinions from other consumers and product experts.The method â€Å"accelerates† the flows of information consumers may encounter over a long time period in the future. Key features: (1) Realistic simulation of a complex media and message environment that consumers may face in the future when deciding about a new innovation, (2) Vivid and concrete renditions of the messages and the message-exposure Stimulat ions (3) Uses computer-interactive technology to decrease participant fatigue. (4) Respondent have access to a full assortment of information.They can choose which to look at or ignore; the order of their information search; the time they spend on the sources of information they consult (5) But, the marketer controls the overall time available for the search, as incentive to consumers to set priorities as they search (6) Can do â€Å"after-only with control group† experiments that vary product features. Product-related marketing materials, types of messages from non-marketing sources 17. In addition to â€Å"number of subgroups† and â€Å"traditional statistical methods†, what are (1). Budget AvailableThe sample size for a project is often determined by the budget available. The budget brand manager have, after deducting of other project cost, the amount remaining determines the size of the sample that can be surveyed. If the dollars available will not produced an adequate sample size, then management must make a decision:either additional funds must be found or the project should be canceled. Financial constrains challenge the researcher to develop research designs that will generate data of adequate quality for decision making purchases at low cost.This approaches forces the researcher to explore alternative data-collection approaches and to carefully consider the value of information in relations to its cost. (2). Rule of Thumb Potential clients may specify in the RFP about the sample size they want. Sometimes, this is number based on desired sampling error. In other cases, it is based on nothing more than past experience. The justification for the specific sample size may boil down to a â€Å"gut feeling† that a particular sample size is necessary or appropriate.If the researcher determine that the sample size requested is not adequate to support the objectives of the proposed research, then she or he has a professional responsi bility to present arguement for a larger sample size to the client and let the client make the final decision. (1). Budget Available a. Sample Size–for a project often is determined by the budget available. Sample size, therefore, is often determined backward. b. Alternative Data Collection Approaches–budget available approach forces the research to explore and consider the value of information in relation to its cost. 2). Rules of Thumb a. Potential clients may specify they want a sample of a specific size. b. Sometimes based on some consideration of sampling error, sometimes based on past experience and sample sizes used for similar studies in the past. c. If that the sample size requested is not adequate, the researcher has a professional responsibility to present arguments for a larger sample size to the client and let the client make the final decision. 18. Why is it so important for a marketing research firm to maintain high confidentiality about all aspects of i ts clients’ projects?Why is it sometimes difficult for a marketing research firm to maintain high confidentiality? Because participants of research projects share valuable and sometimes sensitive information with the researcher, and they trust that the researcher will ensure that their identity is protected. It is imperative that no one but the researchers coordinating and conducting the interviews or focus groups knows the names of participants. No one other than the researchers should have access to the responses from individual participants.It is critical that no one but the necessary researchers have the ability to match the names of individuals to their responses. It is hard to maintain confidentiality because sometimes companies share information about customers with partners and affiliates. Also, some companies sell information they have gathered on customers to outside companies. 19. What steps should be taken to assure that the response data from each respondent in a survey are kept confidential? (1) Develop a code sheet, listing the participants’ names with a code next to each name, assigned by the researcher, which uniquely identifies each respondent.This code, not the respondent’s name, will be written on the form for talking interview notes or the questionnaire itself. (2) Keep the code sheet in a secure location so that people other than the researchers do not have access to it. (3) Keep participants’ responses in a secure location, separate from the code sheet, to protect the identity of individuals participating in study. (4)Researchers should be trained to explain these procedures for maintaining confidentiality to all respondents before they start participation. 20.In deciding whether or not to hire a specific marketing research firm, why it is important to learn about the other new clients and projects that the firm has taken on recently? It is important to know if we are their prior client compared to other clien ts, so we could have the priority on technical team, key personals and other important resources to accomplish the project. Besides that, it’s important because if a client is a big account for the firm, will the firm be likely to ask difficult or complex questions and not be a â€Å"yes-man? And if the client is small, will they still be valuable to the firm or will they be ignored? Also, if a firm has had a high client turnover rate, both recent gains and losses, this could be a red flag. If they’ve lost a lot of clients it could signal poor work or management, but on the flip side if they’ve gained a lot, it may mean the firm will pay less attention to each individual client. It’s important to look at past projects as well to determine if a firm can actually do the client’s work.

Monsters Are Real Donnie Darko

In storytelling, monsters are used to express the fears and worries of humans. They allow us to discover our values by questioning our morals through imagination and illusion. In both Donnie Darko and Pan’s Labyrinth illustrating real-life monsters Captain Videl and Jim Cunningham enhances our fear of monsters. These villains symbolize the vulnerability we feel as we identify ourselves with the victims of the attack. We can relate each example of monsters to an evolution of our fears throughout our lives. The fear we have of monsters stems from the idea that our moral imaginations shape the danger inside these beastly beings.As children, our vulnerability came from our fears of losing security. The monsters hiding under our beds taunted us with the threat that we’d be eaten and would never see our parents or that our most valued possession would be taken from us. This juvenile fear is illustrated in Pan’s Labyrinth through Captain Videl. He encompasses the threat s we felt as children by being controlling and dominating, as he manipulates Pan and she loses her innocence. As we mature and the limits of our moral boundaries widen, the term â€Å"monster† evolves into something more complex.As we enter into adolescence, and later into adulthood, our fears become something less to do with security and more to do with a threat to our happiness. Our moral imagination evokes fears of defeat and failure, a fear that we formulate in ourselves. As we grow older, we also fear the world and others that we cannot control. In Donnie Darko, Jim Cunningham, embodies our fears of a predator. He is the real-life monster we fear everyday with his complex, dark and twisted secrets. Ultimately, both Donnie Darko and Pan’s Labyrinth effectively embody our illusions of fear from childhood to adulthood.

European Court of Justice on the Free Movement of Workers Essay

European Court of Justice on the Free Movement of Workers - Essay Example e territory of Member States for this purpose; (c) to stay in a Member State for the purpose of employment in accordance with the provisions governing the employment of nationals of that State laid down by law, regulation or administrative action; (d) to remain in the territory of a Member State after having been employed in that State, subject to conditions which shall be embodied in implementing regulations to be drawn up by the Commission. 4. The provisions of this article shall not apply to employment in the public service. The freedom of movement for workers is one of the four essential economic freedoms guaranteed under the treaty; namely, free movement of goods, services, labour and capital. This right has both the ‘horizontal effect’ and the ‘vertical direct effect’. This effectively means that a private citizen cannot only move against state or governmental agencies, but also seek redressal for infringement by private and non-governmental persons. ( Case C-415/93)4. Historical Background In 1952, the European Coal and Steel Community, (ECSC) contained the first provision with respect to some basic measures aimed at facilitating the free movement of workers within the EU. This provision required the member states to remove any and all nationality-based restrictions for the citizens with respect to employment within the coal and steel industry. However, this provision also stipulated that only qualified workers within the coal and steel sectors were accorded this privilege and not any other skilled workforce. The most monumental development as far the free movement of workers is concerned happened in the year 1957 with the creation of the European Economic Community.5 Art. 39 of the EC Treaty empowered workers within the EC to accept any offers of... The paper tells that in 1952, the European Coal and Steel Community, (ECSC) contained the first provision with respect to some basic measures aimed at facilitating the free movement of workers within the EU. This provision required the member states to remove any and all nationality-based restrictions for the citizens with respect to employment within the coal and steel industry. However, this provision also stipulated that only qualified workers within the coal and steel sectors were accorded this privilege and not any other skilled workforce. The most monumental development as far the free movement of workers is concerned happened in the year 1957 with the creation of the European Economic Community. Art. 39 of the EC Treaty empowered workers within the EC to accept any offers of employment made by any other member state. As a natural corollary, it also empowered such persons to move freely within the EC Community as well as reside and remain within such state for the purposes of e mployment. However, it is also pertinent to note that these rights were accorded with certain reasonable limitations which were duly justified on the grounds of public policy, public security, public health and the like. The right was also not applicable in the case of employment in public service. While it is evident that these restrictions are not merely based on purely economic considerations, and also take into account certain sociological elements, the fine print with respect to the restriction is actually contained in the two implicit limitations which have been concealed within the justified ground of public policy.

Individuals Differing in Gender Statistics Project

Individuals Differing in Gender - Statistics Project Example Relation with mother Satisfaction with self Max 4 5 3rd Quartile 4 4.25 Median 3 4 1st Quartile 3 3.75 Min 2 2 Table 2 displays the calculations required to be done to plot a box plot of the variable data. The calculations are done using standard formulae in Excel 2007 Table 3 Frequency Distribution of the variables Variable Key Frequency Relation With Mother Not in touch/no mom (1) 0 Not very close (2) 3 Somewhat close (3) 13 Very close (4) 12 Like The Way I am FALSE(1) 0 Mostly false(2) 1 Sometimes false sometimes true(3) 6 mostly true(4) 14 true(5) 7 Death of Someone Close Yes= 1 11 No= 0 15 Considered suicide last yr Yes= 1 2 No= 0 24 In Table 3, a frequency distribution of scores of various variables is provided. Thus it can be observed that no individual is observed to have no contact what so ever with their mother. Some or the other form of relation is maintained in all the individuals. Also most individuals are somewhat or very close with their mother. Table 4 Values of statistical calculations of the variable scores Variable Standard DeviationRange Interquartile Range Relation With Mother 0.816496581 4 1 Like The Way I am 0.792658109 5 1.5 Death of Someone Close 0.816496581 2 2 Considered suicide last yr 0.817862341 2 3.75 The standard deviation explores the spread of scores which is calculated by looking at the differences between individual values and the mean. Thus, with a small SD we would known that a lot of values are close to the average value. Whereas, a large SD would indicate that values...Thus an idea about the shape and distribution of the data is obtained. Hence for the variable of relationship with mother the clustering around score 3 corresponds that most individuals share "somewhat close" relationship with mother whereas a clustering around score 4 for satisfaction with self implies that most individuals are at most times satisfied with their own selves from the legend. In Table 3, a frequency distribution of scores of various variables is provided. Thus it can be observed that no individual is observed to have no contact what so ever with their mother. Some or the other form of relation is maintained in all the individuals. Also most individuals are somewhat or very close with their mother. The standard deviation explores the spread of scores which is calculated by looking at the differences between individual values and the mean. Thus, with a small SD we would known that a lot of values are close to the average value. Whereas, a large SD would indicate that values are generally further away from the average value. Here in Table 4 we observe a more or less uniform standard deviation of around 0.8 which indicates that all variables have scores distributed comparably. The range gives us an idea of the limits in which the spread of the scores is occurring.

Rise of the Civil Rights Movement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Rise of the Civil Rights Movement - Essay Example Tindall and Shi (pp. 45-69) mention that this modern movement also had significant twentieth-century roots with the pre-World War I founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and The National Urban League; the Marcus Garvey "Back to Africa Movement" in the 1920s; President Franklin Roosevelt's 1941 executive order to prohibit discrimination in federal employment (as a result of pressure by A. Philip Randolph of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters—the largest black labor union); the formation of CORE (Congress of Racial Equality) by James Farmer in 1943; President Harry Truman's executive order to desegregate the armed services in 1948; and Thurgood Marshall's successful argument of the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas case (1954) before the U.S. Supreme Court to incorporate public schools. This landmark case overturned Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), which had declared that separate facilities were equal, a judicial endorseme nt of Jim Crow laws. In reversing Plessy, Brown stated that "separate was not equal" and made a full circle back to the 14th Amendment on which Marshall's argument heavily depended.Combine this rich historical context with the immediate sense of horror in the black community over the murder of teenager Emmett Till in the summer of 1955 in Mississippi and one can see how Rosa Parks, often called the Mother of the Civil Rights Movement, was ready and willing to deny her seat to a white man on December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama. The courageous act of this black seamstress from Montgomery gave birth to the Montgomery Improvement Association that, in turn, sponsored the year-long Montgomery Bus Boycott (December 1955 to December 1956), which saw, as well, the emergence of a new black leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. For all intents and purposes, that year ignited the new civil rights movement and became a turning point in American history (Garrow, pp. 78-89). Who were the Major Leaders and What Strategies did they employ Soon after the success of this boycott, in 1957, several civil rights leaders including King, Ralph Abernathy, Bayard Rustin, Ella Baker, Harris and Clare Wofford, and Stanley Levison formed the Southern Negro Conference on Transportation and Nonviolent Integration with the primary purpose of integrating buses. The name was soon changed to Southern Negro Leaders Conference and, to be as clear as possible about its source and expanding mission, it received its final designation as Southern Christian Leadership Conference-the SCLC became the virtual center of the movement, and its first president, Dr. King, was the heart of that center. Upon King's death, the mantle of leadership was passed to Abernathy, King's close friend and associate. After a decade with Abernathy at the head, SCLC became a weaker organization and lost its effective voice. In 1977 Joseph Lowery, a Methodist, took the reins and for the next twenty years returned the SCLC to it original vibrant witness for civil righ ts.

The Childhood Phase of a Person Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Childhood Phase of a Person - Essay Example The childhood phase of a person is developed through his activities in a school. The major part of the childhood of a person is spent in the schools. The preliminary and secondary schools are the basic foundations on which the overall values, goals, and personality of a person are developed. However, special care must be taken by the schools as organizations to foster the well-being and safety of the children attending their schools. The transition from one school to another may be a new experience for the children which involves stress and requires adjustment on the part of the children1. A transition phase encompasses the loss of old friendships formed in the schools and finding their place in a new environment. These may add to the worry of the children when joining a new school. The adjustment of the children in the new environments should also be supported by the schools so that the children can deal with the stress and imbalances associated with the transition process. The spor ts activities and social activities in secondary schools can support the children to become adjusted and involved in the new environment easily. Also, the people at home may also be helpful in guiding and supporting the children in adapting to the transition process more easily. Managing the emotional and physical health of children is necessary to ensure that they do not succumb to the stress caused by the transition phase. Schools not only play an influential role in the learning and development of children but they are equally important in developing hygienic concerns and healthy outlooks from the early years of the children. The schools play important roles in shaping up the good habits of the children with respect to hygiene, health, and safety.  

CRM Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

CRM - Research Paper Example Its market share has reached 20% in the hypertension drug market. The company wanted to raise the awareness about Amodipine brand through advertising it as nation’s hypertension drug (Hanmi, â€Å"Hanmi at Glance†). Clari is another major pharmaceutical product of Hanmi Pharmaceutical Company. It is a Macrolide Antibiotic. It is one the Hanmi’s first generic drugs which are used to cure infection. It has benefited Hanami with robust sales and has ranked second in the sales of drugs after amodipine. Its sales were above 10 million USD in the year 2009 (Hanmi, â€Å"Hanmi at Glance†). Hanmi Pharmaceutical Hanmi Pharmaceutical Company was established in the year 1973 and from then onwards it has grown remarkably. Hanmi incessantly showed 20% to 30% growth rate since its establishment. It has emerged as one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in Korea. In the year 2008 its sales was more than 558 million USD. By developing good R&D strategy Hanami Pharmace utical has now been able to become a most competitive organization in the international market (Hanmi, â€Å"Hanmi at Glance†). Value of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) CRM is an approach to create, expand and maintain customer relationship. It provides a vision to an organization in order to deal with their valuable customers. To meet these visions, organization should implement effective CRM strategies that can increase the sales, develop the customer service, marketing and data analysis activities. Notably, the main objective of CRM is to maximize beneficial relationship with customer for both dealer and customer. Hanmi’s high quality marketing as well as sales based information technology is considered as the main driving force which has resulted in consumer growth. Hanmi Pharmaceutical is dedicated to develop and provide innovative and valuable drugs to the customer to maintain an effective customer relationship. Hanmi Pharmaceuticals has been producing Cep halosporin products since 1987 and supplies products in over 40 countries. Hanmi has a wide range of customers in many countries of the USA, Europe and Asia. Their new manufacturing plant has the ability to produce many ‘innovative drug APIs and intermediates’ (Hanmi, â€Å"Hanmi at Glance†). Hanmi Pharmaceutical also maintains efficient relationship with their global partners for exploring modified drugs such as esomeprazole, clopidogrel, clari, amodipine and others. Hanmi is also working to find business partners in other parts of the world where they have not established yet (Hanmi, â€Å"News Archives†). In the year 2007 Hanmi Pharmaceutical got â€Å"Forbes management first prize†. Forbes had put a high valuation on Hanmi because of adopting ERP IT technology and took the social responsibility through a sustainable management approach. Hanmi Pharmaceutical always supports society to help customers live better in a cleaner environment. For insta nce, for children Hanmi changed single cap medicine to double capped medicine. It planned and promoted various strategies to upgrade the quality of life of customers with efficient CRM strategies (Hanmi, â€Å"News Archives†). Customer Retention Program (CRP) Often organizations develop programs which offer purchase inducement, such as discounts on any purchase from any company or â€Å"soft benefits† which is referred to as Customer Retention Program (CRP). An effective CRP includes plans and methods for identification and registration of customer, customer segmentation, design

Strategic marketing 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Strategic marketing 2 - Essay Example Presently the company operates with 40 staffs. The company started competing with branded glass manufacturers from early 1990s and cemented their position as premier glass manufacturers in Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. Sales growth for the company slowed down during the period of 2003 due to external factors. In the initial years Henrik Skagen used two types of marketing strategy to increase sales revenue. Henrik Skagen used trade shows to promote glass product and increase brand equity among customers. Internal sales force was used to explore retail channel sales. New generation of Skagen family have changed the traditional product strategy of the company in order to fillip the growth of the company. Sandra and Lars Skagenby extended product portfolio by including items such as reading sun-glasses, non-prescription reading glasses, sports goggles and glass cases. Marketing Overview Product Reading sun-glasses, Non-prescription reading glasses, Sports goggles and Glass cases. Th e company uses Nordic style of strong lines and bold colours in their offering. Price Retail price of reading glasses is between $35-$85 while retailer sells a pair of sunglasses at $35-$140 Place The company sells their product through distribution channel complemented with accessory shops, department stores and sports outlets Promotion The company uses trade shows and in store sales promotion to create awareness among customers Target Market Seventy percent of sales are contributed by consumers over the age group of 40 while sports products are targeted for young people Target Country Singapore (company owned retail shops), Malaysia & Hong Kong (franchise business model) Marketing Challenge The company wants to expand their business in South Asian Market and Vietnam has been selected for their future business expansion Financial Overview Sales Revenue (2011) $58.6m Operating Profit $5m Sales Revenue (Country & Product category wise) Singapore Malaysia Hong Kong Sunglasses $7.7m $1 2.4m $5.1m Spectacles $5.3m $11.7m $6.7m External Analysis Bright Eyes needs to conduct macro environment audit such as PESTLE of the country in order to explore business opportunities of the country (Elearn, 2012, p. 75). PESTLE PESTLE analysis helps companies to get a picture in terms of macro environmental perspective (Henry, 2008, pp. 51-56). Political CPV or Communist Party of Vietnam has recently changed their industrial policy and has taken progressive approach for industrial development. The government is also supporting foreign players to invest in the country hence Bright Eyes will get support from government to expand their business. Country trend suggests that CPV has not faced any major threat from opposition party in recent times hence from the view point of political stability the country is going strong. Economic The country is suffering from high inflation rate hence overall GDP growth is slow for Vietnam (Tucker, 2010, pp. 194-195). Foreign players are investing in developing industrial park in the country. Vietnam has attracted foreign players to invest $271m in industrial projects last year. Government has sanctioned nine FDI projects worth of $112bn for next three years (Pham, 2004, pp. 69-97). Economic situation of the country is positive for companies like

Cherokee Indian Nation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Cherokee Indian Nation - Essay Example The constitution, the comprehensive legal code, and the many governmental related services of the Cherokee Nation contribute to a justice system that operates autonomously to promote order and advancement within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation. Though the Cherokee Nation is a sovereign entity with a complete legal system, they also work with the cooperation of federal agencies such as the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to maintain order. They also have agreements with local and state governments to help insure consistency and support within both the Cherokee Nation and local governments. Indeed, there has been an ongoing policy of the US government to help insure that Cherokee law and Federal laws have a measure of conformity (Distinctive Features). However, the recent limits placed on the State Police on Indian lands has prompted the Cherokee Nation to take a greater responsibility for law enforcement within their borders and has necessitated the formation of the Cherokee Nation Marshall Service. In 1986, a ruling by the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that "[...] Oklahoma law enforcement officers have no criminal jurisdiction "in Indian country" unless the crime is committed by a non-Indian against another non-Indian ..." (Heck, Keen, and Wilds, 26). The previous two centuries had been marked by federal reluctance to recognize sovereignty compounded by a checkerboard of overlapping federal jurisdiction. The Cherokee Nation Marshal Service is responsible for enforcement on Indian land, and though they have been in existence for over 20 years, their ranks are thin as compared to other urban and rural forces. The 2002 census reported only 11 full time officers to cover the entire population and vast land area ("Census", 10). The Cherokee Nation also shares criminal jurisdiction with various state and federal authorities through cross deputizing (Heck et al., 33). Jurisdiction is decided through a complex evaluation of whether the defendant and victim are Indian or Non-Indian and the seriousness of the crime. According to Heck et al. while, "[...] either federal or Indian law enforcement officers can make arrests for major crimes, most major crime cases are tried in federal courts" (33). However, victimless crime or minor crime where both defendant and victim are Indian, is the sole jurisdiction of the tribal courts. There may be rare exceptions to this, such as the jurisdiction for the enforcement of traffic laws where major routes are patrolled by a state police agency. The District Court of the Cherokee Nation serves all 14 counties in the jurisdiction of the tribe and handles civil and criminal proceedings. In addition, they handle some limited juvenile cases and family law issues involving deprivation and neglect ("District Court"). According to the 2002 census, the Cherokee Nation criminal court can only prosecute a case that would result in a jail term of not more than one year and a fine of less than 5,000 dollars ("Census", 2). More serious cases are sent to the federal court system for prosecution, sentencing, and incarceration. The Cherokee Nation operates a detention and holding center for short-term

The Mission San Gabriel Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Mission San Gabriel - Research Paper Example The particular settlement where the mission stands was erected around 1770 by the early Spaniards and was possibly named after the Angel Gabriel. Historical sources indicate that building was designed by Antonio Cruzado who was a Father from Spain (Baer 47). He cleverly designed the structure giving it a strong architectural and captive influence. With long narrow windows and a peculiar capped buttress, the building is reminiscent of several others unique only to the state of California. Much of the original roof of the structure was destroyed in 1894 by an earthquake which ravaged the area. A replacement was further damaged in 1812 and was later replaced in 1886. Nevertheless much of the original composition of the structure still stands strong signifying a rich source of history. The establishment of the mission in that particular locality radically transformed the manner of life around. The hostile Indians completely took charge and dominated the area. Up to 1822, it is estimated that over 6800 natives had been baptized of whom 2400 was children. In the neighborhoods of this church, the majority of the population was the Indians who mostly belonged to the Shoshonean family. There were also other people especially the neophytes who came from further beyond. Most important, however, is the manner in which the mission has always defined the history and manner of life in that particular region. It has to be remembered that the major objective of the missions established at that time was to propagate a culture of self-sufficiency and social collectiveness amongst the people. Through farming, the missions managed to produce entirely everything that was necessary in the localities. Much of that effort was always successful to the extent that by 1810, the Indians ware able to produce sufficient food to sustain the whole military and government of California. Agriculture had suddenly taken root in the region as the most important economic activity. The rich informati on availed by delving into the missions’ history is very fundamental in drawing very important conclusions and learning much about the Chicano history. Very striking characteristics are reminicesent in the Spaniards who came to the region in the early days and made settlements. Their mannerisms and ways of life have always stood and helped define their history and character. One can gradually realize the causes of the growing unrest that was evidenced across the Mexican-American population in the country. These people are driven by the power of their collective awareness and through mass action, agitate for fundamental liberties. In such a case, the emergence and the progress of the Chicano movement cannot be overemphasized. Sure enough, most of the challenges that led to this movement have not been addressed even in the present American situation. Very high school drop-out rates are still a daily norm in the California region. The lack of Mexican-American teachers in the ins titutions is still an issue that has not yet been addressed. Paradoxically, looking back into the early days, we realize that many dreams have been shattered in the face of these emerging realities. The very farms that had their origins in the mission days became the hotbeds of controversy as farmers and university students teamed together and went to the streets in protest. The whole issue was about the aspiration of social betterment

Problem of unemployment Essay Example for Free

Problem of unemployment Essay Unemployment is a serious problem in our country, which leads to poverty. Many people are eager to find jobs SuPport themselves as well as their families but there are not enough jobs for everyone. As a result the problem of unemployment is seen at every level. Lack of job opportunities has brought depression and hopelessness among our youth. It has made them to go astray which creates many other problems like drug addiction, identity crises, etc. Let us first examine the causes of the problem of unemployment before discussing the various ways and means of solving this problem. There are many reasons for the problem of unemployment in our country. One of them is the slow growth of our economy, in relation to increase in the number of educated persons. When an economy is growing, there are plenty of jobs for everyone. Our economy has grown and there has been development but not enough to generate sufficient number of jobs. Another factor that has led to unemployment is the growth in population. Ours is a thickly populated country the population increasing by leaps and bounds. But jobs and gainful avenues cannot be generated in the proportion. The jobs are restricted in number but the people applying for them are many. So, a large section of people is left without job. The growth in education has resulted is larger number of people looking for white collar jobs, which are not available. Again, education is often not aimed at providing people with vocational skills. So their scope for employment remains limited. At the same time, the growth of mechanization and more sophisticated machinery is important for the development of industry. But this often means few people are required for specific jobs. As a result there is more unemployment. It is the responsibility of the government to provide jobs for all those who are able to work. It has started schemes like the Jawahar Rozgar Yojana, Swarnajayanti, Gram Swarozgar Yojna and other in rural areas. Loans are also given- to encourage self employment and small scale industries. Technical and vocational education should be stressed. When people get technical and vocational education, they will not hanker after services on completing their education. They will come out well prepared to stand on their own legs. They will choose a profession in accordance with their capability and aptitude. This will help in solving the problem unemployment. J M It is also necessary to check the rapid growth of our pulation. There must be laid on family planning in this regard. After population is controlled, we can easily overcome the problem of unemployment. Unless this problem is under control, all round development of our country can never be possible. Hence, it is necessary to bring awareness among the common mass.

Jennifer Hudson Essay Example for Free

Jennifer Hudson Essay Jennifer Hudsons I Got This is a personal memoir of her life, from her early childhood to her current life. Jennifer talks about her journey to stardom including her challenges, tragedies, and her triumphs. Throughout the book Jennifer continuously talks about how her weight had kept her from getting the parts she would audition for. However, once she lost the weight many doors were open for her. She also gives high praises to Weightwatchers for helping her lose over 80 pounds. Jennifer Hudson made it clear that she was always comfortable with her body and only lost the weight so that she could be a healthy mother for her son. She did not lose the weight for anybody else but for herself and her son. This book was published in January 2012. Jennifer Hudson was born September 12, 1981, in the Englewood area of Chicago. She was the third child of her parents of her parents, Darnell Hudson Donnerson and Samuel Simpson. She was raised in a single parent home with her brother, Jason Hudson, and her sister, Julia Hudson, by her mother. As a little girl Jennifer was very small, so small that you could see her ribs through her shirts. Her mother took her to the doctor because she thought something was wrong with her. Being skinny was not common in the Hudson family. You see food was a central focus for the majority of all the Hudson family gatherings. Jennifer’s best friend and personal assistant is a gay guy named Walter. She met Walter in the sixth grade and they have been best friends ever since. The first time he heard her sing was in music class and from that day he has been her number one fan. Walter made it his personal goal to make Jennifer a star. During her high school years she would sing in different contests and talent shows all over Chicago that Walter would sign her up for; soon thereafter he began booking performances ranging from weddings to funerals for Jennifer. At one point she was in a singing group, with two other girls called Final Notice, but this didn’t last long. They kept her around, as long as they did because she had the most talent, but they let her go because she had the most weight. By the age of nineteen she had reached her peak weight of 236 pounds. This is around the time she realized that her weight was out of control and she was getting passed over for singing gigs because she didn’t look the part. Needless to say, she was astonished that she was being judged on her appearance and not her talent. Jennifer was signed to her first record label, Righteous Records, a Chicago based independent label. It was during this time that she was first motivated to lose weight because the head of the company pitted her against another girl on the label to lose weight. He told them that whoever lost the most weight would win money and be able to release their album first. On this journey of losing weight, Jennifer stopped eating fried foods, red meat, pizza, carbonated soda, and ice cream; which were all of her favorites. She started working out every day and twice on some days. This went on for years. She would lose weight because someone said she needed to if she wanted the job, only to regain the weight upon completion of the part. In the summer of 2002 American Idol made its television debut, Jennifer was encouraged by her mother to audition for the show. Jennifer was not impressed and did not want to have anything to do with the show, that is, until Kelly Clarkson was named the first American Idol. Although the show had sparked something in Jennifer she still resisted auditioning for the second season since she had landed a job with Disney working on a cruise ship. After eight months, away from home, performing on the ship, Jennifer had had enough and went back home. To her surprise, when she got back to Chicago Walter had two airline tickets for Atlanta to go to the audition for season three of American Idol. Being on American Idol, Jennifer had gained a great deal of exposure, which opened the door for her next gig, which was a record deal to record her first album. While she was working on this album she started hearing rumors about a new movie, which was Dreamgirls; and that the producers wanted her for the role. After auditioning twice she was chosen to play the part of Effie in the movie. She had not done any professional acting until this role and the rest is history. For the first time in her career she was told she needed to gain weight, they wanted her to gain twenty pounds so she could really look like Effie. This was a total shock to Jennifer, especially after so many years of being passed over and judged on her appearance over her talent. Well, she gained the weight and starred in her first motion picture. After the production of Dreamgirls, Jennifer returned home and started her mission to lose the weight she had gained for the role. She went right back to the only way she knew to lose weight. Eating only brown rice, chicken, and broccoli, coupled with running every day. She worked hard the entire summer losing the extra pounds only to have the producers call her, near the end of the summer, needing to get some pickup shots of her to finish the film, and oh yeah telling her to regain the weight. She refused to succumb to their request and they found a way to work around it. In September of 2008, Jennifer’s mother, brother and nephew were killed in a shooting; Jennifer stepped out of the limelight for three months. After the birth of her son, Jennifer was again around 236 pounds. This was precisely the time she made the conscience decision to make a permanent change in her life to lose weight and keep it off. She initially began this quest the only way she knew how by limiting herself to very few food choices, but then she was introduced to Weightwatchers. Eighty plus pounds later, Jennifer is pleased with her decision to give Weightwatchers a try, and now she is a spokesperson for the program.

Harmful Effects of Embalming Fluid

Harmful Effects of Embalming Fluid Both formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde based embalming solutions are widely used in preserving dead bodies and in pathology, forensic medicine and museums. Phenoxyethanol may be an alternative to them. Each of them has its merits and demerits but none of them is totally non-toxic. This review is about various possible adverse effects of these embalmbing solutions. Key words: Embalming solutions, Formaldehyde, Glutaraldehyde and Phenoxyethanol. Introduction After death human body starts putrefaction, to prevent this process embalming is required. By this process dead body retains its morphological characteristics for a longer time period. Later on this preserved body is used in medical institutes for the study of anatomy by students. Anatomy is the backbone in medical curriculum in which students learn the external and internal structures of human body in detail. Moreover embalming procedure can also be used to keep dead bodies intact during transportation. Besides this, embalming solution is essential constituent in preservation of parts in pathology, forensic medicine and museums. These solutions contain number of chemicals mixed in appropriate ratio for their specific purposes. Important constituents are preservatives, buffers, anticoagulants, germicides, fungicides, perfuming agents, hygroscopic agents, dyes, etc. An ideal embalming solution should neither alter the natural structures including color of the specimen, nor have any type of adverse effects in form of topical or systemic. It should also prevent growth of insects and maggots and the putrefaction process. All these characteristics are usually not found in the routinely used embalming solutions. Therefore it becomes an important issue to educate the persons regarding the possible damages produced by the embalming solutions. This review article has been written with intention to give the information regarding components used in the embalming solutions their advantages and disadvantages. Important chemicals like formaldehyde, glutarldehyde, methyl alcohol, phenol, glycerine, oil of winter green, eosine solution, phenoxy ethanol are used to make the embalming solutions. Depending upon the concentration of individual chemical these solutions have been grouped in to three types: (a)Formaldehyde based embalming solution, (b) Glutaraldehyde based embalming solution and (c) Phenoxyethanol based embalming solution. Formaldehyde Formaldehyde (HCHO) is most commonly used chemical for embalming purposes. Formaldehyde is a colorless gas with a strong, suffocating odor. It is often mixed with alcohol to make liquid called formalin. The largest source of formaldehyde is the chemical manufacturing industry. Formaldehyde is found in cigarette smoke and also can be formed in the environment during the burning of fuels or household waste. Very small amount of formaldehyde is found naturally in the human body. Formaldehyde is a popular chemical because of its low cost and can be used for many purposes like making furniture, wall paneling, etc. Formaldehyde also can be used as germicide and preservative. It is also found in items such as dyes, textiles, plastics, paper products, fertilizer, and cosmetics. Formaldehyde solutions are used as a fixative for microscopy and histology. Formaldehyde-based solutions are also used in embalming to disinfect and temporarily preserve human and animal remains. The concentration of formaldehyde is usually expressed in terms of parts per million (1 ppm = 1.248 mg/cu.m.). This is prepared by mixing the commercially available formalin solution with tap water in the proportion of 3:1 [1]. The use of formaldehyde in preserving the tissues, organs, and body parts is very common. Technicians in histology laboratory, students in anatomy classes, are exposed to this solution. Formaldehyde has been known to produce allergy, contact dermatitis, eczema, irritation and inflammation to mucus membranes, and if ingested can produce systemic toxicity which can be fatal. This also has tendency to produce mutations and development of malignancy. Permissible limits of occupational exposure to formaldehyde are 3 ppm in a time weight average breathing zone during an 8-hour period, a ceiling concentration of 5 ppm and an acceptable maximum peak of 10 ppm for no longer than 30 minutes during a one day shift. To reduce the toxic potential of formalin it needs to be buffered by additio n of a small quantity of Sodium tetraborate to get a slightly alkaline solution with a pH of 7.2. This buffered formalin needs to be freshly prepared just before preparing the embalming fluid. These chemicals are mixed to make an embalming fluid. Occupational exposure to formaldehyde by inhalation is mainly from three types of sources: thermal or chemical decomposition of formaldehyde-based resins, formaldehyde emission from aqueous solutions (for example, embalming fluids), and the production of formaldehyde resulting from the combustion of a variety of organic compounds (for example, exhaust gases) [2]. Once absorbed, formaldehyde is very quickly broken down. Almost every tissue in the body has the ability to break down formaldehyde. It is usually converted to a non-toxic chemical called formate, which is excreted in the urine and is converted to carbon dioxide and breathed out of the body. But formaldehyde can be toxic, allergenic, and carcinogenic [3]. Acute exposure of formalin adversely affects pulmonary system. It may decrease vital capacity much more as compared to other pulmonary parameters. This may be attributed to bronchoconstriction produced by formalin [4]. Experimental studies have shown that exposure of formal dehyde may damage liver. This destruction is directly proportional to the length of exposure of formaldehyde. Few clinical studies have also shown the damaging effect of formaldehyde on liver of human beings. The hepatic damage occurs in form of congestion of hepatic parenchyma and elevation of hepatic enzymes [5-7]. Neurological toxicities after exposure to formaldehyde in human beings are manifested in form of fatigue, headache, myalgia etc. If toxicity is due to formaldehyde ingestion, person may have loss of memory, seizures, altered behavior, altered consciousness and in severe cases coma. Animal exposure of formaldehyde has shown brain damage in form of altered neurotransmission. The main neurotransmitter changes are increased serotonin and dopamine metabolites in hypothalamus [8, 9]. Hematopoietic system is not much affected by the formaldehyde exposure. However intravascular coagulopathy, alteration of red cell count and hemoglobin concentration has been reported in some stu dies [8]. Gastrointestinal tract is not much affected when exposure is through inhalation. However, when ingested it may adversely affect the GIT. If toxic dose of formaldehyde is ingested it produces inflammatory lesions of orophyarnx, soft palate, pharaynx, epiglottis, esophagous, stomach. These lesions are due to contact irritant and corrosive nature of formaldehyde. The lesion may be in form of ulcerations and necrosis. Clinically this toxicity manifests in form of abdominal cramps, vomiting, haematemasis, malena, altered gut motility etc. Chronic ingestion of formaldehyde may also give rise to gastric and esophageal malignancies [8-10]. Though renal system is not a major target of formaldehyde metabolism, however risk of renal failure and anuria is there in persons acutely exposed to the formaldehyde. The animal experiments have shown that formaldehyde can produce renal papillary necrosis, polyuria, increased blood nitrogen [9]. Formaldehyde is a skin irritant and dermal sensit ization agent. Contact dermatitis, allergic dermatitis, erythema, epidermal hyperplasia have been shown to occur due to chronic exposure of formaldehyde in animals as well as in human beings [11]. Air born formaldehyde exposure most frequently produces eye irritation. Endocrine system and reproductive organs are minimally affected [12]. Formaldehyde may have mutagenic and carcinogenic potential. Out of all cancers nasopharyngeal cancer has been well established to have association with formaldehyde exposure. Fortunately formaldehyde has not been correlated with teratogenic potential [13-15]. To reduce the risk of damage due to formaldehyde, certain measures can be adopted. Replacing the formaldehyde with less hazardous chemical, reducing the concentration of formaldehyde in the solution, proper storage of product, closing the jar when not used, disposal of exposed clothes are some of them. Facility of fume hood just at the site of embalming, wearing personal protective equipments like face mask, safety goggles, self contained breathing apparatus, gloves, water proof smock, head gear etc further reduces the chances of exposure. Careful monitoring of lung function tests, chest x-ray, allergy testing, and examination of eyes time to time should be adopted. Other important work practices recommended are labeling the container, educating employee regarding the possible adverse effects, monitoring the air concentration of the room, avoiding eating and smoking at work place. Formaldehyde is inflammable and precautions to prevent fire should be taken. Any spill should be immedia tely informed. If spill occurs evacuate the room and reach to the safe place, eliminate all ignition points, spread the dry sand over the chemical, ventilate area. If contact has occurred the person should wash skin, eyes, remove contaminated clothing and should be treated as an emergency [16]. Glutaraldehyde Glutaraldehyde an aliphatic dialdehyde is a colorless liquid with pungent smell. It is one of the best biocide agents for disinfection and sterilization at hospitals. This is very widely used in medical, scientific, and industrial application. As fixator in histochemistry and microscopy, tanning agent and as ingredients in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals are some of the important uses of gluteraldehyde pharmaceuticals [17, 18]. Radiologists use gluteraldehyde as hardener in x-ray developing solution [19]. Though considered a relatively safe, it possesses irritating and corrosive properties. The strength of gluteraldehyde may vary from 1 to 50% [20]. This variable concentration exposure may give rise multiple unexpected toxic effects. In general due to its corrosive and irritant effects it produces throat irritation, nasal bleeding, burning eyes, precipitation of asthma and sneezing [21]. Due to its tanning effect it also discolors the hands of handling persons. Large acute dose can pre cipitate severe headache, vomiting, and altered consciousness. The persons commonly exposed to glutaraldehyde are staff workers involved in sterilization of endoscopes, dialyzing machine, research workers, and x-ray film developers. Glutaraldehyde exhibits superior properties to formaldehyde in relation to the fixation, disinfection and sterilization. It is more effective in less concentration and in less time exposure as compared to formaldehyde. Regarding the embalming properties, glutaraldeyde is slow diffusing, but develops rapid irreversible reactions with the body proteins. This is in contrast to the formaldehyde which is fast diffuser, but produces reversible reactions with proteins. This characteristic of glutaraldehyde favors its use as embalming solution. Only disadvantage of glutaraldehyde as embalming solution is the slow tissue perfusion resulting in appearance of signs of embalmation very late. Hardening and stiffening of body occurs after long duration. So the body ha s life like appearance for a longer time. Another advantage of glutaraldehyde is that reactions are less affected by pH alterations and it reacts even at the higher pH where formaldehyde becomes inactive. Because of slow diffusion and perfusion rate glutaraldehyde reacts less with blood and blood perfused tissues. This leads to minimum coagulation and more clearing of blood from tissues. This persevered tissue becomes clearer in appearance. However, if glutaraldehyde solution is kept for long time yellowish tanning and darkening of tissues occur. Regarding the toxic potential of glutaraldehyde, it is relatively safe but numbers of animal studies have indicated that oral ingestion can produce gastrointestinal damage, alteration of behavior, precipitation of seizures. Local external contact has tendency to produce contact dermatitis, brown discoloration of skin, exfoliation of skin, conjunctivitis. Vapor inhalation of glutaraldehyde may precipitate bronchospasm, nasal discharge, excessive lacrimation, salivation, and dyspnoea [22]. Another drawback of glutaraldehyde is that it may produce photosensitivity to the ultra-violet rays. This may be responsible for the erythematous lesions after sun exposure. There is no proven risk of glutaraldehyde as genotoxic and mutagenic agent but most of the studies are based on animals. Therefore chances of mutagenicity, genotoxicity, and carcinogenicity cannot be excluded in humans. The persons exposed to glutaraldehyde for long duration should undergo through regular medical checkups. The te ratogenic potential has not been reported in animal studies but if possible the exposure of glutaraldehyde should be avoided during pregnancy and lactation [23]. Phenoxyethanol Phenoxyethonol also known as phenoxytol or phenoxyethyl alcohol is a colorless or light yellow, viscos liquid. This is a strong oxidizing agent. It is incompatible with acidic solutions and also has combustible property. Phenoxyethanol is a modern antimicrobial preservative. Presently this is used as common preservative in diphtheria, tetanus, and pertusis vaccine. This inactivates both bacterial and fungal growth. Other use of phenoxyethanol is as preservative of cosmetic materials. Due to its ability to inhibit phagocyte activity it is supposed to be toxic to all cells. Moreover it can alter the immunity of the exposed persons. As for the other alternative chemicals in place of formaldehyde, Frolich et al in 1984 tried using phenoxyethanol as its non-toxic substitute. It proved to be impractical as the amount required was large, i.e., about 600 litres for each cadaver needing continuous emersion to prevent mould formation and the fixation process taking 5 to 10 months [24]. Various adverse effects by Phenoxyethanol can be: central nervous depression, nausea, vomiting, sometimes diarrhea, prominent headache, later abdominal lumbar pain, costovertebral angle tenderness, transient polyuria then oliguria, progressing to anuria, acute renal failure, less critical pathological lesions may appear in brain, lungs, liver, meninges heart  [25]. Other components which are used in embalming solution are methyl alcohol, carbolic acid, sodium tetraborate, glycerine, eucalyptus oil, and eosine. Methyl alcohol helps in precipitation of proteins and reducing contamination. This also helps in dispersion of formaldehyde into the body tissues. Carbolic acid helps by its germicidal and fungicidal actions. Sodium tetraborate is used as buffer agent and stabilizing agent. Eucalyptus oil acts as perfume and eosine helps in giving the reddish color to the tissues. Conclusion Considering all the characters of chemicals used in embalming solution one can see that it is impractical to find out non toxic embalming solution. The person involved in process of embalming as well as students should be taught regarding the possible hazardous effects and methods to minimize. The place should be well equipped for handling of any emergency condition. Each one involved should be taught regarding the procedures of basic life supports. If any untoward incidence happens the person should be stabilized by basic life support followed by shifting to the place equipped with advance life support system.

Innocence in Daisy Miller :: Henry James, Daisy Miller

Is innocence an acceptable excuse for behavior at odds with societal norms? In the Henry James novella, Daisy Miller, we see Daisy behaving in very controversial ways for women of the mid-1800†²s. She looks directly at men without blushing, speaks bluntly about her life, travels alone with Mr. Winterbourne after only knowing him for half an hour, and cavorts regularly (unchaperoned) with a handsome, but common, Italian man. Daisy performs all of these scandalous behaviors with hardly a thought to how they may besmirch her reputation in a Europeanized group of American expatriates. Although she is unaware of the repercussions, we are told that she is ostracized from the high society that she may have been a member of if she behaved more respectably. So we may consider her as breaking the laws of the society; the punishment: expulsion. Winterbourne seems to contend, although half-heartedly, that because Daisy’s behavior is all innocent that she should be excused from the laws. When confronted by her improprieties, Winterbourne states, â€Å"The poor girl’s only fault is that she is very uncultivated† (41). His feelings that she should be excused because of lack of training continues until he finally sees her at midnight in a private moment with the Italian man. In this regard, Winterbourne seems to reflect the views of the author who writes, â€Å"Poor little Daisy Miller was, as I understand her, above all things innocent. It was not to make a scandal, or because she took pleasure in a scandal, that she went on with Giovanelli. She never took the measure really of the scandal she produced, and had no means of doing so: she was too ignorant, too irreflective, too little versed in the proportions of things.† A certain level of forgiveness is necessary for people who have not been familiarized with the rules which they are expected to live by, but Daisy Miller took this innocence to extremes.

The Has Been And The Never Was :: essays research papers

The Has Been and The Never Was   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This is the story of two very different individuals who, up until a certain point, could have been called The Has Been and The Never Was. They are both successful actors who pursued slightly different paths to fame. When the two were cast together in the same movie, their performances were nothing short of spectacular. They proved to all of Hollywood that they were A-list, bankable Talent, and deserved the professional respect accorded to people of this caliber. The movie that they appeared in was Pulp Fiction and the actors are John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  First, a few brief sentences about the film that many people call one of the greatest ever made (a simple search on the Internet brings up over 50,000 websites devoted to the movie). Directed by a then unproven Quentin Tarantino, who Roger Ebert calls ' The Jerry Lee Lewis of cinema, a pounding performer who doesn't care if he tears up the piano, as long as everybody is rocking'; (Chicago Sun-Times 10-94) the movie is a combination of several short-stories into a larger story. Tarantino ignores the concept of time, going forwards and backwards in such a way that the ending and the beginning of the movie are almost the same scene. This nonlinear way of shooting, combined with the brilliant acting of Travolta, and Jackson make the film one that can be watched a dozen times, and every time the viewer will take something different away from it. The Has-been   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  John Travolta is an actor whose career has seen as many downs as it has seen ups. An awe-inspiring Hollywood star of the late 70's and early 80's, Travolta was the youngest of six children born to tire salesman and former semi-pro football player Salvatore Travolta and high school drama teacher Helen Travolta on February 18, 1954 in Englewood, NJ. Being the baby of the family, Travolta grew up pampered. The Travolta children were encouraged to be creative, and would stage shows in the basement of their home. By age twelve, John knew he wanted to be an actor, having already joined an acting workshop in his hometown. He soon began appearing in local theater and began taking tap lessons from Gene Kelly's brother Fred. Travolta admits he picked up a lot of moves from TV's Soul Train, and he ascribes his love for dance to the fact that his high school was fifty percent black.