The Positive Research Paradigm

The Positive Research Paradigm A paradigm can be defined as a set of shared assumptions about some aspect of the world. A research paradigm directs our approach towards research by defining the ontology and epistemology of our research. That is, a paradigm denotes its members shared premise regarding the nature of reality, the purpose of research and the form of knowledge it provides. (OATES, 2007:282; LEE, 2004:5) Lee (2004:5-6) notes that research paradigms can be separated by their various ontologies and epistemologies. A paradigms ontology encapsulates the researchers view of what the real world is. An ontology flows to one or more epistemology. Epistemology is the over-arching process by which a school of thought performs its logical and empirical work. Epistemologies are usually labeled to be either quantitative or qualitative. Again, and epistemology is divided into several lower levels of methodology which is he more specific manner in which research is conducted. The devices defined in each methodology are called methods. The positivistic research paradigm, or scientific method, is an approach towards research founded on the premise that our world is defined by a set of regular laws or patters, and that we can investigate these laws objectively (OATES, 2007:283). Lee (2004:8) defines the positivism paradigm as one in which theory is typically provided as a set of related variables express by some form of formal logic, proven empirically to be significant. Positivism is term used to characterize a specific research position in which scientific theory is grounded on objective empirical observation. Positivism offers predictions based on the knowledge of laws that connect specific outcomes with specific initial conditions. (ROMM, 1991:1). 2. Comte and Popper on positivism The positivistic school of thought can be found in early work of such as Bacon, Galileo and Newton (OATES, 1992:283). Auguste Comte and Karl Popper contributed significantly towards systematizing, clarifying and formalizing the arguments posed by earlier authors (ROMM, 1991:1; LEE, 1992:8). Comte was born in 1798, just after the French revolution which characterized a period of social and political revolt against aristocratic rule in European. At this time positivistic philosophy has already filtered down to the physical sciences but it was yet to reach the social sciences. Comte became concerned with finding theoretical and practical solutions to the social anarchy of the period. He argued that the social research will only be able to serve as moral compass if it was to become a science. (ROMM, 1992: 10-11) Popper, born in 1902, grew up in a socialist pre-Viennese society which was characterized by doctornistic views as opposed to critical thinking. Popper was intrigued by Einsteins approach to theorizing. Einstein regarded his own theory as plausible only if it failed critical tests. Popper became convinced that the only way to build strong theory was to define critical test that could refute the theory but never verify it. (ROMM, 1992: 28-29) ROMM (1992:9-97) defines positivism with reference to the original writings of Comte (1975) and Popper (1992). He discusses this philosophy on the grounds of its definition of knowledge, the logic that governs its investigation, the methods used in investigation and the practical utility of knowledge: 2.1. The definition of knowledge. Comte criticized theological and metaphysical view of the world. According to the theological view all abnormalities in the universe is the direct and conscious intervention of a supernatural agent, while the metaphysical view describes all phenomena as the reaction of some abstract forces, real entity or personified abstraction being invoked. Comte regarded this as untrue and incompatible with science. Comte defined phenomena as being governed by set natural laws which, if known, can be used to predict the outcomes. These natural laws state under which circumstance we can expect to encounter a certain outcome. We can learn these laws by analyzing the circumstances that produce an outcome and drawing inference to its succession. Only by asking questions about these natural laws can we create knowledge. Asking questions about first-and-final truths is futile, because this is beyond the reach of human comprehension. Popper agrees with Comte that a natural law is an unvarying regularity that defines the outcome that flows from a certain set of circumstances. Knowledge is added by uncovering theses laws operating in the respective fields of enquiry. According to Popper, scientist should not be sidetracked by the essentialist meaning of things (first-and-final truths) but rather in observing occurrences in the world in order to find true theories and descriptions of the world. Popper also adds that even the formulation and falsification of untrue theories advances knowledge, such that by discovering mistakes we better approximate truths. 2.2. Logic that governs its investigation. Comte argues that observed facts are the only basis for speculation. We should observe and reason about facts to form knowledge, rather than sterile empiricism. Sound theorizing should guide our observations; science therefore is a cycle of theorizing, observing and building theories. The process of building knowledge starts by deducing or inducing a hypothesis from general theory or specialized theory respectively. Induction is the logical formation of generalized theory form specialized consequences. For example, every life form we know of depends on liquid water to exist; all life depends on liquid water to exist. Deduction is the logical formation of specialized consequences from generalized theory. A popular example, all men are mortal; Socrates is a man; therefore, Socrates is mortal. Comte (1975) describes a hypothesis as the provisional supposition, altogether conjectural in the first instance with regards to some of the notions which are the object of enquiry. Simply put, a hypothesis states the anticipated result for undertaking a scientific enquiry. A hypothesis is valid if it is able to accurately predict what it is proposing given the initial set of circumstances. Science therefore is the activity of observing and disclosing the new observable consequences that confirms or invalidates our primitive supposition. We constantly incorporate new knowledge by making new observations or more profound meditations that either refute or confirm our hypothesis. Through repeated scientific endeavors knowledge comes to approximate reality. Poppers definition of a hypothesis is similar to that of Comte, but he differs in his approach of validation a hypothesis. Popper criticize Comte arguing that our experience can only falsify our theories not validate them. He postulates that a statement can only be verified as not being untrue as opposed to being true. He argues that theories can never be validated, but only corroborated. A theory is corroborated if we are, based on experience to date, unable to falsify a theory. The strength of a hypothesis lies in its openness to be tested on observations made. Popper describes science then to be the formulation of testable theories which cannot be falsified through experience. Poppers work also introduces an additional idea of probability statements which is hypothesis with some form of probability of outcome attached. Logically these statements can never be proven to be untrue. Popper argues that this hypothesis can be corroborated if they reasonably present all possible outcomes and if they cannot be falsified given reasonable and fair samples. Unlike Comte, Popper does not follow the notion that theories can be induced from specialized facts. With reference to the work of David Hume (1748), Popper argues that induction cannot be justified rationally. We should not go from fact to theory, but rather deduce our hypothesis into lower level statements which are individually testable hypothesis, which when falsified proving our original hypothesis wrong. Popper argues that we should ensure purity and objectivity in our research by subjecting our decision (on whether our most basic lower level statements should be accepted) to peer criticism. Through criticism science will become unbiased and detached from individuals. 2.3. The methods used in investigation. Compete argues that we should test our hypothesis by observing how they hold in reality. Direct observation is when we look at phenomena before our eyes. As example, in astronomy we observed that planets are elliptical with flat ends on both sides. Observation by experiments is when we observe how phenomena react to artificially modified circumstance. As example, in physics we experiment with gravity by having different particles fall to the ground. Comparison is when we observe a series of analogous cases in which the phenomena is more and more simplified. As example, imagine the comparison of the same chemical fluid under different combinations of pressure and temperature. Popper also distinguishes between experiments and observations as the two main positivistic methods of research. He does however disagree that comparison is a methods on its own, but argues that it is inherent to the other two methods. In an experiment, as example, a researcher compares the artificially induced results with the results under normal conditions. Both Popper and Comte both (referencing Francis Bacon) argue that empirical methods are superior as they provide objectivity to researchers that untimely removes bias from the science. They do however mention that observation should take place in all five senses, and though it might be possible to objectively measure an observed distance, it might be less possible to objectively measure smell. Qualifying these abstract observations should be done in a way that is unambiguous. For example, the distinct rotten-egg smell of H2S is widely cited in modern scientific literature. 2.4. Practical utility of knowledge. Comte theorized that once we know a certain outcome will always occur given conditions presented we are able to produce the outcomes we want. Theories formed for truly scientific purposes will result in knowledge to be acquired, and eventually lead to practical uses. If science is able to furnish the theoretical basis for practical action, Comte hoped, we will be able to direct social outcomes. We are able to use the knowledge of the laws that govern society to correct the negative externalities in the world. Popper argues that knowledge allow us to predict on the basis of engineering the initial conditions. With the knowledge that science provide we can plan to make their society a better and more reasonable one. We should use piece-tinkering (as termed by Popper for policy that is aimed at singular results) to mitigate unavoidable results of change rather than striving towards ideal. 3. Discussion of positivism Ramm (1991:55) defines positivism as the belief in logico-deductive theory as the idealized conception of scientific theory. Many researchers do accept the principles of the positivistic approach without explicitly noting positivism as there ontology. Positivistic research tries to find cause and effect relationships between dependent and independent variables in order to make predictions about our reality. According to the positivistic paradigm science should seek to find all the regular laws or patters in our universe. These laws and patterns in our world exist independently of any individual cognition. We can carry out experiments or observe reality to determine cause and effect relationships and test hypotheses regarding these relationships. Aim of science is to explain the variation in the dependent variable with reference to the variation in the independent variable. (Ramm, 1992:57; Lee, 2004:8; Oates, 2007:284) Our hypotheses can either be refuted by empirical investigation or corroborated. Some hypothesis will seem to be true for all observations made, and after reasonable peer review we can accept them to be true. If something is found to be false just once, it is false. In the positivistic ontology theories and explanations should be seen as the best knowledge that approximates reality at the current time. (Ramm, 1992:52; Oates, 2007:285) Modern positivism is seen as the cycle between induction and deduction (Ramm, 1992:61). o Derive hypothesis from more general statements o Test these hypothesis through observation o Generate empirical generalizations o Induce theoretical principles which should again be tested. Our observations should be tested empirically. Ramm (1992:60) notes that data collected should not be treated as formless mass; neither should theoretical categories be imposed on the data a priori. Theoretical notions become grounded in empirical observation, and data is offered theoretical treatment. Oates (2007:288) refers to this in terms of internal validity external validity. The data generated should be designed to provide the necessary insight into the research topic under observation as well as be applicable in a more general context. According to Oates (2007:285) the techniques that lie at the center of positivistic research are: Reductionism: breaking complex things into smaller things that are more easy to be studies Repeatability: researcher dont rely on the results of just one experiment, they repeat the experiments many times to be sure that their first set of results was not just a fluke Refutation: If other researchers cant repeat an experiment and get the same results as the original researchers they refute they hypothesis. The more a hypothesis can stand up to test designed to refute it, the stronger it is Oates (2007:33) lists the following possible research strategies: survey, design and creation, experiment, case study, action research, ethnography and interviews. Ramm (1992:67) suggest that the experiment and the survey are the favored methods to observe within the positivistic epistemology. The research paradigm in question is not determined by the research strategy used but rather on the shared assumptions about how to view the world. Oates (1992: 286) names five characteristics of the positivistic research ontology: The world exists independently of humans: Physical and social world exist independently from individual how the world works. Measurement and modeling: Researcher discovers this world by making observations and measurements and producing models of how it works Objectivity: the researcher is neutral and objective and impartial to observer Hypothesis testing: Research is based on the empirical testing of theories and hypotheses lead to confirmation or refutation of them Quantitative data analysis: Research often have a strong preference for mathematical modeling and proofs and statistical analysis Universal laws: A researcher looks for generalizations universal laws patterns or irrefutable facts that can be shown to be true regardless of the researcher and the occasions. Furthermore Oates (2007:287) characterizes quality positivistic research as being, Objective: Research needs to be free of bias and individual preferences. Reliable: The research instruments used need to be neutral, accurate and reliable. Repeated use of the same instrument should yield the same results. Internally valid: The research methods well chosen and designed to provide the necessary insight into the research topic under observation. Externally valid: The research should be applicable in a more general context. Positivism should not be confused with qualitative research, it does tend to follow apply quantitative research methods; but it should be distinguished on the grounds of its ontology (Oates, 2007:287). The Oxford (2010:1198) dictionary distinguishes quantitative research as being characterized by assigning values, measures or numbers to variables representing the entity under observation, whereas qualitative research describe entities in terms of adjectives. Both Popper (1992) and Comte (1975) mentions that empirical methods provide objectivity to researchers. Qualitative methods are not excluded from positivistic research though; they can be included in positivistic research if they are done in an objective, neutral and repeatable fashion. Furthermore, Oates (1992) distinguishes between four data generation data generation methods: observation, interviews, questionnaires and documents. These methods fall under the ontology of positivism when they meet the characteristics listed above. In most cases interviews are not objective and repeatable, but this research method to can be applied in the framework of positivistic research. As example, physiological ink blob tests/interviews are conducted in an objective and repeatable fashion and responses modeled and evaluated empirically. Documents can fall inside or outside the positivistic ontology as well. They can directly provide quantified facts and measures or they can be analyzed objectively. For example, Google search engines use heuristic measures to objectively measure the relevance of internet pages. Observation and questionnaires can also fall within or outside the scope of the positivistic ontology depending on how the research approaches are designed. Questionnaires with open ended questions falls under the interpretive approach, while questionnaires that require respondents to rate options or provide short true-false yes-no responses are positivistic. Whether observation falls within the scope of positivistic research again depends on whether this research instrument is objective and repeatable. 4. Conclusion The essence of the positivistic approach is systematic skepticism. The proper approach is to disprove that which researcher believe is actually true. Empirical testing can never proof without a doubt a hypothesis. Science is a method by which theories are formulated and tested repeatedly and objectively against appropriate observations. It is therefore the continuous process of deciding how to observe, code and analyses our observations, and in the light of these observations we decide to temporally accept or reject the postulated hypothesis. Primary Sources: OATES, B. 2006. Researching Information Systems and Computing. London: Sage. 341 p. ROMM, N.R.A. 1991. The Methodologies of Positivism and Marxism. A sociological Debate. Hong Kong: Macmillan. 208 p. LEE, A. 2004. Thinking about Social Theory and Philosophy for Information Technology. 26p. http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.137.3685rep=rep1type=pdf Date of access: 20 Feb 2010. OXFORD. 2010. Oxford dictionary: International Students Edition. 8th ed. Oxford Press. 1888p. Significant Secondary Sources: COMTE, A. 1907. Auguste Comte and positivism edited by John Stuart Mill. 5th ed. London: Paul, Trench, Trubner. POPPER, K,R. 1992. The logic of scientific discovery. London: Routledge. 479 p. HUME, D. 1748. An Enquiry concerning Human Understanding. London

Human Resource Management Essay -- Business Management Studies Essays

Human Resource Management Businesses use different motivational techniques to keep employees happy, it is important to keep employees happy so that they work effectively and efficiently. The HR department will spend lots on different ideas to try and keep their employees working hard often including rewards for hard work or constant attendance or even by in some cases punishing workers for not working to their potential. I will look into different cultures, motivational theories and techniques, job satisfaction, the importance of management styles, is money the only motivator and employee demotivation. Examples of motivational techniques In 1943 Abraham Maslow suggested that all people have a hierarchy of needs. He said that a person is motivated by his or her own needs, so he developed this pyramid. He believed that once someone had achieved one level of needs then they would want to move onto a higher level of need. Douglas McGregor’s X and Y theory In the 1960’s Douglas McGregor developed the ideas of theory X and theory Y. Theory X is the view that people really don’t want to do work and if they can avoid doing the work in anyway they will try to. This means that they are being persuaded to work by being given money or rewards and must be closely supervised and controlled so that they will do their work. Theory Y is the belief that humans can be stimulated by being given responsibility and strive to prove themselves. This management style is the view that the work itself can be rewarding and given the right conditions then they will strive to achieve goals and targets. Frederick Herzberg’s two factor theory This American psychologisat research in the 1950’s led him to develop the two-factor theory of job satisfaction. Many criticised him for drawing conclusions about workers as a whole from a sample drawn from just accountants and engineers, although his theory has proved very robust. His view was that the factors related to job satisfaction can be divided into two; those that only have the potential to provide a positive job satisfaction and those that can only cause dissatisfaction. Hygiene Factors Hygiene factors are based on the need to for a business to avoid unpleasantness at work. If these factors are considered inadequate by employees, then they can cause dissatisfaction with work... ...vate them to do their work, work for certain companies and explains unhappiness levels at jobs which do not challenge their workers such as Mcdonalds etc. Motivation on a project depends on * The project culture * Often established by the project manger * The project's reward system * If there is one! * The work content * Especially if it is challenging * The working environment * Especially if it is conducive to creativity * The supervision * Especially if it is a source of learning * And not overbearing * And the opportunity to network Motivating Factors Project turn-ons * Recognition * Increased responsibility and status * Advancement * Opportunity for intellectual growth * Opportunity for personal achievement * Flexible working * Variety and the job itself * Good communication * The leader's enthusiasm De-motivating Factors Project turn-offs ----------------- * Constraints of company policy and administration * An over-bearing bureaucracy * Below-average compensation * Poor quality supervision * Poor communications * A poor working environment * Either sociologically or physically * A negative attitude of the project leader

Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe Paintings Essay

Leonardo DaVinci’s Mona Lisa is one of the most well-known paintings in the world. Show anyone from a 60 year old man to a 10 year old girl a picture of the painting and, most likely, they will be able to name the painting as well as the painter. While some say that DaVinci’s painting is the most famous of all created, many of Andy Warhol’s paintings are also easily recognizable. Almost everyone has seen the Campbell’s Soup Can series Warhol painted or his famous Triple Elvis print. This paper will be focusing on his Marilyn Monroe series, which I will be comparing and contrasting to the Mona Lisa. There are many obvious differences between the two paintings, such as the time period, color scheme, background and subject matter. My goal is to also point out some similarities such as their use of line, recreations, fame, and prominence in society. One of the major contrasts between the two works is the history behind the paintings. Andy Warhol was said to be fascinated with the actress Marilyn Monroe’s supposed suicide in August of 1962. Warhol proved the Proverb, â€Å"Good men must die, but death cannot kill their names† to be true, making his Marilyn Monroe series one of his most famous works. Warhol bought a publicity still of Marilyn’s 1953 movie Niagara, cropped it, enlarged the face, and reproduced it on eight different canvases. Each painting was given a different color scheme. These paintings were the first solo exhibition for Warhol. The most famous of the series, Lemon Marilyn, was bought and kept in a private collection until 2007. While the subject of Warhol’s painting is very well known and easily recognized, the subject of Leonardo DaVinci’s Mona Lisa was most likely commoner, and there are many different theories of who the woman could be. Some say the woman is DaVinci himself, in woman form. Others say it could be Lisa Gherardini; the wife of a wealthy businessman in Florence, Italy named Francesco Del Giocondo. DaVinci was commissioned to paint the Mona Lisa in 1503, and worked on it for four years before it was finished. DaVinci kept his painting for quite a while before he sold it to the King of France, King Francois, in 1516. (â€Å"Mona Lisa.† Lairweb.com. N.p., n.d. Web.) After the French Revolution, the painting was moved to the Louvre, where it remains today. The history behind the paintings also point out several more differences. There is only one Mona Lisa, while Warhol created many Marilyn paintings. The time period when the two painters lived was decades apart. DaVinci was alive from 1452-1519, while Warhol was born in 1928 and died in 1987. While Warhol was strictly an artist, DaVinci spent time as a mathematician, engineer, writer, and geologist as well. The two men’s styles of painting were very different as well. DaVinci painted in the style of chiaroscuro, the use of strong contrasts between light and dark, and sfumato. Sfumato is created by painting a color that turns slowly from light to dark tones to give off a kind of misty glow or smoky mystery. Andy Warhol was a major part of the Pop art movement. Jennifer Rosenberg of About.com quoted pop art as being, â€Å"a new style of art that began in England in the mid-1950s and consisted of realistic renditions of popular, and everyday items.† (Rosenberg, Jennifer. â€Å"Andy Warhol.† About.com 20th Century History. About.com, n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2012.) Warhol used silk-screening to create Marilyn Monroe. Warhol is quoted as saying, â€Å"In August 62 I started doing silkscreens. I wanted something stronger that gave more of an assembly line effect†¦you pick a photograph, blow it up, transfer it in glue onto silk, and then roll ink across it so the ink goes through the silk but not through the glue†¦ I was thrilled with it. When Marilyn Monroe happened to die that month, I got the idea to make screens of her beautiful face the first Marilyns.† (â€Å"Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Prints.† Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Prints. Color Vision and Art, n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2012.) DaVinci’s painting was progressive for the time. The traditional paintings of his time were of a head and shoulders portrait, in a very rigid or posed position. The Mona Lisa is painted all the way down to her hands, and she seems to be in a very comfortable, relaxed pose. Her pose is very linear, which conveys a sense of â€Å"formal and dignified ideas†. (ROEMER, CK. â€Å"Looking at Great Art Practice.† Http://www.studiocodex.com. N.p., 2007. Web.) This would be appropriate if this woman is the wife of a wealthy man, which is one of the speculations of the woman’s identity. Andy Warhol’s painting, on the other hand, seems almost regressive. Only Marilyn’s face is shown. She is depicted with a very serious expression, and is very unnaturally posed. This seems to project a sense of excitement or disorder, which represent Marilyn’s life very accurately. The two subjects of the painting are very different in appearance as well. The Mona Lisa has no makeup on. She is dressed very plainly and does not seem to be wearing any jewelry. Marilyn Monroe has a lot of make-up on and has her hair curled and styled. Marilyn seems to have a haughty or annoyed expression on her face, while Mona Lisa is smiling slightly and seems to be happy and content. Another major difference between the two paintings is the use of color. The Mona Lisa is depicted in very earthy tones. The tan color of the flesh seems closer to the viewer, while the muted browns, greens, tans, and blues seem to fade into the background. DaVinci used light and dark colors to highlight certain parts of the painting, such as the woman’s face and hands. The color palette is what would be expected if this was an actual photograph. Andy Warhol’s Marilyn is the complete opposite of the Mona Lisa. None of the colors are natural, except, maybe, the makeup, and can appear shocking to the eye at first glance. All aspects of the painting are bright; eyes, lips, eye shadow, and hair. Warhol painted Marilyn in ten different color combinations with 250 of each color variation. (Henry. â€Å"Henry On Pop Art.† ‘Henry On Pop Art’ N.p., 08 Aug. 2011. Web. 16 Dec. 2012.) While the actual colors used in the paintings are very different, the way the painters used the colors brings out a similarity in the two. Mona Lisa is dressed very dark and her pale face is framed by dark hair. The light colors used in the background seem to bring the woman to the front of the painting. This was most definitely done on purpose by DaVinci. He wanted the viewer to focus on Mona Lisa. The same can be said of Warhol. He uses a bright contrasting color for his background of Marilyn Monroe. Although the background color almost always matches that of Marilyn’s eye shadow, the background contrasts with the rest of the painting, bringing the face towards the viewer. The use of line in both paintings is also similar. No brush strokes are visible in either painting, and appear a bit foggy. The Mona Lisa is this way due to the technique, sfumato, discussed earlier. In Marilyn, it is hard to pick out a defined line in her hair, for example. The lines in DaVinci’s paintings are the same, flowing from one to the other. The Mona Lisa is blended so well that each section seems like a part of the next. The background of the Mona Lisa is a landscape with a river, bridge, trees, grass, and mountains. The view seems to go on forever, and there is no real focal point in the background. The backgrounds purpose in this painting in unknown, some say it is to contrast the peaceful look of the woman with a foreboding background. Others think it could have been as simple as DaVinci practicing with landscapes. Unlike Mona Lisa, the backgrounds of the Marilyn Monroe paintings are a solid color. The background contrasts dramatically with the colors in the actual face. The background pulls the viewer’s eye to Marilyn’s face, instead of something that could be happening in the background. Symmetry is another example of a way the two paintings are alike. The shape of the Mona Lisa is very symmetrical. The woman is sitting straight and a straight line down the middle of the painting would show equal parts. The woman’s body is a triangular shape, with the tops of her legs and hand forming the base, and her head becoming the point. Her face is very circular, and the smile she displays is an arch of a circle. (Roemer, CK. â€Å"Looking at Great Art Practice.† Http://www.studiocodex.com. N.p., 2007. Web.) Warhol gives his Marilyn Monroe paintings a subtle heart shape with the curves created by her hairline. The painter, like DaVinci, uses simple shapes as well, such as the half-moon of her eye shadow, or the slight triangles of her eyebrows, which also shows symmetry. DaVinci creates a feeling of depth and space in his painting. The fact that the woman is taller than the mountains in the background suggests that she is seated very close to the viewer, while the mountains are in the distance. The detail of the pleats in her skirt, the individual pieces of hair, and transparent veil that covers her head are small details that make the woman seem closer to the viewer. The walking paths and streams of water leading up the painting make the eye move upwards, and form a sense of continuous forest. The viewers understand that the landscape goes on for quite a while. (Roemer, CK. â€Å"Looking at Great Art Practice.† Http://www.studiocodex.com. N.p., 2007. Web.) In contrast to DaVinci, Warhol used space by placing Marilyn’s face in the middle of the painting. There is no real use of depth in this painting, because of the plain, contrasting color background. She almost appears to be completely flat against the surface. The eye is immediately drawn to the face in Marilyn Monroe. As mentioned above, the contrasting background color pulls the face forward, making the viewer notice her first. The same can be said of Mona Lisa, making focal point a similarity of the two. The woman in Mona Lisa is the biggest part of the painting. Her pale face offset by her dark hair and clothes draws the viewer’s eye to her. The position of her hands is right below her face, which also serves as a line to the focal point. The use of texture is somewhat absent from Warhol’s painting, while the Mona Lisa is full of texture, another difference in the paintings. The folds in the woman’s dress make the painting seem more realistic, while the uneven and sharp edges of the mountains in the background contrast nicely with the smoothness of the woman’s face and hair. The woman’s skin also has a dotted affect which makes it seem more lifelike, instead of Warhol’s Marilyn that seems fake and unrealistic. The use of value plays a huge role in both paintings. DaVinci uses abrupt changes in value; The pale skin of the woman face and hands against her dark hair and dress. He uses the same type of changes to show the wrinkles on the fabric of her clothing. (ROEMER, CK. â€Å"Looking at Great Art Practice.† Http://www.studiocodex.com. N.p., 2007. Web.) Andy Warhol uses value changes in the brightness of Marilyn’s hair against the darker background. The black tones used underneath her hair are darker than the color of her somewhat pale skin. Another similarity is the massive amounts of recreations or paintings based on the same subject. Many artists has done their own version of the Mona Lisa, making her their nationality, fat, and even making her another person altogether. Many artists have also taken Marilyn Monroe and painted her their own way. Both paintings still play a huge role in society today. You can buy phone cases, laptop skins, and even clothing with a picture of these paintings. Replicas of both paintings can be seen hanging on walls of homes, restaurants, and art galleries. Mona Lisa and Marilyn Monroe are both easily recognized and correctly identified in today’s society. A final similarity between the two paintings is the significance they both played in their style of art. Leonardo DaVinci’s Mona Lisa is said to have â€Å"become the prototype for Renaissance paintings.† (Lorenzzi, Rosella. â€Å"Mona Lisa.† Mona Lisa. N.p., 16 Jan. 2008. Web. 16 Dec. 2012.) Andy Warhol was affectionately known as the â€Å"Pope of Pop†, and his Marilyn Monroe series came to be one of the most well-known and popular works of pop art in his time. The final difference between the two, and most interesting, is that Warhol recreated DaVinci’s Mona Lisa in his own style; putting 30 Mona Lisas in one silk screen. Warhol is quoted as saying â€Å"30 is better than 1.† (Rose, Millie. â€Å"Postmodernism.† : Andy Warhol. N.p., 08 Nov. 2010. Web. 16 Dec. 2012.) The Mona Lisa is said to have been a major inspiration to Warhol, and he was honored to be able to have his own spin on this iconic painting. Obviously Warhol’s w ork did not influence DaVinci because of the time frame. While the differences far outweigh the similarities, both paintings are brilliant. Warhol was a major influence in the pop art world, and his paintings are still being used in many forms of advertising today. DaVinci is said to have been the ultimate example of what a portrait should be, and without a doubt, he has influenced many of the other famous painters today. Both men, while their styles couldn’t have been anymore different, have two of the most famous names in the art world. * Esaack, Shelly. â€Å"Lemon Marilyn, 1962.† About.com Art History. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2012. * â€Å"Mona Lisa.† Lairweb.com. N.p., n.d. Web. * Rosenberg, Jennifer. â€Å"Andy Warhol.† About.com 20th Century History. About.com, n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2012. * Henry. â€Å"Henry On Pop Art.† ‘Henry On Pop Art’ N.p., 08 Aug. 2011. Web. 16 Dec. 2012. * ROEMER, CK. â€Å"Looking at Great Art Practice.† Http://www.studiocodex.com. N.p., 2007. Web. * Lorenzzi, Rosella. â€Å"Mona Lisa.† Mona Lisa. N.p., 16 Jan. 2008. Web. 16 Dec. 2012. * Rose, Millie. â€Å"Postmodernism.† : Andy Warhol. N.p., 08 Nov. 2010. Web. 16 Dec. 2012.

Andromeda Strain

Andromeda Strain Free Online Research Papers In the opening incident of the movie â€Å"Andromeda Strain,† a space probe sent into the upper atmosphere of earth crashes unexpectedly in a remote area of Arizona. The probe was sent up to determine if there were any organisms capable of survival in space. When the probe landed, two men from the Military were sent down to survey the area and obtain the probe. They found the town that it had landed in was in chaos. There were bodies everywhere. Upon driving into the town, they immediately died. It was immediately clear that the deaths of the population of this town and the space probe’s crash were not coincidental. A committee had been formed 5 years prior to the incident to determine what would be done in a situation such as this one. If the organism could not be identified and neutralized, a nuclear bomb would be detonated on the site. Clearly, the probe had brought something back from space. A team was assembled to determine exactly what that was. The team consisted of 5 people from various fields of science. Most had forgotten The Wildfire Project. They were gathered from their homes throughout the country and flown to Arizona. The team consisted of 5 people. It was thought that these people, when working together, could quickly discover the nature of the organism and make a decision as to what would be done in destroying it. The use of the nuclear device which the team was considering involved a very serious decision. In order to give civilians the power to detonate such a device, the odd man hypothesis was created. It stated that one of the members of the team be single, and that it would be his responsibility to make the nuclear decision. He was to be given a key that would only work for him. If a leak was detected in the examination facility, it would be up to him to stop the detonation. The odd man of the team was Mark Hall. This played a key factor in the climax. The team was taken to the site of the landing. Upon examining the bodies they discovered that this organism was actually a virus, and it acted by clotting the blood and causing immediate death. They began to leave when they discovered that there were 2 survivors, an old man and a baby. This added a new, useful factor to the equation. It showed that this virus could be beaten. After going through an elaborate sterilization process, they began work on the virus. They performed many tests on the virus. They ran it through the microscope, it was determined how large it was, and it was even determined how it worked. They did tests on the old man and the baby that had managed to survive, trying to find a link. The next day the scientist was trying to find out a solution to the problem. On the third day, the scientists try to meet a self- imposed deadline. The sooner the solution is found, the fewer people will die. It turns out that the organism can only live within a very narrow pH, the pH human blood. The survivors found at the beginning of the movie that both had abnormal blood pH- the baby’s pH was too high due to crying much of the time and the old man’s pH was too low because he drank sterno. That is when the unthinkable happened. When Burton was working on the virus, he cut the gloves of his suit that sealed out the virus. Immediately the four men rushed to see Burton. He was panicked, and screaming. It had been found that the virus did not survive well in pure oxygen, so that was pumped into the room he was in. Burton appeared to be fine, and when a sample of the virus in Burton’s area was analyzed, it was discovered to be mutated into a harmless form. Apparently, the baby and the old man had been lucky enough to avoid the virus until it mutated into a benign form. The situation seemed to be under control. But it was worse than they knew. The virus had contaminated the facility, and the automatic nuclear detonation process had begun. If a nuclear device was set off, the virus would mutate over and over into deadly variations, each killing in a different way. One of the scientists was exposed to contamination, and he saves himself by increasing his breathing pace until he creates a respiratory alkalosis in his blood chemistry. The Andromeda Strain has now been caused by degeneration in the lab’s gasket seals, and the atomic self- destruct device is triggered. The scientist is aware that if the bomb goes off the blast could cause a chain reaction in Andromeda mutations that would be impossible to stop. He fights off toxic fumes, dodges lethal darts from a radar- controlled laser gun, climbs a ladder to the top level of the lab complex, and with a few seconds to left to spare, he inserts the red key in a disconnect lock. Later he learns that the Andromeda Strain has mutated into benign form, and that mission control is using cloud- seeding procedures to carry the organism out to sea, where it will be destroyed by the alkaline reaction. In the movie pH scale was included in the experiment trying to see what happens to blood when someone hyperventilates and proteins. On the first day the experts were trying to solve the problem as to why the satellite retrieved from outer space was killing people and animals. Then the scientist had to design some experiments to find out more about the deadly organism. Second was to see how the organism was structured and how it works. Third was how to contain the organism and destroy it. 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Writing English Coursework

Writing English Coursework Writing English Coursework Writing English Coursework: Custom Writing If you are writing English Coursework, you will find this page useful. Down the page you will a well-written sample of English coursework on the topic Sir Arthur Conan Doyles short stories. If you want to get a custom coursework written by professional writer from scratch in accordance to your specific instruction, you should order coursework writing service at our site. We deliver high-quality original coursework on time! Do not forget to review tips on marketing coursework writing, English essay writing, and take a look at free English essays in our paper blog maintained by professional writers! Writing English Coursework: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Short Stories In this English coursework essay, I will be studying in depth one of the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's short stories, The Adventure of the Speckled Band. This is from his collection of short stories, the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. I will be comparing this story with five other short stories, all from the same collection as The Adventure of the Speckled Band. The stories are The Red-Headed league: The Boscombe Valley Mystery; The Man with the Twisted Lip; The Blue Carbuncle and The Engineer's Thumb. All these six stories were originally published between 1891 and 1893, in the Strand Magazine. This illustrated monthly magazine was founded by Sir George Newnes in 1891 and became prominent for its publishing serialisations and short stories. The style of stories in the Strand were mostly all fictional, with Conan Doyle's The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes pretty much dominating the magazine. As stated in The Story of The Strand Magazine, it was prominent for its superior but middlebrow fiction. This shows the main style of the Strand magazine was to print fictional short stories. The stories were mostly adventure stories, that appealed to the audience because of the suspense and tension that built up until the plot was revealed at the end. At the time its biggest reader base was the growing educated middle class, who had the leisure time to read magazines like the Strand. The magazine was produced during a publishing boom of what has been collectively called railway magazines. This m eans The Strand will have been boosted in its amount of readers, until it ceased publication in 1950. The different types of reading audiences that have enjoyed the stories vary quite a lot. The main reason these stories took off so much is by them being read on trains by businessmen or just general people whilst they were travelling. In the late 1800s, trains were the main source of businessmen travelling around. However, many other audiences read the stories, for example children and the working class liked to read the fictional stories. Conan Doyle's purpose in writing The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes was probably because he wanted to write something that would really get people intrigued, and excited about the conclusions to his stories. The general appeal of detective stories is to get the reader guessing at who committed the murder, or whatever the case is. Conan Doyle builds up the suspense and is extremely good at keeping the reader guessing, and making them read on. In the Speckled Band a characters says, For pity's sake tell me the cause of my sister's death. What the character says almost epitomises what the audience is thinking. This shows that the writer of detective stories always try to keep the reader on a tender hook, which is why the stories appeal so much. Conan Doyle also uses this type of thing in the titles to his stories as well. The Adventure of the Speckled Band suggests that there will be an adventure involving something mysterious and intriguing, the Speckled Band. It is the same with The My stery of the Red-Headed league and the man with the Twisted Lip, because words like Red-Headed league are very random and uncommon, suggesting they are mysterious. In all the Sherlock Holmes stories, Conan Doyle uses the historical context to entertain his readers, and because there are different generations of audience it has consequences of how they react to the stories. For example, a reader in the early 1900s would react differently to things than a modern day reader. Because the stories were written in the late 1800s, many things were different to the modern day. Transport, dress and the language spoken by the characters have changed since the stories were written. The Boscome Valley Mystery provides us with the quote, flying westward at 50 miles an hour. This would be realistically fast and exciting to a 19th century reader, but to a modern audience it wouldn't be terribly fast compared with the trains we travel on now. It would give the modern audience an interesting comparison in transport technology from now and then. Furthermore, a character in the Speckled Band is described as having a black top-hat This is what businessmen in that p eriod often wore, so would relate to a 19th century reader, but would be of historical interest to a modern audience. The language used is also of historical content. Holmes often says, pray take a seat, which wouldn't be used in modern terminology. This is something a 19th century audience would relate to because it would be used in their day, but would be of historical interest to a modern reader as words like that aren't used any more. Another related post onMuch Ado About Nothing:. Read also: English Literature Coursework Comparative Analysis Essay A Reflection Essay Sociology Coursework Help Critique Essay Write

Curt Lemon in Tim OBriens The Things They Carried Essay Example

Curt Lemon in Tim OBriens The Things They Carried Essay Example Curt Lemon in Tim OBriens The Things They Carried Paper Curt Lemon in Tim OBriens The Things They Carried Paper Essay Topic: The Things They Carried TNT should be placed all over Vietnam so this bitchy would disappear from the map. Thats all It deserves after taking away my freaking best friend. I did see plenty of people die In Vietnam, but this was bucking unbelievable, partly because he was my bucking best friend and partly because of the way It happened. Just Like we used to, Curt and I went to play catch with a smoke grenade, which was certainly the greatest name ever thought, under some huge trees; the biggest Eve ever seen of my life. We were having a great time. In fact, everyone always had a great time with Curt; he was such a nice guy, a respectable guy. However, this bitchy of Name decided It was enough. As Curt moved away from the shade of the gigantic trees, he stepped on this bucking booby-trap. It was definitely no usual booby-trap. His freaking body was lifted so high that you couldnt even look at it because of the dazzlingly bright sun. I was under the impression I was watching a firework. It was bucking surreal. Curt Lemon, my freaking best friend in the world had died and I could not believe it. The explosion was so powerful that I felt my heart responding to it. It felt just like when a firework ends; the biggest piece of the show explodes and the explosion is so important that sometimes you get scared and you close your eyes for a second, even if you know its a show. But, afterwards, when you open your eyes you can appreciate all the beauty of it. Name made several awesome shows of that kind, but this one was no bucking good show.

Investigation of a business development proposal for a centre store in Essay

Investigation of a business development proposal for a centre store in the business - Essay Example earned from the newly rented premises Expected income: these are the actual earning that are expected to be generated from the new premises Build up factor: it is the percentage of the maximum possible income that the managers of the business hope to make in the first few years after start up Cost of sales: these are the expenses that incurred in order for the business make sales and may include cost of raw materials and transportation cost among other costs. Net cash flow: this is the difference between the total expenses and the total income that the business generated; it is the money that the business was left with after paying its expense (Day, 2012, p26). Discount factor: this is the rate at which the management of the business depreciates the capital goods in the premise; the depreciation rate is done on an annual nominal rate Present value of net cash flow: this is the cash flow of the business that has been adjusted for depreciation. The purpose of this report is to analyse the financial viability of expanding the business by renting additional floor space and setting up branded boutiques for brand name such as Maine and Gucci, Principles, Miss Selfridge, Warehouse, Timberland and Calvin Klein among others. Initial conclusion The net present value of the business expansion of Bristol stalls is 1, 399, 500 US dollars for the first three years after start up while the estimated cost of investments in terms of fitting and design total to 900, 000 US dollars. This shows that there is a difference of 499, 500 US dollars, this means that the business will have repaid the start up costs fully and made some significant profit margins despite not operating at the full capacity. According to calculations in the net cash flows that have not been adjusted for depreciation, the figures shows an upward trend which is encouraging as it shows the business will be able to increase its capacity to generate revenue if the trend continues. This will happen despite the inc rease in most of the other related costs apart from the miscellaneous costs, which are estimated to remain constant throughout the first three years after start up. Therefore, using the financial information generated by the cash flow, it is financially viable for the business to expand its operations by renting adjacent spaces in Bristol store. Sensitivity analysis One of the reasons that informed the above decision is the total costs that would be incurred in running the new business premises, these costs are relatively low as compared to the expected income that the new floor space will generate. The total expenses per quarter in the first year are 433, 375 US dollars, this is below the expected income of 540, 000 US dollars, subtracting these two figures one gets 106, 625 US dollars, which is the residue that remains after the basic expenses have been deducted. If the value of total costs was any figure above 540, 000 US dollars, then the business would have been left with a neg ative residue. For instance if the total costs were 600, 000 US dollars per quarter, then the residue would have