Consumption Today vs. Consumption Tomorrow Essay

Consumption Today vs. Consumption Tomorrow - Essay Example Brie tarts. Tansy cakes with peppermint cream† for William’s training, gear and other expenses to win in the Rouen tournament. In a sense, it is their capital to â€Å"to glory and riches none of us ever dreamed of†. Taking this in a bigger context such as the choices presented to the government with its consumption today and investment tomorrow, it meant striking the balance between addressing theâ€Å"Eel pie. Brie tarts. Tansy cakes with peppermint cream† of today with the â€Å"glory and riches none of us ever dreamed† of tomorrow. In simpler terms, it meant that government has to allocate its resources to satisfy the need of today (i.e. social security, food security, defense, etch) versus the need of tomorrow. Addressing the need of tomorrow meant investing today and this could have in several forms such as education, research and development, resource exploration, supporting start-up companies etch. Thus, the resources of the government must be effectively allocated so that it could address the needs of its people today as well as

An evaluation of the importance of communication for Inter Essay

An evaluation of the importance of communication for Inter professional practice for social workers. Specifically looking at Perth & Kinross Council (Scotland) - Essay Example One primary goal of the social worker is to close the opportunity gap between the rich and the poor by way of aiding individuals and families to have more control over their lives, and through the development of hope for the future. To be effective the inter-professional working context of social workers needs to communicate effectively and efficiently. For only by achieving a streamlined team-focused work environment can it be hoped that independence and resilience amongst the rest of the population will be promoted (Perth & Kinross Council, 2006). Without optimal communication structures between social workers, and their contemporaries in other disciplines, can a "person-focused" approach be truly implemented and an integrated social care system achieved. This dissertation aims to explore the perceptions of the importance of inter-professional communication among social workers in the Perth & Perth & Kinross Council (Scotland) district. Firstly, a review of literature supporting effective communication in the social care system will be presented. Secondly, the rational for this dissertation and the research question will be delivered. Next, the methodology for data collection and analysis to answer the resear ch question will be outlined. Finally, ethical considerations for this study will be detailed. A conclusion shall summarise the main points of the paper and demonstrate the importance of inter-professional communication for social workers. To achieve the goal of the comprehensive and effective use of the entire social service workforce, and to build capacity, develop confidence and trust at all levels of the social care system, it is necessary that dramatic shifts in the balance of power and control take place (Perth & Kinross Council Council, 2006). It is clear that inter-professional communication plays a significant role in the breaking down power imbalances and at establishing

Project Risk Management Process

Project Risk Management Process Introuction To Project Risk Management A recent investigation into the recent rise in failed projects, financial meltdown and the deadly environmental hazards occurring globally have proved that non-inclusion of risk management in the planning and entire stage of the project, poor and total neglect of project risk management practices and overlooking minor risks account for majority of them. While experts have stated that a proper and strong project risk management process can reduce project problems by as much as 75 90%, combining it with concrete project management plans, defining a proper scope, managing change and communication, a good project risk management helps in reducing and eliminating surprises and unexpected project risks. A good project risk management process can also help with resolving problems when they occur. To have a better understanding, ability to structure, implement and execute a good project risk management practice; we need to understand the processes involved in â€Å"PROJECT RISK MANAGEMENT† properly. What Is Project Risk Management? Project risk management according to the project management body of knowledge book, chapter 11, Pg. 111, it is a term that encompasses and involves all processes concerned with identification, analyzing and response to project risk. It also consists of maximizing the results of likely positive events and minimization of the impacts of negative events. Also according to Vicki Wrona, a project management professional, before we begin a project risk management process, we must have a justified knowledge of major key definitions. Project risks according to the Project management institute perspective are â€Å"at their core, unknown events†. These events are often positive or negative. This makes â€Å"RISK†, neutral though most time is spent on tackling negative project risks (threats) rather than the positive (opportunities). Processes Involved In Project Risk Management A proper project risk management includes the following four processes: Risk identification Risk quantification Risk response development Risk response control These processes are often implemented with different names though they all arrive and achieve the same goal. Also they are often renamed and combined as stated below: Risk identification and quantification are often treated as a single process and the resultant process is called â€Å"risk analysis† or risk assessment. Risk response development is also often referred to as â€Å"† risk response planning and risk response development often referred to as â€Å"risk management†. Whether they are referred to individually or collectively, they usually maintain their requirements, tools and output. A proper analysis of these processes is stated below. Risk Identification involves the identification and determination of the possible risks that are more likely to affect the project and properly documenting the properties and effect of each one. This process is not a â€Å"once in a project† affair. It is meant to be carried out regularly as long as the project is being carried out. It should also include both internal (activities that can be controlled or influenced by the project team such as cost estimation) and external (risks beyond the project teams control such as business laws or government action) risk. Risk identification could be achieved by either identifying â€Å"causes and effects† (events likely to occur and what will be the result) or â€Å"effects and causes† (outcomes to be avoided or appreciated and method of occurrence). Risk Quantification This step involves evaluation of the risks identified in the first step and risk interactions to assess the range of possible project outcomes. Its primary aim is to determine which risks need response. It is complicated and affected by a number of factors but is not limited to them. They include: Threats and opportunities can interact in unforeseen ways such as regular delays could cause consideration of a new strategy thereby reducing total project duration. A single risk could trigger multiple effects such as: a late delivery of a vital part of the project could result in penalty (fines and payments), over run cost, delay in schedule and often a poor quality product. Reduced cost may favor a stakeholder at the expense of the other. (opportunity for one, loss for the other). Mathematical principles used may create a false impression and negatively affect reliability and precision. Risk Response Development This step in the project risk management activities involves clearly defining enhanced steps to utilize opportunities and respond to threats. Threat response usually fall into one of three categories:- Avoidance which has to do with eliminating a threat by eliminating the cause. All risks cannot be eliminated but certain ones can often be eliminated. Mitigation which deals with reducing the expected cost of a risk event by reducing the occurrence probability, buying insurance and using proven technology. Acceptance which deals with acknowledging the occurrence of a risk and developing a plan to tackle the risk in cases when it occurs. Risk Response Control This step involves execution of the developed risk management plan in response to the risk events during the course of the project. Whenever there are changes made to the project, the first three risk management processes (identification, quantification and response) are repeated. It is a good practice to bear in mind that even the most comprehensive and thoughtfully structured analysis cannot point out all risks and likelihood of occurrence correctly. This makes the project risk management processes an activity to be repeated often. After a clear definition of all the activities project risk management entails, it is best to have a â€Å"step-by-step† approach for proper execution of all involved activities as a (PROJECT RISK MANAGEMENT). Project Risk Management Process Vicky Wrona again outlined a possible â€Å"7 step† outline as a project risk management process. They are: Step 1: this step states that everyone involved in the project planning process should list at least 10 possible risk items. This also helps tackle assumption because some risks that are believed to be known are often neglected and they end up occurring. Scope creep is a perfect example because even with a perfect management process, it could still arise and cause problems. It is best to tackle it rather than ignore it. Step 2:- involves collection of all the listed risks and compiling them into a single list (master list) with duplicates removed. Step 3: assessment of the probability and impact of the risks outlined in the master list is the third step. This can be achieved by giving each risk a rating (numerically) or otherwise in order of vulnerability (low, medium, high). Detectability is also important because risks that are not detected or hard to detect e.g. scope creep are even more risky. Step 4: involves dividing the planning team into smaller groups and dividing the master list into portions and giving it to them. They are then to find out the warning signs for the risks. These warning signs (triggers) should be documented and none should be overlooked. Step 5: involves the small groups that identified the risks to also structure out preventive measures. Step 6: here, the small groups created from the planning team develop a â€Å"contingency plan† for majority of the risks. This plan should include response to be taken if a risk occurs. This is usually done for risks with high vulnerability so as to give room for proper management of the risk management process because if the risk management process takes a lot of time and couldnt be executed, then it is a futile effort. Step 7: this is the final step in the risk management planning process. It involves giving each risk â€Å"an owner†. This owner is usually responsible for tackling the risk should it occur and utilizing the approved contingency plan. Though other members are advised to also be vigilant for all risks. At the end of the above steps, a risk register is created. It is advisable to have this register in tabular format so that it could carry enough information on one page. Golden Rules For A Successful Project Risk Management. According to Bart Jutte, managing director of Concilio, a consultancy specialized in project risk management; these 10 steps usually result in proper project risk management implementation. They include: Make risk management part of your project. Identify risks early in your project. Communicate about risks. Consider both threats and opportunities. Clarify ownership issues. Prioritize risks. Analyze risks. Plan and implement risk response. Register project risks. Track risks and associated tasks. Benefits Of Project Risk Management It contributes to the overall success of the project because it points out threats and opportunities which are either eliminated or utilized. It results in better business outcomes through more informed decision making activities achieved from corrections made after the risk management activities. Uncertainties are recognized and a forecast of possible occurrences is provided. Gives room for better control, tackles time wasting and has greater focus on benefits. It influences innovation and positive thinking. Effects Of Negligence And Poor Project Risk Management (Using Real Life Scenarios) Catastrophic Example  · The â€Å"hurricane Katrina† is an example of negligence of project risk management by the government. During the construction and development of the country, the then government didnt focus on the risks this project (development) would cause. Even after this, the current government ignored weather reports and warnings of failing levies and the damage that floods could bring. This led to the death of 1300 people and loss of over 250,000 homes with property worth billions being destroyed. If project risk management had been implemented at the development period, the effect of weak levies and flood would have been identified and tackled and this would have prevented this risk (hurricane Katrina). Loss Of Market, Customers And Brand Trust  · Chrysler Corporation introduced the â€Å"PT CRUISER† in 2000, with hopes of delivery via dealer showroom in 2001. At the supposed â€Å"available date†, it wasnt available. Chrysler and its dealers encouraged its customers to deposit for â€Å"a guaranteed delivery†. Eager customers did this but only few cars were produced due to manufacturing constraints and poor production efforts and conditions. This resulted in a refund of all deposits to the prospective customers and a further loss of faith in Chrysler by its customers. They decided that instead of waiting for the PT Cruiser, they decide to patronize other vehicles from other manufacturers. If Chrysler had included project risk management in their project (PT Cruiser), the production and delivery constraints would have been discovered and tackled and the goals of the project (delivery of the PT cruiser by 2001) would have been met. Conclusion Project risk management as simple as it may seem and less regarded by many is a key component for a better project plan, time management, cost estimation and project scheduling. An effective project execution is also achieved through inclusion of risk management at all stages of the project starting from the planning, to implementation and finally execution. Finally if project risk management is properly understood and a stepped approach included in this book is followed with application and adherence to the 10 golden rules for a successful project risk management, there is possibility or a very successful project because the risk management points out and gives you room to tackle, correct and utilize problems that could have risen at the execution / completion of the project. References 10 Golden rules of project risk management. Bart Jute Founder and consultant at Concilio. http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/10-golden-rules-of-project-risk-management.html Your risk management process: A practical and effective approach Vicki Wrona Project Management Professional (PMP) President of Forward Momentum, LLC, instructor with Westlake Training and development. http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/your-risk-management-process-a-practical-and-effective-approach.html Project management Risk Management CJ Williams Tutor Mgt. Consultant Brighton School of Business Mgt. in the UK. http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/project-management-risk-management.html A Guide to the Project Mgt. Body Of Knowledge (PMBOK) PMI Standards Committee William R. Duncan Director Of Standards. Risk Analysis Risk Management Evaluating and Managing the Risks You Face Mind tools website http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMC_07.htm Basics of Managing Risks Neville Turbit IT consultant / Principal of Project Perfect. http://www.projectperfect.com.au/downloads/Info/info_risk_mgmt.pdf Bibliography Project Risk Management chapters 1, 3, 8, 9, 10 By Bruce T. Barkley Copyright 2004 Project risk management: a proactive approach Chapters 1, 3, 5 By Paul S. Royer Copyright -2001 Practical Project Risk Management: The Atom Methodology Chapter 1, 2, 3 6 David Hillson Peter Simon Copyright-2007

The Role of Women in Marjane Satrapis Persepolis Essay -- Muslim Wom

Throughout Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi displays the vital role that the women around her have in developing her character and becoming the woman she is today. Women such as her mother, her grandmother, her school teachers, the maid, the neighbors, and even the guardians of the revolution influenced Marjane and caused her to develop into an independent, educated, and ambitious woman. Throughout the novel, Marjane never completely conforms or lets go of her roots, this is primarily due to the women who have influenced her. Marjane’s mother was one of the most influential people in her life, her mother taught her to be strong and independent. By introducing her mother through the story of her mother getting photographed at a demonstration, Marjane presents her mother as being independent and rebellious (Satrapi 5). Later in the novel Marjane’s mother argues with her father to allow Marji to come to a demonstration with them, she claims it is Marji’s time to â€Å"defend her rights as a woman† (76). Because her mother taught Marji that it is okay for a woman to rebel and speak her mind, Marji never hesitates to speak up and will not conform and allow herself to become just another veiled, female traditionalist. Marjane’s mother shows her acceptance of Marjane as an independent woman when she visits her in Austria and asks her for a cigarette (204). Marjane’s mother is not ignorant, nor does she hold her daughter back to the rules of society. She knows Marji is grown up and treats her as an adult, allowing Marji not only to view their relationship in a different way but also to view herself in a different way: an independent adult who can make her own choices. Another major role model in Marjane’s life was her grandm... ...Marji to realize that the culture’s idolization of martyrs is completely warped. Throughout the rest of the novel Marji never truly escapes the pain that witnessing so much death has caused her, in Austria she tires drugs and love to comfort her, but nothing works the gruesome picture is never able to escape her mind. Marji is impacted be the courageous women came before her, the women that die unjustly, and even the women who attempt to take away her individuality. Throughout the novel Marji is constantly trying to figure out who she is and who she is going to become. But by the end of the novel Marji evolves into an independent woman who does what she wants with her life to make her happy, something that would never have happened without the influence of women throughout her life. Works Cited Satrapi, Marjane. Persepolis. Pantheon; First Edition, 2004

The Scarlet Marxist

There have been many critiques of The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Some critiques are far-fetched. Some indict society’s views of religion and the guilt of women in the downfall of the human race. However, when taking a modern Marxist view of The Scarlet Letter, the scope of the entire novel takes a dramatic spin, not just for the characters Hawthorne utilizes to bring passions to light, but for society and its conventions used towards certain persons. When evaluating the characters of The Scarlet Letter, the characters represent a particular station and social structure within the time. According to Associated Content, Governor Bellingham is one who â€Å". . . free to stand tall as judge of right and wrong, good and bad, but seemingly never commits wrong himself. † (2009). This Marxist evaluation of Governor Bellingham may not make sense unless you apply it within the realm of Marxism as an indictment on the society and how the classes tend to be separated. Governor Bellingham would then represent those who are of affluence or those who are on the upper end of the economic ladder. This separation of the upper class from the other classes then allows Bellingham to make the judgments that he makes ue to his financial status within the community. Had Bellingham not had this type of financial influence, then he would not be allowed to make any kind of judgments on anyone. Bellingham’s position as governor gives him certain rights that ordinary citizens would not have. The position in society gives Bellingham a reason, whether good or bad, to hand down wha t he feels to be justice for all involved. The justice may not be beneficial but for a few. Yet, when looking at the classes, in Marxist theory, if it benefits the upper class, then it is a benefit. The benefit does not carry or trickle down to the lower classes, which leaves those who are not apart of the upper class at a disadvantage. The character Pearl, daughter of Hester Prynne can be considered a very animated and active. She is the product of the physical relationship between Arthur Dimmesdale and Hester Prynne. The child suffered the isolation and condemnation that had been handed to her mother for becoming a part of an adulterous affair. Pearl is a stark representative of what happens to persons born or placed into a lower stature in society. Regardless of how witty, bright or un-loving Pearl was as a child, the society within the Puritan community would never accept her because she was the embodiment of higher society deemed inappropriate for persons to participate in. In looking at Pearl in this way, it is not a stretch to say that she is the form of the content presented by the society at that time. Terry Eagleton states that â€Å"Marxist criticism sees form and content as dialectically related, and yet wants to assert in the end the primacy of content in determining form† (Eagleton 537). In other words, Pearl’s form is created by the content of her character, to take a phrase rom Dr. MLK, Jr. The circumstances in which she was conceived puts in her the essence of being one who is deeply enthralled with passion. Also, Pearl is one who is stubborn to a fault, just as her mother who refused to give up the name of her lover. Knowing these things about Pearl would allow one to cast judgment on her and never allow her to ascend to a higher station or class in life. It is this creation of her within the confines of the Dimmesdale and Prynne relationship that would keep her limited to a specific class and socio-economic status in life, had she decided o live within the small Boston neighborhood in which she grew up. Roger Chillingworth’s character illustrates a di fferent kind of class and form altogether. Chillingworth returns to town to find that his wife, Hester Prynne has not only been accused of adultery, but has a child as proof. Prynne never reveals her lover, pushing Chillingworth to a level of sinister evil that had not been presented within the novel. He never revealed his true identity to anyone but Hester Prynne. He acted as caregiver and doctor for Dimmesdale. It was also at this time that Chillingworth befriended Dimmesdale o find what was eating at his very soul. This type of deception is contemptible to say the least. However, from the Marxist point of view, the true character or form of Chillingworth is a valid indication of the content of his soul. Being a doctor represented being a person of an esteemed stature in society. It also gave him as a member of high society privileges that others in lower classes would never have. He took those privileges and misused them for his own selfish gain (which was to find Prynne’s lover). Chillingworth is the classic example of how the privileged iphon from others to achieve the goal ahead. Eagleton would define Chillingworth’s character as the following: â€Å". . . is not the first place a set of doctrines; it signifies the way men live out their roles in class-society, the values, ideas and images which tie them to their social functions and so prevent them from a true knowledge of society as a whole. † (Eagleton 534) In other words, it is Chillingworth’s class in society that does not allow him to show mercy to Prynne. His class also allows him to be cunning and crafty to find the real illness that afflicts Dimmesdale, use the guilt from the sin to rive Dimmesdale into a chasm of self hatred and loathing, while he simultaneously decays into the demonic fleshly figure that imposes hatred and merciless upon all who dare cross him. Yet, this ghastly figure was indeed Chillingworth’s true form and content. It is his functioning within the u pper class of society that not only gave Chillingworth his form, but also allowed him to participate in the actions leading to Dimmesdale’s without repentance. For Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, society’s position came with a price. He ended up denying his own flesh and blood in the body of Pearl, and he et the woman he loved (Hester Prynne) carry the weight of the sin they both committed. After the town branded Prynne and adulteress, Dimmesdale could not bring himself to admit to the public that it was he who shared the night of passion with Prynne which led to the conception of Pearl. His station or class in society would not allow for such a confession. Associated Content refers to Dimmesdale â€Å"As the ultimately religiously pious figure of the town and he is held in high regard. . . † (2). It is the status of being the reverend for the town along with his education â€Å" a young clergyman, who had come from one of the reat English universities, bringing all the learning of the age into our wild-forest land† (Hawthorne 62) that keeps Dimmesdale from initially admitting what had taken place between himself and Prynne. In comparison to Eagleton, Dimmesdale is the representation of the society and the superstructure that is in place (532). Regardless of how he may want to become a permanent part of Prynne’s life, the superstructure in place would never allow it to be so. It is this superstructure of society that Hester Prynne rebels against and causes her to live a life of isolation with her daughter , save her lients who come to her. Hester Prynne has been called an adulteress by many. Even within the religious community, Prynne is thought of at the least, wrong for her actions, including not revealing the father of her child. It is the content of her life that takes form in this novel. Prynne, strong-willed and determined, did not give in to the demands of the community which asked of her to give Pearl’s father’s name. Prynne refused to do so and in her refusal, lost her status within the community, never to have it returned to her. Relating her character to Marxist literary theory is relatively asy. Prynne is one of the few who would gladly give up his or her station or class in society to the protection of one if not al l. Prynne would not be accepted within the upper class of Boston at this time for she did not conform to the way t he higher classes, both religious and social, decided that life should be conducted. Dr. G. B. Loring declared that â€Å"It would be hard to conceive of a greater outrage upon the freezing and self-denying doctrines of that day, than the sine for which Hester Prynne was damned by and for which Arthur Dimmesdale damned himself† (1). Prynne’s refusal to become part of the culture that denied itself for form and fashion is what pushed her to the outskirts of society. However, even with the refusal to bend in tow, Prynne went on to live a productive life and see her daughter become a elegant young lady. Evaluating The Scarlet Letter from the Marxist point of view is interesting to say the least. Yet, the Marxist point of view gives the reader a broader look at the characters and society as a whole. Through Marxism, it is not just the sin that is looked at, but the condition of the heart, the station and class of man, along with his content and form that makes up society then and now.

Psychological Measure

Abstract * There are various psychological measures which are used to evaluate conditions such as depression in children and adults and even insomnia. The articles Revised Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and also Antidepressants and the Sound of One Hand Clapping discuss the use of the Hamilton Depression Scale. These articles also compare and contrast the measurements which were discovered by using this scale. Within the contents of this paper is an explanation as to who is qualified to administer and interpret the measure as well as the settings in which it would deem proper to use the measure. Finally, validity of the Hamilton Depression Scale is reviewed within this paper. Psychological Measure The Hamilton Depression Scale or normally known as HAM-D is a test that was developed by Max Hamilton around 1960 (Warren, 1994). The test has been revised in the years of 1966, 1967, 1969, and finally in 1980. It is a questionnaire that is filled out by the patient and professional after the patient’s initial interview. The main goal of the test is not to help diagnose the person’s depression, but to test the severity of the depression. Max Hamilton was also clear that the test he created should not be used to diagnose patients, but simply to test the levels of severity. Summary of Articles The articles analyzed were, Revised Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, written by W. L. Warren and Antidepressants and the Sound of One Hand Clapping written by Ronald W. Pies, MD from the Psychiatric Times. HAM-D looks at the level of severity of the different symptoms that are found in patients that have depressions. The symptoms of mood, insomnia, agitation, anxiety and weight loss are some the characteristics that are addressed in the questionnaire. In other words, it tests people that have already been diagnosed with clinical depression to find, if any, changes that may have come from treatment, or symptoms that have worsened due to daily struggles. This test is used by psychologists on children, teenagers, and adults (Warren, 1994). A great example of its many uses is trying to find the effect of placebos on patients. The placebo, also known as a sugar pill, is known to have no true physical effect on the human body except in the psychological belief of its healing power by the patient (Pies, 2011). The article written by W. Warren explored more on the clinical therapy that is achieved from the test, while Ronald W. Pies MD’s article focus more on the experimenting research benefits of the test. They both agree on the purpose of the test, but have slightly different goals or focus of its use in the psychological community. HAM-D Administration The majority of psychological testing for antidepressants is done through the HAM-D test (Pies, 2011). In Warren’s article, he explained that the reliability of internal tests done with the HAM-D comes around 81% with a fair sample reaching the general representation of the demographics of clinical depress patients. The validity was also to be found in a mean around 61% as being correlated by other depression tests such as the BMI (Warren, 2011). There are seven items that Hamilton felt were necessary to consider when administering the HAM-D. The first would be the severity and longevity of the symptoms. The second is that the test should cover the last week or two weeks. It is not meant to cover just a day since it is difficult to monitor lack of sleep, or weight loss in one day. The third item is that each item in the scale must be evaluated separately. Just because a person rates high in one area does not mean that they will rate high in another area. The fourth item that Hamilton covered was that the scale is based on a change from the norm in the patient. This scale is used to rate the depressed mood symptoms not the personality of the person. The fifth item is that each week should be looked at separately. The researcher should not look at one week, or ask about the previous week when doing the new test. The sixth item, which is rarely done now, is that the person administering the test should look at all sources of information, such as listening to what family members have to say. The last item that Hamilton felt necessary was to caution the clinician to use their own judgment when evaluating a person. For example, if a person says they have lost a lot of weight, but in reality it is only a few pounds, the clinician must be able to evaluate this information for what it really may be, such as dieting, or eating special foods due to a holiday (Hersen, 2004). Hamilton never did set a specific set of standards for who should be allowed to administer the test. He did feel that the person who was administering the test should have certain skills and knowledge. Hamilton is quoted as saying, â€Å"The value of the scale depends entirely on the skill of the interviewer in eliciting the necessary information (Hersen, 2004)†. Hamilton felt that the clinician should have a varied background with dealing with people with all different degrees of severity in their depression. The rater should have didactic training as well as a background in psychology especially with affective disorders. The person doing the rating should have good interviewing skills, this would include knowing when to ask certain questions as well as how to phrase the questions that are to be asked (Hersen, 2004). Validity It is difficult to say that the Hamilton Depression Scale in general is either valid or invalid without considering a few factors. Researchers have analyzed content, convergent, discriminant, factorial and predictive validity which are found within this scale. Content validity refers to the reflection of the scale items in correspondence to known factors of depression. Convergent validity correlates with other depression’s other measures. Discriminant validity involves distinguishing between groups which suffer from depression and those groups that do not. Factorial validity stems from factor examination of the data-based structure of the scale, determining whether each item focuses on the designed factor. Finally, predictive validity occurs in predicting change in the severity of symptoms which are associated with treatment (Bender, 2005). Validity within the Hamilton Depression Scale varies depending on what is being examined. Testing for information regarding older adults may be more or less valid than testing to see if the condition of the economy influences depression. Validity studies which examine scaling and item content concluded that several items failed at measuring single symptoms or containing response options that correlate with the degrees of severity (Bender, 2005). However, as previously mentioned, when this scale was used to measure antidepressants as they relate to depression, it proved 61% valid in comparison to other tests which are administered to produce information which pertains to depression. These two discoveries assist in concluding that the validity of this measure varies based on different factors such as what it actually being tested and possibly the whom is person or persons responsible for administering the test due to interpretation and biasness. Conclusion Various measures evaluate the factors which correlate with depression, but the Hamilton Depression Scale is one of the most widely used in terms of depression. This measure is not used to diagnose depression, but rather to produce information about the level of severity. Although there is no definitive answer about who should be administering this test, the administrator should take seven factors into consideration during this process. As with any other testing measure, validity has to be taken into consideration when determining if the test should continue to be used in the future. However, validity is not cut and dry, but rather complex as it concerns what is being measured. Overall, this widely used measure, has revealed useful results in the past concerning depression and will continue to do so in the future. References Bender, K. (2005). Throwing Out the Gold? Reconsidering the HAM-D. Psychiatric Times Retrieved from http://www. psychiatrictimes. com/blog/couchincrisis/content/article/10168/1968125 Hersen, M. , Hilsenroth, M. J. , & Segal, D. L. (2004). Comprehensive handbook of psychological assessment . Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.. Pies, R. W. (2011) Antidepressants and the Sound of One Hand Clapping. Psychiatric Times Retrieved from http://www. psychiatrictimes. com/blog/couchincrisis/content/article/10168/196812 Warren, W. (1994). Revised Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Chapter 48 Essays

Chapter 48 Essays Chapter 48 Paper Chapter 48 Paper Essay Topic: Poetry The gamelan is a traditional orchestra from Japan. false The white tone singing style in the vocal part of George Crumbs Ancient Voices of Children is a style in which the singer: sings without vibrato In composing, Crumb uses techniques and instruments from various world musics. true The harmony in Crumbs Caballito Negro is primarily: atonal For which work did George Crumb win a Pulitzer prize in 1968? Echoes of Time and the River The prevalent rhythm in Crumbs Caballito Negro is meant to: emulate the sound of a galloping horse The gamelan orchestra is made up largely of percussion instruments. true Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Sonata V? improvisation How many books of madrigal sets did George Crumb write? four John Cages work 433 challenges the differentiation between music and noise. true Henry Cowell is known for combining Asian instruments with traditional Western ensembles. true Which composer has written several compositions on the poetry of Federico Garcà ­a Lorca? George Crumb Whose poetry did George Crumb set in his second book of madrigals? Federico Garcà ­a Lorca Harry Partch was a serious proponent of microtonal music. true Cages work Sonatas and Interludes is written for: prepared piano Which composer invented new instruments capable of microtonality? Harry Partch What instruments accompany the voice in Crumbs Caballito Negro? metallic percussion and flute John Cages work 433 is known for its consonant harmonic writing. false One of Henry Cowells innovations was the prepared piano. false George Crumb is representative of avant-garde composition in the United States. true The form of Sonata V from Sonatas and Interludes is: binary, with each section repeated John Cages Sonatas and Interludes is a work for Javanese gamelan. false Who is considered to be the inventor of the prepared piano? John Cage The prepared piano called for in Sonatas and Interludes simulates a: gamelan orchestra