ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Chapter 9 throws light upon an important aspect of non-randomized designs, which is bias. As bias significantly diminishes the validity of results and questions the impact of programs, the knowledge and control for it are crucial. Some types of bias may be easier to eliminate than others (Rossi, Lipsey, & Freeman, 2003). As such, ex-post measurements that compare the changes in the naturally increasing or decreasing variable are often subject to statistical errors and could be rather uncomplicated to find and avoid. Some factors like attrition, for instance, could be somewhat more difficult to control for, and statistical tools would have to be used to even out the results (Patten, Newhart, & Newhart, 2017). Attrition is a withdrawal of a participant from the study. Overall, all forms of bias in one way or the other are significant barriers towards the fair and effective assessment of program outcomes, which produces the need to review the design carefully and use only valid and frequently used measures. In terms of quasi-experimental designs that could be instrumental in situations when complete randomization is not possible, there are also a few important insights. Firstly, the main takeaway is that such studies could be subject to subtle yet significant differences in intervention and control groups which require researchers to take extra precautions against selection bias (Rossi et al., 2003). In light of this, matching participants and variables and equating them statistically becomes critical for producing adequate assessment results. Among the most viable and error-prone designs within the quasi-experimental domain are regression-discontinuity types (Orcher, 2016). The regression-discontinuity analysis is a cutoff pre-post study design that allows measuring case and effect connections. Despite the fact that it is not always applicable, it is capable of producing meaningful results if researchers could collaborate with program executives to engage in a systematic division of participants. This allows for a decreased chance of not controlling for important independent variables, as program personnel often have more knowledge of them. Yet, it is also important to mention that there might be a limited number of programs eligible for cutting-point designs, as participation criteria are rarely strictly defined. Another valuable takeaway from the chapter is that randomized controlled types of study are still the preferred choice for an accurate assessment as quasi-experimental ones are rather difficult to devise in a bias-free manner (Rossi et al., 2003). Nonetheless, in cases when it is impossible, quasi-experiments could be rather useful if certain factors are taken into account. Thus, researchers need to control for selection bias as the participants chosen for a study are one of the influential core factors that affect the quality of results. In addition to that, t
William Wordsworth is often held as the ultimate example of the English Romantic period, particularly with his publication of the Lyrical Ballads. Together with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, he is credited with having started the entire movement, which was radically different from what the reading public knew (Davies, 1980). Other analysts indicate numerous other writers of the time who might have given Wordsworth some impetus. “Thomson, Burns, Cowper, Gray, Collins and Chatterton are honored as precursors, Percy and the Wartons as initiators. The trio, Wordsworth, Coleridge and Southey, are recognized as the founders and, as time progressed, Byron, Shelley and Keats were added in spite of the fact that this new group of poets denounced the older for political reasons” (Welleck, 2003). These writers, Wordsworth included, were heavily influenced by the events that were taking place in their worlds. An understanding of Wordsworth’s life and times may help to provide some insight into his works of poetry. Although the Romantic Period would seem to be so named because of an unusual fascination with stories of love and what we consider ‘romance’ today, the actual literary movement was characterized by a complete ideology that focused on the natural, picturesque and the fantastic as they might have been understood in an idealized Golden Age of society. As a literary movement, it is recognized to have begun sometime during the 1770s and extended into the mid-1800s, a bit longer in America (“Introduction”, 2001). Nature was esteemed not only because of the creative element inherent in it, but also because of the manifestation of the imagination that could be found within it in the sense that we create what we see, beginning to recognize how the representation of social issues might help to bring about change in these same social issues. The world was full of symbols and signs that would portend future events and actions which were knowable through their relationship to the myths and legends of antiquity. In addition to the return to nature, many of the concepts that emerged as a part of Romanticism were reactions to the social upheaval that was taking place at this time coupled with a shifting economic structure. During the ‘Romantic Period’, the poets took part in a movement against the Industrial Revolution and the Enlightenment, where they protested (with their poetry) the ideals of those Europeans who sought to bring reason and ‘Enlightenment’ to the world. Grob, for instance, argues that Wordsworth’s purpose was to challenge the present social order that was focused on the “disorganized and directionless” (1973: 19) mode of existence found in “the fretful stir / Unprofitable, and the fever of the world” (Wordsworth, 52-53) and present a more favorable development. The Romantics expressed their defiance of the so-called ‘reason’ that both the Industrial Revolution and the Enlightenment brought to society. These elements can easily be traced through Wordsworth’s poetry and life experiences. Wordsworth was born in 1770 the second child of five and generally known for ha
Introduction The Industrial Revolution of 1700s was spread through the whole Europe and influenced lives of many people. It brought a lot of changes into the sphere of business, economy, politics and technology. The production methods and communication means were rapidly improved in the quality. Such spheres as medicine and education faced changes as well. A lot of new reforms were carried out which transformed the life conditions of that time on another level. In general it was a new era in technological development. New methods of work, business and industry development were under the impact of Industrial Revolution which brought both positive and negative changes to the social life. Business Sphere It should be stressed that the sphere of business was not greatly developed before Industrial Revolution. Rapid development of the technological area made impact on the development of different spheres of business. Before the Industrial Revolution the amount of business enterprises was not so great. The revolution resulted in the growth of cities and people who preferred to live in the urban area. Thus, new ways of business appeared together with the rapid development of the economy. As an example one could observe the emergence of many Economical Enterprises which were aimed at the cooperation with other countries of the Europe. The Industrial Revolution positively influenced the development of the business field and brought a lot of innovation to the technological area. Some companies started the production of new technologies which could change the level of business life. Enterprises were equipped with new machinery and the productivity was rapidly improved. Such situation caused by the Industrial Revolution covered almost all big centers of the Europe and changed the life of the social groups who were busy in this sphere. (Watkins, 2003) Working Class In comparison with upper class which comprised rich business and industrial families facing improvement and rapid development of the business sphere, ordinary people referring to the working class suffered negative causes of the Industrial Revolution. A lot of people lived in the villages before the Industrial Revolution. They were busy at their farms and had normal standards of life. Former farmers had to live their places and farming because the situation of usual social norms was replaced by the technological innovations. People faced poor living and working conditions. Working in factories resulted in major illnesses and deaths. Little pay and long hours of work made people’s life unbearable. Factory workers had to live in different special overcrowded buildings and as a result many forms of diseases became spreading among working society. Besides, women and children had to wor
According to Schuck, the public trust to the government has significantly decreased during the past five years. Even the younger voters under thirty tend to trust the Congress and the President less than it before. Nevertheless, the citizens do not find state or local governments untrustworthy, but only the federal government. The author states that the situation in the Congress is not the reason for this mistrust. Other processes and events have lead to the voters’ disappointment in federal government. Compared to the 1950s, in 2011 only ten percent (vs. 76%) of the respondents agreed that they could trust the government most of the time. The government that citizens view as a failure can be either liberal or conservative – it does not influence the citizens’ perception of it. Perhaps, the government indeed performs as poorly as citizens claim? It must be noted that the author only examines the government’s performance in domestic programs. The author states that it is true, and this fact is discussed by the competitive party and media, so citizens notice the failure extremely fast and face its discussion in various forms (TV, podcasts, radio, etc.). The legislative process, argues the author, is also dysfunctional. It was criticized by media many times, and, as the author notices, the critique rose before the government shutdown and debt limit crisis (Schuck, 2014). Moreover, democratic processes that the public meets every day in their community, city, and state, are different from the Washington democracy. As it was already stated, state and local governments still gain the trust of the citizens, while Washington’s performance cannot be compared to them in terms of its efficiency. At last, stresses Schuck, people are not willing to accept that failures made by the government are the people’s responsibility as well. It is not only their inefficiency but also our cynicism and apathy that lead to such outcomes (Schuck, 2014). Although Schuck reviews only federal domestic programs and policy failures connected to it, he explains that government failures are structural, i.e. they are caused by political culture, mismanagement, inefficient bureaucratic system, etc. (Schuck, 2014). Political culture, states the author, does not significantly change, resulting in failing policies that target minorities. The government is not able to operate information adequately, and often this information is not credible. He examines “four other sources of ineffectiveness: (1) poor information; (2) rigidity where flexibility is needed; (3) lack of the credibility needed to secure the cooperation of other actors; and (4) mismanagement…” (Schuck, 2014, p. 161). Schuck also addresses the role of the economists who may be motivated by the public goals, but often neglect details and specifics of
Executive Summary The motivation of the employees in the workplace is considered to be one of the manager’s primary duties. This is especially true in sectors dedicated to working with people, such as the hospitality sector. Hotel service is considered to be one of the most socially-intensive jobs, and at the same time, it sees increased levels of burnout and turnover among its employees. This research is based on personal experience from working in a motel located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is a quantitative study that takes the form of a survey, followed by an analysis and a recommendation section based on the survey findings. The survey conducted among the employees of the motel indicates that they see the manager as the primary catalyst in workplace motivation. Other findings indicate that personal respect and acknowledgment of one’s efforts, as well as a well-defined and accessible system of bonuses and rewards, play a key role in improving the employees’ workplace motivation. Based on these findings, a series of recommendations have been developed, concerning the particular situation surrounding the showcased motel business. It is recommended to hire a new manager, one that could work with the current set of employees and motivate them to improve performance and facilitate personal growth, as well as develop a coherent system of bonuses and rewards to provide an external motivator for the staff. Lastly, it is suggested that making the employees identify themselves with their chosen place of work is ought to increase workplace motivation and performance, as the employees would see themselves as part of the enterprise, rather than hired labor with no stakes in the matter. Introduction Motivation in the workplace is one of the most significant and central matters of concern in management. The main challenge is to find ways to motivate people to be interested in improving their performance. It is of critical importance in the hospitality sector that is directly associated with working with people. In this case, motivation is connected to developing productive strategies for enhancing customer experience not only by offering services of exceptional quality but also communication and friendliness (Ramadanty & Matinus, 2016). Being demotivated in the workplace is inseparable from the overall performance of the hospitality organization because it is the work of employees that determines whether a customer will choose it and, what is even more important, return later. Working in the hospitality sector helped to find out that the role of motivation is more critical than described in the literature. To be specific, the current occupation is in a motel, located in Auckland, New Zealand. For the sake of protecting the identities of the individuals that filled out the questionnaire, the name of the motel will not be disclosed. It is a small place with 18 rooms, so there is no need for e
Corruption pertains to the intentional misuse of a public position by a legally appointed individual for his own personal benefit (World Bank, 1997). This action is thus associated with the illegal actions of government officials, as well as government employees, specifically the redirecting of public funds and assets that are owned by the government to these individuals. The diversion of government funds thus results in a significant decrease in the resources for government-run activities and operations and consequently, the performance of particular government agencies are affected, resulting in poor or substandard performance (Mauro, 1997). The factors influencing the onset of corruption vary from one country to another, yet there are a number of features that are commonly observed in countries where corruption has been reported to be rampant. One of the major causes of corruption in a country is the poor design of policies and laws that are being implemented by the government. One specific example is the large gap between income levels of the citizens of a particular government, wherein society is composed of two major income groups, the high-income and the poor. Another specific example of a factor influencing the exercise of corruption in a country is the poor methods for transparency of the government. Unfortunately, corruption is strongly correlated in a society that accepts such unlawful behavior of government employees and the public willfully provides bribes in order to get an action completed by a specific government official or public servant. Moreover, the public officials are not personally concerned in se
The movie “The Battle of Algiers” is a war film that depicts events that took place during the Algerian war. It is considered as one of the most important chronicles of the guerilla warfare in North Africa. A unique style effects as well as spectator visual effects are employed in this film that makes the viewer be glued to the screen. The movie is a portrayal of the true story told by Saadi Yacef. Thus, through the movie the viewer is able to relate to the events that took place in Algeria and that finally led to its independence (The Battle of Algiers1966). The movie employs different soundtracks either as background tracks or played during an event that takes place. The soundtracks are used as a stylistic feature to signify something other than just being a source of entertainment for the viewer. For example, there is a scene of the bombing of a camp of Arabs by the two police officers when many innocent civilians were killed. The next scene that shows the aftermath of the bombing has a specific soundtrack in the background. The soundtrack is sombre and is played to signify the real feelings of the victims as they are recovering the bodies of the dead children and women. The soundtrack represents a sad atmosphere full of anger, loathe and yearning for revenge. The members of the public are agitated and demand revenge, but due to the strict security measures put in place by the police, the National Liberation Front (FLN) decides to infiltrate the French camps by imitating their women (The Battle Of Algiers1966). Three Arab women dress up like French women to make revenge attacks in three different locations visited by the French: the airport, coffee shop and the club joint. When the women are busy applying makeup meant to transform them and make them look like the French women, the soundtrack used is that of drum beats. In the African society, long before the colonialist, the sound of drumbeats was used to signify war and the soundtrack used in that episode is symbolic of the looming revenge to be carried out by the women. There are also soundtracks accompanying by the shouts and cries from the Muslim villages at the end of the film. These sounds forecast the expected independence in the next two years since that was in December 1960. The movie correctly uses soundtracks as a method of conveying important information and ensuring the viewer is kept guessing and wondering what’s next. The use of the soundtracks has also made the theme of a revolutionary struggle for independence vivid and real to the viewer (Mellen 1973). The movie also presents the flashbacks of Ali La Pointe. This happens when he is cornered and about to be bombed together with his family. In his flashback, he recalls how he became a member of the revolution or otherwise
Introduction The concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) seems to have largely intertwined in the business environment within the past decades. Whereas, some time ago, the idea of ethical conduct and responsible performance used to be treated seriously by large corporations only, today, these aspects have become an essential strategy’s part of any organization. According to some specialists, the intention to receive the status of an ethically grounded company might be connected with the development of social media and the Internet, which has made the details of any corporate activity much more transparent and accessible to the public (Popa and Salanță 139). Thus, more and more companies consider CSR to be a useful tool for both creating a respectable image and improving their competitive ability. The Role of Stakeholder Management Meanwhile, although the majority of stakeholders formally claim that CRS is one of their primary concerns, the experience shows that little effort is done to achieve some significant results in practice. Numerous researchers state that most of the et
Introduction: Digging for Diamonds Whenever there are diamonds on display, there are always the gasps of awe and delight; however, there is hardly a single person who ever thinks of the history of these diamonds. Meanwhile, even the gems of a size of a toenail can reveal a back story worth of at least a novel adaptation. Despite their huge price, diamonds are produced in the poorest countries, which makes the latter even poorer and, therefore, contributes to the conflicts within these countries, as well as strikes with the hypocrisy of the promotion campaigns of major diamond-producing companies, e.g., De Beers. De Beers’ Advertising Campaign: The Pinnacle of Promotional Hypocrisy It must be admitted that the video offered by Schmuddelfinger (2012) is truly astonishing – watching the history of diamonds production and of the world’s greatest jewelry companies is really exciting. Moreover, it is extremely gripping to track the history of the African countries where the raw materials being produced. However, when it comes to the most striking element of the movie, it goes without saying that the contrast between the poverty of the African countries and the riches which are located there is the most astonishing thing. Even though it is clear that it is practically impossible to process diamonds and produce jewelry in Africa, the contrast between the images of the poor African diamond miners and the jewelry advertisement campaigns developed by De Beers raises the shock values rather high. Concerning the Conflict Trap: When Rebels Rise Another peculiar aspect of the African diamond trade concerns the conflict trap. It seems that at certain point, digging for diamonds developed into a peculiar cycle of increasing conflict within the country. As Schmuddelfinger (2012) explains, the money obtained from digging for diamonds was used in the least appropriate way possible: “In Sierra Leone, in the 1990s, our UF rebels used revenue from diamonds to fund a brutal civil war” (Schmuddelfinger, 2012). Hence, the case of African diamonds is a clear-cut instance of a typical conflict trap described by Collier. “Once the war has begun, the economic damage undoes the growth achieved during peace” (Collier, 2007, 33). Repeated in a cycle, the phenomenon leads to the ultimate decay, which can be the case of the African countries supplying diamonds for the rest of the world. Natural Resources Trap: Exploring the Paradox It is also striking that the African countries exporting diamonds suffer from what Collier defined as the “natural resources trap” (Collier, 2007, 38). According to Schmuddelfinger (2012), “What created the value in diamonds is withholding the supply, making sure that the supply is regulated ad there’s never a flood of diamonds on the market, that’s one thing that De Bees did” (Schmuddelfinger, 2012). Hence, the conflict for the resources was created, which also contributed to the African