Tips and Advice for Writing Great Psychology Papers

Tips and Advice for Writing Great Psychology Papers Student Resources APA Style and Writing Print Tips for Writing Psychology Papers By Kendra Cherry facebook twitter Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author, educational consultant, and speaker focused on helping students learn about psychology. Learn about our editorial policy Kendra Cherry Updated on January 21, 2020 Hero Images / Getty Images More in Student Resources APA Style and Writing Study Guides and Tips Careers Students are often surprised to discover how much writing is required for psychology college courses. Those majoring in psychology are often expected to write a wide variety of papers, ranging from lab reports to research papers. In almost all cases, you will need to structure your paper in a specific way and follow the rules of APA format.   Why Learning to Write Psychology Papers Is Important The ability to write well is one of the most important skills you can gain as a psychology major. Most psychology courses require a significant amount of writing, including essays, case studies, research reports, and other papers. Learning effective communication skills will help you succeed in high school, university, graduate school, and the workforce. How can you improve your writing skills? Start by viewing each class assignment as an opportunity to learn and practice. Check out resources offered by your school, such as tutors or writing labs, and learn more about the different types of psychology writing. The following resources offer tips, guidelines, and advice on how to write psychology papers. If you are struggling with how to start a psychology paper, following some of the guidelines below may help. Basic Tips for Writing Psychology Papers If you have never written a psychology paper before, you need to start with the basics. Psychology writing is much like other types of writing, but most instructors will have special requirements for each assignment. Before you start a psychology paper, youll need to learn more about what you should write about, how you should structure your paper, and what type of sources you should use. Always check the grading rubric for an assignment before you begin writing and brush up on the basics. How to Write a Psychology Case Study Students taking courses in abnormal psychology, child development, or psychotherapy will often be expected to write a case study on an individualâ€"either real or imagined. Case studies vary somewhat, but most include a detailed history of the client, a description of the presenting problem, a diagnosis, and a discussion of possible treatments. This type of paper can be both challenging and interesting. You will get a chance to explore an individual in great depth and find insights into their behaviors and motivations. Before you begin your assignment, learn more about how to write a psychology case study. How to Write a Psychology Lab Report Lab reports are commonly assigned in experimental or research-based psychology courses. The structure of a lab report is very similar to that of a professional journal article, so reading a few research articles is a good way to start learning more about the basic format of a lab report. There are some basic rules to follow when writing a psychology lab report. Your report should provide a clear and concise overview of the experiment, research or study you conducted. Before you begin working on your paper, read more about how to write a psychology lab report. How to Write a Psychology Critique Paper Psychology critique papers are often required in psychology courses, so you should expect to write one at some point in your studies. Your professor may expect you to provide a critique on a book, journal article, or psychological theory. Students sometimes find that writing a critique can actually be quite challenging. How can you prepare for this type of assignment? Start by reading these tips and guidelines on how to write a psychology critique paper. Remember to  Edit Your Psychology Paper Before you turn in any type of psychology writing, it is vital to proofread and edit your work for errors, typos, and grammar. Do not just rely on your computers spellchecker to do the job! Always read thoroughly through your paper to remove mistakes and ensure that your writing flows well and is structured logically. Finally, always have another person read your work to spot any mistakes you may have missed. After you have read something so many times, it can become difficult to spot your own errors. Getting a fresh set of eyes to read through it can be very helpful. Plus, your proofreader can ask questions and point out areas that might not be clear to the reader. Know the Rules of  APA Format Not learning APA format is a mistake that costs points for many students. APA format is the official style of the American Psychological Association and is used in many different types of science writing, especially the social sciences. Before you hand in any writing assignment, always double-check your page format, in-text citations, and references for correct APA format. If you need directions or examples, check out this guide to APA format. A Word From Verywell Writing psychology papers is an important part of earning a degree in psychology. Even non-majors often find themselves writing such papers when taking general education psychology classes. Fortunately, paying attention to the directions provided by your instructor, familiarizing yourself with APA style, and following some basic guidelines for different types of psychology papers can make the process much easier.

Alcohol Is The Most Widely Used Social Drug Essay

Alcohol is the most widely used social drug in New Zealand. Heavy drinkers risk serious alcohol related harm. Alcohol is a social drug that affects people in different ways, while a small amount of alcohol may be beneficial to the heart for some older people, ‘risky’ drinking can cause serious health, personal and social problems. Heavy drinkers, binge drinkers and very young drinkers are at risk. Binge drinking is a particular problem among younger people, but anyone who drinks heavily or drinks too much in one session is at risk of both immediate and long-term alcohol related harm For children and young people under 18 years, not drinking is the safest option. Those who are under the age of 15 years of age at the greatest risk of harm from drinking alcohol and not drinking at this age is especially important for young people aged 15-17 years, the safest option is to delay drinking for as long as possible. If 15-17 year olds are drinking alcohol, they should be supervised, drink infrequently and at levels usually bellow and never exceeding the adult daily limits. Effects of alcohol on health: †¢ Heart – Raised blood pressure and triglycerides (especially after binge drinking), damage to the heart muscle and stroke. †¢ Brain – Brain damage, tremors, dementia and nerve damage. Alcohol is a depressant drug and effects your co-ordination, self-control, judgment and reaction time. †¢ Stomach – Stomach inflammation (gastritis) and bleeding. †¢ Liver – Cancer, HepatitisShow MoreRelatedEssay about Alcohol: A Double Edge Sword1043 Words   |  5 PagesAlcohol is historically one of the oldest known drugs to mankind. It is ingested orally and comes in many varieties. It is attractively packaged in alluring bottles and cans; which can seduce the unsuspecting individual and lead to a life of unrelenting misery, imbued with a potentially ruinous outcome. Taken in moderation; however, alcohol can also be used to prevent disease processes and promote health. This particular drug is both legal and is promoted widely throughout the planet. I chose thisRead MoreEssay Alcohol626 Words   |  3 PagesAlcohol Alcohol has been around for ages, but only relatively recently has become a recognized problem in society. Its negative effects on the body and its impact on the mind has caused the drug to be associated with such crimes as rape, murder, and other violence. Concerns with alcoholism and drunk driving are on the rise, and underage drinking rates are soaring. Whether for the better or for the worse, alcohol is a driving factor in Americas economy and society, which makes it very importantRead MoreTopic On Alcopops And Teen Binge Drinking1338 Words   |  6 Pagesamounts of alcohol for the purpose of getting drunk. Teenagers generally do this on a weekend and the drink of choice is the sweet flavoured Alcopops. These drinks come in a variety of cool colour and flavours and are marketed at the younger target group Binge drinking is a widely used term, and is the act of drinking heavily over a short period of time or over several days. Alcopops are the only alcoholic drink whose popularity declines with age. Alcopops begin introducing young people to alcohol at aRead MoreSubstance Related Disorders846 Words   |  4 Pagessubstances, the outcome will be that the user will end up with a substance related disorder. When people take drugs, it over stimulates the reward path of the brain causing them to become dependent. Substance abuse vs. substance dependence A substance related disorder is a condition, it can be subdivided into two groups: substance abuse and substance dependence. Drug use becomes identified as substance abuse when the individual continues the use of a substance in spite ofRead MoreAlcoholism : Is Alcoholism A Disease?929 Words   |  4 Pagesdefining alcoholism means denying that alcohol abusers own a choice. In consequence, the treatment related differs and may or may not actually help alcoholics recover. A wrong diagnostic of this addiction can lead to serious health issues; therefore, it is vital to answer the following question: Is alcoholism a disease? Most experts in this field criticises this view of alcoholism as a disease due to the fact that this theory simply lacks a cure. It also victimises alcohol abuser, hence, completely negatingRead MoreSubstance Abuse Among The Elderly1473 Words   |  6 Pagescontinuing involvement with alcohol and illicit drugs. For example Simoni-Wastila (2004) stated â€Å"widely acknowledged that . . . drug use and abuse will be compounded in the near future as the baby boomer population, known for both its historical and current acceptance of licit and illicit drug taking, begins entering older adulthood.† Furthermore, the overall health and wellbeing of the Nation is connected with the availability and acknowledge of substance abuse and illicit drug abuse problems. This researchRead MoreEssay about Alcoholism1398 Words   |  6 Pages quot;Alcohol is a socially acceptable, legal drug that is consumed by the majority of Americans without problems to themselves or others (Milgram xiii).quot; Misuse of alcohol can lead to alcoholism, one of the most widespread and complex problems in America. The reasons some people become dependent on alcohol and others do not are unknown. Many health problems are associated with chronic alcohol abuse, including damage to the liver, brain, or central nervous system. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;AlcoholRead MoreAlcoholism Outline809 Words   |  4 Pages  Classification and terminology of Alcoholism A. Etymology II. History of Alcohol III. Signs and symptoms B.   Symptoms of long term alcohol misuse 1. Physical symptoms 2. Psychiatric symptoms 3.   Social effects C. Alcohol withdrawal IV. Causes of Alcoholism D. Genetic variation V. Pathophysiology VI. Diagnosis of Alcoholism E. Social barriers F. Screening G. Genetic predisposition testing H. DiagnosticRead MoreThe Social Problem Of Teenage Drinking725 Words   |  3 Pagesdrinking has become one of the largest social issues among young people in America today. Although more than half of high schoolers drink on a regular basis, the problem is that they are not aware of how dangerous alcohol can be. Although the health risks of heavy drinking are known and understood, the social habit continues to be accepted as a cultural norm. Is it surprising then, that the young people are beginning to drink at school ages. The reality is that alcohol is often the cause of many problemsRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1231 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"America’s Most Blunted†) Despite the wide amount of research that shows the positive benefits of marijuana, it remains illegal under federal law. In recent years, numerous states have defied federal law and legalized marijuana for both recreational and medicinal use. Arizona has legalized marijuana for medical use, but it still remains illegal to use recreationally. This is absurd, as the evidence gathered over the last few decades strongly supports the notion that it is safer than alcohol, a widely available

The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde And Treasure...

Matthew Jones Block 2 11/3/14 English IV A Character’s Experience Life experiences can change a person’s character. Those experiences can make a person better than they used to be, the characters will unlock a new mentality that they thought they never had. Also they better at conquering fears and obstacles. Characters in my novels go through lots of change as the stories progress. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, events change the character’s views and behavior throughout the novels. In the novels The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Treasure Island, the main characters in the stories go through a change of personality from their adventures and journeys, encounters with obstacles and antagonists, and the completion of their trials. Dangerous adventures can often turn a fearful young boy into a fearless young man which is shown in Treasure Island as Jim becomes a brave sailor of the seas. â€Å"It was on seeing that boy that I understood, for the first time, my situation. I had thought up to that moment of the adventures before me, not at all of the home that I was leaving; and now, at sight of this clumsy stranger, who was to stay here in my place beside my mother, I had my first attack of tears. I am afraid I led that boy a dog s life, for as he was newShow MoreRelated Robert Stevenson Essay1629 Words   |  7 Pageselseamp;#8217;s and his stories are still popular today. Robert Louis Stevenson was an author of many classic novels and his literary success became popular when he wrote the mystery called The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Robert Louis Stevenson wrote The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in 1886 at the young age of thirty-six. He was born on November 13, 1850 in Edinburgh, Scotland. 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Author: Robert Louis Stevenson (1850 -1894) * As a novelist, he is often noted for the powers of invention and depth of psychological insights found in his work; a skill defined by G. K. Chesterton as being able ‘to pick up the right word up on the point of his pen’. * Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson  was a Scottish  novelist, poet, essayist, and  travel writer. * A literary celebrityRead MoreBook Report - Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde4772 Words   |  20 PagesA. Title of the Book: â€Å" The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde† B. Author: Robert Louis Stevenson (1850 -1894) * As a novelist, he is often noted for the powers of invention and depth of psychological insights found in his work; a skill defined by G. K. Chesterton as being able ‘to pick up the right word up on the point of his pen’. * Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson  was a Scottish  novelist, poet, essayist, and  travel writer. * A literary celebrity duringRead MoreThe Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde1035 Words   |  5 PagesHyde-ing In Plain Sight: The Duality of Dr. Jekyll Robert Louis Stevenson s initial notoriety came as an avatar of expansive adventure fiction, most famously through 1883 s Treasure Island. Just three years later, however, he would cement his status as one of the 19th century s most popular and versatile writers by releasing the horror suspense novel, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. It s a testament to Stevenson s concept of the duality of man-- the pious intellectual and the wantonRead More Analysis of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson2888 Words   |  12 PagesAnalysis of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson In an attempt to consider the duality tale, one narrative inevitably finds its way to the top of the heap as the supreme archetype: Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Immense disagreement permeates the pages of literary criticism relevant to the meaning of the story. Yet, for all of the wrangling focused on the psychology, morality, spirituality, and sociality of the story, itRead More`` Requiem `` By Robert Louis Stevenson Essay1534 Words   |  7 PagesRequiem’s† existence as an Epitaphic fiction, a contrast to life What do you think of when one brings up Robert Louis Stevenson? Perhaps his great works, Treasure Island or Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Maybe his successful and adventurous life, full of travel and fame (Editors). What one may not think of is the areas of his life that were wrought with disease, struggle and homesickness. Stevenson’s life was full of adventure, but much of it was as a result of him attempting to escape his tubercularRead MoreRobert Louis Stevenson5417 Words   |  22 Pagesbleeding. But, despite illness, he wrote some of his most enduring fiction, notably Treasure Island (1883), Kidnapped (1886), Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886), and The Black Arrow (1888). He was also busy writing essays and collaborating on plays with W. E. Henley, the poet, essayist, and editor who championed Stevenson in London literary circles and who became the model for Long John Silver in Treasure Island. Although he settled well into domestic life with Fanny, Stevensons l etters revealed

Background and Methodology of the Research Process- Childhood Obesity Free Essays

For some time there has been a largely growing concern about the junk food made available in schools and how it contributes to childhood obesity. In this article it is discovered through research among fifth graders that the junk food that is available in schools does not significantly increase the BMI or obesity of these students. This research was aided from the amount of junk food available and the amount purchased. We will write a custom essay sample on Background and Methodology of the Research Process- Childhood Obesity or any similar topic only for you Order Now Problem to Solve The problem that this article focuses on is childhood obesity. Childhood obesity in the United States is highest it has ever been with practically one-third of all children and adolescents considered overweight or obese (Datar, A, Nicosia, N 2012). Therefore most of the focus has been on the schools in hopes to find this as the cause of the epidemic. There has been debates on the nutritional value of schools competitive foods and believe them to be the largest source of junk food. Purpose It seems as though the purpose of this study is to inform or let the reader know about the statistics behind childhood obesity and the junk food available at schools. They may have wanted the reader to be aware of the risks of childhood obesity that comes directly from the foods that their child may be buying from the schools vending machines or from the a la carte options. This is believed to truly not be the reasons for the increase in obesity of children. This articles purpose is to make it aware that it could also come from what they are eating outside the schools and what type of exercise they are getting (Datar, A, Nicosia, N 2012). Competitive foods can be found in many schools, there is a difference in what is available to elementary, middle and high schools. 7% of high schools and 82% of middle schools have vending machines that students have access to, but in elementary schools there is only 17% that have vending machines. A la carte options are also a huge source of food sales. These a la carte lines are largely available in all grade levels, with 93% availability in high school, 92% in middle school, and a surprising 71% in elementary schools (Datar, A, Nicosia, N 2012). Research Question A research question is basically the first step that a researcher must conduct before starting the research. It is known as the methodological point and any questions that are asked should be answered during the research (Datar, A, Nicosia, N 2012). It should be defined clearly as well as accurately. It can be used for qualitative and quantitative research. This step allows the researcher to figure out what he or she wants to know the most (Datar, A, Nicosia, N 2012). This article did clearly state a question, these questions were for the fifth graders asking them what they are eating at school and at home or what type of exercise they are getting. A study was done in the fall on 1998 of kindergarten, and in the spring another was conducted on first, third, and fifth graders. This study got information from the kids, their parents, and the teachers. They collected information on their social, emotional, physical development, BMI, and their environment in and out of school. The only information that was used was that of the fifth graders. The study was taken in 2003-2004 school year from 9,380 fifth graders in both private and public schools. In the questionnaire they were asked about how often and how much of a certain food they ate during the past week. The kids were also asked to include any food that they also ate outside of school, including if they may have went to a friend’s house or to a restaurant. School administration and the children of the fifth grade gave information on the availability of junk food within the schools. The administrators stated that an average of 17 junk food items were available through vending machines, the school stores, snack bar, or from the a la carte that the children can purchase. Hypothesis A research hypothesis is a statement created by the researcher, and it is a speculation of what they believe the outcome will be. This article does not have a hypothesis directly stated; the authors only provide statistics within each paragraph. If there were to be a hypothesis it would state that the food did or did not cause the obesity of the children or if it were a direct result of their home lives and not just the schools fault (Datar, A, Nicosia, N 2012). Independent and Dependent Variables An independent and dependent variable are two different variables. An independent variable is a variable that can be wielded by the researcher. It s basically a hypothesized to influence or affect the dependent variable. The independent variable is measured from the researcher. The researcher assigns an experimental or a controlled condition to the participants. The independent variables would be the surveys and what they say prior to the participants taking the survey (Datar, A, Nicosia, N 2012). The dependent variables would be the participants that partake in the research. Theoretical Framework The theoretical fr amework is used in research to give details or to create an outline of what the possible actions may be. It is used to try and connect the aspects of the topic. The theoretical framework that was conducted in this article was what the relationship between a parent’s perception of their child’s BMI and obesity and what the school’s role is in preventing as well as treating the children’s obesity issues. (Datar, A, Nicosia, N 2012). Literature Review Literature review is important because it allows the researcher to discover what has already been discovered and what has not. It gives them a chance to create a research strategy that works best for them. It gives them a chance to avoid other researcher’s mistakes. Instead of surveying the school nurses or random people, the researchers in this article asked the fifth grade children how they felt and what they feel is important to keep children on a healthy track so that they do not become obese (Datar, A, Nicosia, N 2012). Study Design There are many research designs that can be used. Descriptive design, correlation studies, semi-experimental designs, experimental designs, reviewing other research, and test study before conducting full-scale study. This article is more of a descriptive design because it was based off surveys (Datar, A, Nicosia, N 2012). In schools students have access to so many foods and drinks that are full of sodium and sugars. These children can purchase things like candies, chocolate, cookies, salty snacks, and even ice cream. They also have access to drinks that are nothing but sugars and caffeine. Many of these children are consuming more junk food outside of the schools then they are within the schools and are not getting the proper xercise they need to burn all those extra calories they are consuming. The schools cannot give children all the physical activity that they need in a day. Children need to also be active outside of school because the little activity that they get while in school is not enough for any child to keep their BMI down. I do know that there are more and more schools that are removing the junk food from the vending machines or making that these vending machines are only in use duri ng thinks like sporting events or other after school activities. Childhood obesity is a growing issue, and there are many contributions to this problem. Children spend much of their lives at school, so changing the ways that schools handle health issues is important. By removing vending machines, providing more healthy programs, and allowing more physical activities can be a positive start. What the children learn in school can be brought into their home lives and when the school nurses, parents, and children are all on the same page healthier changes might start to show and the level of childhood obesity may start to decrease. How to cite Background and Methodology of the Research Process- Childhood Obesity, Essays

United States v. Nixon, President of the United St Essay Example For Students

United States v. Nixon, President of the United St Essay atesUnited States v. Nixon, President of the United StatesThroughout American history, the fear that our leaders may sometimesthink themselves above the law has always been evident. The fear is that powerbrings corruptness. To prevent this, however, the system of checks and balanceshas been installed into the Constitution. No one branch of government standsabove the law in this setup. This point was reasserted in the the Supreme Courtcase of 1974, United States v. Nixon. This case involved the President of theUnited States, at that time Richard Nixon, and the people of the United States. The case was based on the infamous Watergate scandal in which Nixon was said tobe involved. The case came about when Nixon refused to deliver subpoenad tapesto the Special Prosecutor that could have possibly incriminated him. Nixonattempted to quash this subpoena by claiming executive privelege. The SpecialProsecutor argued this claim successfully. The President then appealed thisruling from the District Court to the Court of Appeals. In the Appeals Court,the Special Prosecutor filed for a writ of certiorari which was petitioned bythe President. Both petitions were granted and handed to the Supreme Court. When the case reached the Supreme Court, the basic arguements were asfollows. President Nixons attorneys argued that the District Court was out ofits jurisdiction when it issued the subpoena to Nixon, making the case void. They stated that the dispute between the President and the Special Prosecutorwas strictly executive, and by mediating them, the court broke the doctrine ofseperation of powers. They also argued with executive privilege, the right ofthe President to withold information from Congress. To this, the District Courtsaid that the judiciary, not the President, was the final arbiter of a claim ofexecutive privilege. The Court also argued that the Special Prosecutor wasvested power by the Attorney General who had the right under the constitution toconduct the criminal litigation of the United States government. In its decision, the Supreme Court affirmed the ruling of the DistrictCourt. They ruled that President Nixons insubordinance was unjustified. Theyfelt that neither the claim of invalid jurisdiction nor that of executiveprivilege were applicable. The decision was unanimous. There was concurringopinion by Raoul Berger that stated that he affirmed the Courts decision, buthe believed the decision cut too closely the right of executive privilege in thecase that the information is irrelevant and the President needs to keep hisprivacy. This case was positive proof to the American people that the justicesystem in our country is indeed working if even the Presidents wrongdoings canbe rectified. It was a statement of equalness among all and set forth theprecedent that nobody in this country is above the law. History

Electoral College System Essays (714 words) - Psephology

Electoral College System After the last presidential election, which is still underway apparently, there is much controversy over what should happen to the Electoral College system. There are people who say that the Electoral College is good but should be modified to meet the needs of the modern world. There are those who say that the Electoral College system is too outdated to be modified and should be entirely eliminated. Finally there are those who say that it is has stood the test of time and is still the best system for our country. The original framers of the constitution obviously preferred the electoral system to a direct popular election. The argument that historians give for this is that they preferred this system because travel was difficult and there were no national party organizations. I personally reject this argument. I agree that travel was difficult back then, but wouldnt that have meant that the candidate who lived closest to the most largest states would have an un-fair advantage under the electoral system back then? The historians add that the framers feared that many regional candidates would divide the vote, and that by requiring a candidate to win a majority in the Electoral College was a way of obtaining a national census. There have been many attempts to reform or even scrap the Electoral College election sense its birth. The most recent one being in 1997 when congress debated a constitutional amendment to replace the electoral system with a direct popular vote system. However the Electoral College system to this day remains virtually un-changed from its original form. The only exception is the twelfth amendment, which requires each elector to cast two votes, one for president and one for vice president. Under the current system there are five hundred and thirty eight electors. Each state gets one elector, each representative, and a senator. A presidential candidate needs two hundred and seventy votes to win the election. The electors meet after the November popular election to cast their votes and officially elect the president. Electors may vote for whomever they wish. Each states electoral votes are awarded on a winner take all bases. The arguments to modify or eliminate the Electoral College system are all derived from the notion that it is outdated. Under the current system if a candidate wins a large states like California, then they win twenty percent of the needed votes even though California only accounts for eleven percent of the U.S. population. Whats more is a president can be elected without winning a majority of the popular vote. This has happened 15 times in U.S. history. The constitution allows electors to use their discretion. Seven times in history an elector has not casted his vote for the peoples choice. Fortunately this has not yet had a real affect on the outcome of an election. Under the current system each states electoral votes are awarded on a winner take all basis. This makes it extremely difficult for a third party or independent candidate to win any electoral votes. In fact, by concentrating support in certain states, a candidate can take the presidency with out winning more popular votes than his opponent. According to the 1990 census, a candidate only needs to win eleven of the most heavily populated of the fifty states in order to take the presidency. The arguments to maintain the Electoral College system are all derived from the notion that it has worked fine thus far. There have been many attempts to reform the electoral system but none of them have been successful. This is due to the fact that no election system is perfect, but the current system has stood the test of time. It has never rejected the winner of a popular vote majority. It always produces clear and immediately known winners, so far. Getting rid of the Electoral College system would be profoundly dangerous. Especially with the way modern elections are conducted. This would mean that the totality of our campaigns would be a television advertising tarmac kind of campaign. We would be handing the American presidential campaign to whatever media adviser could out slick the other, and not necessarily to the best candidate for our country. Political Issues

Operations management The WritePass Journal

Operations management Introduction Operations management IntroductionReferencesRelated Introduction Strategic Focus, one amongst the most important step in the design and development of a product, enables companies to discover and explicitly commit themselves to important considerations (Ahoy, 2008). In the current case studies of Ready Materials and Zara, efficient and effective strategic focus assisted in expanding and extending the business into the narrow market or industry segment. More specifically, the super-responsive supply chain developed by Zara permitted the company in designing, producing and delivering new garments for marketing worldwide (Gattorna 1998). Ready Materials, on the other hand, possessed no clear strategic focus and witnessed complexities in meeting the volatile demand pattern. This characteristic absence of strategic focus caused a demand uncertainty, which eventually led to the emergence of buffering mechanisms (forward load, inventory and capacity). Owing to the fluctuating nature of daily demand, most of the purchasers of Ready Materials have aligned their orders with respect to a day per day operation and waited for the dispatch for an average time of 24 hours. Use of capacity buffering system in the form of annualised hours helped in managing Ready Materials at times of demand fluctuations, enabling adjustments to the working day by up to two hours, either way, without any intimation (Gattorna, 2009). Though these buffering mechanisms caused the company to witness low levels of staff morale and retention, in recent years, this has gained immense attention with the work force finishing the task early more often than late. Buffering mechanisms undertake the forms of order backlogs link with a variable extension to lead time. Inventory buffering mechanism, used by Ready Materials, compressed the customer response time by committing capacity in the advance of demand. Reducing the capital or, in other words, operating at the negative working capital helps in aligning with offsetting the investment in additional capacity. Thus, mana ging buffering mechanisms through resource alerts and effective prioritisation of resource attention assists projects in taking an advantage. It minimises the impact of Parkinson’s Law, and prevents unnecessary distraction alongside facilitating recovery planning when required, yet at a time in advance when the project or company is in trouble. Presence of high demand uncertainty necessitates the need of project and strategic management (Lake, 2010). As indicated earlier, the use of buffering and alignment mechanisms, allow the resources and companies to gain a strategic focus of resource attention besides enabling the advantage of good morale and early task finish. Much focus can be levied on time schedule management, and this automatically decreases unnecessary distraction, further enabling for the recovery planning to prevail, when needed. However, this is only necessary whenever the company witnesses extreme difficulty (Ahoy, 2008). Managing of uncertainty remained at the core of improvement of project performance for Ready Materials. Making use of highly sophisticated just in time systems could help in adjusting to the alignment and this automatically offers an efficient strategic focus. At such times, the company is required to get the projects completed both ahead of schedule and with efficient reliability of stock delivery dates that were promised. This specific approach to alignment offers mechanisms which allow a â€Å"complete system† view of projects. The mechanism of alignment recognises and safeguards the uncertainty and thereby avoids the Parkinson’s Law at the task level whilst considering Murphy’s Law at the project stage. All of these implications suggest an intimate interrelationship between strategic focus, buffering and alignment. Effective and efficient management of these three segments of operational management helps each of the companies in driving towards success (Vital e, 2002). It is the duty of project managers to shift their attention from assuring the achievement of strategic focus, task estimates and intermediate milestones. All of these are vital from the date it is required to the final promised due date. But, a grasping of the whole implication of this approach is an immense challenge. Running factories for only a single shift, sending half empty loads to other countries, which were followed by Zara, could help in focusing local efficiency at the expense of international responsiveness. Investing in the overall capital assets can eventually enhance the strategic focus and organisational flexibility (Stratton, 2008). Owing production assets can offer the company a level of control over its schedules and the companies no matter what they intend to do. Besides manufacturing of complicated products, it can enhance strategic focus and thereby minimise the incorporation of buffering mechanisms and alignment patterns. References Ahoy, K. (2008). Customer Driven Operations Management: Aligning Businesses, Processes and Systems, London: Hoffmann Publishers, pp. 90-100. Gattorna, J. (1998). Strategic Supply Chain Alignment: Best Practices in Supply Chain. London: SAGE Publishers, pp. 451-460. Gattorna, V. (2009). Dynamic Supply Chain Alignment. London: Heinemann Publishers, pp. 341-390. Lake, H. (2010). Operational Management and Control. London: Routledge Publishers, pp. 34-90. Stratton, R. (2008). Theory Building: Relating Variation, Uncertainty, Buffering Mechanisms and Trade-offs, Proceedings of the 3rd World Conference on Production and Operations Management. Tokyo: Japan. Vitale, B. (2002). Business to Business Marketing. London: Routledge Publishers, pp. 34-89.