Data Analysis and Interpretation in Action Research Once you collect the data to address your research question, the data must be interpreted and analyzed. Although this may seem a bit scary, do not worry.
Data Analysis and Interpretation in Action Research
Much like the other steps in the Action Research Process, data interpretation and analysis is often a group effort. In addition, it is not an exact science
that requires you to use complicated statistical formulas. Rather, it is an art that involves synthesizing information and identifying themes. There are a variety of procedures that may be used to interpret and analyze data. The one you choose depends greatly on the types of data you collect. Interpreting and analyzing data will help you to draw conclusions based on your research question.
The assignment (1–2 pages):
Briefly describe the problem or issue you selected and the research question you developed for your Capstone Project.
Describe the procedure you might use to analyze and interpret the data you might collect and explain why.
My research With the current financial crisis around the United States, what alternative methods can be used to support the non-profit organization
the instruction is on the cover sheet, for the graph can you draw it as a jpg because last time the line is just massing around when i summit. i have also upload the chapter key point and ppt. so you can have a look
SAMPLE ANSWER
MACRO1(ECON1010) Assignment 2
Submit online at the ‘Assessment Task’ in Blackboard
Due: 11:59PM on 14 May (Sunday)
Tutorial Time and Day: _______________________________________________________________________________________________
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has the following three options to influence the money supply in the Australian financial market. Give a brief description of how each operates.
Open market operations (2 marks)
Open market operations refers to a policy by the national reserve bank involving buying an selling of government securities such as treasury bonds, mortgage-backed securities and treasury bills from its member banks in the open capital market as a strategy to expand or contract the amount of money circulating within the economy. Applying this policy to control money supply in the economy would involve the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) purchasing Australian government securities to decrease the money supply or selling these securities to increase the amount of cash circulating in the economy. The RBA would purchase government securities being held by financial institutions to mop up and withdraw excess money supply in the economy, or sell these securities to inject cash into the money market.
Purchasing government securities in the open market by the RBA would add credit reserves to commercial banks, similar to a direct deposit by the government, and would expand money supply through the multiplier effect by increasing cash available for lending to other banks and to customers.
Reserve ratio (2 marks)
Commercial banks in pursuit of their profit-making objective try to lend as much as possible to increase revenues from interest payments. If un-regulated, they would lend out all their deposits, which would increase risk of insolvency and create instability in the banking sector. The reserve ratio is the fraction or percentage of customer deposits that commercial banks are required to hold as reserves. As a way of regulating the activities of banks, the RBA requires commercial banks to maintain a small proportion of their deposits, which is about 10 percent, in reserve when they close after each business day. Reserves are customer deposits that banks have received but have not loaned out. In a fractional-reserve banking system adopted in many countries of the world, commercial banks are required by banking regulation to hold a fraction of the money deposited by customers as reserves. This amount is usually enough to cover the daily withdrawals by customers after lending out the rest.
Cash rate (2 marks)
The official cash rate is the interest rate percentage that commercial banks and other financial institutions can earn from lending their currency reserves on an overnight basis in the short-term money market. The cash rate is the overnight inter-bank lending rate of interest. The cash rate is used by the RBA as an instrument for influencing the amount of money supply in the economy. Increasing the cash rate raises the level of interest rates in the retail credit market, while decreasing the cash rate lowers interest rates in the economy.
The official cash rate affects general economic activity as changes flow through to interest rates charged by commercial banks to borrowers.
Now demonstrate what happens to value of money, the price level and the real interest rate using the money supply (MS) and money demand (MD) diagram shown below.
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) increases the reserve ratio in the fractional banking system.(2 marks)
An increase in the reserve ratio increases the mandatory reserve required by the RBA for commercial banks to maintain in their vaults, which decreases the amount of money available for banks to lend to the public. This decreases the money supply in accordance with the multiplier effect since it decreases the amount of credit money available in the economy. With demand for money and other factors remaining constant, increasing the reserve ratio withdraws cash from the economy and thus decreased supply of money, which in turn increases the value of money since there is a smaller amount of money in circulation available to purchase the same goods and services being produced in the economy. This is shown on the diagram as a shift to the left of the money supply curve from MS1 to MS2 while demand MD remains constant. The quantity of money supply in the economy falls from Q1 to Q2 while the value of money rises from V1 to V2.
RBA purchases government securities through the open market operations. (2 marks)
Purchasing government securities in the open market increases the money supply in the economy by injecting cash into the money market and by extension the economy. Holding demand for money constant, this results in an increase in the supply of money in circulation and available for purchasing the same goods and services, which decreases the value of money. In the diagram, this is shown by a shift of the money supply curve to the right from MS1 to MS2, which increases the quantity of money supply from Q1 to Q2 and decreases the value of money from V1 to V2
Consider an economy that is initially in long run equilibrium in the Aggregate Demand and Aggregate Supply (AD-AS) diagram that we covered in lectures. Suppose many Australian firms mistakenly expect that there will be an increase in the relative price of their own products as compared to others (including relative to the input costs and wages they pay). Start with the equilibrium point shown in the Figure below and use it to demonstrate the following changes.
How does this change the aggregate price level, real income and unemployment in the short run? Explain and illustrate in the AD-AS diagram (3 marks)
In the short-run, an increase in the overall price level tends to raise the quantity of output supplied by producers in an economy. Expectations of increased relative prices of products relative to production costs and wages would create increased business confidence and increased investment, which would result in increased production and increased amount of goods and services output by producers within the economy. The move by firms to increase production activity would lead to the increased utilization of capital and labour production factors. This would further result in increased investment and decreased unemployment in the short-run.
Increased production output would result in increased supply of goods and services which would cause a surplus in the economy in the short run, which would cause a decrease in the price level. In the AD-AS model, this would be shown as a shift downwards and to the right of the aggregate supply curve from SRAS0 to SRAS1, with a new short-run equilibrium corresponding to a lower price level P1 since there is the same volume of money to purchase the increased amount of output in the economy.
Explain the adjustment process to long run equilibrium (assuming that real potential output remains unchanged, so no change in LRAS), and what happens to the price level. No need to demonstrate it in Figure but it may be helpful. (3 marks)
A change in the price level in the long-run does not affect the quantity of output and supply in the long-run. This is because the potential output level, also known as the natural level of output or full-employment output, in the economy is determined by capital endowment, labour supply and technology that are not affected by changes in the price level over the long-run. The increase in output and supply of goods and services would therefore result in a surplus output, which would lead to a decrease in the price level in the economy. According to the AD-AS model, the economy has a tendency to revert to some form of long-run equilibrium, which is referred to as the steady-state equilibrium. This self-correcting mechanism works through the supply side in that an increase in output and aggregate supply in the short-run causes aggregate demand to fall following a period of inflation, which makes the equilibrium level to self-corrects to a new price level over the long-run.
This is demonstrated by the equilibrium level remaining constant along the LRAS curve since a shift of the AD curve upwards and to the right indicating an increase in aggregate demand over the long-run is countered by a shift of the AS curve downwards and to the left indicating an increase in aggregate supply.
One such scenario may come from a crash in the Australian housing market. Keeping in mind of the Aggregate Demand and Supply (AD-AS) framework, elaborate how such a shock may affect the Australian economy. Also, discuss what policy instruments the government have in response, and how they work in practice?
A recession results from adverse shifts in aggregate supply, which causes decreased levels of real GDP output and other measures of income, consumption spending and production factors while unemployment and price levels rise. According to the AD-AS model, the level of output and prices in an economy adjust to create an equilibrium or balance between aggregate demand and aggregate supply. Policy response options for the government would be to take no action assuming that the economy would always self-correct to its initial full-employment equilibrium over the long-run. Heated debate amongst economists has resulted in a division between Neo-classical and Keynesian economists. Neo-classical economic theories argue that the economy would self-correct to its long-run equilibrium after a recession while Keynesian economic theory argues that taking no action would unnecessarily prolong the recession since the economy would not by itself revert to previous steady-state equilibrium. Keynesian economic theory of monetary policy has proven effective in the past during the Great Depression in restoring the US economy back to full-employment. The theory recommends taking action to either raise aggregate demand or aggregate supply or both, which implies a decision on which of either curves in the AD-AS model to influence and through what policies.
To correct the fall in short-run aggregate supply, the government could either adopt policies to expand aggregate demand keeping output at its natural long-run level, which would cause the price level to rise further and worsen the recession before the policies begin to take effect. To forestall the impending economic shock that would result from a burst market bubble in the real estate sector, the government through the RBA could pursue contractionary monetary policies. This would take the form of strategies such as selling government securities to member banks in the open market and increasing the interest rate to slow down inflation and economic growth by lowering lending rates and decrease over-investment in the economy and in specific sectors. In the event of a recession, expansionary monetary policies can be adopted to lower unemployment and stimulate economic growth. Such policies would seek to expand money supply and lower interest rates so as to boost production and consumption economic activity, and to lower unemployment.
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For this assignment, you perform a two-sample independent t-test, an ANOVA, and a correlation analysis related to the data set that has been utilized in the previous two modules. Import the data into SPSS or, if you correctly saved the data file from the Module 4 and 5 Assignments, you may open and use that saved file to complete this Assignment. Type your answers to all questions directly into the worksheet, and paste the required output at the end of this document.
Submit this Application Assignment by Day 7 of Week 11.
Research Scenario
A researcher is interested in the effect of a new medication on serum cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and glycosylated hemoglobin of adults. The researcher randomly selects a sample of 40 (20 male and 20 female) participants who have been diagnosed with high cholesterol. Assuring equal distribution of males and females, the participants are randomly assigned to one of two conditions (or groups): Following pretest measures of serum cholesterol (chol), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), and glycosylated hemoglobin (glyhb), the experimental group (Group 1) is given the medication for a period of 6 months while the control group (Group 2) is given a placebo. After the 6 months,chol, HDL, and glyhb are again measured.
The post test data for each participant are provided in the Module 4 Application Assignment Data Set Excel file and can be found in the Module 6 Learning Resources. The codebook for the data provided is as follows:
AGE Age in years
SEX 1 =male, 2=female
GROUP 1 =medication, 2=placebo
CHNG_CHOL change in cholesterol from pretest to posttest
HDL High-density lipoprotein at posttest
GLYHB Glycosylated hemoglobin at posttest
———————————————————————————————————————
Step 1: Import the Microsoft Excel data file into SPSS or use the correct saved SPSS data file as noted in the instructions above.
Step 2: Conduct an independent samples t-test to determine if there is a difference between Group 1 (medication) and Group 2 (placebo) in terms of changes in cholesterol values. Note that the independent variable is GROUP, and the dependent variable is CHNG_CHOL .For this analysis, choose a two-tailed test of significance. (Be sure to save your output.)
Step 3: Conduct a between-subjects ANOVA to determine if there is a difference between sex (males vs. females) and HDL. Note that the independent variable is SEX, and the dependent variable is HDL. For this analysis, choose a two-tailed test of significance. (Be sure to save your output.)
Step 4: Conduct a Pearson correlation to determine if there is a relationship between HDL and GLYHB. For this analysis, choose a two-tailed test of significance. (Be sure to save your output.)
Step 5: Review your SPSS output and answer each of the following questions:
From the independent samples t-test output:
What is the mean CHNG_CHOL for Group 1? _________-5.95
What is the CHNG_CHOL standard deviation for Group 1? _________095
What is the mean CHNG_CHOL for Group 2? _________-.45
What is the CHNG_CHOL standard deviation for Group 2? _________395
What is the calculated t-score (equal variances assumed)? _________– 5.376
What is the probability that the obtained t-score was simply due to chance as opposed to actual gender differences [see “Sig (two-tailed)” on output]? _________00
If the probability associated with the obtained t-score is <0.05, we assume the results (difference in mean CHNG_CHOL between groups) are much more likely due to the effects of the medication than to chance. In other words, we would say the results are statistically significant. Are the results statistically significant (yes or no)? _________No
From the ANOVA output:
What is the mean HDL for group males? _________85
What is the HDL standard deviation for males? _________788
What is the mean HDL for group females? _________30
What is the HDL standard deviation for females? _________477
What is the calculated F-value? __________251
What is the probability (noted as “Sig” on output) that the obtained F-value was simply due to chance as opposed to actual gender differences? __________01
From the correlation output:
What is the Pearson correlation score for HDL and GLYHB? _________– 587
What is the direction of the correlation value and what does this mean? _____ The direction of the correlation is negative. This implies that as HDL increase, GLYHB decreases and vice versa is true
What is the probability for the obtained Pearson correlation score [see “Sig (two-tailed)” on output]? _significant at 0.01 (2-tailed)
If the probability associated with the Pearson correlation is <05, we assume a significant relationship. Is there a significant relationship between HDL and GLYHB? _________No
Step 6: Paste all required SPSS output below.
T test
Group Statistics
GROUP
N
Mean
Std. Deviation
Std. Error Mean
CHNG_CHOL
1
20
-5.65
4.095
.916
2
20
-.45
1.395
.312
Independent Samples Test
Levene’s Test for Equality of Variances
t-test for Equality of Means
F
Sig.
t
df
Sig. (2-tailed)
Mean Difference
Std. Error Difference
95% Confidence Interval of the Difference
Lower
Upper
CHNG_CHOL
Equal variances assumed
13.247
.001
-5.376
38
.000
-5.200
.967
-7.158
-3.242
Equal variances not assumed
-5.376
23.349
.000
-5.200
.967
-7.199
-3.201
One way ANOVA
Descriptive
HDL
N
Mean
Std. Deviation
Std. Error
95% Confidence Interval for Mean
Minimum
Maximum
Lower Bound
Upper Bound
males
20
40.85
7.788
1.742
37.20
44.50
28
56
females
20
49.30
7.477
1.672
45.80
52.80
39
69
Total
40
45.08
8.666
1.370
42.30
47.85
28
69
ANOVA
HDL
Sum of Squares
df
Mean Square
F
Sig.
Between Groups
714.025
1
714.025
12.251
.001
Within Groups
2214.750
38
58.283
Total
2928.775
39
Correlations
HDL
GLYHB
HDL
Pearson Correlation
1
-.587**
Sig. (2-tailed)
.000
N
40
40
GLYHB
Pearson Correlation
-.587**
1
Sig. (2-tailed)
.000
N
40
40
**. Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).
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Agri Chem faces a challenge of reduced natural gas supply, following a notification from Enerco, that gas supplies were being rapidly depleted, thus leading to rationing of natural gas. Based on the priorities that Enerco gives from the Federal Power Commission, it is notable that Agri Chem will be significantly affected the rationing. In providing details on rationing, Enerco did not provide proportions for rationing. Agri Chem must determine its usage pattern to determine how best to maximize profits under the circumstances. The problem is to determine which of Agri Chem’s complexes would be least affected by a gas curtailment.
Analysis
The rationing of natural gas is expected to have a significant impact on Agri-Chem, given the high level of usage. Agri Chem mostly utilizes natural gas for the second and third priority, which comprise the commercial use as a raw material source and industrial use as a broiler fuel. This was likely to lead to ‘rolling brownouts’ due to natural gas curtailments. The fact that Enerco does not provide guidelines on the manner in which natural gas will be allocated based on products gives Agri Chem an opportunity to determine its own proportions in a bid to ensure that profitability is maximized under the conditions. While Agri Chem had an allocation of 90,000 ´ 103 cubic feet per day based on its contract with Enerco, this would be reduced by 20% to 40% following the curtailment. This would greatly affect Agri Chem, which utilizes natural gas as broiler fuel except for ammonia production which required natural gas as a raw material.
The situation at hand presents a complex scenario in which the company’s productivity is likely to be curtailed by the rationing of natural gas, given that Agri Chem considerably depends on natural gas for production purposes. This calls for a solution to optimize gas usage under the current circumstances, which essentially calls for a formula for gas usage to ensure that the company’s profits are maximized under the circumstances. Agri Chem has an advantage in that Enerco does not provide proportions for gas allocation and hence the company has the liverty to determine its capacities as deemed appropriate. Determining the product that would be least affected by the curtailment of natural gas helps the company to establish how well it can be utilized to provide optimal results for the company. Linear programming provides a simple solution for this complex situation, such that Agri Chem can determine how best to approach the problem presented by the gas shortage.
Solution
The main objective is to determine, based on Agri Chem’s complexities, the product that will be least affected by the gas curtailment. The solution involves creation of a linear programming equation that bases its calculation on the contribution, current capacity, production rate and natural gas usage, provided in the table of financial and operation data on page 6. This is optimized using linear programming, putting the possible constraints (20% and 40%) into consideration, to determine the product that would be least affected by the natural gas curtailment. Linear programming is considered effective in obtaining solutions for optimal use of resources and profit maximization because it makes use of simple formulas to determine solutions under different constraints (Haidar, 2015). It is therefore effective in making decisions on complex issues affecting organizations, such as the gas allocation dilemma faced by Agri Chem. In this case, two constraints are present. The process begins by determining the new constraints, representing the expected impact when gas supply is reduced by 20% or 40%. Using excel, calculations are made to determine the new quantities. Using these constraints, it is possible to determine the number of tons that can be produced per day to maximize profits as indicated on the calculations on page 7. The gas constraints are developed with reference to the possible changes, from 85,680,000 cu. ft. per day, which Agri Chem utilizes, once the curtailment is done. This is shown on page 7. The results indicate that Caustic Soda would be the least affected by the gas curtailment. This is because the company can operate optimally with Caustic Soda being produced at low levels; 423.2 tons/day when curtailment is 20% and zero tons/day when curtailment is at 40%. Profitability can then be calculated based on the quantities determined.
Justification
The current situation at Agri-Chem calls for an effective measure to determine the utilization of the natural gas supplies under the constraints.
Linear programming is an effective optimization technique, suitable for complex problem solving, such as in the case of Agri Chem.
Through the use of linear programming, Agri Chem can maximize its profits by assessing the gas proportions needed for the company and how this can be allocated to ensure optimal use of the available natural gas.
This solution provides guidance for Agri Chem on the utilization of natural gas, such that it can be effectively allocated for optimal results and loss reduction.
Linear programming gives better outcomes due to its simplicity and definite formula – single and straightforward, thus promoting accuracy.
The calculation of optimal levels for profitability helps in promoting decision making e.g. in the case of Agri Chem where the company determines the complexities that are least affected by natural gas rationing.
The solution provides a basis for determining the result of different scenarios – in this case the company can determine the profit optimization at 20% and 40% curtailment.
Conclusion
The problem presented in this case involves a situation in which Agri Chem’s production is affected by the curtailment of gas supply due to the effects of a heat wave. Enerco provides that Agri Chem’s supply may be affected by 20% to 40%. This calls on Agri Chem to come up with a formula that will optimize the situation, to ensure that it maintains sustainable profitability under the circumstances. A linear programming solution in which constraints are developed at the curtailment proportions provides that, caustic soda would be least affected by the gas curtailment, at the point of optimal profitability.
Question: Which of Agri-Chem’s complexes would be least affected by a gas curtailment?
Financial and Operational Data
Contribution Capacity Production Rate Natural Gas Usage
Product ($/Ton) (Tons/Day) (% of Capacity) (1,000 Cu.Ft./Ton)
PLEASE NOTE We need to use the second article, Rehods one.
HNB3123 Working with Evidence 2017
Assessment 2-Essay- journal critique
Number of words: 1200
This is an academic essay. You are required to conduct a critical appraisal of a primary research paper. Two papers are provided and you choose one (either quantitative or qualitative).
You should follow the format of an academic essay and use well-structured headings (for example, as you see in a journal article). Headings are signposts and give clarity to writing.
We suggest the critical appraisal has headings for the following areas:
1. Introduction
2. The research problem and its significance
3. The research design and the methods.
4. Findings and their relevance to contemporary nursing policy and practice
5. Conclusion
It is important you refresh your learning about academic essay writing and refer to the marking guide (assessment rubric). A range of resources to assist with Assessment 2 have been provided in VU collaborate. This includes information about how to write critically, how to write an introduction and conclusion. The following links are very useful.
Help is available at this link. If you would like more help with your academic writing, visit the Writing Space and chat to Student Writing Mentors about your assignment.
The critical appraisal will be marked on the following areas:
• Introduction
• Grammar, spelling and punctuation
• Sentence, paragraph structure & APA format
• Sequence and organisation of answer
• Closing paragraph / conclusion
• The research problem and its significance
• The research design and the methods.
• Findings and their relevance to contemporary nursing policy and practice
• Critical analysis.
• Sources and referencing
• Conclusion
Read the marking criteria when planning and writing the critical appraisal
There should be evidence of critical analysis of the research not just a gathering of information.
Select one of these original research articles to address the questions:
Ma, C., & Park, S. H. (2015). Hospital Magnet status, unit work environment, and pressure ulcers. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 47(6), 565-573.
OR
Rhodes, P., McDonald, R., Campbell, S., Daker?White, G., & Sanders, C. (2016). Sensemaking and the co?production of safety: a qualitative study of primary medical care patients. Sociology of Health & Illness, 38(2), 270-285.
Students are referred to relevant Victoria University assessment policies. Especially note the VU policy regarding criteria for special consideration and the documents you need to provide to support your application for an extension. Inquiries about his process to the unit of study Coordinator only before the due date. Requests after the due date will not be processed.
Students should take account the following requirements:
Essays submitted after 5 days will not be accepted or marked.
Every essay is checked for plagiarism. Make and keep a full copy of all work submitted for assessment.
This is an academic essay so dot points will not be accepted -i.e. use sentences.
The essay should be written and presented in a
scholarly manner
Double-space
Include a title page with your name.
Include accurate and systematic in-text referencing and a bibliography using APA Referencing: The essay should have a Reference List that includes at least 6 references:
• At least one research textbook;
• At least five journal articles published between 2011-2017.
Students are referred to relevant Victoria University assessment policies.
See also relevant VU policy regarding criteria for special consideration and the documents you need to provide to support your application for an extension. Inquiries about his process to the subject Coordinator only before the due date.
The word limit for the critical appraisal is 1200 words. There will be a 5% deduction for every 10% above or below the word limit
There are serious penalties for late submission and word limit infractions-Refer to University policies on submission guidelines. Essays submitted after 5 days will not be accepted or marked. Make and keep a full copy of all work submitted for assessment.
SAMPLE ANSWER
Introduction
The safety of patients in primary health care setting has mostly been explored in the context of eliminating medical error. This often leaves out important factors that patients find pertinent to their safety as established in the article “Sensemaking and the co-production of safety: a qualitative study of primary medical care patients” by Rhodes et al. (2016). The research by Rhodes et al. (2016) explores how primary care patients make sense of safety and co-produce safety, concluding that there is need for a broad conceptualisation of patient safety, in order to address patients’ concern on safety in primary care settings. This essay is a critical analysis of the article by Rhodes et al. (2016) to evaluate its research problem and significance, methodology used, findings and their significance in contemporary nursing policy and practice.
Research problem and significance
The research problem as presented by Rhodes et al. (2016) is the safety of patients, with specific interest in the manner in which patients perceive and define safety, and how they make sense of their experiences in primary care settings. The patient perspective of safety presents a contemporary issue that is of considerable medical research interest, having been previously studied by among others Rhodes, et al. (2014), Baran et al (2011), Ricci-Cabello et al. (2016) and Daker-White, et al. (2015). All these studies seek to understand patients’ understanding of safety and how it can inform the medical profession, given that a majority of previous studies mostly focused on medical safety. Based on this, it can be established that Rhodes et al. (2016) take on an important research problem that is bound to provide viable solutions in patient safety.
The significance of the article by Rhodes et al. (2016) is that it addresses an important aspect of medical care (safety) and introduces the relevance of sensemaking in understanding the perception of patients on safety. Authors have justified the significance of their study as it helps in the identification of factors that influence patients’ sense of security, such that this can be addressed to ensure quality services are provided in healthcare settings. This resonates well with the research by Rhodes, Campbell and Sanders (2016), which establishes that patients envision safety in completely different ways than what has been documented. Daker-White et al. (2015) in their research offer similar sentiments but also discuss factors related to the patient including attendance errors, misjudgments, memory limitations, emotional factors and patient preferences that may impact on patient safety.
Research design and methods
This research utilizes the qualitative design in determining the sensemaking and safety co-production. Qualitative research denotes a design in which researchers aim at understanding phenomena by interacting with the population’s views and lived experiences (Yin, 2013). In obtaining data for the research, the interview method was utilized for the study. This was done through interviews among selected respondents, mostly in their homes. Quimby (2012) notes that interviews are effective in the collection of data because they allow the researcher to obtain more complete and authentic data.
The researchers make deliberate attempts at improving the reliability and validity of their research. Being a human subject research, it is commendable that the researchers sought ethical approval before beginning their research (Yin, 2013). An important aspect in conducting research is avoiding bias by ensuring that the study sample selected is representative of the population (Quimby, 2012). The researchers endeavored to ensure maximum variability in terms of age, career status, education level, socioeconomic level, and ethnic background. The study also included a wide age consideration, with respondents being aged between 18 and 78 years. However, it is notable that the method used in selecting the sample may not have been appropriate in ensuring equal representation. Being a form of purposive sampling, maximum variation sampling may lead to bias because it selects respondents based on the researcher’s convenience, which in this case led to a deliberate over-sampling of patients with long-term conditions. Snowballing may give rise to bias, given that the recruitment of respondents is based on referrals from the first batch of respondents (Yin, 2013). Despite attempting to show demographic variability, the authors do not break down the composition of the sample.
The data collected was analyzed using a qualitative data analysis software (NVivo10). The analysis involved thematic and iterative techniques, targeted at generating open codes. Some initial themes were identified through a coding system, and these were later distilled into three core themes. For sensemaking purposes, the data was reanalyzed using Weick’s framework.
Findings and their relevance to contemporary nursing policy and practice
The findings of this study are presented under three broad areas. The first is Sensemaking and the articulation of safety, whereby the authors discuss patient responses on their understanding of medical safety. The authors note that most respondents closely associate safety with the quality of care received and professionalism of the care provider. Further, participants reported the importance of both psychosocial and physical aspects of safety in primary care (Rhodes, Campbell & Sanders, 2016). These aspects of safety emerge in other studies such as Rhodes, Campbell and Sanders (2016) and Ulrich and Kear (2014).
The second area is sensemaking from experience: reflecting on safety and practice, where narration by patients identified the specific situations which made them feel unsafe including practitioner attitudes, doctor interpersonal skills, technical competence and the possibility of getting the same medical personnel for consecutive consultations. Results from Rhodes, et al. (2014) also indicate similar safety issues, where patient–doctor continuity is considered important in promoting patient safety. Ricci-Cabello et al. (2016) also identifies health professional behavior and attitudes and physical environment as factors influencing safety.
The third area is Proactive patients and the co-production of safety, where results indicated that patients can contribute to their own safety through proactive measures such as using their knowledge and previous experiences to safeguard against risk. Through understanding their conditions, obtaining information on treatment options, challenging practitioner procedures or decisions, patients were able to avoid risk. The study by Mehra (2015) alludes to this, based on its findings that information-seeking behavior among patients can play a vital role in promoting quality of health care.
The findings of this research have various implications for the nursing practice. The nursing practice needs to open up to the possibilities of more safety dimensions affecting patients such as physical, architectural, psychological and moral safety dimensions identified by Rhodes et al. (2016). Policy would need to go beyond the functional impairment that the health sector focuses on currently. Burgess et al. (2012) emphasizes on the need to expand beyond the ‘error risk’, by integrating newly discovered safety aspects including psychological and emotional harm. Rhodes et al. (2014) discover similar findings, establishing that psychological safety factors are important patient perspectives that should be considered in the medical profession. This is accentuated by Ricci-Cabello et al. (2016) who notes that current frameworks on patient safety are solely based on professional and healthcare system perspectives.
Conclusion
This essay provides a critical analysis of the article Sensemaking and the co-production of safety: a qualitative study of primary medical care patients’ by Rhodes et al. (2016). This analysis has evaluated the problem statement, noting that the study investigates patient safety from a patient perspective through a sensemaking framework. The authors utilize a qualitative study approach, involving the use of semi-structured interview to collect responses form a total of 38 respondents. The study presents important findings for nursing, such as the close association between safety and quality in patient’s interpretation of safety.
References:
Daker-White, G., Hays, R., McSharry, J., Giles, S., Cheraghi-Sohi, S., Rhodes, P., & Sanders, C. (2015). Blame the Patient, Blame the Doctor or Blame the System? A Meta-Synthesis of Qualitative Studies of Patient Safety in Primary Care. Plos ONE, 10(8), 1-42.
Legg, M. J. (2011). What is psychosocial care and how can nurses better provide it to adult oncology patients. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 28 (3), 61-67.
Mehra, P. (2015). Face to face information seeking behavior of patients and impact on in-clinic satisfaction. Asia Pacific Management Review, 20(4), 193-303.
McCracken, S., & Edwards, J. (2014). “Customer” Knowledge Management in Healthcare. Proceedings of the European Conference on Knowledge Management, 2, 637-640.
Quimby, E. (2012). Doing Qualitative Community Research: Lessons for Faculty, Students and the Community. UAE: Bentham Science Publishers.
Rhodes, P., McDonald, R., Campbell, S., Daker-White, G., & Sanders, C. (2016). Sensemaking and the co-production of safety: a qualitative study of primary medical care patients. Sociology of Health & Illness, 38(2), 270-285.
Rhodes, P., Campbell, S., & Sanders, C. (2016). Trust, temporality and systems: how do patients understand patient safety in primary care? A qualitative study. Health Expectations, 19(2).
Rhodes, P., Sanders, C., & Campbell, S. (2014). Relationship continuity: when and why do primary care patients think it is safer? British Journal of General Practice, 2014, e758-e764.
Ricci-Cabello, I., et al. (2016). Patients’ perceptions and experiences of patient safety in primary care in England. Fam Pract, 33 (5), 535-542.
Top, M., & Tekingündüz, S. (2015). Patient Safety Culture in a Turkish Public Hospital: A Study of Nurses’ Perceptions about Patient Safety. Systemic Practice & Action Research, 28(2), 87-110.
Ulrich, B., & Kear, T. (2014). Patient Safety and Patient Safety Culture: Foundations of Excellent Health Care Delivery. Nephrology Nursing Journal, 41(5), 447-457.
Yin, R. K. (2013). Case Study Research: Design and Methods. New York: SAGE Publications.
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Please follow these instructions as they are very important for this chapter:
1.You should begin the Research Methodologies chapter by stating, again, the research objectives of the project. This will enable the reader to make an assessment as to the validity of your chosen research methodology.
2.This chapter is that part of the dissertation where you have the opportunity to justify to the reader the process by which the research questions, which were derived by an analysis of the relevant literature, were answered.
3.It is not sufficient to say, for example, “suitable respondents were sampled using a quota sampling technique and then surveyed using a postal questionnaire” and then leave it at that.
4.It might well be the case that, given the problem(s) to be investigated, such a choice of research methods is entirely appropriate. However, if you have not taken the opportunity to justify your research choices to a reader they could be correct in assuming that you have, by chance, merely guessed at what would work and, more by luck than judgement, arrived at the ‘correct’ solution to the problem.
5.The term ‘methodology’, particularly when employed in the social sciences, does not just mean method, but also the governing philosophy behind the methods employed
6.The chapter on research methodology must, painstakingly argue for, and justify each, decision that is taken when arriving at the way in which the research is to be organized.
7.Every time that you, the researcher, have to make a choice from a number of options, you must state what each of these are, why you made the choice you did, and why you rejected those not used.
8.The conclusion of this chapter should provide a summary of the main points that have been covered. The conclusion should also direct the reader as to how the contents of this chapter link in with the contents of the next chapter, your findings.
9.All References must be in Harvard Style.
VERY IMPORTANT NOTE:
please read the proposal which it is attached as the all information regarding the methodology is written there.
SAMPLE ANSWER
Research Methodologies and Methods
Introduction
The objectives of this research include exploring the role of training and development on the performance of organizations in Qatar; and identifying the strategic measures that organizations can pursue in training and development. In achieving research objectives, the research methodology plays a vital role in promoting research reliability and authenticity. This insinuates that the methodology chosen for research must promise to effectively meet the research objectives by answering the research questions adequately. This chapter provides an elaborate description of how the research was conducted, including the research design, sampling procedures sample size, data collection methods, data analysis methods and legal and ethical considerations.
Research Design
This study utilizes the qualitative research design approach to explore the human resource strategies that influence employee engagement within organizations in Qatar. Qualitative research is considered an effective approach in business studies research, given that it seeks to understand phenomena based on lived experiences and views of individuals who have interacted directly with the phenomena (Chesnay, 2014). The use of qualitative research helps the researcher in understanding underlying perceptions, opinions, reasons, comprehension and motivations among respondents, based on their interaction or experience with the subject of study (Leew, Hox & Dillman, 2012). In this case, the research works with employees, who provide responses based on their experiences on training and development programs in their organizations. Qualitative research is selected over quantitative research approach for this research due to the nature of the research, which mostly consists of descriptive data (Anney, 2014). Unlike quantitative research which involves the analysis of statistical data and structured data sets, qualitative research is used in exploratory studies whose data may vary significantly in structure, such as the data collected from interviews (Padilla-Díaz, 2015)
Data collection and research methods
The data for use in this research was collected using both primary and secondary data. Primary data is highly important in research because it provides first-hand information from research. Given that the researcher employs data collection and analysis procedures that are carefully selected with the aim of obtaining the most appropriate results for the research, primary data is considered more reliable (Rose, Spinks & Canhoto, 2014). Secondary data’s importance cannot be underestimated, given that it provides valuable information to guide research based on previous researches (Rose, Spinks & Canhoto, 2014). Secondary data consisted of peer-reviewed journal articles, books, case studies and other sources of information regarding training and development in organizations. Secondary data was mostly used in literature review and discussion of findings from primary data.
To collect primary data for the completion of this research, the researcher utilizes two qualitative inquiry methods, namely: semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. These were effective in understanding how employee engagement is influenced by human resource strategy. Using these methods, the research employs an exploratory approach in obtaining information, by collecting diverse information from the interviews and open-ended questionnaires.
The semi-structured interview approach works by integration pre-determined questions with open questions that elicit a conversation, such that the researcher can explore various themes further (Cohen Manion & Morrison, 2011). Semi-structured interviews were used based on their ability to collect diverse information from respondents regarding the research subject, which ensured that the research questions are adequately answered. Since the researcher was not restricted to a particular interview script like in structured interviews where the researcher must follow the pre-determined questions, semi-structured interviews ensured that the researcher could collect information on areas of interest depending on the recipient (Leew, Hox & Dillman, 2012). On the contrary, semi-structured interviews may be time consuming and failure to guide the interviewee may divert the interview from important matters or lead to the collection of a lot of unnecessary information, which makes analysis more difficult (Leew, Hox & Dillman, 2012). To counter this, the researcher allocated specific timings for questions to ensure that respondents did not dwell too much on some at the expense of others. The researcher also remained in control of the interviews, by guiding the respondents when they seemed to be diverting from the main agenda.
Questionnaires were considered effective in the collection of data due to their ability to collect data from a large population within a short period of time. Questionnaires also save costs besides saving time, compared to interviews, where the researcher had to spend considerable time and money for travelling and conducting interviews (Holt & Pamment, 2011). They were also easier to administer because the respondents can fill them at their own convenience and without having to reveal their identity, which improves confidentiality (Christopher, 2013). Uniformity of data would also achieved due to the pre-determined questions, which makes analysis easier. However, data from questionnaires may be less accurate because the researcher has no way of controlling how the respondent answers the questions and whether canvasing is involved. Despite this shortcoming, questionnaires were considered more effective due to the high number of respondents involved in the research. Furthermore, combining this approach with semi-structured interviews ensured that the researcher obtained more reliable results.
Research Population and sample size
The target population for this research was the Qatar workforce. Given that Qatar is a region with a vibrant business environment and diverse human resource practices, the population would provide adequate information for strategies that influence employee engagement. A sample of 100 employees was utilized for the research. Employees were selected from 10 companies operating in Qatar, such that 10 respondents were selected from each company. The selection process was done in collaboration with the human resource managers from the respective organizations.
Sampling Procedures
This research targets 100 employees from Qatar to get useful data for analysis and conclusions. To achieve this, a combination of simple random sampling and purposive sampling were employed.
Simple random sampling refers to a method of sample selection where the every member of the population has an opportunity to be included in the research (Nahorniak, et al., 2015) According to Christopher (2013), this eliminates bias and ensures that the information collected to a great extent represents the entire population. Simple random sampling was considered more effective than other probability sampling methods such as stratified sampling and cluster sampling. Stratified sampling requires the researcher to perform random sampling within subgroups of the population, which ensures that smaller groups within the population are equally represented (Nahorniak, et al., 2015) This is considered highly effective in ensuring equal representation but this research did not require this form of stratification. Cluster sampling is applicable where there are numerous micros clusters within the population, such that a random sample of each cluster is considered. This method would not be applicable in this research because the researcher‘s selection criteria was not aimed at dividing the population into clusters.
Purposive sampling is where the researcher selects the sample based on which respondents can provide the kind of information being sought, often informed by their knowledge and experience in the subject under inquiry (Monette, Sullivan & DeJong, 2013). This increases the probability of obtaining more accurate information and consequently enhancing the accuracy and reliability of the study results. Purposive sampling is widely used among researchers in situations where specific respondent knowledge and expertise is needed. The downside of purposive sampling is that it may be biased, given that the researcher influences the respondents to be included in the research (Patton, 2015). In essence, it is the opposite of random sampling which aims at ensuring equal representation of the population. To address this, the researcher aimed at avoiding bias by ensuring that the respondents were only selected based on their qualifications and experience.
Simple random sampling was used in selecting the companies to be included in the research. Employees were selected from 10 companies identified using simple random sampling. In selecting a sample for the research, purposive sampling was used in selecting respondents who would offer appropriate data on how human resource strategies influence employee engagement in Qatar. The researcher collected a list of 150 companies in Qatar and then used a random number selection application to identify 10 companies whose employees were to be involved in the research. Once the companies were identified, the researcher approached the human resource manager in the companies to assist in selection of respondents through purposive sampling. This was considered an appropriate measure because the human resource manager was in a better position to identify individuals within the organization who meet the selection criteria. As provided in purposive sampling, a random sample may not always be effective in selecting a sample due to the possibility of selecting respondents who may not offer adequate information to answer the research questions.
In order for an employee to qualify as a potential respondent, he or she must have worked in Qatar for at least 10 years and worked in their current organization for at least three years. This would ensure that the respondents could provide adequate information in the Qatar context as well as the company context. One employee from each company had to be the human resource manager while two employees from each company had to be department managers. The other seven employees were sourced from different departments within the organization, ensuring that as many departments as possible were represented. The researcher interviewed 30 employees out of this sample, who basically included the human resources and department managers. The interviews were aimed at establishing what managers thought about the impact of training and development on their employees’ performance. Questionnaires were issued to the other 70 employees to determine employees’ reaction to training and development on their performance.
Data Analysis approach
Following the collection of relevant data, the researcher used Microsoft Excel in analyzing the data by employing the various statistical data analysis tools available on the software. This included a combination of excel tabulations, pie charts and tables for visual presentation of the data collected from the research and perform inferential statistical tests. Coding was used in analyzing data from the interviews.
Microsoft Excel is considered one of the most utilized tool for data analysis globally due to the numerous functions including calculation and computation tools, presentation tools and statistical analysis functions. Jackson (2012) notes that Ms Excel makes analysis easier by providing formulas for analyzing data for comparison purposes. It is also effective in presenting information from data collected, thus enhancing data analysis and dissemination.
Coding is known for its ability to analyze qualitative data, hence its selection for the analysis of interview data collected in the research. Coding involves the classification of research findings into different categories and assigning them codes, based on themes identified (Klenke, 2016). This allows for narrative data to be effectively analyzed and thus promote result accuracy. Ms Excel provided an excellent platform for data entry, coding and analysis and will thus be effective in this process.
Validity & Reliability
In order for research results to be effectively utilized to inform strategy, policy and development of other researches among other uses, validity and reliability are considered essential prerequisites. This research makes deliberate attempts at enhancing validity and reliability through well implemented research procedures and eliminating possible errors. To enhance validity, the researcher went through training on interview performing skills to ensure that the process was flawlessly executed and that the right procedures were used to reduce chances of researcher bias (Powell, Hughes-Scholes & Sharman, 2012). To ensure that the research is reliable, the researcher utilizes purposive sampling which ensures that the sample selected is of the highest quality and that it provides high level data on the research. To minimize bias, the researcher uses random sampling to select the sample companies to be used for research (Yin, 2013). Ethical sampling and respondent communication also played an important aspect in promoting validity and reliability. The researcher ensured that the sampling process was as transparent as possible and that the respondents were given an opportunity for informed consent (Quimby, 2012). The use of reliable and efficient data analysis techniques also played a significant role in promoting the reliability of the research (Leavy, 2014).
Ethical Issues
Researchers are expected to maintain high ethical standards in order for research validity and authenticity to be achieved. In this regard, the research will be conducted within the legal frameworks and uphold highest standards of ethics during the collection and utilization of information. To achieve this, the researcher will seek approval from the ethics committee before commencing the study. Secondly, the researcher will ensure that all respondents selected for the study participate out of their own consent and that no one is coerced into being part of the study. Thirdly, the researcher will observe the following ethical issues with regards to research.
Permission to conduct study
Ethical standards require that when conducting a research in an institutional setting, it is important to seek permission from authorities in order to ensure that they are aware of the researcher’s intentions and activities (Hammersley & Traianou, 2012).This research was done in private organizations in Qatar and selection of respondents was done in conjunction with the human resource manager. This means that the first step in conducting the research was to seek permission from the organization.
Privacy and confidentiality
An important ethical factor in research is ensuring that the privacy and confidentiality of respondents is maintained. This means that their views should only be used for research purposes and should not be shared with third parties or used to incriminate them (Quimby, 2012). In this research, privacy and confidentiality was assured in the entire process through various actions. Firstly, the researcher assured participants that their responses would only use used in informing the research and not for any other purpose. Secondly, their views and information collected from them would not be shared with third parties including their managers or marketing companies. Thirdly, respondents given the questionnaire would not be required to indicate their names, thus boosting their assurance on confidentiality (Chesnay, 2014). Those who participated in interviews were assured that their personal credentials and responses would be treated with utmost confidentiality.
Informed consent
Research ethics require that participants must not be coerced into participating in any study and that they must do so upon their own volition. To ensure that this is achieved the researcher is expected to ensure informed consent, which involves providing adequate information to respondents regarding the research, to help them make an informed decision on whether to participate or not (Resnik, 2016). To address this issue, the researcher sent information to the respondents indicating the purpose of the research, data collection methods and expected usefulness of the research.
Conclusion
This chapter comprehensively explains the methodology that this research applied in exploring the role of training and development in enhancing organizational strategy. The chapter establishes that this research utilizes the qualitative method, with interviews and questionnaires being used in the collection of data. The data analysis method to be used to scrutinize findings as well as the how validity and reliability of research will be ensured are discussed. The chapter also defines the population, sample and sampling methods used in determining the sample for research; and defines the ethical issues considered during the research.
The next chapter consists of the findings from the research, which comprises of the data collected from the interviews and questionnaires. The results will form a basis for analysis and consequently the research findings.
Reference List
Anney, VN 2014, ‘Ensuring the Quality of the Findings of Qualitative Research: Looking at Trustworthiness Criteria,’ Journal of Emerging Trends in Educational Research and Policy Studies (JETERAPS), 5, 2, pp. 272-281.
Chesnay, 2014, Nursing Research Using Phenomenology: Qualitative Designs and Methods in Nursing Qualitative Designs and Methods in Nursing Qualitative Designs and Methods, New York, Springer Publishing Company.
Christopher JL et al., 2013, Understanding and Conducting Research in the Health Sciences, New York, John Wiley & Sons.
Cohen, L, Manion, L, & Morrison, K 2011, Research methods in education (7 Ed), New York, NY, Routledge.
Hammersley, M & Traianou, A 2012, Ethics in Qualitative Research: Controversies and Contexts, London, SAGE.
Padilla-Díaz, M 2015, ‘Phenomenology in Educational Qualitative Research: Philosophy as Science or Philosophical Science?’, International Journal of Educational Excellence, 1, 2, pp. 101-110 Retrieved from www.suagm.edu/umet/ijee/pdf/1_2/padilla_diaz_ijee_1_2_101-110.pdf
Patton, MQ 2015, Qualitative research & evaluation methods (4th ed.), Thousand Oaks, CA, Sage Publications.
Rose, S, Spinks, N & Canhoto, AI 2014, Management Research: Applying the Principles, London, Routledge Yin, RK, 2013, Case Study Research: Design and Methods, New York, SAGE Publications.
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Evaluation of Accounting Policy and Quality
Ernesto Simon
ACC510 Financial Reporting and Disclosure
Excelsior College
SAMPLE ANSWER
Product differentiation costs and balance sheet quality
Product differentiation plays an important role in promoting company performance. However, costs associated with product differentiation are likely to affect the health of a balance sheet to a considerable extent by presenting quality issues.
Product differentiation could be a highly expensive endeavor. In Starbuck’s case, the company incurs expenses related to market research, training, fair trade and sustainable environmental issues, which to a great extent impact on the company’s liquidity. Smith (2015) notes that investors are more likely to be attracted to companies whose balance sheets indicate higher growth potential and ability to meet short-term obligations. Low cash balances on the other hand could be detrimental in that they could indicate a weak balance sheet. On the contrary, maintaining very high cash balances raises a question of whether the company is not utilizing its resources effectively to create business. The amount used in product differentiation thus considerably influences the quality of the balance sheet.
Product differentiation expenses could lead to a high amount of short-term liabilities at Starbucks, in the form of debts owed to suppliers, thus leading to a poor quality balance sheet. When a company has more liabilities in comparison with cash flows necessary for the repayment of debts, the company’s balance sheet could indicate a possibility of bankruptcy in future. Product differentiation thereby presents potential to cause balance sheet quality issues if the expenses associated with it are too high or if the liabilities take a long time to be cleared, such that they appear overwhelming on the balance sheet.
Capitalizing Starbuck’s brand value
Starbuck’s brand value according to Interbrand.com was 4,062 $m in 2012. Capitalizing the brand value would affect the balance sheet by increasing the value of assets in the company. The change on balance sheet can be illustrated as follows.
Total assets after capitalization = 8,219.2 + 4,062 = 12,281.2
Before capitalization
With brand capitalization
Total assets
8,219.2
12,281.2
Total liabilities
549.6
549.6
Net assets
7669.6
11,731.4
Brand capitalization effects
From a credit analyst perspective and with interest in capturing risk and economics of Starbuck’s activities, I would not advocate brand asset capitalization for the company. This is because it has a negative impact on the general health of the financial statements. The calculations below show the impact of capitalizing the brand, which works by increasing the company’s assets.
= 549.6/8,219.2 = 0.066
After capitalization
= 549.6 / (8,219.2 + 4,062)
= 549.6/12,281.2
= 0.044
Based on the above calculation, it is evident that an increase in assets reduces the debt to asset ratio; an indication that the company is in a position to repay its liabilities effectively. However, the brand value does translate into assets that can be liquidated to pay liabilities unless the company is sold off. Therefore, the lower debt to asset ratio would only create an illusion of great ability to pay debt but this may not be an actual strength for the company.
= 1,383.8/8,219.2 = 0.17
After capitalization
= 1,383.8/(8,219.2+4,062)
= 0.11
The return on assets ratio demonstrates how well a company’s assets are utilized in increasing profitability for the company. Upon capitalization of the brand, Starbucks would appear to have made $0.11 out of every dollar invested, which represents 11% return. This was 17% without brand capitalization, meaning that capitalization would reduce the return to a considerable level. Consequently, this may not reflect well on the company’s finances.
Shareholder equity before brand capitalization = 5,109
Return on equity ratio before brand capitalization = 1,383.8/5,109 = 0.27
ROE after brand capitalization = 1,383.8 / 9170.8 = 0.15
Return on equity reflects the return on investments. In this scenario, it is demonstrated that stakeholders earned $0.27 for each dollar invested. If Starbucks was to capitalize its brand value, there would be a $0.15 gain for every dollar, which essentially appears lower for the investors. Given that return on equity is an indication of business health, a 15% return on investment would be considered unhealthy for the business compared to 27% recorded before capitalization.
Long-lived assets
Starbucks evaluates impairment of its long-lived assets when it is apparent that carrying values may not be recoverable. Based on this action, the quality of accounting under GAAP and IFRS is assessed as follows. Both GAAP and IFRS require testing of long-lived assets for impairment when there is existence of an impairment indicator, in addition to providing guidance on when to test. This is considerably relevant in improving the quality of accounting for long-lived assets as applied in Starbuck’s case. Secondly, both accounting standards call for impairment tests at least annually for indefinite-lived intangible assets such as goodwill, and more frequently when indicators for impairment exist. This is bound to enhance the quality of accounting by ensuring that the value of long-lived assets is updated.
The accounting policy for Starbucks in establishing useful life where a lease renewal option exists ensures that the company can accurately estimate the useful life of the lease. Starbucks uses the original lease term to calculate the useful life, which ensures that the useful life can be recalculated at the renewal period to provide a better estimate. In the event of building modification and improvements during a lease for example, the useful life may improve considerably. Calculating a useful life that is effective throughout the lease period may not represent the actual useful life of the lease. The approach used by Starbucks is therefore appropriate for the company and can significantly enhance the accuracy of its financial position.
Estimate of average useful life
A company’s accounts must demonstrate any changes in estimates, by prospectively accounting for them in the financial statements. Prospective application ensures that there is no need to undertake frequent revisions on previous period figures that may lead to excessive complications in financial statements through having to revise them to accommodate new changes.
2012
2011
2010
2009
Depreciable cost
6,592.8
5,990.9
5,657.1
5,523.5
Depreciation expense
580.6
550
540.8
Depreciation rate
8.8%
9.2%
9.5%
Depreciation rate x depreciable asset cost = annual depreciation
The average useful life of Starbuck’s assets based on the information above is 10.91 years.
Effect on net income and basic earnings per share
Effect on income
Depreciation using 2011 average = 9.2/100 x 6,592.8 = $606.5.
Increase in depreciation expense = 606.5 – 580.6 = $25.9
New net income = 1,383.8 – 25.9 = $1,357.9
Given that expenditure reduces the value of net income, the income statement would show a reduced net income. If the average depreciation for 2011 was used in place of 2012, the net income would decrease by the value of the added depreciation. The new depreciation expense would be $606.5. This depreciation expense is higher than $580.6 obtained using the 2012 rate and this results in a lower net income.
Effect on basic earnings per share
EPS = $1,357.9 – 7.5/754.4
EPS with new income = 1.79
A decrease in the income would lead to a decrease in the earnings per share. Net income is directly proportional to EPS and this means that a higher income is likely to result in a higher EPS. A reduction in the income results in a lower numerator, hence leading to a lower fraction. In this example, the net income decreases, leading to an EPS value of 1.79 compared to the previous value of 1.83 as provided in Starbuck’s 2012 financial statements.
Significance of the inventory reserves
Inventory reserves promote the quality of financial statements by ensuring that the company can shield itself from unforeseen circumstances that lead to lower cost of their inventory lower, spoilage, theft or obsolescence. Starbuck’s policy on inventory reserves not only assures quality for its customers but it also means that the company protects itself from balance sheet and income statement deterioration. This is because in the event of a lower cost for inventory than anticipated, the inventory reserve can cater for the changes. In the event of plummeting prices for example, Starbucks would record the difference by reducing that inventory account and increasing cost of goods by the change. The company’s total assets are reduced and so does the net income. However, the overall loss effect is shielded by the inventory reserve, which ensures that the loss from lower prices does not affect the company’s financial position.
Revenue recognition for store value cards
In accounting perspective, funds from customers in the form of store value cards or gift cards are considered as unearned revenues and a liability. In this respect, they can only be recorded as sales revenue once redeemed, thus eliminating the liability. Store value cards have the potential of affecting balance sheet quality because they increase liabilities. The management’s decision to recognize unclaimed cards is based on assumption that the owners will not redeem the cards. This means that in the event that the customer utilizes the card, the company may need to reverse the transaction, thus affecting the quality of its income statement. Starbucks recognizes the value of stored value cards when they are redeemed or tendered for payment. This ensures that income is only recorded once it has been earned, thus maintaining the quality of financial statements. In certain circumstances, the stored value cards may remain inactive for long periods or not be redeemed within a certain period of time, whereby the company can declare the likelihood for redemption remote and thus recognize the value of the cards as earnings. Income on unredeemed value cards increases the earnings for the company.
Reference
Wahlen, J. M., Baginski, S. P. & Bradshaw, B. (2014). Financial Reporting, Financial
Statement Analysis and Valuation. San Francisco, CA: Cengage Learning, 2014
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In the discussion part explain the behavioral and psychological responses identified in the patient/family to their illness in relation to the literature presented in your introduction and literature review section. Use evidence to support the key issues you’ve identified in your literature review. To do this effectively, you’ll need to critically analyse and evaluate your Literature.
Also, consider external (e.g., social and physical environmental) factors – NOT just the internal causes such as the illness, biology,or personality etc
In this section, also discuss how the nursing/paramedic care management issues contributed to the patient/family’s behavioural and psychological responses and how they affect the patient’s outcome. Link it with case study.
SAMPLE ANSWER
Behavioral and psychosocial responses
As mentioned by Abdel-Kader, Unruh, & Weisbord, 2009, patients diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have difficulty in falling asleep. One of the main causes of disturbed sleeping pattern is restless leg syndrome (RLS). RLS occurs when the patient legs are at rest, and is associated with itchy, painful and irritating feeling. This experience is exacerbated by alcohol, tobacco and caffeine. In addition, it has been hypothesized that inadequate dialysis clearance can lead to poor sleeping pattern. This is because build up of waste in blood causes the patient to feel uncomfortable and ill due to toxins build up in the patient’s body. Emotional health such as anxiety, sadness and worry can keep the patient up at night, thereby altering her sleeping pattern (Iliescu, Yeates, & Holland, 2004).
Depression and anxiety is also another common psychosocial response in patients diagnosed with CKD. According to Boer and colleagues 2007, depression is associated with multiple outcomes such as rates of hospitalizations, poor treatment compliance and impaired health related quality of life. In this Mr Jacobs case, the most likely cause of depression is that he has a lot of information to process about his health, leading to strong emotions about changes in his life that could bring up despair. For instance, some restrictions such as fluid intake, control of diet and discomforts associated with insertion of arteriovenous fistula, central venous catheters and the sound of the dialysis machines are other sources of depression in patients diagnosed with CKD. These complex daily functioning and fear of future influence patient’s level of anxiety. This is because they cause unfavorable self image causing negative emotions such as anger, disappointment, dissatisfaction and despondency.
Jenifer and Veronica 2013, report that socio economic status also affects the psychological and behavioral responses to CKD. The study indicates that patient’s income, occupation, wealth and education influences their responses, with people from low economic and education background experiencing the most negative responses. Smoking and alcohol use also increases risk for CKD progression through oxidative stress, tubular atrophy, endothelial dysfunction; which in turn increases risks for depression. When these environmental factors exceed the adaptive capacity of the patient’s psychological and physiological responses, they develop a condition known as stress. This is associated with tissue damage and progression of the diseases
Nursing care management and its influence on patient’s outcomes
According to Siedel and colleagues 2014, classical social relationships affect the patient’s well being. Evidence based research indicates that patients that have sparse social support have high risk of dying. The exact mechanism of dense social support as a protective mechanism in patients diagnosed with CKD is unknown, but it is hypothesized that such support protects the patients against the environmental threats to their health. Mr. Jacob condition is deteriorating because he is not receiving the adequate social support. He has the difficult of going to social functions and the feelings are overwhelming. Janice feels overwhelmed with taking care of taking care of Mr. Jacobs because she performs all her household chores and Mr. Jacobs is uncooperative.
Włoszczak-Szubzda ,Jarosz, & Goniewicz, 2013 argue that elementary duty of nurses is to give assistance and CARE- which is an acronym referring to “Comfort, Acceptance, Responsiveness and Empathy.” The psychological comfort of the patient is determined by the nurse’s skills in undertaking sensitive health issues. Poor nursing care plans results into greater patient’s discomfort and risk of getting depressed. The concept of acceptance refers to respecting of patient’s feelings as well as their attitudes. For instance, the nurse accepted Mr. Jacobs’s decision of refusing to take sedatives. To ensure positive behavioral and physiological responses, the nurse must be cultural competent.
Responsiveness refers to Nurse’s perceptions on the patient’s verbal and non-verbal communication, listening and observing the patient, paying attention to the patient’s gestures, hesitation, and the body sign language. For instance, the nurse in the dayshift observed that the patient was irritable and anxious. However, no interventions are made to manage the patient anxiety, which is probably the reason why Mr. Jacobs could not sleep. The last aspect is empathy, which is basically the nurse’s capability to experience the psychological states of the patient, and the skills of understanding their thinking and disease perception. This aspect is important especially when designing patient education on effective coping strategies (Włoszczak-Szubzda ,Jarosz, & Goniewicz, 2013).
References
Abdel-Kader, K., Unruh, M.L., &Weisbord, S. D. (2009).Symptom burden, depression, and quality of life in chronic and end-stage kidney disease. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 4(6):1057-64. doi: 10.2215/CJN.00430109. Epub 2009 May 7.
Boer, K. R., Mahler, C. W., Unlu, C., Lamme, B., Vroom, M. B., Sprangers, M. A., … Boermeester, M. A. (2007). Long-term prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in patients after secondary peritonitis. Critical Care, 11(1), R30. Retrieved from http://doi.org/10.1186/cc5710
Iliescu, E. A., Yeates, K.E., & Holland, D.C. (2004). Quality of sleep in patients with chronic kidney disease.Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2004 Jan;19(1):95-9.
Jennifer F., and Veronica J. T, (2013).“The Psychosocial Experience of Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease and Its Impact on Quality of Life: Findings from a Needs Assessment to Shape a Service,” ISRN Nephrology, vol. 2013, Article ID 308986, 8 pages, 2013. doi:10.5402/2013/308986
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Szubzda A, Jarosz MJ, Goniewicz M. (2013). Professional communication competences of paramedics – practical and educational perspectives. Ann Agric Environ Med. 20(2): 366–372.
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In Week 1, you identified a need, such as new equipment, expanding curriculum, change in procedures, and so forth, that you want to address through the instructional curriculum you will create for your class project. You also provided a rationale why the problem or need exists. Each week is a building block as we move through the stages for planning instructional design to address the identified need. The purpose of this assignment is to document the planning process. Use the Internet to locate information that you believe will assist you with your project.
Write a three to four (3-4) page paper in which you:
Create a needs analysis for the identified need.
Determine the learner characteristics for the identified need.
Create three (3) objectives from the cognitive, behavioral, and affective domains for the identified need.
Create a procedural analysis flowchart using Excel, Visio, or one (1) of their equivalents such as OpenOffice or Dia. In the flowchart, identify the starting points, decision steps, and ending points related to the learning task. Note: The graphically depicted solution is not included in the required page length.
Include at least three (3) references (no more than ten [10] years old) from material outside the textbook. Note: Appropriate academic resources include reputable Websites, scholarly texts, and peer-reviewed articles. Wikipedia and other wikis do not qualify as academic resources.
Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:
Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.
Include charts or diagrams created in Excel, Visio, MS Project, or one (1) of their equivalents such as Open Project, Dia, and OpenOffice. The completed diagrams / charts must be imported into the Word document before the paper is submitted.
The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:
Analyze theories and models of instructional design in relation to learner and program needs.
Analyze trends, standards, resources, and issues related to instructional design.
Use technology and information resources to research issues in instructional design and development.
Write clearly and concisely about issues in instructional design and development using proper writing mechanics.
Additionally, attached is the Week 3 Assignment 1 sample paper. Please pay very close attention to the APA format of the papers and please use the EXACT format of the sample paper. when you develop your own paper. In other words, use the sample papers as a template to develop your own paper. Each paper that is submitted MUST include the exact same headings as the sample papers. The headings should be placed above each paragraph as shown in the sample papers. In-text citations and source integration must also be embedded throughout the papers. Remember, if in-text citations and source integration is not included in your papers, it implies that you have plagiarized your work. In addition, ALL papers MUST be in APA style with a cover page, a running header, and a reference page. References should not be older than 10 years and ALL references must include a year of publication or a date that it was retrieved.
SAMPLE ANSWER
Project Analysis
Introduction
This paper intends to present an analysis for the need of expanding a curriculum. Notably, when expanding curriculum various learner characteristics need to be identified. Moreover, when expanding curriculum, consideration should be made regarding cognitive objectives, behavioral objectives, and the affective domain objectives. Therefore, this paper will discuss the various learner characteristics identified, and the different objectives regarding expanding the curriculum.
Need Analysis
Notably, in the class in consideration, it has been identified that students need to improve on their self-direction (Dent, & McChesney, 2016). The students should learn how to take responsibility for their life and the decisions they make. Secondly, it has been identified that the students need to improve on being practical and oriented to results (Dent, & McChesney, 2016). A practical student is likely to dislike theory. Thirdly, it has been identified that students need to improve their motivation according to Huang (2012) since learning is in most cases a voluntary thing. Fourth it has been identified that students need to improve on being less open-minded according to Huang, (2012). When a learner is less open-minded, they are likely to show more resistance to change. Fifth it has been identified that students need to improve on slower learning according to Sayer, (2015). Furthermore, it has also been identified that students need to improve on having integrative knowledge. Sixth it has been identified that students need to improve their use of personal experience as a form of a resource according to Sayer, (2015).
Learner Characteristics
Among the characteristics of the students in the class in consideration is that a majority of the students are adult students. Secondly, the students in consideration are practical students. Thus, the students tend to be more focused on information, which may be instantly applicable to the needs of their profession. Furthermore, the students focus on the practical knowledge they can use in improving the skills they have, facilitating their vocation, and boosting their confidence according to Dent, & McChesney, (2016). In addition, the students in the class in consideration are, attending school as a personal choice, since attending school is aimed at improving their skills in their job and influencing the achievement of professional growth. The students in the class in consideration are mature and have also gone through profound experiences in life thus becoming rigid, which discourages learning.
Notably, as an individual grows old, learning is affected. Thus, the students in the class in consideration have a tendency of gaining knowledge less rapidly according to Dent & McChesney (2016). Additionally, the students in the class in consideration have seen a lot of things in their lives and done a lot of things too since they are adults. Thus, the students tend to link the experiences they have gone through in the past to everything new. Moreover, the students tend to corroborate new concepts by referring to prior learning.
Objectives
There are various objectives of expanding a curriculum. However, when expanding a curriculum consideration should be made regarding cognitive objectives, behavioral objectives, and the affective domain objectives. Cognitive objectives are associated with the mental skills of an individual, while affective objectives are associated with the emotional development of an individual. Behavioral objectives, on the other hand, are associated with the things students are anticipated to do as opposed to things teachers are anticipated to do. Therefore, the first objective of expanding curriculum is helping learners to understand, which forms a cognitive objective according to Dent & McChesney (2016). A curriculum is expected to help learners comprehend the things they are taught. Furthermore, a curriculum should enable learners to understand relationships with their inferiors, their equals, and their superiors. Thus, a curriculum should be able to help learners have a meaningful learning and remember paraphrased information. Consequently, through a curriculum learners should understand how to define a concept.
The second objective of expanding curriculum is helping learners gain personal development, which forms a behavioral objective according to Huang (2012). A curriculum should aim at helping students to recognize the strengths they have. Furthermore, a curriculum should reveal to students their own needs along with their individuality. Through an appropriate curriculum, students should develop skills necessary in achieving their potential as they make a meaningful contribution to the society. The third objective of expanding a curriculum is to help learners gain thinking skills, which forms the “affective” objective according to Sayer (2015). A curriculum should enable students to connect the knowledge they already have, and the new information they get, different materials, or the media, and the environment. Through an appropriate curriculum, learners should be able to identify premises accordingly, analyze relationships with ease, and authenticate conclusions.
Conclusion
Expanding curriculum is one of the competent ways of helping students to learn. Moreover, expanding of a curriculum also creates ease for instructors in their role of teaching. The essay above has thus, provided an analysis for the need of expanding a curriculum. The essay has gone further to describe various learner characteristics, identified to necessitate expanding the curriculum. In addition, the essay has also discussed objectives of expanding the curriculum, which is based on consideration of cognitive objectives, behavioral objectives, and the affective domain objectives.
References
Dent, W., & McChesney, J. (2016). The changing landscape of one primary school’s mathematics curriculum. Teachers And Curriculum, 16(2). http://dx.doi.org/10.15663/tandc.v16i2.141
Huang, S. (2012). The integration of ‘critical’ and ‘literacy’ education in the EFL curriculum: expanding the possibilities of critical writing practices. Language, Culture, And Curriculum, 25(3), 283-298. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07908318.2012.723715
Sayer, P. (2015). Expanding global language education in public primary schools: the national English program in Mexico. Language, Culture, And Curriculum, 28(3), 257-275. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07908318.2015.1102926
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Compose an analysis paper examining a selected “boundary” or difference which has potential to impact organizational effectiveness. The analysis should demonstrate (a) cultural intelligence of the differences between those on either side of the boundary and (b) what strategies for effective leadership communication can be applied to improve organizational effectiveness. The paper should culminate in a plan for effective communication. Be sure to consider virtual and new media as part of the plan. The paper should be 6-7 pages in length, double-spaced, include a title page, and conform to APA style and formatting.
SAMPLE ANSWER
Communication Boundary Analysis
In today’s global economy the workplace has experienced a marked transformation where employees from different cultures come to work together. Firms have created international, multinational and global firms and this has contributed to the increased awareness of working in multi-cultural environments. Joint ventures, mergers and strategic alliances formed have led to the transformation of the organization as a melting point of different cultures which need to be cohesively managed so as to maximize the leverage each culture brings to the workplace. The differences in cultures lead to conflicts at times which may affect the effectiveness of the organization. Managers are expected to have the relevant skills to identify and effectively manage such differences.
One major area that portends the danger of negatively affecting the workplace is the presentation approach when meeting potential investors. The differences may arise depending on who is making the presentation from their cultural background. The presenter, who is tasked with the presentation in front of investors in a boardroom, may greatly affect the outcome of the presentation from their cultural perspective. If the presentation fails to secure the interest of the prospective investors, all the effort of the team involved will be affected and future assignments may suffer and this ultimately may lead to friction between a team leader and the team they are leading.
The difference in cultural background affects the way a team leader may behave in their presentation and their overall leadership style. In a workplace that is multi-cultured with different cultural clusters, there will be a pattern that can be identified in regards to cultural identities and behavior. Each individual is seen as a simultaneous carrier of several cultural identities which will impact on the behavior at the leadership level. The background of the differences in behavior can be identified from the research study done by Hofstede who studied the different behavior patterns of leaders from culture clusters across the globe.
The Hofstede Dimensions postulate some criteria that delineate the cultural intelligence differences between different culture clusters (Mooij, 2014). Hofstede postulates that one of the criteria used is what he terms as Power Distance (PD) which is the degree to which less powerful members of a society accepts the hierarchical distribution of power in an organization. The study showed that cultures from Germanic, Nordic and Anglo Europe scored lowly when compared to other clusters due to their lack of endorsement of the PD postulation. Participative leadership in team will be low when the team leader is from the above clusters and higher from other clusters such as Middle East, East Europe, Asia and Africa.
The other postulation of Hofstede is the Uncertainty Avoidance (UA) which postulates that societies have established beliefs, norms, rituals and procedures that help them to avoid uncertainty. This is more so in situations that create ambiguity and the rituals are used to minimize the impact of such a situation. High UA countries such as Anglo, Nordic and Western Europe leaders tend to be more controlling, less approachable and less delegating. Low UA leaders are the opposite and are open to improvisation
For purposes of application, a theoretical model will be used. A team may have a team leader (cultural background from India) with group members from cultural backgrounds of China (one person), Africa (one person) and Western Europe (two people). An assignment that was undertaken by a group for presentation will involve a group that is culturally diversified. When the assignment is complete, the team leader has the responsibility of choosing who will present to the investors. The team leader may be feeling that since the investors are mostly Anglo European, the team members from Western Europe would be a better choice to present. This would be from their cultural identity behavior shown by Hofstede of accepting their inferior position of power which may lead to the other team members (Chinese, African) feeling disenfranchised. This will lead to a chasm in the team.
The chasm may lead to the team leader behaving according to the postulations of Thomas-Kilmann which are competing, collaborating, compromising, avoidance and accommodating in order to deal with the differences (Novais & Carneiro, 2016). The leader whose cultural cluster background is from Asia (India) may resort to either the compromising style of conflict or the accommodating style of conflict resolution. The compromising style seeks the middle ground out of the moderate concerns for both the individual and others. The accommodating style of conflict resolution results from a low concern for oneself and a high concern for others.
The person chosen may exhibit traits that are influenced by their cultural background. The Indian, Chinese and Africans may posit a trait of Personalism as contrasted to Impersonalism of the Western European team members. The connecting with people by building relationships in any transaction is important for societies that are from the non-Western world, while the Western approach is detached and almost aloof with little or no connection. The presenter will project their cultural values inherently and the success or failure will be judged from their cultural background.
Strategy for effective communication
The management of organizations can take different approaches to effectively communicate in the work environment that is cross-cultural. One approach that can be used is to implement a Holistic framework of communication across the organization. The holistic framework is underpinned by three unique features: 1. Relationships are prescriptive and relations pre-empt individual choices. 2. Relations are whole-oriented with members of the team expected to make individual sacrifices for the good of the collective. 3. Relations are complimentary with team members working to complement individual tasks to achieve the common goal. The holistic approach is applied in two elements of mission and transparency.
Mission
The leadership has to prioritize on the question of what needs to be accomplished and to ensure that it is clearly spelt out and understood across the organization. The leader may have to ask the subordinates who are from multi-cultural backgrounds questions on guidance and their input concerning the mission that is being accomplished. The organization and the leader may consider the use of a “brief-back” methodology of communication where the team members can give feedback or synopsis of the information they have received. The originator of the message can then make a determination as to whether the message was properly understood or needs clarification.
Transparency
Information needs to be disseminated transparently across an organization and withholding information for personal power use should not be tolerated across an organization. Since information is very critical for the smooth communication of different components of an organization, sharing of information should be cultivated as a culture so as to make the organization to thrive. Junior employees cannot mature information that is relevant to them scaling up the corporate ladder is concealed for personal power. Transparency helps to establish trust. The use of AAR (after-action reports) for each assignment should be distributed across the organizations to show the lessons learned and the failings to avoid in the future.
Plan for effective communication
The plan for effective communication will involve the following:
Identification of Purpose for communication: The purpose would be to educate the employees on cross-cultural competence and conflict management in the cases where such conflicts arise.
Identification of audience: The target audience for the communication is all cadres of the organization from the top to the bottom.
The message: The message should factor in the content, language, mood and design in disseminating the information intended. The content should be structured to fit the cultural-context of the different cultures and should not be offensive to any culture. The language should be simple as language barrier can effectively make meaningless the whole process. The mood should be neutral as much as possible so as not to make the target feel guilty, fearful or apprehensive.
Channels of communication: The medium to be used can be varied and may make use of the following: newsletter printed and circulated internally, use of Facebook and twitter as new media to communicate, use of company blog to pass on the message. The use of new and virtual media is encouraged as it gives room for feedback according to the number of hits on the server or the number of like/dislike on a message posted. The use of the new media can also be used for a longer period as a conversation continuum with updates from the management and the employees with each side giving their input.
The possibility of differences occurring in an organization is normal and the response taken by the leadership will important to set the precedent and “case law” to follow in the future. The occurrence of differences is influenced by the cultural differences and backgrounds of each employee. The behavior pattern will be following inherently the cultural identity behavior of their cultural cluster. Effective leadership communication needs to be holistic in the approach in order to be able to deal with organizational differences. The effective communication will involve a clear understanding of the organizational mission for all concerned and the transparency in communicating across the organization. The use of modern media such as Facebook in an organization is important as it gives room for the conversation to give feedback from both sides of the narrative. The effective use of communication and the channels available is the key to resolving cross-cultural differences within an organization.
References
In Novais, P., & In Carneiro, D. (2016). Interdisciplinary perspectives on contemporary conflict resolution. Hershey: Information Science Reference.
Mooij, M. K. (2014). Human and mediated communication around the world: A comprehensive review and analysis. Cham: Springer.
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