The Edmund Fitzgerald Essay Research Paper One free essay sample

The Edmund Fitzgerald Essay, Research Paper One of the greatest ships to sail the Great Lakes was the Edmund Fitzgerald. The Edmund Fitzgerald had sailed for many old ages until it sank in 1975. The Edmund Fitzgerald was built in 1958 ; it was 729 pess long and weighed 13,632 dozenss ( Stonehouse 13 ) . This was the largest ship to sail the Great Lakes until 1971 ( Stonehouse 13 ) . The Edmund Fitzgerald had a sister ship called the Arthur B. Homer, which was the 2nd biggest ship on the great lakes ( Stonehouse 13 ) . The Edmund Fitzgerald had a 7,000 HP steam turbine engine that could force the ship at around 16 stat mis an hr ( Stonehouse 13 ) . Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company of Milwaukee owned the ship. Aboard the ship there were 29 crew members, the captain, 3 licensed deck officers, a main applied scientist, 4 licensed technology officers, and 20 unaccredited forces ( U.S. Marine Reports ) . The ships captain was Ernest Mcsorley who was a maestro of the Great Lakes and had 44 old ages sailing them ( Stonehouse 25 ) . We will write a custom essay sample on The Edmund Fitzgerald Essay Research Paper One or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The ship had sailed the great lakes for many old ages until that twenty-four hours in 1975 when it was neer seen once more. The Edmund Fitzgerald had left a port in Superior, Wis. At around 2:15 autopsy on November 09, 1975 ( Stonehouse 24 ) . The ship was to the full fueled and loaded for its trip to Detroit Michigan. The boat had traveled approximately two hours across lake higher-up when it became in sight of another boat, the Arthur M. Anderson. Around 7:00 Pm the Edmund Fitzgerald started to come across bad conditions conditions and had to alter its class. The Fitzgerald and the Anderson both changed class and started heading to the lakes more northern Waterss, which was called the autumn north path ( Stonehouse 25 ) . The two ships had traveled along the same class for many hours and the storm was still really strong. The two ships were combating moving ridges of 10-12 pess, air currents of up to fifty knots, and even snow ( Stonehouse 26 ) . The Anderson was about 16 stat mis off from the Fitzgerald when the watcher lost sight of it due to heavy snow ( Stonehouse 27 ) . That was the last clip anyone had of all time seen the Edmund Fitzgerald afloat. The two ships had traveled along, now merely with radio detection and ranging and wireless contact. The storm started to decline. Now with air currents at 43 knots and moving ridges of 12 to 16 pess, the ship was taking on H2O ( Stonehouse 27 ) . The Fitzgerald had radioed to the Anderson that they had a rail down and some blowholes were damaged ( Stonehouse 27 ) . Minutess after the wireless contact between the Anderson and the Fitzgerald, the Anderson had received an exigency broadcast from the seashore guard saying T hat all ships were to happen safe anchorage ( Stonehouse 28 ) . At this clip the Soo locks and the Mackinaw Bridge were closed down due to air currents of up to 96 stat mis per hr ( Stonehouse 28 ) . The Fitzgerald had lost both of its radio detection and rangings and had to keep wireless contact with the Anderson ( Stonehouse 28 ) . During this contact the first mate of the Anderson asked the Fitzgerald: Buckeye state by the manner, how are you doing out with your job? the answer from the Fitzgerald was We are keeping our ain ( Stonehouse 29 ) . Those words were the last words of all time heard from the Fitzgerald, which shortly disappeared off radio detection and ranging ( Stonehouse 30 ) . At 9:25 autopsy the call was made from the seashore guard to get down a hunt for the losing Fitzgerald ( Stonehouse 32 ) . The hunt for the Fitzgerald went on for 5 yearss. They had many ships and aircraft from all around the part including Canada. On the 2nd twenty-four hours of the hunt they had found two of the lifeboats from the Fitzgerald really nigh to the Anderson, which was off from Coppermine Point ( Stonehouse 43 ) . On the 5th twenty-four hours they eventually discovered a hint of the whereabouts of the losing ship. The find was made by a Navy aircraft, which was equipped with a magnetic sensing device ( Stonehouse 42 ) . The first frogman hunt was conducted from November 14 through the 16, but there was no fortune on positively placing the wreckage ( Stonehouse 43 ) . A 2nd effort to place the wreckage was conducted from November 22 through the 25, and successfully identified it as the Edmund Fitzgerald ( Stonehouse 43 ) . The Edmund Fitzgerald is located 17 stat mis north-west of Whitefish point and is in approximately 530 pess of H2O ( Stonehouse 44 ) . The ship lies in two pieces, a bow subdivision and a austere subdivision ( Stonehouse 44 ) . Out of the 29 riders aboard there are no known subsisters to this twenty-four hours. The cause of the sinking of the ship is still ill-defined, but they believe it is from monolithic implosion therapy of the tunnel, ballast armored combat vehicle, and chiefly the lading clasp due to the prostration of hatch screens ( U.S. Marine Reports ) . At the clip of the ships droping moving ridges were recorded of up to 25 pess which exceeded the ships zero freeboard which means the hatch covers can non manage the force per unit area of the H2O ( U.S. Marine Reports ) . It was besides believed that there might hold even been a foundation ( U.S. Marine Reports ) . The sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald has been an of import portion of Michigan s history. There is a vocal written by Gordon Lightfoot about the sinking of the ship, Which is called the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. There is besides a drama written by Shelley Russell named Holdin our ain: the Wreck of Edmund Fitzgerald.

The Main Engineering Branches

The Main Engineering Branches Engineers apply scientific principles to design or develop structures, equipment, or processes. Engineering encompasses several disciplines. Traditionally, the main branches of engineering are chemical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering, but there are many other areas of specialization. Key Takeaways: Branches of Engineering Engineering is a huge discipline. In general, an engineer applies scientific knowledge to solve practical problems and design equipment and processes.Engineering students typically study one of the main branches of engineering: chemical, electrical, civil, and mechanical.Many more disciplines are available, with more described over time. Examples include aerospace engineering and computer engineering. Here is a summary of the main branches of engineering: Acoustical Engineering Engineering concerned with the analysis and control of vibration, particularly sound vibrations. Aerospace Engineering Aerospace engineering deals with aeronautics and astronautic engineering, including the design and analysis of aircraft, satellites,  and spacecraft. Agricultural Engineering This branch of engineering deals with farm machinery and structures, natural resources, bioenergy and farm power systems. Sub-disciplines include food engineering, aquaculture, and bioprocess engineering. Automotive Engineering Automotive engineers are involved in the design, manufacture, and performance of cars and trucks. Biological Engineering Biological engineering is applied biology and medicine. It includes biomedical engineering, biochemical engineering, protein engineering, genetic engineering, and tissue engineering. Biomedical Engineering Biomedical engineering is an interdisciplinary specialty that applies engineering principles to medical and biological problems and systems. This discipline commonly deals with medical therapies, monitoring devices, and diagnostic tools. Chemical Engineering Chemical engineering (CE) applies chemistry to develop new materials and processes to convert materials into useful products. Civil Engineering Civil engineering (CE) is one of the oldest forms of engineering. Civil engineering pertains to the discipline pertaining to the design, construction, analysis, and maintenance of structures, both natural and man-made, including bridge, roads, dams, and buildings. Sub-disciplines of civil engineering may include construction engineering, materials engineering, control engineering, structural engineering, urban engineering, municipal engineering, biomechanics, and surveying. Computer Engineering Computer engineering integrates computer science with electrical engineering to develop and analyze circuits, microprocessors, and computers. Computer engineers tend to focus more on hardware while software engineers traditionally focus on programming and software design. Electrical Engineering Electrical engineering (EE) involves the study and application of electricity and electronics. Some consider computer engineering and software engineering to be subdisciplines of electrical engineering. Electronic engineering, optical engineering, power engineering, control engineering, and telecommunications engineering are EE specialities. Energy Engineering Energy engineering is a multidisciplinary engineering field that integrates aspects of mechanical, chemical, and electrical engineering to address alternative energy, energy efficiency, plant engineering, environmental compliance, and related technologies. Engineering Management Engineering management combines engineering and management principles to develop and assess business practices. These engineers help plan and administrate businesses from their inception through operation. They are involved in product development, design engineering, construction, manufacturing, and marketing. Environmental Engineering Environmental engineering works to prevent or remediate pollution or to maintain or improve the natural environment. This includes water, land, and air resources. Related disciplines are industrial hygiene and environmental engineering law. Industrial Engineering Industrial engineering pertains to the design and study of logistics and industrial resources. Types of industrial engineering include safety engineering, construction engineering, manufacturing engineering, textile engineering, reliability engineering, component engineering, and systems engineering. Manufacturing Engineering Manufacturing engineering designs, studies and develops machines, tool, manufacturing processes, and equipment. Mechanical Engineering Mechanical engineering (ME) may be considered the mother of all engineering branches. Mechanical engineering applies physical principles and materials science to the design, manufacture, and analysis of mechanical systems. Mechatronics Mechatronics combines mechanical engineering and electrical engineering, frequently in the analysis of automated systems. Robotics, avionics, and instrumentation engineering may be considered types of mechatronics. Nanoengineering Nanoengineering is the application of engineering on the vastly miniaturized or nanoscopic scale. Nuclear Engineering Nuclear engineering is the practical application of nuclear processes, such as those used to produce and harness nuclear power. Petroleum Engineering Petroleum engineers apply scientific principles to detect, drill and extract crude oil and natural gas. Types of petroleum engineering includes drilling engineering, reservoir engineering, and production engineering. Structural Engineering Structural engineering pertains to the design and analysis of load-bearing structures and supports. In many cases, this is a subdiscipline of civil engineering, but structural engineering also applies to other structures, such as vehicles and machinery. Vehicle Engineering Engineering pertaining to design, manufacture, and operation of vehicles and their components. Branches of vehicle engineering include naval architecture, automotive engineering, and aerospace engineering. There are many more engineering branches, with more being developed all the time as new technologies develop. Many undergraduates start out seeking degrees in mechanical, chemical, civil, or electrical engineering and develop specializations through internships, employment, and advanced education.

Finite Element Method in Computer Simulation Outline

Finite Element Method in Computer Simulation - Outline Example In this scenario, some of the industrial uses and applications of FEA can comprise effect or crash analysis of automobiles, structural analysis of bridges and buildings, electromagnetic analysis of AC and DC motors, aerodynamic analysis of airplanes and airfoils, injection molding simulation of plastic components, fluid flow investigation in channels and pipes and heat transfer through housing and commercial places and buildings. In addition, FEA uses certain physical principles that guide it regarding the actions of these physical systems. In view of the fact that biological systems also comply with the similar basic physical principles, hence the FEA can also be used to forecast the physical reaction of biological systems to recognized loading circumstances (Roylance, 2001; BIO-Mesh, 2012). The first principle is known as preprocessing which allows the user to build a framework of the component of a physical system that has to be tested. Additionally, at this step, the geometry is classified into several separate subparts, which are linked with each other at isolated places acknowledged as nodes. In addition, these frameworks are believed to be very time-consuming to put in order, as well as viable codes oppose one another to get the most easy to use graphical preprocessor to support in this somewhat tiresome task. In some cases, these preprocessors can spread over the surface a mesh on a preexisting CAD, with the intention that element analysis can be completed handily as an element of the automated drafting and design process. In this scenario, the process that is followed by the FEA modeler in order to communicate this information to the FEA software is known as "boundary conditions." In addition, boundary conditions notify the FEA software how loading would be chal lenged by rotations of definite nodes and restricted displacements (Roylance, 2001; BIO-Mesh, 2012; Starns, 2010). This

Research Paper Proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Research Paper Proposal - Essay Example With regards to the proposed research study, the researcher aims to provide a clear introduction. As part of the main body, the researcher will discuss the following: (1) importance of dental development when it comes to determining the age of the victim; (2) ways in which archeologists could determine the sex of the victim through by studying either the human dental remains and skeletal remains of the victim; (3) the use of human dental remains when it comes to determining the past occupations of the victim; and (4) ways in which human dental remains could reflect the victim’s past medical condition and treatments prior to his/her death. Prior to the conclusion, the researcher will seek to discuss how human dental remains could reflect the victim’s lifestyle and/or habits. 1. To save the researcher’s time and effort, the researcher will first list down the schools that offer courses related to the study of bioarcheology, dentistry, forensic science, criminal justice, and crime scene investigation. (Guide to Online Schools, 2008) The researcher plans to complete the research study within a short span of one week. The researcher will list down the nearby schools that offer online courses related to bioarcheology, dentistry, forensic science, criminal justice, crime scene investigation followed by gathering related peer-reviewed journal within the first two to three days. Right after the gathering related peer-reviewed journals, the researcher will spend another two days going through the journals and highlight important parts of the study. As soon as the researcher is done highlighting important findings in each journal, the researcher will start conceptualizing followed by officially writing down the flow of the research study. (See Appendix I – Gannt Chart Showing the Proposed Research Schedule on page 4) The proposed research

Jamaica Travel Guide and Travel Information Essay

Jamaica Travel Guide and Travel Information - Essay Example The Jamaicans are very hospitable and friendly. Jamaica’s main cities are Kingston, its capital, Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, Negril and Port Antonio (Mapsofworld, par.2). Getting around Jamaica is not a problem. There are several means of transportation for tourists such as riding a bike, scooter, bus, taxi or renting a car. Ferries and boats are available to take one to the various islands around Jamaica. For tourists interested in historical sites and botanical gardens, Kingston is the place to visit. Its major attraction is the Port Royal which used to be the home of sea pirates and Buccaneers. Other famous attractions of the city are the Castleton gardens, the Rockford Mineral Bath, National Art Gallery, and the Bob Marley museum which archives the life and times of the famous reggae legend (Mapsofworld, par.3). Historical sites though are not the unique selling point of Jamaica. Its beaches are its main attractions. If one wants to have a taste of the sun and sand of the island, there is a myriad of choices. In the Kingston area, there is the Lime Cay which is a small island off the coast of Port Royal, which is best for sunbathing and water sports. The Turtle Beach and the Mallard Beach are two of the more popular beaches in the city of Ocho Rios. Accommodations are not hard to find in that there are an array of hotels along the beach where one can choose to stay. And if one is an avid fan of James Bond movies, then one should not miss going to the James Bond Beach which is where the GoldenEye Hotel is located (IIWINC, par.3). The hotel is the former residence of Ian Fleming, the James Bond writer. Another amazing beach is the Dunn’s River Beach which is located under the famous Dunn’s River Waterfalls.  Ã‚  

What Do The Media Do To People Media Essay

What Do The Media Do To People Media Essay In 1959, E.Katz, a psychologist by profession was trying to grapple with the question what do the media do to people? which other researchers were attempting to answer. According to Katz, what people did with the media was more important and worthy of research. He assumed that mass media audiences are active participants in the interaction and therefore it was important for the research to focus on motivations for selecting a medium and the expected gratification from it. This led to the development of uses and gratifications theory. Uses and gratifications theory attempts to explain the uses and functions of the media for individuals, groups, and society in general. There are three objectives in developing uses and gratifications theory: 1) to explain how individuals use mass communication to gratify their needs. What do people do with the media. 2) to discover underlying motives for individuals media use. 3) to identify the positive and the negative consequences of individual media use. At the core of uses and gratifications theory lies the assumption that audience members actively seek out the mass media to satisfy individual needs. It is an audience-centred approach. When an audience actively seeks out media, they are typically seeking it in order to gratify a need. For example, in social situations, people may feel more confident and knowledgeable when they have specific facts and stories from media to add to conversation. By seeking out media, a person fulfils a need to be informed. Social situations and ps ychological characteristics motivate the need for media, which motivates certain expectations of that media. This expectation leads one to be exposed to media that would seemingly fit expectations, leading to an ultimate gratification. There are three main paradigms in media effects: hypodermic needle (i.e., direct, or strong effects), limited effects, and the powerful to limited effects. Uses and Gratifications falls under the second paradigm. The hypodermic needle model claims that consumers are strongly affected by media and have no say in how the media influences them. The main idea of the Uses and Gratifications model is that people are not helpless victims of all-powerful media, but use media to fulfil their various needs. These needs serve as motivations for using media. The media dependency theory has also been explored as an extension to the uses and gratifications approach to media, though there is a subtle difference between the two theories. Dependency on media assumes audience goals to be the origin of the dependency while the uses and gratifications approach focuses more on audience needs, however both theories agree that media use can lead to media dependency. The media dependency theory states that the more dependent an individual is on the media to fulfill needs, the more significant the media becomes to that person. DeFleur and Ball-Rokeach (1976) illustrate dependency as the relationship between media content, the nature of society, and the behaviour of audiences. Littlejohn (2002) also explained that people will become more dependent on media that meet a number of their needs than on media that touch only a few needs. Dependency on a certain medium is influenced by the number of sources open to an individual. Individuals are usually more dependent on available media if their access to media alternatives is limited. The more alternatives there are for an individual, the less is the dependency on, and influence of, a specific medium. Kazt supported the idea of studies which sought to find out what people do with the media. He cited a 1949 Berelson study conducted by interviewing people during a newspaper strike about what they missed in the newspaper. Many read because they felt it was the socially acceptable thing to do, and some felt that the newspaper was indispensable in finding out about world affairs. Many however, sought escape, relaxation, entertainment, and social prestige. These people recognized that awareness of public affairs was value in conversations. Some wanted help in their daily lives by reading material about fashion, recipes, weather forecasts and other useful information Severin and Tankard Jr. (1992:270). Davidson in Severin and Tankard Jr. (1992:269) argues that the communicators audience is not a passive recipient; it cannot be regarded as a lump of clay to be moulded by the master propagandist. Rather the audience is made up of individuals who demand something from communications to whic h they are exposed, and who select those that are likely to be useful to them. In other words, they must get something from the manipulator if he is to get something from them. A bargain is involved. The uses and gratifications approach involves a shift of focus from the purposes of the communicator to the purposes of the receiver. To a large extent, the user of the mass communication medium is in control. Uses and gratifications approach reminds us that people use the media for various purposes. Studies have shown that bored audiences use the media for exiting content while stressed subjects would use relaxing content, supporting the idea that audiences choose media content to provide gratifications they are seeking. Elliot and Rosenberg concluded that much of mass media use might be merely a matter of habit. They carried a study in which people indicated that they watched some soap operators out of habit which they enjoyed doing. Jay G. Blumler and Elihu Katz devised their uses and gratifications model in 1974 to highlight five areas of gratification in media texts for audiences. These include: Escape some media texts allow the user to escape from reality. For example, video games. Social interaction People create personal relationships with the characters in a media text. Potentially this could become dangerous if people do not question the reality of such texts. It also creates a common ground for conversation in peoples everyday lives. Identify People often identify a part of themselves in a media text, either through character or circumstance. For example, hair style trends stemming from a magazine feature. This can go a long way in peoples ideologies. Inform and educate the audience gain an understanding of the world around them by consuming a media text, for example print and broadcast news. Entertain consumed purely for entertainment purposes, meaning that text need not have any other gratifications. The Uses and Gratifications Model of the Media The mass media is a huge phenomenon. Through the various different platforms, print or broadcast, the media is able to reach millions of people like no other force. Without the media, powerful speeches by politicians would affect no one, local events would remain local, and performances by great actors would be seen only by the people in the immediate audience. The media overcomes distances, and builds a direct relationship with the audience. Many sociologists have attempted to explore what effects this has on society, and how the media fits in to our social network. Through many programmes of research, including focus groups, surveys, questionnaires, clinical studies and plain hypothesising, a number of models describing the medias relationship with audiences have been drawn up. Initially, researchers approached the subject from the angle of how the media is able to manipulate audiences, injecting messages into their minds. This hypodermic model, as discussed in the earlier part was rejected after closer examination. The Uses and Gratifications model represented a change in thinking, as researchers began to describe the effects of the media from the point of view of audiences. The model looks at the motives of the people who use the media, asking why we watch the television programmes that we do, why we bother to read newspapers, why we find ourselves so compelled to keep up to date with our favourite soap. The underlying idea behind the model is that people are motivated by a desire to fulfil, or gratify certain needs. So rather that asking how the media uses us, the model asks how we use the media. The model is broken down into four different needs. Surveillance: The surveillance need is based around the idea that people feel better having the feeling that they know what is going on in the world around them. One of the genres this is often applied to is news. By watching or reading about news we learn about what is happening in the world, and as the news is usually bad news, this knowledge leaves us feeling more secure about the safety of our own lives. This idea might seem a bit strange, that the more we know about tragedies the safer we feel, but sociologists argue that ignorance is seen as a source of danger, and so the more knowledge we have the safer we feel. When looking at the news its easy to spot news items that give us this reaction. For example if it wasnt for watching the news we might be unknowingly become vulnerable to the latest computer virus or end up in a hospital with an epidemic like swine flu. Its not just news that fulfils the surveillance model however; the theory can also be seen in many consumer and crim e-appeal programmes. These appeal directly through the idea that they are imparting information that people need to know. The programmes talk far more directly to the viewer, and even try to get the viewer involved in the programme. Because these programmes deal purely with national and local concerns, without such vagaries as world news, the issues apparently have the potential to affect the viewer directly. This explains why certain channels like Aaj Tak and IndiaTV show programmes which have wide viewership in rural areas. Some of the contents of these channels would never be appreciated by the urban audience. The surveillance model then is all about awareness. We use the mass media to be more aware of the world, gratifying a desire for knowledge and security. Personal Identity: The personal identity need explains how being a subject of the media allows us to reaffirm the identity and positioning of ourselves within society. This can most be seen in soaps, which try to act as a microcosm of society as a whole. The characters in soaps are usually designed to have wildly different characteristics, so that everyone can find someone to represent themselves, someone to aspire to, and someone to despise. For example someone might feel close to a character who is always falling victim to other people, and this connection might help him/her to understand and express his/her feelings. Someone may also really like a character who seems cool and leads a aspirational lifestyle everyone would desire to lead. This relationship could act as a way to channel your ones life, helping to set goals to work to. Finally there may be a character one really cant stand. By picking out their bad characteristics and decisions, it helps audiences to define their own personal identity by differentiation. The use of the media for forming personal identity can also be seen outside soaps. Sports personalities and pop stars can often become big role models, inspiring young children everywhere (which is why theres such an outcry when one of them does something wrong). Even the seriousness of news can lend itself to gratifying personal identity, by treating news anchors as personalities, rather than simply figureheads relaying information. Personal Relationships: Audiences can form a relationship with the media, and also use the media to form a relationship with others. Relationships with the Media : Many people use the television as a form of companionship. The television is often quite an intimate experience, and by watching the same people on a regular basis we can often feel very close to them, as if we even know them. When presenters or characters in a soap die, those who have watched that person a lot often grieve for the character, as if they have lost a friend. Some events can even cause media outcries, such as the recent reality shows where the events within the show became main stories on the TV/News channels. The more we watch the same personalities, the more we feel we get to know them. Reality TV shows such as Big Brother and its adapted versions in India give us such a feeling of intimacy with the participants that they can become part of our lives. Even though the relationship is completely one-sided, its easy to see how we can fall in love with TV personalities. Using the Media within Relationships: Another aspect to the personal relationships model is how we can sometimes use the media as a springboard to form and build upon relationships with real people. Having a favourite TV programme in common can often be the start of a conversation, and can even make talking to strangers that much easier. Some families use sitting around watching the television as a stimulus for conversation, talking to each other about the programme or related anecdotes while it is on. Diversion: The diversion need describes whats commonly termed as escapism watching the television so we can forget about our own lives and problems for a while and think about something else. This can work with positive programmes, such as holiday shows or the constant happy endings which help to cheer us up and forget our own problems, and with negative programmes, such as a tragic film, which help to put our own problems into perspective. The diversion model also accounts for using the media for entertainment purposes, such as a good spy film, and for relaxation. The media can give us emotional release and also sexual arousal, which includes a sexy scene in a film as well as pornography. Altogether, the Uses and Gratifications model outlines the many reasons we have for using the mass media, and the kind of functions that the media can play within our lives. New media and current scenario The shift of media and media industry over the past few years into new forms, such as DVD/ Blue ray and the internet based social networking sites, changes the modalities available for audiences to consume and receive media. The change has caused some media theorists to call into question the influence that the media has over attitudes and beliefs. Urbanization, industrialization and modernization create social conditions in which the mass media is developing and reshaping. Mass media plays a crucial role in forming and reflecting public opinion: media connects the world to individuals and reproduce the self-image of society. Contemporary global media scenario presents a more complex interaction between the media and society, with the media generating information from a network of relations and influences. The individual interpretations and evaluations of the information provided sometimes lead to consequences and ramifications of the mass media which may relate not merely to the way newsworthy events are perceived (and which are reported at all), but also to a multitude of cultural influences that operate through the media. The media has a strong social and cultural impact upon society. This is predicated upon its ability to reach a wide audience which often sends a strong and influential message. It is through the persuasiveness of media such as television, radio and print media that reach the target audience. These have been influential media as they have been largely responsible in structuring the daily lives and routines of millions across the globe. Television broadcasting has a large amount of control in influencing the content that society watches and the times in which they are viewed. This is a distinguishing feature of traditional media and although they are by no means redundant, the development of the internet has challenged the traditional participation habits involved in media such as television. The internet has lifted some of the restrictions placed on society by allowing for diversification of political opinions, social and cultural differences and heightened level of consumer participa tion. There have been suggestions that allowing consumers to produce information through the internet will lead to a bombardment of too much information. It can however allow society a medium for expressing opinions and moving away from the political restrictions placed on society. The uses and gratifications theory of Blumler and Katz (1974) and other group studies in social psychology provide such major motivations for individuals to join virtual communities on social networking sites like facebook, orkut, twitter etc, as the need for social integration (belong and be affiliated), the need for help in achieving goals (e.g. by obtaining information), the need for realizing economic exchanges, the need for status enhancement (by impressing and manipulating others), and the need for entertainment. Some of the other ways in which uses and gratification becomes relevant in the Indian/Global media scenario are:- Media can also influence the way people converse due to embedding their minds with particular thoughts and feelings via their various media outlets. Certain movies have quotes that can be engrained into the minds of the audience. However, these quotes can be either appropriate or inappropriate. When someone hears something in the media and it is reinforced through the various media channels i.e. TV, radio, newspapers etc, general members of the public become more susceptible as taking the news as the whole truth, and this can then be accepted as the norm within society. Many famous trials about celebrities have ended in such bad publicity and negative depictions of the people involved that their reputation gets damaged forever, irrespective of the outcome of the trial. The general public already forms their opinion even before the trials are conducted. In the United States the election of many politicians has been enormously influenced by media. Most notably John F. Kennedys victory in the presidential race of 1960 against Richard Nixon has been described by many as the result of his more handsome and good looking appearance on television, especially when compared with Nixon. Also Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwarzenegger whose fame as actors helped them to gain more media attention and eventually the victory in their elections as president or governor. Similarly Barrack Obama used all the forms of media to build a public opinion in his favour and exploited the latest available social networking platforms to maximize the multiplier effect. The results of the last general elections in India and the victory of Congress party can be linked to a similar media strategy. Criticisms of uses and gratification theory Many people have criticized this theory as they believe the public has no control over the media and what it produces. It can also be said to be too kind to the media, as they are being let off the hook and do not need to take responsibility for what they produce. It is not always safe to assume that people choose the media based on their needs. There are other factors which restrict choices of the audiences, virtually leaving them with a very few or no alternatives. Some of the other criticisms of the theory as found in the literature have been quoted below:- The nature of the theory underlying Uses and Gratifications research is not totally clear, (Blumler, 1979) Practitioners of Uses and Gratifications research have been criticized for a formidable array of shortcomings in their outlook they are taxed for being crassly atheoretical, perversely eclectic, ensnared in the pitfalls of functionalism and for flirting with the positions at odds with their functionalist origins, (Blumler, 1979). The biggest issue for the Uses and Gratifications Theory is its being non-theoretical, being vague in key concepts, and being nothing more than a data-collecting strategy (Littlejohn, 2002; Severin and Tankard, 1997; McQuail 1994). It seems that using this theory has little to no link to the benefit of psychology due to its weakness in operational definitions and weak analytical mode. Also, it is focused too narrowly on the individual and neglects the social structure and place of the media in that structure (Severin and Tankard, 1997). Due to the individualistic nature of Uses and Gratification theory, it is difficult to take the information that is collected in studies. Most research relies on pure recollection of memory rather than data (Katz, 1987). This makes self-reports complicated and immeasurable. uses and gratifications research portrays media consumption as primarily rational and individualistic, whereby individuals control consumption according to conscious goals. This assumes (contrary to Attribution Theory) that respondents are aware of every factor entering into their media choices and do not misjudge the causes of their behaviour. Little attention is therefore accorded to the ways in which media may be consumed mindlessly or ritualistically (Littlejohn, 1989, p. 276). Critics argue that needs for attending to certain media are formed and informed by culture as well as by certain psychological predispositions particular to individual consumers of media products. According to Littlejohn (1989), critici sm of this approach may be divided into three major strands: (a) lack of coherence and theory in the tradition; (b) social and political objections; and (c) the instrumental (versus ritualistic) philosophical bias of uses and gratifications (p. 276). This theory has also been blasted by media hegemony advocates who say it goes too far in claiming that people are free to choose the media fare and the interpretations they want (Severin and Tankard, 1997). Other motives that may drive people to consume media may involve low level attention, a habit or a mildly pleasant stimulation. Uniform effects are not the kind of factor the Uses and Gratifications approach would predict (Severin and Tankard, 1997).

Information processing and cognitive development Essay -- essays resea

Information Processing and Cognitive Development   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Information processing is a perspective (approach) to the study of cognition and cognitive development in which the mind is likened to a computer. However, rather than focusing on mere input and output, psychologists who adhere to this approach place specific emphasis on the processes of cognitive development. Cognitive perspectives examine development in terms of mental processing. The two major views within this subject are cognitive developmental theory and information processing theory.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Theorists claim that our cognitive processes are like that of a computer. They have used this as a model to break down the process of the human thinking processes and cognitive performance. When you receive some stimuli through your senses, your brain puts this information into the sensory store. Then the information is placed into short term memory. If the information is not encoded from short term memory to long term memory, the information is lost. However, once in long term memory the information is ready for retrieval (Cook). It is important to understand some of the key assumptions of this approach, including the emphasis on, the role of the knowledge base in cognitive development; the conceptualization of thinking as involving distinct processes executed over time, and the ways in which change in the system can occur (Miller).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is a fact th...