MMPI-A (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory - Adolescent) Essay

MMPI-A (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory - Adolescent) - Essay Example that used obsolete language or seemed awkward, ambiguous, or sexist were rewritten to improve face validity and to decrease perceived offensiveness (Butcher et al.,1992, n.p.). The test item pool was shortened, including 20 items which performed the same or better psychometrically as the original version (Williams, Ben-Porath, & Hevern, 1994). The result was an instrument containing 567 True or False items, and includes the same 13 scales of the MMPI and MMPI-2, as well as a few additional validity and content scales. Sample items include, â€Å"My teachers have it in for me,† â€Å"My feelings are not easily hurt,† and â€Å"My parents often object to the kind of people I go around with† The items are spread over a variety of scales measuring different aspects of adolescent behavior and potential problem areas including family issues, eating disorders and chemical dependency. At the psychologists’ discretion, the clinical scales and three of the validity scales can be scored from the first 350 items. Its norms are adolescent-specific. The MMPI-A is used by schools, clinical and counseling psychologists to help support the diagnosis and treatment planning of problematic adolescents in a variety of settings. It helps identify the root causes of potential problems at its onset. Aside from providing crucial information easily understood by parents, teachers and others in the adolescent’s support network, it likewise guides professionals in making appropriate referrals. Clinicians administering the MMPI-A with 12-13 year olds who have sixth grade reading level and seems to be mature enough for the test should do it with caution especially in the interpretation of the results. Likewise, the clinician should be discerning when dealing with 18 year old respondents, as they are qualified for both the MMPI-2 and the MMPI-A versions. A suggested guideline would be to use the MMPI-A instrument with 18-year-olds who are still in high school and the MMPI-2 instrument

Comprehensive Developmental School Counseling Essay

Comprehensive Developmental School Counseling - Essay Example By taking this approach, I would be in a better position to take proactive and preventative measures in the development of a counseling program. A comprehensive counseling program responding to the drop-out rate would be designed to identify students where at least one of the factors found to contribute to drop-out rates and to engage those students in counseling. Drawing on national longitudinal studies the baseline for the program would target students with specific family backgrounds, demographics, members of minority and ethnic groups, lower academic performance, low self-esteem and students with disability or health problems (Lamb 2011, 369). National longitudinal studies demonstrate that each of these factors are significant contributing factors in the national school drop-out cohort. It is expected that my local school is no different (Lamb 2011, 369). Essentially, national longitudinal studies show that family background such as the family’s structure and parentsâ€⠄¢ level of education contribute to a student’s propensity to drop-out of school (Lamb 2011, p. 370). Demographic factors like, race, ethnicity, gender and location are also contributing factors. ... Ultimately the program will have as its goals identifying these factors among the student population and reaching out to those students by virtue of counseling and education to encourage retention. An example of the data would be statistics grouping the cohorts into different groups so as to establish priority groups. The statistical grouping would reflect the percentage of students from specific groups that have dropped out of school. A list reflecting the percentage of drop-out students from a shared background or a shared demographic, or a shared individual trait or a shared academic performance will be prepared. This list is necessary for substantiating how students at risk among the current student population should be identified and targeted for the counseling program. It is therefore necessary to establish a list of students who are at risk of dropping out and ensuring that they are targeted by the counseling program. In order to justify this approach, it will be necessary to demonstrate how the counseling program has intervened and prevented students who were at risk in the past dropping out of school. Therefore a list of students who exhibited the factors that contribute to the drop-out rate, who received counseling and did in fact complete school will also be prepared. The collection of data is a necessary prerequisite for a comprehensive school counseling program. As reported by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA): The use of data to effect change within the school system is integral to ensuring that every student receives the benefits of the school program (ASCA National Model, n.d.). This means not only collecting data reflecting the drop-out cohort, but also data demonstrating

Fashion Company Prada Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 9000 words

Fashion Company Prada - Dissertation Example Even though, on a global basis, there are only handfuls that can actually afford the luxury goods available, there are however a large number of common people exposed to such advertisements that these brands publish, often creating a kind of aspiration amongst them of affording these luxury items someday. This research paper will conduct an analysis into the advertising world of luxury brands, using Prada as a case study, where it is divided into three parts. The first part is the conceptual context, which is a critical evaluation of the relationship that exists between luxury goods and advertising in the context of the high fashion brands. The second part will deal with the management issue, which would be a critical evaluation of the strategic importance of advertisements in selling luxury items (as in Prada). The third part is the visual analysis, which is a analysis of the advertisements created for Prada and their impact on consumers. â€Å"Luxury brands should seize every opportunity to talk about themselves, distinguish themselves from other brands & revive their fascinating history†~ Aurelie Pichard. ... The third part is the visual analysis, which is a analysis of the advertisements created for Prada and their impact on consumers. 1 Conceptual context: an insight into the relationship that exists between luxury goods and advertising in context of high fashion brands â€Å"Luxury brands should seize every opportunity to talk about themselves, distinguish themselves from other brands & revive their fascinating history†~ Aurelie Pichard. The economic recession of the 2007-2008 negatively affected the global market, including and the market for luxury items. Those relatively less affluent, spent less money on luxury items, forcing many of the luxury brands to less their prices to maintain growth (KPMG International Cooperative, 2011, 10). Despite the price cuts, there was 8% year-on-year fall in worldwide demand for luxury items, during the year 2009. Along with fall in sale of luxury goods, there was an inadvertent fall in the advertisements of these companies. In a 2008 news re port, we find that â€Å"ad pages at the top luxury magazines fell 22 percent year over year for the December issues, according to Media Industry Newsletter. Vogue, for example, dropped from 284 pages last December, to 221 pages this December, while Food & Wine went from 160 pages to 126† (Clifford, For Luxury Brands, Less Money to Spend on Ads, 2008). However, 2010 again saw a rise in demands for luxury items in the first quarter and this trend continued throughout 2010, leading to a comeback for this industry (ibid), as seen in fig 1. Fig 1: Revenues of top global luxury goods players (US$ billion) (KPMG International Cooperative, 2011, 10). The worldwide sales of luxury items were

Consider how a currency appreciation might affect national income Essay

Consider how a currency appreciation might affect national income - Essay Example Currency Appreciation and National Income Currency appreciation may lead to an increase or a decrease in national income. According to Visser and Visser (2004, p. 58), currency appreciation improves the terms of trade in favour of the nation whose currency is appreciating. What this means is that there is likelihood of imported increasing in volume than the exported goods. This might play out negatively against the nation income considering the fact that GDP = C + I + G + EX – IM Whereby GDP = gross domestic product C = the sum of personal consumption expenditures, I = the private investment expenditures, G = the government consumption expenditures, EX = the expenditures on exports IM = the expenditures on imports To have a clear perspective on this, it should be noted that currency appreciation or depreciation has an effect on key macroeconomic variables which are â€Å"economic growth, employment and inflation† (Glanville & Glanville 2011, p. 369). Currency Appreciati on and Economic Growth An appreciation of a currency will affect the demand for export goods and supply of import goods. In both cases, the economy of the nation whose currency is appreciating is on the receiving end (Glanville & Glanville 2011. p. 369). ... ore imports without necessarily having to pay more money – the amount of money they used in the past to buy a certain volume of imports will now fetch a bigger volume of the same. Due to human nature, or more precisely according to the basic laws of economics, the local consumers will shift their demand from local goods to imported goods. This will certainly have an adverse effect on the local industries as the demand for their products falls. Incorporating this effect on the following equation - GDP = C + I + G + EX – IM - means that GDP is lowered (C, I and G are reduced while IM increases). Currency appreciation and exported goods The exports of a nation whose currency is appreciating will become more expensive in foreign markets. Because the currency has appreciated, foreign importers (those buying local good for foreign markets) will have to pay more for the same volume of goods they used to demand before the appreciation of the currency. In such a situation, the f oreign importers will either continue to buy the local goods or will seek alternatives such as getting the goods from different countries where prices are lower or stopping their import business all together. The world is so much connected and the later solution will be more attractive for any forward thinking consumer or organization. This again will see the nation with an appreciating currency lose its export market. Local industries again stand to suffer lower demands of their products. Substituting this effect in the equation GDP = C + I + G + EX – IM shows that the GDP again suffers because EX reduces. Therefore, in the two situations above, it is very clear that an appreciating currency will prompt the local consumers to shift their demand from local goods to exported goods and foreign

International Affairs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 8000 words

International Affairs - Essay Example Now when universities will not include international affairs program in their offered courses, how come grant makers would realize the need of funding in this area. That's why when we try to search universities offering postgraduate education in International affairs program; we mostly find public universities offering programs in this area. The second thing is that the grants are normally given to the people who are pursuing degrees in the field of science management and medicines since according to their perception they contribute directly to the development and well being of the country. There is not much realization among funding individuals and organization that international affairs programs hold key importance when it comes to serving country and people with the knowledge. But still there are some scholarships and funding programs which are open to almost all kind of studies and so for International Affairs program too such as FulBright scholarship program awarded by FulBright US. But they require some limitation for serving period after the completion of program. "An extensively details form is required to be filled in by the applicant with supporting original documents. These things are sent to the committee that examines the form look for the merit of the candidate and offer him or her scholarship if they find it appropriate" (FulBright, 2005). "Our goal is to establish an institute for international public policy. This institute shall conduct a program to significantly increase the numbers of African Americans and other under represented minorities in the international service" (Higher Education Act, 2003). But this grant is not directed towards the students rather they are given to the institutes and then students can contact those institutes for the scholar ships programs.Rotary International is another organization which has considerations towards this area and is offering tremendous support in the form of scholarships and fellowships to international affairs students. They are also offering their own developed programs for studies in this area such as Rotary Peace and Conflict Resolution Program. "Located in seven leading universities around the world, Rotary Centers provide Fellows the chance to study in a master's level program in conflict resolution, peace studies, international relations, and other related discipl ines" (Rotary, 2005). World Affair Council is also offering programs in International studies, both short term and long term, in partnerships with universities as well as self developed program. Their associations with United Nations' organizations enable them to offer program and scholarships students and professionals from all over the world (World Affairs Council, 2003). NAFSA, the association of international educators also provides grants, scholarships and training programs with the help of their member individuals and universities in the field of International studies. Along with that they also provide complete information and guidance in providing the students with the knowledge how to get a scholarship and grant available for

Ajax Minerals and the Problems at Perrier case study Assignment

Ajax Minerals and the Problems at Perrier case study - Assignment Example The leadership team at Ajax Minerals wanted a change in the operational activities as they were planning for future activities. They were concerned about the challenges they have to face  in the near future from their competitors. In order to continue their operations easily, they required certain changes without which  the future of Ajax Minerals was  considered  to be in danger. The supervisors and workers did not foresee any such threats which the leadership considered dangerous. All of  the labor force at Ajax Minerals was poorly managed, and there has always been poor management and labor relation. The employees (labor) always considered that any meeting held would result in redundancy or cut-offs. The laborers resist to change because of their past experiences (Hall & Hord, 2014). The main reason of resistance to change at Ajax is because of the lack of coordination between the management and the lack of job security. The laborers have always resisted to change because of such reasons and at this moment they had the same perception about the change which the leadership team wanted to implement. The leadership team at Ajax was aware of the reaction of the employees and tried to deal with this situation opposite to the customary manner (Hiatt & Creasey, 2003). Before implying any changes, the management team and the supervisors interacted and discussed the changes. This policy was never opted in the past, but they considered it important as it was the only way to implement the changes. In the meetings, the managers discussed the problems that the company was expected to face and even asked for their advice. The managers at the company also used an open book approach through which all the employees gained access to the financial performance of the company. The above two strategies were opted by the managers at Ajax to avoid resistance to change by the employees (Hall & Hord, 2014). In every organization,

Performance management is key to achieving sustained competitive Essay

Performance management is key to achieving sustained competitive advantage - Essay Example advantage (Amit & Schoemaker, 1993; Barney, 1991; Schoenecker & Cooper, 1998). Human capital is more mobile than other intangible resources (Teece, Pisano, & Shuen, 1997). Therefore, it may seem an unlikely source of sustained competitive advantage. Hence the organization must search for the means and ways to retain them to achieve completive advantage. Competitive advantage is gained only when the organization selects or develops these resources and structures work tasks and the reward system in ways that motivate the team to perform well and thereby contribute to organizational effectiveness (Guzzo & Shea, 1992). Some organizations reward employees financially when they demonstrate an ability to acquire and master new knowledge (Jenkins & Gupta, 1985; Gerhart, 2000; Lawler, ch-10).Also some studies like, Jackson & Schuler, 2002 considers that organizational structures for rewards improve organizational performance and proves competitive advantage rather than team effectiveness and selection and training. But according to Dobbins, Cardy, Facteau, & Miller, 1993 opinion, system factors are the only constraining influences that restrict individual ability and motivation, and result in lowered performance. Performance management involves enabling people to perform their work to the best of their ability, meeting and perhaps exceeding targets and standards, and hence the PM system involves the following components.1. The focus is on an individual's work.2. There are expectations or standards of performance.3. There are usually two sessions between the employee and the evaluator: one to establish the standards and another to review performance. 4. The evaluator is usually the person who has line management authority over the one evaluated. 5. The evaluation session usually results in some written conclusion--some paper trail regarding the performance of the person reviewed. Corporate Performance Management (CPM) has become a widely adopted strategy execution in the current day corporate scenario with systematic and integrated improvements in the management processes to ensure efficiency and effectiveness. At the core of CPM is A metrics-based strategic planning and execution framework that helps align strategic plans with resource allocation and strategic initiatives Strategic goal alignment through enhanced communication and focusing processes / resources towards organization objectives A structured information based review mechanism that provides the feedback loop and connects strategic planning to operational performance measures Eg: Infosys is a best example to observe the competitive advantage of the company that has achieved through the adoption of CPM approach. Performance management and improvement is observed as Cycle to adopt in the process with certain steps. The practice of Infosys CPM is observed through the following steps of PM cycle. 1. Performance planning: Here