ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction Interpersonal relationships are the foundation of our life, as they influence our work, friendship, and family connections. There are various communication tools that can help people to avoid conflicts and promote healthy interpersonal communication. Perception checking is one of these tools, as it can assist in effective communication. Perception checking is the process of arriving at mutual understandings with others (Wood 58). The present paper will attempt to explain the process of perception checking and show how it has helped me to improve my interpersonal experiences and communication with others. The Concept of Perception Checking Our communication with people is primarily based on our interpretation of their words, behaviors, and actions. Our interpretations are created in three steps. First, we gain information about a person, an event, or a situation from our senses (Dr. Deb). This information is usually incomplete, as our minds fail to notice details that create a comprehensive picture. Then, the data is processed through our thinking structures, which are largely influenced by our personality, experiences, and other mental schemata (Dr. Deb). Lastly, we assign a meaning to the information, thus forming an interpretation. As evident from the description of this process, our vision is often subject to bias and misunderstanding. Nevertheless, many people fail to distinguish their understanding from the truth. This creates a space for conflict, as people’s intentions, thoughts, and other relevant details are not included in our description of the situation. Perception checking is intended to prevent conflicts arising from incorrect interpretations by aligning our interpretations with those of other people. As defined by Adler and Proctor, perception checking also includes three steps: collecting information, developing at least two possible interpretations, and requesting clarification on how to interpret the behavior or a situation (123). Whereas our usual approach to interpretation does not take into account other people’s thoughts and intentions, perception checking enables to see the big picture, thus discovering a true meaning of people’s words or actions and reducing the possibility of bias. Benefits of perception checking thus include avoiding conflicts, improving communication, and build better interpersonal relationships. Avoiding Conflict Perception checking assists in preventing conflict by reducing the possibility of misunderstanding and ensuring that two or more people involved in a situation have a similar interpretation of it (Abraham). One example of how performance checking helped me to avoid conflict occurred in January when I asked a colleague to swap a shift with me. He agreed to trade shifts and told me that he would visit the manager the next morning to confirm a new schedule with her. However, during my next day at work, I saw that the schedule remained unchanged. In order to avoid conflict with my co-worker, I used perception checking to develop two interpretations of the situation and to request a clarification from him. My two interpre
One of the major methods used to study leadership is the scientific method. The scientific method relies on causality of action of the leaders in relation to their subject. This means that scientific method of studying leadership dictates that the concept of leadership can be tested to ascertain the expected outcome of every action. In addition, the scientific approach of studying leadership is so objective that social factors play a minimal role in the study. Culture, tradition, and values of the society are also of no importance in the study. The scientific approach begins with posting a question or a dilemma. This question concerns a particular aspect of leadership that is not well understood at the beginning of the study. The question may not be very specific in the first stage of finding the solution. For example, the scientific researcher may ask a general question on the reason for the varying rates of success among leaders who are all dedicated to their work. Such a question is broad and does not categorize leaders according to their specific leadership styles (Mumford, 2010). The researcher then develops a link between two or more aspects of leadership, and the performance of the leader. The behavior of the link or the relationship between the aspects of leadership, and the effect on the subjects of leadership are then theorized. Development of a theoretical relationship between a leadership style and the effects of the particular leadership approach is done through logical reasoning to eliminate the least likely relationships. This is done such that a theoretical relationship exists between the aspects of leadership and the effect on the subject of leadership (Klenke, 2008). The theoretical relationship has to undergo some testing using a specific scientific hypothesis to establish its validity as a fact. Scientific method of studying leadership relies on specific method of evaluation. Regulations governing the hypothesis being used must be followed strictly for the results to be valid. On the other hand, the validity of the results does not affect the nature of results of the study. A certain order of events in the study must be observed such that repeatability of the method is possible. In real situations, the scientific method may not accurately match the real results. This is due to the complex interaction between the factors affecting leadership pin the real world situation, and the method of study. Moderation of the results of a scientific study on leadership is necessary to ensure that the results are an approximation (Mumford, 2010). This method of studying leadership is advantageous due to the fact that it has the capability of providing objective results. This means that the method relies on the ability of the chosen scientific procedure used in the study, rather than the beliefs of a theorist. On the other hand, there is a setback in that the scientific method assumes that all aspects of leadership are causal. The concept of causality means a particular style of leadership is likely to have the same effect on the subjects of the leadership even when repeated several times (Bien & Marion, 2008). An ex
Strengths Hoverbike is an innovative product with a great potential and has impressed scientists and customers. The development was funded by people who were interested in this concept on Kickstarter website. One of the most significant factors that should be considered is that it is cheaper than other similar products. It can be used for research or inspection (Hover-bike.com par. 2). Also, it could be used instead of helicopters in some situations, and it is cheaper to operate (Anthony par. 6). The fact that it can lift significant weight is also quite impressive. Such functions as autopilot also have enormous potential and increase the amount of possible applications (Gadgets-ntech.com par. 3). The possibility to operate it from the distance is significant strength. It is also incredibly safe because its design is not as complicated as the design of helicopters. Weaknesses It should be said that this product has a few weaknesses. U.S. Army will be able to use it efficiently. However, there most likely will be issues with the commercial version. A pilot’s license to use it will be required, and it will be hard to obtain for most customers (Turk par. 6). Professionals will need additional training to operate this vehicle because of the way it functions, and it is definitely a disadvantage. Also, there may be issues with standard parts, and it will be hard to find them. Repair costs also should be significant. Also, it should be said that the price of a commercial version is expected to be rather high and not that affordable (Tilgham par. 11). Overall, this is not a product that is going to be produced in large amounts anytime soon. Opportunities Numerous opportunities are available for this product. The potential is simply immense, and it can be used for a broad range of operations. The use of this product may also be offered to health care system and news industry. There could be many applications that have not been discovered yet. It is also interesting that such technologies as Wi-fi and GPS may also be implemented. Geolocation services may also play a significant role. A use of an operating system such as Windows may also be considered. There are not many similar products, and it is at the further stage of development than those of competitors. It may also become much more affordable for most customers in the future. Overall, there are many possibilities and opportunities for this product. Threats Currently, numerous threats may affect this product. The fact that some prototypes that are developed by other companies are quite similar to this one is a problem (Koch par. 11). A possibility that new technologies will be discovered should always be considered. It will take a long time to start the production of H
Introduction Technology and innovation have brought about many applications which are used by individuals to better their lives. Social networking sites are applications on internet that allow individuals, groups or organizations to interact and share Information, concepts and interact with each other. Social networking sites like face book, twitter, my space and you tube have grown to be very popular all over the world. While the these sites have primarily been used by individuals to connect with their friends and family members, many business and corporate organizations have taken advantage of them to advertise and market their products and services to their existing and potential clients. Some of the marketing practices carried out by companies have been criticized and challenged as being unethical and raising many other concerns as far as consumer welfare and watch groups are concerned (Bloom & Gundlach, 2001). Marketing graduates sometimes work for government, public interest, public service, and corporate organizations that endeavor to promote and enhance consumer welfare. Consumer welfare issues in groups often have profound implications for both marketing practice and consumer behavior. The paper is an extensive analysis of the pros and cons of social networking which have implications for consumer welfare (Bourdet, 1992). Pros of social networking Social networking offers a cheap way of marketing products and services for advertising and marketing companies with the target groups for their products in mind. Most forms of advertising and marketing strategies are expensive and might prove to be prohibitive to companies that want to venture in the market or those that want to ensure that clients continue spending their money on products and services they offer. This is a big advantage for advertising and marketing companies because they can spend the funds on other strategic goals of the company such as expansion (University of Michigan, 2009). Individuals can also use social networking sites to advertise and package themselves as brands for prospective employers. Some companies have been known of using face book and other social networking sites as a means of checking whether the profiles of the individuals that they want to employ match with the job profiles of the positions that are open at their companies. Social networking sites are used by friends and family members to keep in touch with each other. This aspect of the networking sites is important for individuals who might want to keep on communicating but they might be separated by geographical distance. People can even post photos of important events such as birthdays, weddings, graduations and presentations to their friends and family members which help to strengthen the connection that would make them feel as if they are not as far from each other (Panda, 2009). Individuals can form important groups, present and share ideas from people all over the world.
Since the founding days of geology, it has been a great challenge to the scientists to tell about the end of dinosaurs. This seems like a mystery because understanding it has become a great challenge. The story of the end of dinosaurs begins from the paleontology science of fossils. When the scientists were collecting fossils and classifying, they discovered that there was something odd in this period of succession of past life forms on earth. The records showed some puzzling results with representation of geology time when there was an abrupt ending of fossils then replaced with new groups of species. The happening of this dramatic plant and animal life amazed the scientists. A French nobleman called Georges Cuvier, who is one of the founding fathers of paleontology, explains that this sharp transition was the sign of atrocious, planet-wide catastrophes, after this, revolution Georges claims that the exotic little known species moved to the regions, which got spared by this destruction, they again populated the Earth. With the support of catastrophes, Georges and his followers observed that the boundaries of revolution in the rock strata were marked with sudden changes in the sedimentation style –particularly, layer of disordered rock, which looked like catastrophes that effectively took place. The issue of catastrophes faced rejection from other people in the field of geology. An English man by the name Charles Lyell who was one of the most influential geologists of his time was convinced of the smooth progressive nature of geological process and refused to buy the idea of catastrophes. He and his follower had a view that the Earth was a slowly evolving world that got it shape on the ant-placed toil of erosion and sedimentation. This is catastrophic boundaries in the gaps of sedimentary records. Erosion would have erased this and therefore brought the impression of major change across the line. When viewed gradually, the turnover of the living genus of animals and plants was to be slow, ordered by the law of completion and natural selection (Charles Frankel, Par.2) In the two thoughts, gradualism and disastrous scientific establishment favored Charles gradualist approach, even if a few unquestionable broke in the record of fossils remaining without explanation and made the split of the Earth’s history in different marked periods occupied by plant and animal species. When looking at the history of the end of dinosaurs we have to consider the use of fossils bec
Introduction The debate regarding the existence of God may have started since time began. The existence of God has been questioned based on two grounds, first there is so much suffering, injustice, and chaos in the world that it is hard to believe that there is a Supreme Being watching over all mankind. Secondly, there seems to be no scientific proof that God does exist. It has become a mental and moral problem that requires a solution. It is not just a religious problem but it is also a human problem that has to be resolved for the sake of knowledge and for the sake of those who may have labored in vain serving a God that does not exist. This study will look into arguments made by men of superior intellect to determine if there is basis to the claim that God does exist. Intelligent People Intelligent people question the existence of God based on the study of evidence and the use of the power of observation to learn more about human nature and the natural world. A scientist can use the scientific method to discover God, and like a researcher in a laboratory experiment he can create a study to prove that there is no God. Since there seems to be no physical evidence that a Supreme Being is in existence then it is easy for this scientist to declare that God is non-existent. A philosopher and social thinker on the other hand look at human history and declare the same thing. Karl Marx epitomized this view as he cannot reconcile the fact that a Sovereign Lord has no power to change the plight of the needy and the oppressed. It is not surprising to discover that there are many intelligent men who believed in the existence of a Supreme Being. They also seek evidence and they also use their power of observation to understand human nature and human history. They offer a dissenting view as what was proposed by atheists like Marx and Freud. According to a well-known Bavarian philosopher named Feuerbach, “religion is not an absurdity, nor pure illusion, as our conception of God reflects the being of man” (Schirmacher, 1997, p.1). Although Feuerbach’s statement is not an outright admission on the existence of God, his comment is a typical response for those who are not prepared to make absolute judgments regarding the existence of God. Feuerbach knew how to stay in the middle, but the same thing cannot be said about Freud and Marx. Freud argued on the basis of religion and he believed that religion is an illusion created to serve a desperate need for protection and he wrote: As we already know, the terrifying impression of helplessness in childhood aroused the need for protection – for protection through love – which was provided by the father; and the recognition that this helplessness lasts throughout life made it necessary to cling to the existence of a father, but this time a more powerful one (Plantinga, 2007, p. 50). Freud looked into human nature and he discovered an insecure human being. He formulated various theories regarding the cause and implications of this insecuri
Introduction Like other criminal justice systems around the world, America’s system has undergone significant changes to become what it is today. During the 19 th century, the “hands-off doctrine” described the relationship between American courts and the correctional system of the country (Schmalleger & Smykla, 2012). Prisoners were largely viewed by the law as slaves of the nation, without human rights which take place today. Judges in the criminal justice department argued that prisoners lacked rights because of their criminal charges. As a result, courts took no responsibility in interfering with the management of prisons in order to avoid conflict of power between two state departments. Nonetheless, the “hands-off doctrine” did not last forever; it was changed in the second half of the 20 th century after American courts were convinced that they had a responsibility in resolving several legal claims, which were being raised by inmates. Proponents also sought to challenge the constitution in ensuring that the voice of the inmates was heard, concerning their prison life. Through several amendments, the American courts today recognize the rights of prisoners even though they are limited as compared to those enjoyed by free citizens (Schmalleger & Smykla, 2012). This paper discuses the rights of inmates in America as compared to those enjoyed by prisoners in other countries like the United Kingdom, and Canada. Inmate Rights in the United States Right to Free Speech American inmates have freedom of speech conceived in 1970. It requires justification as to why an inmate should be denied this right at any given moment. In regards to this, prisoners challenged the states’ censorship on mails in 1974 arguing that it was a move aimed at undermining their right to freedom of speech. Even though this move was considered to be unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, it was ruled that inmates’ freedom could only be limited if it was a security threat to the state (Schmalleger & Smykla, 2012). Additionally, the limitation can be justified only within the boundaries of protecting the interests of the federal government. Besides this, prisoners’ degree of association is limited by the activities of their labor union. This implies that inmates can only interact as directed by the union, which designs and executes prison activities. Access to Courts It has been argued that the right for an inmate to access courts during their prison life is very important and can be seen as the most essential right among others. This is supported by the Civil Rights Act of 1871, which has continuously served as the backbone of promoting inmates’ rights. Victory emanating from such lawsuits has also played a major role in ensuring that inmates are provided with a jailhouse lawyer, who offers any required legal advice (Schmalleger & Smykla, 2012). In essence, a jailhouse lawyer is an inmate who advises other prisoners on various legal matters. Moreover, inmates have the right to access law librarie
A brand can be used to refer to labels of ownership names, terms, design of symbols of a product. These goods can be of different types depending on the way or the system of market strategy the producer is using to market their produce. In the early days, most brands were considered to be a beacon of quality where cheap meant that the product was shoddy. The brand did ‘add value and thus added value became the mantra of branding. Over time, the added value came in different complexity in terms of functions, features, attributes, or emotional association. Branding in Clothing An evolution began in branding economics which had the first wave concerning the quality which viewed that in the long run, it is cheap to provide quality than to produce shoddy work. This was viewed in the clothing design for example comparison of two T-shirts one from Marks & Spencer’s costing £9, the other from a fashion brand costing twice as much. The argument here is that there is some “valuable value that builds brands”, Also, clothes may be made of different types depending on the conditions that one is working on. Such is like the temperature of the area; this brings up the issue of adding value to different brands in the clothing. In this case For example clothes that will be worn in cold areas will not be the same as those worn in hot areas. Those in cold areas will be heavier and stronger than those in hot areas which are relatively light. This means that since society is very sensitive to the fashion style, they may want to look fashionable in unfavorable environmental conditions, thus they may require clothes that look like those for summer. This means that the textile factories and designers may have to come up with clothes that suit the climate and conditions, that is, the factories have to add some value to the previous brands for example the summer clothes so that they can become of help to the consumers. Also, value can be added when the producer realizes that the products are not competitive in the field. “So we need to make our goods more appealing to the consumers and make it better ‘value’ for money-any prizes for 2 out of 3? Surely making something better means it costs more?” (Ionker, 99) Perception happens to be the key common term behind the value, pricing, or even proposition of a commodity. “Why is it that we (well some of us) are more than happy to pay £300 for a pair of shoes, but coil back in horror when we have to pay upwards of £3 for bin bags? Is a question of perceived value?” (Ionker,100) To come up with higher profits, one has to perceive the concept of adding value along the distribution chain from the producer to the consumers. (Ionke, 101) Where long-term customer relationships are key drivers’ value perceptions are a little more important and little interest is paid to the pricing or cost of the product. The acid test of a successful brand happens to be how much the customer is prepared to pay for it. That means, if you raise or lower the cost, they will probably not notice as all that matters to them is the good products or rather the valuable products from you the producer. “The adage ‘diversify or die’ is for many a business