ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
The question of the article is whether cognitive dissonance plays a role in the elections and the voting process. Cognitive dissonance supposes that people who have chosen a specific behavior will align their attitudes according to such behavior. In case the behavior is realized to be unwanted or negative later, the individual will be even more inclined to repeat the behavior and support it by changing their attitude to fit that behavior. This is an important issue because it greatly affects the results of the election and the way people view themselves and the government. If people chose leaders only due to a misplaced feeling of self worth or importance of their own comfort and self respect, than the leaders chosen do not really reflect the qualities of morality and justice. This means that people select leaders out of lowered feelings of own opinions and thus, the whole system becomes pointless. The framework that is used to study the problem is the statistical method that will compare people who are eligible to vote, versus those who are not yet of age, thus do not vote. The outcome of the future elections and preferences are predicted to be affected by the previous selection of the candidate. Specific aspects of individuals are examined, more particularly age, previous knowledge of the candidate and general political education, as well as interest in government and economical state of the country. Preferential views of the members of the same party are also taken into account. This sort of research model is advantageous, as it addresses issues that were given little attention in the past. Also, the age of voting has been changed and this added a large amount of population to the voting process. The authors also address the voting by other racial groups and this issue has become a significant determinant. Placebo technique was used in the study to determine the effecting variables and biases of the study. Data that used was taken from the statistics of previous voting processes. Voting numbers from 1978 until year 2000 are being analyzed, to determine any patterns or irregularities. The National Election Study or NES is being used to determine people’s political attitudes, behaviors and general views towards politicians, governmental institutions and elections in general. There were also interviews conducted that included personal questions. As the opinions of individuals greatly vary, NES allows for a more specific determination of opinions towards certain politicians. The dependent variable was the amount of individual feeling people had towards the president. A number of personal characteristics of the leader that people expect to see were also included, to give a better picture of what the public views as important qualities of a politician. The tables used in the study show the relationship between different social classes and races. Marital status, education, place
Media used during a day influence the person’s vision of the world while forming his environments. The media experienced during the audit day include chats, websites, the game, applications, television, radio, and such social media as YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. According to Marshall McLuhan, media can be divided into ‘hot’ and ‘cool’, depending on the audience’s participation and dominant sense. This vision is discussed as the base for the media ecology theory. From this perspective, it is important to analyze the media experienced during the audit day with references to McLuhan’s vision and the media ecology’s approach. McLuhan’s distinction between ‘hot’ and ‘cool’ media is based on the idea that ‘hot’ media mainly use the visual channel, and these media are discussed as low regarding the audience’s participation. In contrast, ‘cool’ media require the active participation of the audience to produce images and ideas, and the channel is mainly acoustic. However, McLuhan also points at the factor of domination of senses. As a result, radio is also ‘hot’ as well as a film or lecture. Still, television is ‘cool’. It is rather difficult to analyze the new experienced media according to McLuhan’s distinction because the role of a participant changed significantly. Therefore, ‘hot’ media used during the audit day include listenin
After finding out about their pregnancy, the majority of women limit their alcohol consumption to a few portions a week or completely give up alcohol. Certainly, the risk of abnormal development of the fetus depends on the number of alcoholic beverages and the frequency of their use. The purpose of this paper is to analyze how alcohol consumption during pregnancy affects the fetus and its development. Introduction Alcohol gets to the fetus through the placenta, coming with blood to the baby, it can disrupt the normal process of cell formation and division and reduce their total number. “During the first trimester, the most critical stage of development, all of the major organ-systems begin to form. Because of the extensive, widespread activity, it is also the period when the developing organism is most vulnerable to the effects of drugs, radiation, and microbes.” (Tortora & Derrickson, 2018, p. 1108). The harmful effect of alcohol on the brain is revealed by a decrease in its size in a newborn; the brain functions of these children are impaired from infancy. Alcohol consumption from the beginning of pregnancy can cause developmental disorders in the embryo, such as heart disease. Harmful Effects of Alcohol However, not only the first trimester requires the exclusion of alcohol from the diet of a pregnant woman. The influence of alcohol on the fetus occurs throughout pregnancy, both the brain and the central nervous system, as well as all other organs and systems of the child, suffer from alcoholic beverages. Alcohol slows down the growth of the fetus during the entire period of pregnancy. The most significant harm of alcohol to the fetus lies in violations of the central nervous system, the severity of which depends on the number of doses of alcohol and the duration of its use. The longer a woman drinks alcohol during pregnancy, the more obvious and severe brain damage will be in the fetus. As a result of CNS dysfunction, serious developmental disorders may appear. It goes without saying that the influence of alcohol on the fetus is great. According to Popova, Lange, Probst, Gmel, & Rehm, (2017), “… globally, about 10% of women in the general population consume alcohol during pregnancy, and one of every 67 of these women delivered a child with FAS” (p. 295). In recent years, a special term has appeared in medical practice that defines an infant affected by alcohol in the womb – fetal alcohol syndrome. “One of the most disabling potential outcomes of drinking during pregnancy is the risk of developing fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), the most severe and visibly identifiable form of fetal alcohol spectru
Email Scams and Auction Fraud In the age of rapid technological progress, most law-abiding citizens worldwide use computers and digital devices for various purposes, and criminals also do so. Advancements in computer technology resulted in people’s daily use of their personal and financial data online to make purchases and payments. This paper aims to explore cybercrimes such as email or website scams and auction frauds to identify available protections and measures to avoid becoming a victim. Resources used are recent, accepted, peer-reviewed, or governmental; therefore, their credibility and relevance are ensured. Understanding Email and Website Scams Email and website scams are a severe threat that no one is protected from, yet several initiatives fight these crimes, such as the Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG). Phishing is a sort of Internet fraud that aims to gain access to confidential user data – logins, passwords, and personal information. Email and website scams are one of the more common ways criminals steal another individual’s identity (Knetzger & Muraski, 2008). Knetzger and Muraski (2008) define identity theft as “the unlawful use of another’s personal identifying information without their knowledge, to fraudulently obtain money, goods, services, or anything of value” (p. 61). A consumer who became a victim of an email scam can report phishing cybercrime to APWG. This group is “the international coalition unifying the global response to cybercrime” within developing public cybersecurity awareness, analyzing data, and encouraging investigations and studies in this field (APWG, n.d.a). APWG website offers consumers regular reports on phishing activity trends and access to umpteen research regarding cybercrimes. Due to the global COVID-19 outbreak, users are more likely to pay for services and goods online, which has led to an increase in the number of phishing incidents. Bitaab et al. (2020) found that “phishing attack traffic skyrocketed to 220% of its pre-COVID-19 rate” (p.1). Moreover, the last report of APWG (n.d.b) revealed that phishing incidents “has doubled from early 2020”. The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) website contains some tips for preventing such cybercrimes. It recommends setting security software on computers and digital devices, backing up the data to external or cloud storage, and using multi-factor authentication (FTC, 2019). Most email and website scams occur since people cannot recognize fraudulent scheme because it looks convincing and is not in doubt. However, people should always double-check websites’ information and messages’ accuracy, as well as not trust sites and emails that request personal data and contain suspicious links. Auction Fraud Auction fraud is another common cybercrime occurring due to buying online. The Federal Bureau of Investigation defines this crime
Introduction Promoting engagement among learners since early childhood is crucial to the further development of the behaviors that will allow the learner to acquire, process, and use information in a manner as efficient and expeditious as possible. The issue is especially important when it comes to managing the learning process of children with special needs since it allows helping the child become an eager learner. As a result, the learners are likely to overcome the problems associated with their specific background faster and acquire the relevant information successfully. Interaction with caregivers should be viewed as the primary tool for encouraging learners to engage in the process of information acquisition Relationship Studies show that there is a direct link between children’s engagement and their further progress in knowledge and skills acquisition (Wankel & Blessinger, 2013). Particularly, as long as students are invested in the academic process, they memorize the essential information and develop the necessary skills much faster than they would otherwise. The identified approach is especially important for children with special needs, who may feel discouraged when having to face the obstacles that other children do not have to handle (Shoulders & Scott, 2016). For example, ESL learners may be disengaged due to the lack of understanding of the information provided by the teacher. Appealing to the concepts and ideas that are associated with ESL students’ culture and, therefore, are relatable to the target audience, is likely to help in promoting engagement among learners and helping them get excited about the process of gaining new knowledge and skills (Moreira et al., 2015). Furthermore, the connection between students’ engagement and the process of cognitive development can be viewed from the social perspective. As stressed above, the target learners may fail due to the feeling of alienation that they experience in the classroom. The focus on mediation and the creation of a learning community, which can be established at the early education stage, may become the foil for the motivation levels among students with special needs to remain stable: “Teachers need to consider more socially based and mediated approaches that support the learning activities they have planned, especially when children with ASD are part of the learning community” (Peters & Forlin, 2013, p. 44). Despite the fact that the study in question researches the means of tending to the needs of students with ASD specifically, its implications are applicable to the setting, including students with any special needs. Finally, there is a direct correlation between the engagement of the child and the number of interactions that the student has with their parents. The outcomes of the observations point to the fact that the students whose parents spend the smallest amount of time communicating and interacting with their children contribute to their development to the least degree. Therefore, there is a need to design the strategies and tools that will help promote communication and interactions between children and their parents or guardians. As an intervention for
Introduction Student engagement is among the most important of an educational process, which determines the overall success of the learning outcomes. It is important to note that one should be willing to incorporate multicultural perspectives to facilitate a more encompassing and in-depth student engagement, which is a challenging task at hand. The given reflection essay will primarily focus on the fact that multiculturalism and diversity are critical elements of student engagement facilitation, and unintentional or deliberate negligence can cause major ramifications in student behavior both in-class and out-class. Since the American education system is becoming more diverse, educators need to be aware of the intricacies and complexities of multicultural aspects of student engagement. Multiculturalism One of the most critical reflections on the given subject is rooted in the notion of multiculturalism. Multiculturalism is a concept that occupies the minds of many specialists in various fields, such as culture, sociology, philosophy, and politics. This interest is due to the specifics of the globalization process and mass culture, which blur the boundaries between religious, ethnic, and traditional groups. The challenges of multiculturalism are reflected in the ideas and practice of multicultural education. Multicultural education is an indispensable requirement for multicultural communities. Its supporters proceed from the fact that the future of civilization and individual states to a large extent depends on the quality of preparation of the younger generation for life and activity in a multicultural, interdependent world. Multicultural learning, which has become an independent direction in education, has emerged as an urgent need to get rid of interethnic and interreligious hostility among students. An equally significant role in the development of multicultural education was played by the Standards for the Accreditation of Teacher Education, formulated by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), according to which all teacher training institutions were required to implement courses and programs on multicultural education in teacher training (NCATE, 2008). Thus, one can see that the process of development of multiculturalism and multicultural education is closely related to the development of society and is justified by its needs. These needs forced American teachers to create such an education system that would meet the needs of a multicultural society both in the process of teaching itself and in the process of education, which, in my opinion, cannot be shared at school. This process is characterized by evolutionary changes in the field of education and upbringing rather than revolut
Introduction The article discusses individual capabilities in relation to their perceptions as well as other variables such as beliefs, incremental and entity quantities, age, education and gender. The article seeks to prove or disapprove the belief that an individual’s perceptions about his or her abilities have a great influence on the performance. It uses a computer training experiment to gauge individual’s performances and abilities to master the training. Ability refers to the behavioral potential of an individual whereas performance is the practical level of behavior. Psychologists and researchers disagree on the concept of measuring ability. Some of the tests and views that researchers proposed for measuring ability include the entity and incremental views. The entity view proposes that an individual’s ability is a fixed quality that does not change because an individual can only poses a certain amount of ability that he/she cannot reduce or increase. This ability remains constant despite any circumstance. Conversely, incremental view proposes that an individual may increase his/her ability through hard work. The incremental view makes more sense because one’s ability depends on a variety of factors. It is imprecise to argue that one’s ability is constant and cannot change no matter the circumstance. Discussion An individual’s ability to perform a task may also depends on the prevailing circumstances such as supervision, the person’s attitude towards the task, the amount of knowledge the individual has on the task and the environment of performance. Therefore, it is possible to increase or decrease the ability through external factors such as education and the willingness to work hard at the task. Nevertheless, it is possible to measure an individual’s ability to perform a task using past and present behavior. Observing an individual’s past performance in similar tasks and his/her acquired skills and potential helps in measuring their abilities or inability to perform tasks. Managers can use these measurements to assign tasks and gauge the expected performance on the tasks. Another relevant concept is self-efficacy, which closely relates to the two views of ability. Self-efficacy refers to the individual’s judgments of their capabilities to assemble the cognitive resources, motivation and courses if action necessary for ensuring future performance of certain tasks. Therefore, to have self-efficacy means believing in one’s ability to perform a specific task. Organizations frequently undergo changes that require employee’s behavioral changes in order to maximize performance and productivity. These changes may force some employees out of organizations, while some may force the organizations to invest in employee training. There are several reasons for changing jobs. These factors include downsizing in organizations, organizational financial pressures and change of positions. It is imperative that companies will need new skills whenev
The developed kinship systems are typical for foraging and horticultural societies. These societies organize their life basing on the territorial factor and relying on forests and gardens near which they usually live. Thus, the development of foraging and horticultural communities is affected by the role of hunting, gathering, fishing, and agriculture in their everyday life. Moreover, these societies evolve according to the focus on family and its role for the community. The aspects of the kinship system are characteristic for many horticultural societies because of the significant role of family and relations in them. Btsisi people are the representatives of the horticultural community in Malaysia whose social and personal life is fully based on the principles of the kinship system. Thus, the social and personal relations of Btsisi people are closely connected, and these aspects influence each other because of the particular features of the kinship organizations. The kinship system of Btsisi people emphasizes the idea of the strong relations between the members of the family and social groups. This system of social relationships exists with references to a lot of duties and obligations which should be followed by all the representatives of the group. The community can develop effectively when all the members follow the definite set of norms. Furthermore, the principles of support and participation are also important for the development of the kinship system in the Btsisi society. All the decisions should be discussed and adopted within the community with references to the opinion of the head of the community. This stratification is also typical for the family in which the role of a man is accentuated. In addition, the kinship system can be discussed as stronger when the family or community includes more members, providing the opportunities for the effective cooperation while working at fields and in gardens (Nanda & Warms, 2010). The relations between the members of the community which depend on the principles of the kinship system are regulated regarding the aspects of the people’s personal and social life. The culture of Btsisi people is characterized by many features which can be compared with the norms of the patriarchal society. However, it is important to pay attention to the most distinctive features of this community influenced by the kinship system. If it is necessary to discuss the definite issue at the level of the whole society, the meeting is arranged, and all the problematic points are discussed by the male population. Families should present their single point of view on the problem which is declared by the husband. Women can be present at the meeting, but they are separated from the group of men (Nowak, 2003, p. 443). The unity of the group is emphasized when the final decision is discussed in ord
Introduction While there is an almost uncountable number of religions in the world, not each of them is equally prominent. Abrahamic religions, such as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, comprise billions of believers and have a great impact on the culture of their respective peoples and countries. As a result, studying the most prominent religions in the world, even if the person does not believe in wither, is a useful and even crucial way to understanding the people of other cultures. Thus, understanding Islam as a religion practiced by hundreds of millions all over the world and particularly prominent in such important yet turbulent regions as the Middle East and Central Asia is undoubtedly crucial. The obvious point to begin this understanding is the Five Pillars of Islam – the religion’s core tenets, including the Muslim creed, charity, pilgrimage to Mecca, prayer, and fasting on the holy month of Ramadan. This paper will cover the latter to stress Ramadan’s significance in Islam, the religious and social practices associated with it, and the lessons that people may mean from studying this pillar of the Muslim faith. Origins and Spiritual Meaning Before discussing what people do during Ramadan, it is necessary to explain what the holy month is first and how it came to be. Ramadan is the eleventh month in the Muslim religious calendar – and since this calendar is lunar, Ramadan’s beginning moves 11 days every year (“Information Sheet,” 2021). As mentioned above, observing the monthly fast from sunrise to sunset is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, which constitute the most sacred requirements a Muslim believer needs to follow. The reason why the month of Ramadan is considered so sacred is the tradition stating that the Prophet Muhammad received his revelations during this month. Accordingly, the Quran (n.d.) states: “The month of Ramazan is that in which the Quran was revealed… therefore whoever of you is present in the month, he shall fast therein” (2:185). Thus, fasting throughout Ramadan is meant to remind the believers about the origins of their faith and prompt them to contemplate it more thoroughly. Fasting should promote this contemplation of life and faith in several ways at once. To begin with, restricting one’s intake of food means training in self-discipline and endurance, at the core of main