Value of Assessment and Testing Instruction

Correct psychological assessment and testing is the first step towards a successful psychological intervention. Although existing psychological assessment and testing methods and instruments are found to be helpful, there is always question about possible bias when applied in minority populations.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Value of Assessment and Testing Instruction specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There is possibility of individuals from minority cultural and ethnic groups being assessed inappropriately because of possible generalization of the psychological tests. Many scholars admit existence of cultural bias in psychological assessment and psychological therapies. Addressing cultural bias in psychology, Rogler (1992) noted cultural bias in research methodology, testing and treatment. Addressing psychological assessment and testing, the scholar noted that there was over-generalization of results without considering possible difference across cultures. Indeed, what is considered healthy differs in one culture to the other. In most cases, however, psychological health is associated with self-confidence, independence, assertiveness and having internal control (Carter, 1991). However, the qualities and characteristics that denote health and normality in majority Whites may not be applicable to clients originating from minority ethnic and cultural groups. According to Rogler (1992), application of psychological testing to minority groups may lead to negative results that may show the status of minority cultural and ethnic individuals to be undesirable. Carter (1991) noted that cultural bias in psychological assessment and testing can make individuals originating from minority cultural and ethnic groups to seen as less psychologically healthy. Confirming presence of cultural bias in psychological assessment and testing, Samuda (1998) discussed psychological testing in minority e thnic and cultural groups in the United States. In the discussion, Samuda affirmed that there were clear bias in psychological assessment and testing in use. Psychological assessment and testing that does not take cultural difference in consideration is not only marginalizing but can also lead to psychological interventions that can harm a client. It is therefore prudent for psychologists to consider cultural background and level of acculturation when applying and interpreting results from psychological assessment and testing.Advertising Looking for research paper on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Appropriate psychological assessment and testing should consider unique features of the culture that a client belongs as well as the mainstream culture (Arredondo Perez, 2006). For accurate psychological assessment over culture and ethnic minorities, conventional psychological assessment should ether be altered, or new psychological tests that are specific to cultural and ethnic minority developed. When using conventional psychological tests designed for European American, psychological therapists should take cultural background of their clients into consideration. However, psychological tests designed for specific ethic or cultural group, such as Latin American Stress Test, are most appropriate. Multicultural competence of a psychologist is an important factor to successful psychological testing and treatment (Arredondo Perez, 2006). In context of psychological assessment, multicultural competence refers to ability and willingness of a psychologist to consider cultural data throughout the process. Cultural competence can help psychologists to determine their clients’ level of acculturation, incorporate their client’s culture when interpreting assessment and applying the most appropriate psychological intervention. Cultural bias in psychological assessment and testing is a significa nt barrier to successful psychological intervention in minority cultural and ethnic groups. Most of psychological assessment and testing in use are designed with the mainstream European Americans in mind and may not be effective with minority cultural groups. Multicultural competence and use of psychological tests designed for specific minority ethnic and cultural groups can help in minimizing cultural bias in psychological assessment. Reference List Arredondo, P. Perez, P. (2006). Historical perspectives on the multicultural guidelines and contemporary applications. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 37(1), 1-5.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Value of Assessment and Testing Instruction specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Carter, R. (1991). Cultural Values: A Review of Empirical Research and Implications for Counseling. Journal of Counseling and Development 70(1), 164-173 Rogler L. (1992). T he role of culture in mental health diagnosis: the need for programmatic research. The Journal of nervous and mental disease 180, 745-747 Samuda, R. (1998). Psychological testing of American minorities: issues and consequences. New York: SAGE This research paper on Value of Assessment and Testing Instruction was written and submitted by user Abigail Dixon to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Authorization Definition - How Federal Agencies are Born

Authorization Definition - How Federal Agencies are Born Did you ever wonder how a federal program or agency came into being? Or why they theres a battle every year over whether they should receive taxpayer money for their operations? The answer is in the federal authorization process. An authorization is defined as a piece of  legislation that establishes or continues one or  more federal agencies or programs, according to the government. An authorization bill that become law either creates a new agency or program and then allows for it to be funded by taxpayer money. An authorization bill typically sets how much money those agencies and programs get, and how they should spend the money.   Authorization bills can create both permanent and temporary programs. Examples of permanent programs are Social Security and Medicare, which are often referred to as  entitlement programs.  Other programs that are not statutorily provided for on a permanent basis are funded annually or every few years as part of the appropriations process. So the creation of federal programs and agencies happens through the authorization process. And the existence of those programs and agencies is perpetuated through the appropriations process. Heres a closer look at the authorization process and the appropriation process.   Authorization Definition   Congress and the president establish programs through the authorization process. Congressional committees with jurisdiction over specific subject areas write the legislation. The term â€Å"authorization† is used because this type of legislation authorizes the expenditure of funds from the federal budget. An authorization may specify how much money should be spent on a program, but it does not actually set aside the money. The allocation of taxpayer money happens during the appropriations process. Many programs are authorized for a specific amount of time. The committees are supposed to review the programs before their expiration to determine how well they are working and whether they should continue to receive funding. Congress has, on occasion, created programs without funding them. In one of the most high-profile examples, the  Ã¢â‚¬Å"No Child Left Behind† education bill  passed during the George W. Bush administration was an authorization bill that established a number of programs to improve the nation’s schools. It did not, however, say the federal  government  would  definitely spend money on the programs. An authorization bill is rather like a necessary hunting license for an appropriation rather than a guarantee, writes  Auburn University political scientist Paul Johnson.  No appropriation can be made for an unauthorized program, but even an authorized program may still die or be unable to perform all its assigned functions for lack of a sufficiently large appropriation of funds. Appropriations Definition In appropriations bills, Congress and the president state the amount of money that will be spent on federal programs during the next fiscal year.   In general, the appropriations process addresses the discretionary portion of the budget – spending ranging from national defense to food safety to education to federal employee salaries, but excludes mandatory spending, such as Medicare and Social Security, which is spent automatically according to formulas, says the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. There are 12 appropriations subcommittees in each house of Congress. They are divided among broad subject areas and each writes an annual appropriations measure. The 12 appropriations subcommittees in the House and Senate are: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related AgenciesCommerce, Justice, Science, and Related AgenciesDefenseEnergy and Water DevelopmentFinancial Services and General GovernmentHomeland SecurityInterior, Environment, and Related AgenciesLabor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related AgenciesLegislative BranchMilitary Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related AgenciesState, Foreign Operations, and Related ProgramsTransportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Sometimes programs dont get the necessary funding during the appropriations process even though theyve been authorized.  In perhaps the most glaring example, critics of the â€Å"No Child Left Behind† education law  say that while Congress and the Bush administration created the program in the authorization process, they never adequately sought to fund them through the appropriations process.   It is possible for Congress and the president to authorize a program but not to follow through with funding for it. Problems With the Authorization and Appropriations System There are a couple of problems with the authorization and appropriations  process. First, Congress has failed to review and reauthorize many programs. But  it also has not let those programs expire. The House and Senate simply waive their rules and set aside money for the programs anyway. Second, the difference between authorizations and appropriations confuses most voters. Most people assume that if a program is created by the federal government  it is also funded. Thats wrong.   [This article was updated in July 2016 by U.S. Politics Expert Tom Murse.]

Practical Considerations in Gene Therapy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Practical Considerations in Gene Therapy - Essay Example The important practical considerations pertain to applications, problems, ethics, communications, and prospects. Using the perspective of Culver (1994a), Cotrim and Baum explained that gene therapy is a procedure that â€Å"typically involves the insertion of a functioning gene cells to correct dysfunction or to provide new cellular functions.† Culver (1994a) is a physician’s handbook on gene therapy. In 1994, Culver (1994b) had already outlined a procedure for the clinical applications of gene therapy for cancers. When a medical situation involves defective genes, an option to use gene therapy arises. Some of the diseases that result from defective genes include immunodeficiency syndromes, muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, and many types of cancers (Cotrim and Baum 2008, p. 97). Another perspective on gene therapy comes from the United Kingdom Parliament Office on Science and Technology. According to the Office (2005, p. 1), gene therapy â€Å"involves the introduction of genetic material into a cell to treat disease.† Finally, another alternative definition of gene therapy is â€Å"transferring recombinant genetic material (DNA or RNA) to the host cell in order to change the gene expression in the host cell in order to change the gene expression in the host cell to attain therapeutic effect.† Most likely, the definitions we choose to adopt or highlight can be associated with the specific therapy or ailments on which we want gene therapy to work.

Intervention Research and System Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Intervention and System - Research Paper Example On the other hand, system research considers connections among components and plans for the implications of their interactions to communities and environments. It calls for active involvement of those who have taken part in order to govern the course of change. A good example In this case is when the networks of organizations and scientists from around the world pull together and try to reason the complexity of weather patterns and come up with more accurate and timely weather forecasts. However, the integration of systems theory for public health programs has played some major roles. It brings about critical considerations to historical processes, practical challenges as well as ethical considerations that may arise. It also reflects critically the evidence and evidence based policies and practice (Melnyk & Morrison-Beedy, 2012).   It uses methods that lead to a more constructive examination of complex adaptive systems and this helps to solve problems that are complex and dynamic. Because of its effectiveness, it has been applied in various research disciplines where many research methods had failed, particularly in the approach that was used to control tobacco and also in weather forecasting by the forecasting model group which has so far proven

Innovation in Topp Tiles Plc Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Innovation in Topp Tiles Plc - Case Study Example The innovative strategies adopted by Topp Tiles includes evolving appropriate marketing strategies, establishing excellent ,customer support and enhancing the online business operations. The study undertaken have given the wider perspective on the impact of the innovation that would help the organisations maintain the leadership in the market. The observations made from this study have helped to evolve a framework of practices that organisations could adopt to make them the most acceptable by the clients and also successful in business operations. Top tiles are the most favoured brands in the floor tile segment across UK and other major European countries. Since opening of the first specialist tile centre in Manchester in the year 1963, Topp tiles were offering its customers high quality products. The reasons for its success during all through these years was due to the competitive strategy it had adopted by recruiting, training and retaining highly competitive staff who are knowledgeable, friendly to customers and also highly committed to the profession. The business strategy too is beyond the revenue and enhanced sales volume. They take extra care to see that their customers are able to complete the particular task for which the Topp tiles products were purchased. A DVD which explains "How to do it" clearly shows the commitment to the customer by explaining the process the customers must undergo to get the maximum benefit from the purchased products. Its these policies that have helped the Topp tiles to become the Britain's largest tile and wood flooring specialist with over 250 stores over U.K. and adding atleast 20 stores every year (Topp Tiles, n.d.). 1.2 Financial performance of Topp Tiles :Year 2008 (Topp Tiles,2008) * Total revenue increased by 0.1 % to 208.1 million. * Group gross margin is 61.8 % * Operating profit of 34.6 million and profit before tax reported as27.7million. * Basic earning per share 11.16 p. 1.3 Future Challenges Till the end of the year 2008 the business was going well for the Topp tiles Plc. Having opened 10 new stores across different places in UK and trading from the centres being raised to over 300, the revenues reported have shown a marginal increase than that of the previous year (Topp Tiles, n.d.). Inspite of the prevalence of highly turbulent weather and reduced consumer spending, the company was able to wither the problems and maintain the required business by appropriately strategizing its marketing plan. The additional spending it had made on a national level TV advertisement campaign coupled with the inflationary trends have resulted in the increased gross expenditure of 43 percent of the total revenue,

Cooperative Learning Academic Social

Cooperative Learning Academic Social Cooperative Learning Academic Social Literature Review: Cooperative learning is an informative technique in which students work together in small fixed groups on a structured learning with the aim of maximizing their own and each others learning (Johnson Johnson 1986). Cooperative learning has two very striking aspects on focus; these are academic and social learning benefits. Academic benefits include high grades in all that they achieve, reading intellectual capacity, keeping the kids physically fit, enhanced hypothetical understanding and great triumph in science. Social benefits focus mostly behaviors towards certain tasks and the way they relate among group members, development of higher skill that come from within and self esteem. Social benefits also focus on how they positively relate with others, how they involve themselves in class activities and to develop a positive attitude towards schooling. (Johnson Johnson 1986, Buron, James and Ambrosio 1993; Gillies 1999: Gillies and Ashman 1998; McManus and Gettinge r, 1996) Johnson and Johnson’s â€Å"Learning together† approach involves a more collaborative approach in which students are directed to coordinate their efforts towards task completion emphasizing less on competition. One purpose of the approach is to cater for the third grade leaner’s’ cooperative learning. Several studies on the application of cooperative learning in computer classes have been carried out. Barons (1999) studied the effects of 276 fifth and sixth grader cooperative learning and their ability to form groups during microcomputer learning. The outcome of the four measures of achievement did not go for the idea of cooperative learning or the ability to form groups during microcomputer learning. Seymor (1994) did his study with 57 computer aided design students. Some students worked individually while being given commands by their teacher, another group worked cooperatively and the last group combined both approaches. Seymor made conclusions later on , that cooperative learning proved more efficient in the use of computers. While cooperative learning has so merits behind it towards the students’ academic achievement, building of self esteem, active learning, achievement of equity and the development of social skills, it surely is not a universal remedy for education; it cannot solve all the problems for the students. (Cohen, 1994; Johnson Johnson, 1989; Kagan, 1992; Slavin, 1995), found out that students who had behavioral disorders and had not received proper social skills, performed better with direct instructions rather than with the cooperative approach. Its for this reason that teachers will be advised to have some substantial understanding of how o bring to effect their design of cooperative learning. They should take relative or social-ecological variables into consideration, as proper initial consultation while using cooperative learning requires strong basis in the theoretical and empirical foundation before it is used. The use of computers in group learning enhances deep learning and critical thinking (Eunsook Hyun 44 (2005) 69–91). The children tend to move deeper into what they are learning and critically analyze the activity, to get a deeper understanding. According to these researchers (Newman, Johnson, Webb, Cochrane, 1997), the critical thinking chains positive peer self-motivation, learner’s internal evaluation and the amalgamation of newly acquired information with the already existing comprehension. In the early childhood classes, the computer technology can be used as means of motivating collaborative learning (Eunsook, 2005). Crook (1998), from his own perspective observed that children cooperate and learn collaboratively. If natural and learner-favoring environments were provided, where the children are free to explore, negotiate with their peers, teach and share with their peers, while taking charge of their own learning, would be critical in uncovering the characteristics of young children’s cooperative-learning behavior in now a classroom rich in computer technology. Eunsook (2005) also cites Crook (1991) arguing that technology based activities are effective especially when they help the groups of kids to explore ideas at developmentally meaningful levels. Roth et al (p.1009) describes how a particular computer display affords the possibility of a coherent conversation. Malone and Lepper (1987) show how certain computer games afford intrinsic motivation. This includes control of activity, interactivity, immediate results, graded goals, conflict and moderate certainty. The outcome of interest was working theories or schemas and the individual technology relationship can be described as anchoring. In Papert’s book, Mindstorms, (1980), he asserts that anything is easy if it can be assimilated to your collection of models. He continues to put it across that what an individual can learn and how he learns it depends on what models he has available. Children tend to assimilate the real things, for instance Mathematics, with what interests them most or what preoccupies their minds most. Ceci and Bronfenbrenner (1985, 1991) studied students of age 10 and 14, and found out that a change in how a certain was located, changed the skill of the children. In one of their studies they changed the computer settings in a laboratory. Geometric shapes were to be predicted using a video game setting. In this, the migration of butterflies was to be predicted. The cursor was changed to the picture of a butterfly net and the students were to capture the insects in the butterfly net instead of pointing to the position of the shapes The authors describe strategic and attention behavior that was more efficient for a particular problem solving task in the more familiar context than in a laboratory context. There appeared to be several aspects of a meaningful or comfortable context that anchor the skill, knowledge or strategy. For a variety of reason, then the technology or the problem is more transparent, understandable if anchored to meaning and effect. Nicola Yelland (1999) in his article â€Å"Technology as play† has tried to paint the picture of how the advent of technology has contributed greatly towards how children learn from the technology through play. Learning is not only fun but children can actively form their own meanings and make sense out of the world around them, in different ways. The angle in which toys were observed has changed considerably over the years after the invention of the new technologies. They have brought other dimensions to objects that previously were taken to play a passive role. Computer software that allows children to engage in play tends to be unrestricted and do not simply require the child to press a button to get a feedback. Such softwares are regarded as high yielding cognitive actions. Some software enables children to play with the real world items such as musical instruments, but now in a different dimension. The children can create their own sounds using these softwares which prove to be so interesting to them and a motivation to even create more tunes. Nicola Yelland ha also identified, through other research works, softwares that contribute towards play include the electronic games. Some of these games involve the application of education concepts such as early skills in science and art, like making patterns, matching objects and placing object according to certain specifications. Traditional activities can now be complemented with different experiences that have been made possible with the new information technologies. The new information technologies and the activities associated with them have the potential to extend new learning in new and exciting ways. The question that hovers in many researchers’ minds is whether really children can really learn effectively using the collaborative approach, in a technology filled classroom. Young children are very enthusiastic about technology and therefore, they may be less inhibited about working with computers than adults (Clements, 1994; Haugland, 1999, 2000; Shade, 1999). But the question still remains; how do they behave if placed in a classroom with a great deal of technology. However, little attention in writing has been taken about the impact of this kind of an environment on the computer proficiency of young children. Tiene and Luft (2001a&b; 2000ab) completed a number of quantitative studies focusing on teacher’s general perception of children’s collaboration learning in this kind of a facility. The teachers reported that both they and their students improved their technological proficiency during the time they were in the technology saturated environment. REFERENCES Charles Crook (1998). â€Å"Children as computer users: The case of collaborative learning† Computers and Education pg 237-245. Eunsook Hyun (2005). â€Å"A study of 5- to 6-year-old children’s peer dynamics and dialectical learning in a computer-based technology-rich classroom environment† Computers Education 44 (2005) 69–91 Tiene, D., Luft, P. (2000b; 2001b). â€Å"Classroom dynamics in a technology-rich learning environment.† Learning and Learning with Technology 29(4), pg10–13. Shu Ching Yang and Shu Fang Liu (2005) â€Å"The study of interactions and attitudes of third-grade students learning information technology via a cooperative approach† Computers in Human Behavior Pg 46-49. Margret Carr (2001). â€Å"Analyzing the Relationship between the Learner and Everyday Technology in Early Childhood† Journal of Research Science in Education pg 29-33

Government :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Marriage is a word where a man and a woman come together in the eyes of God and pronounce their love for one another and are joined together as one. This concept has been the ways of the world for hundreds of years. However, marriage back during the eighteenth (18th) and nineteenth (19th) century was completely different from the way it is in the twenty-first (21st) century. Woman of today have better equal right to the world where they are seen as equals to men than woman back in the day. Over the years ancient philosophers tried to dissect the concept of equality for woman back during the 18th and 19th century. One of those philosophers was John Stuart Mills who developed a writing called the Subjection of Women, which dealt with the women’s emancipation. He also made references of sexual equality in his other works (Utilitarianism, On Liberty) as well. The institute of marriage has been oppressive to woman why is that so? That is what we are going to explore and find out. The institute of marriage was a burden to women during the 18th and 19th century because they were not seen as equals. They were either forced into marriage by their parents by marriage arrangements or they married for survival in the world. The men during that time were seen as the breadwinners. Men work to support the family financially, where the women bared the children, kept the home clean and ensured that there was a meal on the table every day. Women were not allowed to vote, play a role in politics, nor could they earn an income to support their family. Whatever the husband voted or how he played a role in his career and politics was the wife’s position as well. John Stuart Mills was a philosopher who believed in utilitarianism, which is the greatest happiness of the greatest number of people. He believed this to be for both men and women. He advocated for women because he believed they needed to prosper in societies. He said that â€Å" women expressive power has been stifled and that if women fail to developed and if they are excluded from involvement, society as whole is impoverished if it denies itself their contributions † (Subjection of Women) He believes that women need to be out in the world doing the same things as men, and that they can contribute a lot to society.