Virginia School Of Polygraph

Virginia School Of Polygraph The purpose of this paper is to address abnormal behavior and various psychological disorders so polygraph examiners may have a better realization and understanding when conducting polygraph examinations on such individuals. There will be occasions when a polygraph examiner will have to conduct polygraph examinations on individuals who posses abnormal behavior and psychological disorders. If the polygraph examiner has knowledge and is aware of the signs and symptoms associated with abnormal behavior and personality disorders and what types of charts the examinee may produce, the polygraph examiner will be able to determine to what extent the examination can offer. The polygraph examiner should also recognize the safeguards and incorporate precautions when questioning these types of examinees. The polygraph examiner who is very familiar with abnormal behavior and psychological disorders is better suited to recognize examinees that may have not been diagnosed with a disorder. The polygraph examiner will be able to generate a better examination when interviewing these individuals. ADMINISTERING POLYGRAPH EXAMINATIONS ON CLIENTS WHO POSSES ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR AND PSHYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS There will be examinees, which have a psychological disorders to perform well on the polygraph examination and produce good charts and others that may not do well resulting in poor charts. A bad chart can have a greater area of tracing impurities or artifacts. Artifacts that might possibly arise in subjects who posses psychological disorders could be: excessive movement, talking, audible sighs or laughing. The polygraph examiner who can recognize the symptoms associated with these disorders would be able to gather from the physiological activity on the polygraph exam that the examinee could be undergoing psychological problems. The examiner should then advise the examinee that he needed to be evaluated. A determination should be made by the examiner if the examination should be postponed until the examinee is better equipped to produce clearer charts on the polygraph examination. The polygraph examiner will not be able to obtain better chart readings until the physiological issues ca n be somewhat resolved. By addressing these issues to the right care takers in the field of psychiatry, the examinee would be better suited for a re-examination. Once these safeguards are in place for the different psychological disorders and all parties involved understand the importance of quality charts needed from the examination, there would be no wasted time and effort. Because of these disorders, it is very important that the polygraph examiner be able to recognize psychological disorders in examinees and those who may be using deceptive characteristics. ADMINISTERING POLYGRAPH EXAMINATIONS ON CLIENTS WHO POSSES ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS Abnormal behavior and various psychological disorders will be defined in this research paper and the appropriate instructions will be given to better prepare the polygraph examiner when administering examinations. (Matte, 1996) Defining the word abnormal can be sometimes difficult, but to most psychologists, it simply means to deviate from the norm. This can present a complex problem to psychology because you have to ask: what is normal, what guidelines, for what age, for what culture. Many would say that what is good is normal and what is bad is abnormal. This however can be a generalized statement. There are other ways of determining a more objective reference point. One method of determining abnormality is statistical deviation. In the bell-shaped curve below, one can recognize that the majority of human characteristics can be easily recognized. (http://www.purgatory.net) A standard bell curve ADMINISTERING POLYGRAPH EXAMINATIONS ON CLIENTS WHO POSSES ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS People who fall to the far left or to the far right from the chart division in the middle could be considered abnormal. The misconception of this meaning however can cause disagreements over the meaning of abnormality. It does not identify other variables such as those who have an above than average IQ. It does not identify common but maladaptive behavior like people who use tobacco products or those who use alcohol. Strategies using this approach can be very useful in science and statistics. (http://www.purgatory.net) An easy way to classify abnormal behavior is by ones personal stresses. Simply stated, if a person is happy with their life, then there would be no problems concerning the mental health profession. But, if ones thoughts or actions are causing personal conflict or sadness, they would be characterized as abnormal. Another way to identify abnormality is through maladaptive behavior. In maladaptive behavior, there are two viewpoints. First, is maladaptive to ones self. Second, is maladaptive to society. Maladaptive to ones self, is a persons failure to obtain personal objectives or to work through the pressures of everyday life. Maladaptive to society is when a person causes problems or issues to the whole of society thus causing dysfunction This explanation permits tremendous manageability. It allows space for a person to conform their behavior to societys norms. It also allows for deviant behavior if the person ADMINISTERING POLYGRAPH EXAMINATIONS ON CLIENTS WHO POSSES ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS does not attempt to harm themselves. This allows the terminology of abnormality to be identified the way it should be by resting on the fact that each individuals life experiences and environment are different. There are some classifications of behavior that testifies to the possible threats to the lives and livelihood of people. The following examples explain the various stages of these classifications: extended episodes of discomfort, inability to function, unexplained behavior, and disruptive behavior. Extended periods of discomfort are classified as things such as worrying about a test or if a loved one dies. The discomfort is real and threatens the individual but in time, the discomfort goes away. If these feelings continue and appear not to be coming from these examples a person could be considered to have a disorder. Impaired functioning may be when a person who has a very high IQ, but has difficulties passing tests. Unexplained behavior is when people do things that others find strange. The body piercings and clothes that teenagers get in todays society are unexplainable to the older generation but are explainable by sociologist due to the fact everyone wants to be in style with their preferred peers. Unexplained behavior has no explainable theory other than the individual appears to be mentally impaired. Disruptive behavior is when a person displays sporadic and uncontrollable behavior that disrupts the lives of others or deprives them of ADMINISTERING POLYGRAPH EXAMINATIONS ON CLIENTS WHO POSSES ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR AND PSHCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS their human rights on a regular basis. This type of behavior is characteristic of a severe psychological disorder. There are many psychological disorders that the polygraph examiner must be aware of and they are as follows: Anxiety, Mood, Personality, Schizophrenia, Delusional, Sexual, Somatoform and Dissociative. Anxiety disorders are disorders in which anxiety is the main symptom (generalized anxiety or panic disorders) or anxiety is experienced unless the individual avoids feared situations (phobic disorders) or tries to resist performing certain rituals or thinking persistent thoughts (obsessive-compulsive disorders). Also includes post-traumatic stress disorder. Mood disorders are when a person may be extremely depressed or may change between periods of elation and depression. Personality disorders are long-standing patterns of maladaptive behavior that exhibits immature and inappropriate ways of coping with stress and solving problems. Antisocial personality disorder is an example. Schizophrenia is a group of disorders characterized by loss of contact with reality, marked disturbances of thought and perception, and bizarre behavior. At some phase delusions or hallucinations almost always occur. Delusional disorders are characterized by excessive suspicions and hostility, accompanied by feelings of being persecuted; reality ADMINISTERING POLYGRAPH EXAMINATIONS ON CLIENTS WHO POSSES ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS contact in other areas satisfactory to the norm. Sexual disorders include transsexualism, sexual interest in children, impotence, premature ejaculation and sexual performance. Psychoactive substance abuse disorders include excessive use of alcohol, barbiturates, amphetamines, cocaine, and other drugs that alter behavior. Marijuana and tobacco are also included in this category, which is controversial. Somatoform disorders are physical but no organic basis can be found and psychological factors appear to play the major role. Included are conversion disorders (for example, a woman who resents having to care for her invalid mother suddenly develops a paralyzed arm) and hypochondriasis (excessive preoccupation with health and fear of disease when there is no basis for concern). Dissociative disorders are temporary alterations in the functions of consciousness, memory, or identity due to emotional problems. Included are amnesia (the individual cannot recall anything about his or her histo ry following a traumatic experience) and multiple personality (two or more independent personality systems existing within the same individual). (Harcout Brace Jovanovich Inc., 1993) The majority of people always feel a little nervous sometimes. However, people with anxiety disorders feel an abnormal amount from common things. In all types of anxiety disorders, anxiety is the main symptom. There are four major types of anxiety disorders: ADMINISTERING POLYGRAPH EXAMINATIONS ON CLIENTS WHO POSSES ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS generalized anxiety/panic disorders, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and post traumatic stress disorder. A person with a general anxiety disorder lives in a state of constant nervousness. People with this disorder usually overreact to any type of stress. Typically, individuals have trouble making decisions and when they actually do this it usually only causes additional worries. Sufferers of general anxiety tend to have panic attacks. Some theorists think that this disorder is caused by a learned anxiety. For example, being nervous once about something and learning to avoid that something. A phobia is a fear of a specific stimulus or situation. The sufferer of a phobia usually knows that the fear is irrational but cannot do anything about it. Phobia has three sub-classes: simple phobia, social phobia, and agoraphobia. A simple phobia is a fear of a specific thing or situation. A person may have one phobia but be normal in all other aspects. However, in serious cases, a perso n may have multiple phobias that interfere with their everyday life. Social phobias are when people have an extreme fear of social situations and of embarrassing themselves. The most common types of this phobia are public speaking and eating in public. This type of phobia creates an irrational fear of unfamiliar situations. People with agoraphobia avoid open spaces, crowds, traveling, and in extreme cases do not even leave their home. It is also the most difficult to cure. Obsessive-Compulsive ADMINISTERING POLYGRAPH EXAMINATIONS ON CLIENTS WHO POSSES ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS disorders are the persistent intrusions of unwelcome thoughts, images, or impulses that cause anxiety. A compulsion is an irresistible urge to carry out certain acts or rituals that reduce anxiety. These two things are often linked together. Individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder know that their behavior is irrational, but are unable to resist. The resistance only causes them to become anxious and only the carrying out of the act will relieve that anxiety. Compulsion has many forms, but the two most common are washing and checking. The obsessive-compulsive disorder is related to the phobias in that both cause severe anxiety and a patient may suffer from both disorders. Post-traumatic stress disorder is caused by a traumatic event that overwhelms a person and ruins their ability to cope with a situation. It can cause flashbacks, nightmares, insomnia, and/or guilt. It is usually extremely long lasting. (Harcout Brace Jovanovich Inc., 1993) In Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic-depression, there are swings in mood from elation to depression with no discernable external cause. During the manicky phase of this disorder, the patient may show excessive, unwarranted excitement or silliness, carrying jokes too far. They may also show poor judgment and recklessness ADMINISTERING POLYGRAPH EXAMINATIONS ON CLIENTS WHO POSSES ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS and may be argumentative. Manics may speak rapidly, have unrealistic ideas, and jump from subject to subject. They may not be able to sleep or sit still for very long. These symptoms are predominant for a specific period of time lasting for a few days or even a few months. Hospitalization can often be necessary to keep the person from harming themselves and others. The other side of the bipolar coin is the depressive episode. Bipolar depressed patients often sleep more than usual and are lethargic. This contrasts with those with major depression, who usually has trouble sleeping and is agitated. During bipolar depressive episodes, a patient may also show irritability and withdrawal. Manic episodes can occur without depression, but this is very rare. Bipolar disorder is relatively uncommon, occurring in less than 1% of the population. Many researchers believe that it has an organic basis, as it is more common among identical than fraternal twins and may reflect an excess of norepinephrine which is a neurotransmitter believed to play a part in depression. (Harcout Brace Jovanovich Inc., 1993) Schizophrenia is a class of disorders that are identified by loss of contact with reality, marked disturbances of thought and perception, and bizarre behavior. Sometime in the ADMINISTERING POLYGRAPH EXAMINATIONS ON CLIENTS WHO POSSES ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS persons life there will be delusions or hallucinations that almost always occur. Schizophrenia is among the most debilitating and complex of the psychoses. Approximately 1% of the world population is affected with this mental illness. Emil Kraeplin first identified the illness in 1986 when he distinguished it from the mood disorders. Kraeplin believed that all psychiatric disorders were caused by organic factors, and his experience suggested to him that the onset of the disease occurred early in the life of the individual. Hence, he called it dementia praecox, which means a premature deterioration of the brain. (Harcout Brace Jovanovich Inc., 1993) Emils thoughts were later disputed by many psychiatrists. One of these was Eugene Bleuler, an eminent Swiss psychiatrist, who, in 1911 found that the onset of the disease could in fact occur in the later years. He also reported that schizophrenia was not characterized by the progressive deterioration over the life of the patient, but rather that most patients, after an original severe deterioration, tend to stabilize and remain at the same point in their psychosis for extended periods of time. Bleuler also felt that in order to avoid any misunderstanding of the nature of the illness by the now obvious misnomer attached to it; the disease would be much better served if it was referred to as ADMINISTERING POLYGRAPH EXAMINATIONSON CLIENTS WHO POSSES ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS schizophrenia. Bleuler invented the word by combining two Greek words meaning split and mind. This emphasized a splitting apart of the patients affective and cognitive functioning, which are heavily affected by the disease. (Harcout Brace Jovanovich Inc., 1993) There are two types of schizophrenia: Type I (Reactive or Acute Schizophrenia and Type II (Process Schizophrenia). Reactive schizophrenia is usually sudden and seems to be a reaction to some life crisis. Since the premorbid history is usually good, when the disease does manifest itself, it is in the early phases. Reactive schizophrenia is a more treatable form of the illness than process or chronic schizophrenia. Reactive Schizophrenia is also referred to as poor premaid schizophrenia. It is characterized by lengthy periods of its development with a slow deterioration and negative symptoms. It doesnt seem to be related to any major life change or negative event. Usually this type of schizophrenia is associated with loners who are rejected by society, tend not to develop social skills and dont excel out of high school. The principal disturbance in the schizophrenics thought processes is multiple delusions. This is divided into two sub-categories, persecutory delusions (in which the sc hizophrenic believes that he/she is being talked about, spied ADMINISTERING POLYGRAPH EXAMINATIONS ON CLIENTS WHO POSSES ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS upon, or their death being planned) and delusions of reference (which is when the schizophrenic gives personal importance to completely unrelated incidents, objects, or people. Other common delusions include thought broadcasting (they believe their thoughts are visible to the outside world) and thought insertion, which is what most people perceive schizophrenia as consisting of (their thoughts are not their own and are in truth being inserted into their minds by some outside force). Other delusions, such as believing one to be Jesus Christ, may appear in extreme cases. (Harcout Brace Jovanovich Inc., 1993) The Delusional Disorder is from time to time is referred to as paranoia. The delusion may manifest itself as any of the following types: The persecutory type is when the individual believes he or she is being threatened or mistreated by others. The grandiose type is when victims of the disorder believe they are extraordinary important people or are possessed with extraordinary power, knowledge or ability. The jealous type is when the delusion centers on the unfaithfulness of a spouse. The eroticmatic type is when a person convinces themselves that a popular or well known celebrity is in love with them and letters are ADMINISTERING POLYGRAPH EXAMINATIONS ON CLIENTS WHO POSSES ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS exchanged between the two. The somatic type is when a persons false belief that is focused on a delusional physical abnormality or disorder. (Harcout Brace Jovanovich Inc., 1993) Sexual disorders include problems of sexual identity, sexual performance, and sexual aim. There are three major categories of sexual disorders: sexual dysfunctions, paraphilia, and gender identity disorders. Sexual dysfunctions prevent or reduce an individuals enjoyment of normal sex and prevent or reduce the normal physiological changes brought on normally by sexual arousal. These dysfunctions can be classified by the phase of the sexual cycle in which they occur. It is important to keep in mind that the diagnosis of sexual dysfunction is made only when the disability persists. Any of these could occur occasionally or be caused by a temporary factor such as fatigue, sickness, alcohol, or drugs. (Harcout Brace Jovanovich., 1993) Paraphilias are sexual behaviors in which unusual objects or scenarios are necessary to achieve sexual excitement. Eight paraphilias are recognized which are grouped into 3 broad categories: Preferences for nonhuman objects, Preferences for situations causing suffering, Preferences for nonconsenting partners. ADMINISTERING POLYGRAPH EXAMINATIONS ON CLIENTS WHO POSSES ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS There are two types of preferences for nonhuman objects: fetishism and transvestism. A fetish exists when a person is sexually aroused by a nonliving object. It can manifest in two ways, one more extreme than the other. One form associates coitus with some object like womens underwear. It is relatively harmless if the action is taken playfully and is acceptable to the persons partner. Certain parts of the body besides pleasurable foreplay can become fetishistic in its hold on the individual. (Harcout Brace Jovanovich Inc., 1993) The most extreme form of fetishism is when a nonliving object substitutes for a human partner, such as underwear, shoes, or delicate objects as velvet or silk. In this state, sexual gratification is achieved when the person is alone, fondling the object. Transvestism exists when the person achieves sexual excitement by cross-dressing. This is very rarely found in females so the male side of this paraphilia will be used as the example. Two different purposes seem to be associated with this act in different individuals. In one aspect the person seeks to intensify sexual excitement in intercourse with a partner by only partially dressing as a woman. In the other form, the male moves about in full female regalia, which suggests some type of gender identity disorder but not necessarily homosexuality. ADMINISTERING POLYGRAPH EXAMINATIONS ON CLIENTS WHO POSSES ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS Preferences for situations causing suffering from the reported violent exploits of the Marquis de Sade. Sadist is applied to those who derive sexual excitement from the pain of others. The term masochist was derived from the writing of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch whose characters sought out women who would beat them. Masochist is applied to those who derive sexual excitement through their own pain. Hence, sadists and masochists go hand in hand, one depending on the need of the other. The danger of these needs is that each may need successively more brutal treatment to satisfy their sexual needs. Preferences for nonconsenting partners are separated into three types: exhibition, voyeurism and pedophilia. All three are considered crimes in this country and are almost entirely male crimes. Exhibitionism is the exposure of ones genitals in a public place. It is the most prominent sexual offense leading to arrest and makes up one third of all sexual crimes.1 From the psychological point of view, there are three characteristic features of the exhibition. First, it is always performed for unknown women; second, it always takes place where sexual intercourse is impossible, for example in a crowded shopping mall; and third, it must be shocking for the unknown woman or it seems to lose its power to produce sexual ADMINISTERING POLYGRAPH EXAMINATIONS ON CLIENTS WHO POSSES ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS arousal in the individual. Exhibitionists are not assaultive and are considered more of a nuisance than an actual danger. Voyeurism is Looking at sexually arousing pictures or situations are a relatively common, apparently normal activity. The difference between this and voyeurism is that in normal watching, the viewing is a prelude to normal sexual activity. In the voyeur or Peeping Tom the experience replaces normal sexual activity. Nevertheless, voyeurism may exist in a person who also engages in normal heterosexual activity. Pedophilia is the act of deriving sexual excitement through the physical contact of children. This paraphilia is radically different from exhibitionism and voyeurism in its severely damaging impact on the nonconsenting partner, a child. Ordinarily, the pedophiliac is someone who has ready access to the child. The child or parent would have no reason to suspect that the individual has a pedophilic orientation. A gender identity disorder exists when a person, male or female, experiences confusion, vagueness or conflict in their feelings about their own sexual identity. There is a struggle between the individuals anatomical sex gender and subjective feelings about choosing a masculine or feminine style of life. Children can distinguish the difference between males and females by the age of two and by their fourth birthday can recognize the different roles ADMINISTERING POLYGRAPH EXAMINATIONS ON CLIENTS WHO POSSES ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS that each sex plays in society. By the age of fifteen or so a person can relate to what arouses sexual feelings in themselves. Those with a gender identity disorder may have a problem with one or all of these aspects of identity. (Harcout Brace Jovanovich Inc., 1993) The most common characteristic of the somatoform disorder is the appearance of physical symptoms or complaints of such without any organic basis. Such dysfunctional symptoms tend to range from a specialized sensory or motor diability to hypersensitivity to pain. Four major somatoform disorders exist: conversion disorder (also known as hysteria), hypochondriasis, somatization disorder, and somatoform pain disorder. The two somatoform disorders are conversion disorder and hypochondrias. The primary symptom for conversion symptom is often a lack or change in physical functioning. The diseased often react with an attitude of indifference, showing an amazing lack of concern. However, the primary symptoms which may include suc h serious ailments as blindness, amnesia and paralysis, are used as a defense mechanism by the person to escape from a stressful situation. In addition, there may be an awareness of the gains possible through the use of the symptom, which may prolong the symptom. Symptoms are grouped as follows. A conversion disorder is divided into three symptoms: Sensory symptoms, motor symptoms, and visceral symptoms. Sensory symptoms include anesthesia, excessive sensitivity to ADMINISTERING POLYGRAPH EXAMINATIONS ON CLIENTS WHO POSSES ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS strong stimulation (hyper anesthesia), loss of sense of pain (analgesia), and unusual symptoms such as tingling or crawling sensations. In motor symptoms, any of the bodys muscle groups may be involved: arms, legs, vocal chords. Included are tremors, tics (involuntary twitches), and disorganized mobility or paralysis. Visceral symptoms consists of trouble swallowing, frequent belching, spells of coughing or vomiting, all carried to an uncommon extreme. In both sensory and motor symptoms, the areas affected may not correspond at all to the nerve distribution in the area. Hypochondriasis has no real illness, but is overly obsessed with normal bodily functions. They read into the sensations of these normal bodily functions the presence of a feared disease. Dissociative disorders are disorders can no longer answer questions such as who they are, where they are at and what they are doing. People with a dissociative disorder remember information about their identity, memories or consciousness. These individuals dissociate from a specific point of reality. There are four categories of Dissociative Disorders: Depersonalization, Dissociative Amnesia, Dissociative Fugue, and Dissociative Identity Disorder. Depersonalization is a change in an individuals perception of themselves. They say to themselves things like, I feel like Im in a dream because their connection to reality feels as though they are not in complete control over their own actions or feelings. ADMINISTERING POLYGRAPH EXAMINATIONS ON CLIENTS WHO POSSES ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS Dissociative Amnesia is when a person experiences a loss of memory about specific events, people, places or objects. Dissociative Fugue is categorized by a sudden or unexpected departure from home or work place. Dissociative Identity Disorder is also referred as Multiple Personality Disorder. This disorder is very rare, but is the most dramatic of all the dissociative disorders. People with this disorder alternate their personalities personifying a different person with different personalities. (Matte, 1996) The most important aspect to remember concerning individuals with an acute mental disorder, is that the polygraph examiner should postpone an examination until it is determined the state of the persons mental health. If the polygraph examiner knows in advance the state of the examinees mental condition and if a polygraph examination is required, the polygraph examiner should obtain written permission from the examinees medical care provider. (Matte, 1996)

Numeracy Levels in BT1 Training Programme

Numeracy Levels in BT1 Training Programme Research Methods BT1 Numeracy Abstract This research will investigate the readiness of students to join the basic training program. It will focus on the perceptions of staff at No1 Radio School while marrying these comments to student performance. The research will focus on the levels of numeracy within the student population and their ability to apply this to the course material, whilst relating this to their current level of qualifications. These issues are not purely associated with the Royal Air Forces training but are prevalent throughout the education and training sectors. The subjects of literacy and numeracy have been identified as areas that are vastly under research, it is hoped that the issues raised in the short research project will identify further research questions that in turn may form part of further research. Introduction The field of work this research will investigate lies within the MoD, specifically the RAF at DCAE Cosford. The school being used to conduct this research is No1 Radio School, delivering training to Basic Trainees and Assimilation Trainees for all ground trades now known as Trade Group Four (TG4). The students ages range from 17 to 30 years of age. This research will focus on one specific target group, Basic Training 1 (BT1). These students are new members of the Royal Air Force and will have just completed their basic training at Halton (Ten weeks); they have come to Cosford to begin their trade specific training. The course is ten months in length, over which the students will cover both principles and trade training. The entry requirement for this trade is a minimum of three GCSEs, in Physics, Maths and one other subject. However they do accept some individuals with lesser qualifications as an exception and occasionally current members of the RAF who wish to change their trade. The trade requirements are specific and therefore it would be reasonable to assume the students basic level of literacy and in particular numeracy, would be sufficient to allow them to develop throughout this course. Research Issue. This research will look specifically at the levels of numeracy within the BT1 student population. It will try and identify if there is a problem and seek to provide evidence of any issues while providing recommendations for improvement. To ensure that there is no breach of ethics, the research will focus on the perceptions of the staff and the results from the students. This research issued raised questions that required answering, why is it that qualified students find the level 2 key skills and the level 2 maths phase of the BT1 training difficult? It is these issues that have intrigued me for some time. I believe this issue is worthy of research, however it is quite possible that additional questions will be raised that fall outside the scope of this research and may require additional research before they can be answered. Research Focus It has become apparent that new students entering the Royal Air Force as trade group 4 operator maintainers, although qualified for trade do not appear to posses the prerequisite knowledge required to complete the Key Skills at level 2 and the Maths phase of the course. That is not to say they all fail. That would be far from the truth, it is the difficulty they demonstrate when completing this phase of the course. The reason that this research is so important is this first phase of the course is crucial for the students. It gives them the skills and knowledge they require, which in turn will allow them to apply this knowledge to new problems and situations as they progress through the course. These skills could be considered tools of the trade, without a good grasp of these concepts the students will not gain the maximum benefit from the course. Literature Literacy and numeracy have become major issues in the field of education since the Moser report 1999, the working group chair by Sir Claus Moser in the opening statement of the report stated, Something like one adult in five in this country is not functionally literate and far more people have problems with numeracy. Moser, C (1999) This statement is met with surprise when you discuss this subject, however Moser states, We have found that people are staggered when one confronts them with the basic facts about literacy and numeracy, and rightly soIt is a state of affairs that cannot be allowed to continue, and our Report proposes a wide ranging approach to the challenge Moser, C (1999) Many organisations have concerns about the statistics when it comes to Literacy and numeracy in the adult population, Wells, A (2004) states, Surveys in the 1990s suggested that between 15 and 19 per cent of adults had poor basic skills. However, the International Adult Literacy Survey in the late 1990s suggested a much higher figure of 23 per cent or seven million adults. Wells, A (2004) Are we seeing a true picture of the problem? This research has highlighted concerns from staff about the students abilities. It would seem from the statistics that there is a strong correlation. One area this research was unable to quantify was how does gender affect numeracy, It was not possible to confirm or deny this because there were insufficient females included in the sample group to make a good judgement. However a recent article published by the DFES suggests there is a considerable difference between females and males when it comes to numeracy. Grinyer, J (2006) states, Women and men perform near equally for literacy, but men significantly outperform women at numeracy. Grinyer, J (2006) At level 2 this is an interesting fact and one that is perhaps worth of further research. If gender is an issue then what about current qualification level. Grinyer, J (2006) states Highest qualification appears to be the best predictor of an individuals literacy and numeracy level, with parental background and local deprivation having larger effects than current employment status Grinyer, J (2006) Research Hypothesis. The research hypothesis should be constructed in such a way that the research can disprove the hypothesis. So while the researcher believes students have issues with numeracy that directly affect their ability to perform throughout the course, and that the accepted entrance qualifications standards do not reflect the abilities of the students, the hypothesis should refute this. (See the hypothesis) The Hypothesis for this piece of research is: All BT1 trainees are sufficiently numerate to attend the BT1 course, as all trainees are qualified to a minimum standard. (Three relevant GCSEs) Research Hypothesis. There are a number of possible questions encompassing a range of different methodologies the scope of this research will be limited to one Research question, below are two possible questions. Why do students on the BT1 course suffer with the issue of numeracy when attending the taught lessons, completing assignments and examinations when they are course qualified? How do staff perceive the readiness of students on the BT1 course to deal with the academics of the course? After consideration and due to the constraints of this research it was decided to use the later, an interpritivest approach. Using this question offers the research some distinct advantages, firstly a limited scope and secondly and more importantly, it eliminates the students from the research which removes a large percentage of the ethical issue that may arise from questioning the students directly. This research should identify how instructors feel about the perceived problems students have when using the different forms of numeracy. Mercer, N states, one function of theories is to set agendas for research  ¿Ã‚ ½ to generate certain kinds of questions which the research will attempt to answer. Mercer in Walford (1998 p.42) This question could use a likert style method of answering, thus allowing the individual to grade their agreement or disagreement of the above question. This question as it stands would not necessarily be suitable for the students to answer as it is likely to produce a Yes/No response, however it could be acceptable for the staff. The same question could be asked in a different way. i.e. How has the GCSE maths helped the students with their study of the other principle subjects? Although it would be more difficult to analyse a short answer would bring out more of the individuals feelings, where as the likert style just grades the agreement or disagreement. Other questions that might be asked are: I. Do you feel the students could complete this course successfully without this qualification (GCSE maths)? II. How did the students maths affect their ability to complete this phase of training? III. Has the student qualification helped them with their studies? Youngman (1986) in Bell said, The more structured a question the easier it will be to analyse. Bell (1999 p.119) Research Paradigm What is a paradigm? A Paradigm  ¿Ã‚ ½ group of coherent ideas about the nature of the world and of the functions of researchers that are adhered to by a group of researchers, conditions and patterns of their thinking which underpins their research actions. What paradigms exist? There are a few key paradigms that exist within educational research positivist and Interpretiveist. Positivist research uses scientific, Statistical analysis and empirical methods, Cohen and Manion said, Traditionally, the word refers to those techniques associated with the positivistic model  ¿Ã‚ ½ eliciting responses to predetermined questions, recording measurements, describing phenomena and performing experiments. Cohen and Manion(1996 p.38) Interpretiveist research deals with human emotions, personnel perspectives. Cohen and Manion said, The central endeavour in the context of the interpretive paradigm is to understand the subjective world of human experience. Cohen and Manion(1996 p.36) Ethnographical methods are interpretivist. Gall, M. et al (1996, p607) say, Ethnography involves first hand, intensive study of the features of a given culture and the patterns in those features. Judith Bells thoughts on quantitative and qualitative research identify that quantitative researchers collect facts and study the relationship. They are measured using scientific techniques producing quantifiable and generaliseable conclusions, where as a qualitative perspective is more concerned with individuals perceptions of the world; Seeking insight rather than statistical analysis. In addition she concludes that on occasions qualitative researchers draw on quantitative techniques and vice versa. This would suggest that one method alone does not have all the answers and therefore we could consider various methods when conducting research. This research will use an interpretiveist methodology, this approach has been selected as the most appropriate as the information will come from members of staff, the information they provide will be their interpretation of the situation hence interpretiveist. This approach has been chosen as more appropriate than positivist approach because there is little scientific evidence and the amount of data collected would be insufficient to produce any valid statistical analysis. Ethnographical and eclectic research was also dismissed although it bridges the gap between Positivist and Interpertiveist research. It would however,still have positivist elements as mentioned previously. However the over arching reasoning for adopting an interpretiveist approach was the limited nature of this research project. Although, it is hoped that the findings from this research will generate further questions and spark yet further research questions for future research Research Methodology This style of research could be considered a case study, as its focus is centred on a specific group of students, belonging to a single organisation. Cohen and Manion state, a case study researcher typically observes the characteristics of an individual unit  ¿Ã‚ ½ a child, a clique, a class, a school or a community Cohen and Manion (1996,p106) While this approach would work it is more suited to a continuous improvement program and not a specific piece of research, in addition the length of time it would take to conduct a program of this nature makes this approach unsuitable. In planning the research, various methodologies were considered, however due to the limited nature of this research and to limit the impact of ethical issues, this research decided that an Interpretiveist approach would be most suited. This style of research is relevant, as the research will investigate the attitudes and opinions of the staff and not the students, while using student data to support or refute the findings. To facilitate this research there were a number of preferred techniques available for gathering the data: Interviews / Meetings Academic results Reference to external sources (Collages, Universities, Schools, Government Departments) The main reason behind this strategy, methods and analysis tools was time. The other key issue was ethics, for these reasons this research will be conducted through focus group meetings with staff using structured questions, this data will then be compared with the average results for a class. This approach will limit the impact of ethical issues and allow some conclusions to be drawn. This approach was discussed with the staff that felt that due to busy teaching commitments this was the most appropriate solution. Judith Bell states, Talking through problems and possible topics with colleagues is an essential stage of any plan. Bell (1999 p.21) The focus group will consist of five lecturers and four instructors, it is envisaged that a single meeting will take place to pose the questions to the staff. The data will be collected via questions directed to the staff in discussion groups; the responses of the staff were recorded. (See Annex B) To support the findings from the discussion groups the students results will be analysed. Data Collection instruments The data collection will be achieved through structured questions delivered at group meetings where the responses will be tabulated; this will give a feeling for the staffs concerns and perhaps some misconceptions. It will also allow any further research to focus its attention on specific areas of concern. Once the data has been collected this can be cross referenced to the student results, identifying any disparities, in addition student results and student retention rates may be useful sources of information. The other methods considered were, interviews, these could be time consuming, as staff are not always available. A well constructed questionnaire could produce valid reliable results in a reasonable time frame. However due to the limited time constraints, this research will utilise meetings with a number of groups and evaluate comments from those meetings to produce an Interpretivist style report. This will not provide hard evidence, however it will illustrate any concerns or trends that may be apparent which in turn could instigate further research. This approach although less structured will give a general feel for the issues, which could lead to further research questions. Sapsford and Jupp note the following facts about collecting data, There are both advantages and disadvantages to both highly structured and less structured methods; in no sense is it true to say that one is more objective than the other. Sapsford and Jupp (1996, p94) Research validity ensures the data collected is accurate and meaningful, collecting data in a non valid way would affect the final analysis; which may produce misconceptions when analysing the research data, thus rendering the research valueless. The research will improve validity through accurate data collection and careful analysis of the results, in addition reliability and repeatability could be enhanced through the triangulation of the data collected. Triangulation is method of verifying the data, checking and ensuring accuracy and ensuring that the findings are qualitative and thus reducing the chance of unsubstantiated data. Cohen and Manion said, Triangulation may be defined as the use of two or more methods of data collection the study of some aspect of human behaviour. Cohen and Manion(1996 p.233) The triangulation of the data was achieved through data collected from the meeting notes; these were then supported by student results and reference to national statistics. Chosen methods of data collection. This project will use a structured set of questions derived from the research question. The aim was to ask these questions at the focus group meeting, where the staffs responses and opinions were recorded. The rationale behind the choice of research and the methodology is predicated upon the limited nature of the research this in turn has limited the choice of methodology (interpertiveist). The limited time scale in which this research was conducted has in turn restricted the modes of research used to produce the data for evaluation; the aim was to gain a feeling from the staff as to how they perceived the research issue. The use of structured questions helped guide the process of data gathering and allowed the collection of data within a very short time scale, this was imperative due to the limited time constraints of this research. The interpritiveist approach allows the staffs feelings to be represented against the set criteria thus giving a good degree of relevant data for analysis. While this approach aided the collection of data at a rapid rate it did not offer the widest selection of data. Other methods could have produced further data to support or refute the findings. However this research hopes to triangulate its findings against student data (examination and assignment results). Research ethics. The matter of ethics is an important one; if the researcher wants to achieve open and honest answers they must consider ethics when conducting the research. To reduce the impact of this research the methodologies have been carefully chosen to reduce the data collection to that of the staff. The students results will be anonymous, to such an extent that the research will not identify the individual students, thus reducing the opportunity for others to identify individuals through the results and class group. Researchers cannot always predict what they might find and they may not like what they find; however it is the duty of the researcher to be open and honest about the research they are conducting. These are some of the things to consider when conducting research: Peoples amenity, that is to say protecting an individuals identity, ensuring that a respondents comments cannot be tracked back to a single individual or group. The Oxford Brookes University classifies research ethics and says, The integrity of any research depends not only on its scientific rigour, but also on its ethical adequacy. Ethical issues are many and varied, and may be quite complex. Research involving human participants is undertaken by many different disciplines and conducted in a broad range of settings and institutions. While some issues are specific to professional groups, all research should be guided by a set of fundamental ethical principles to ensure the protection of human participants. Wood,L (2006) Design Constraints One of the main issues when conducting any form of research is time; given enough time the research could produce massive amounts of facts, figures and an impression of peoples feelings. In addition to time there is always the cost of conducting research. However most organisations would expect any form of research to be conducted within certain time constraints, thus limiting costs and obtaining results within that time frame. Therefore the research can only be expected to deliver some of the information that is available, and that data would need to be substantiated through triangulation, generalisability and reliability. It is the limited nature of this research that has influenced the chosen methodology, interpertiveist. Although this may limit the validity of the research, the triangulation of the staffs comments and answers to the set questions when linked to student results, should give a reasonable confidence in its findings. Analysis of Results The questions asked at the focus group and the responces are given below: The group was asked, Are current BT 1 Trainees academically equipped to join this course? The staff responded with the following statements: Although students are qualified they do not seem to be prepared for the challenges this course offers. Some staff feel that GCSEs are a lower level qualification than a traditional O level (This used to be the entry requirement some years ago.) Although the students are qualified they do not seem to have the prerequisite skills to work effectively on the course. Students do not seem to remember some of the basics of mathematics. It would appear from the response that the staffs perception is that students are not prepared for this course and that the qualifications they hold do not reflect the students abilities. The BBC news web site on 30 October 2003 stated, The survey found 47% of the adults in England or 15 million people had a lower level of mathematical knowledge than was needed to gain a grade G at GCSE. The Department for Education and Skills blamed decades of neglect for figures showing millions of people lacking basic literacy and numeracy skills. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/3227263.stm There seems to be a general distrust of current qualifications as opposed to the traditional O Levels. This was the minimum entrant standard for this trade. The group was then asked, Which area of the course do students find difficult? The Maths is the most difficult for students because they do not possess the basic skills required to complete the work. Key Skills, Numeracy Some struggle with Electronic fundamentals mainly due to a lack of maths ability. They coped well with Addition and subtraction, however multiplication, division were more problematic. Additional areas where students struggled were percentages, area and fractions. These are not the only subject areas where students found difficulty, however they cover the major problem areas. These issues are similar to those identified in a recent TES, they stated, In last years skills action plan, the Assembly government revealed that 24% of the working age population lacked level 1 literacy skills and 53% level 1 in numeracy. In Wales, 20% have no qualifications compared with 14% across the UK (TES Cymru, June 30 2006) The focus of the problem seems to be centred on the Maths / arithmetic elements of the course. One of the key areas was Key Skills, in particular numeracy. Students seemed to find this difficult; they did not seem to posses the basics. Staff were asked to consider, Are there any circumstances that might affect students ability to perform on the course? Poorly prepared when leaving school. Length of time away from a learning environment. Lack of ability Some seem unable to apply previously learnt knowledge to new situations. Its is difficult to believe the students were poorly prepared as they all are qualified, suggesting they once had the knowledge, however it is interesting to note the comment about the length of time, as it is well known that constant and repetitive use of knowledge aids retention, lack of use leads to little or no retention of knowledge. A recent news article in the Daily Mail by HARRIS, S (2006) stated, One in five about to embark on teaching careers still have problems spelling and using punctuation as well as doing the most simple multiplication, division and percentages. Harris, S (2006) The question, Do you believe the students are suitably qualified? Staffs response to this was, Yes, they are for the trade and on paper, but do the qualifications match up to the expectations of the course? This alludes to a previous question about students being prepared. Do the qualifications meet the minimum requirements of the course. The answer is yes they do, however there seems to be a void between students retained knowledge and the paper qualifications. To illustrate this issue the House of Commons raised the issue of literacy and numeracy with the Secretary of State for Defence being asked, how many and what proportion of new recruits to the army in the last 12 months had (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills at or below (i) entry level 3, (ii) entry level 2 and (iii) entry level 1. Mr. Touhig replied, Consolidated literacy and numeracy initial assessment figures for recruits to the army in the period 1 November 2004 to 31 October 2005, are provided as follows. Literacy Numeracy Entry level 1 Entry level 2 Entry level 3 Entry level 1 Entry level 2 Entry level 3 Percentage 0.71 7.81 32.51 0.19 7.65 37.11 Number of recruits 72 795 3310 19 770 3737 Total number of recruits(11) Literacy Numeracy These figures were given from an Official Report, column 98W on departmental staff literacy and numeracy. No Author (2005) The group was also asked, Are students prepared for the academic rigor of this course? No, Students are ill prepared when it comes to learning in this environment. This may also relate to the time away from a learning environment, the beginning of the course is quite intensive and therefore the students find it difficult to get back into a learning environment. In summary of the responses, the staff feel the students were inadequately prepared for this course. However this was not for lack of qualifications more a perceived difference between the more traditional O Level and the existing GCSE qualifications, while the time away from the learning environment may have its part to play. Student results for the first eight classes illustrate that not all students struggle to achieve good results. (RAF pass is set at 60) So could this purely be a staff issue and not one of the students. As the results below indicate some classes obtain reasonable results, that is to say, not all struggle. The results for the first eight classes are shown below: Maths BT1/01 BT1/02 BT1/03 BT1/03 BT1/05 BT1/06 BT1/07 BT1/08 59 66 75 56 72 66 68 62 Electronic Fundamentals BT1/01 BT1/02 BT1/03 BT1/03 BT1/05 BT1/06 BT1/07 BT1/08 68 73 82 77 73 74 59 While these classes passed the respective subjects, there are some low scores in maths for classes 1, 4 and 8. Electronic Fundamentals produces better results, however class 1 and 7 have still scoured low marks. This information is not entirely conclusive as can be seen from the results, some classes did well. Findings The hypothesis has been refuted through the data collated from staffs responses to questions and the student data, all be it limited in nature this research has been shown to support the staffs comments. The analysis of the questions suggests a lack of ability on the students part, this however does not seem to be predicated on qualification. The staffs perceptions of students abilities seem to suggest the students are not sufficiently prepared to attend this course, more over they are not used to the training methods utilised within the MOD. These facts when grouped together cause the students and staff some problems, however this is not to say that large numbers of students are failing to achieve a pass in these subjects, therefore is there a problem? On the face of it, no. However modifications to the training methodology and some additional sessions may improve some of these issues. This research has investigated a broad range of issues relating to new students entering the RAFs BT1 training program, their ability to cope with the academic pressures of the course and their ability to complete the work to the required standard. It would appear many students, although qualified on paper have some difficulty when it comes to the Maths and Electronic Fundamentals phases. Some of the underlying problems relate to the methods of delivery on the course as it is unlike traditional academic institutions. This means that the students take time to adjust to this training methodology and as the Maths and Electronic Fundamentals phase of the course is at the front end, it does not allow sufficient time for this adjustment to take place. On the subject of time between learning, many students left school twelve months before joining the course and have not practiced these skills for some time. As with the maths unless a student continues to use these skills they are quickly forgotten. However this does not explain why students do not remember when prompted. Perhaps this could point to a lack of understanding at the initial point of learning and may require further research to substantiate this theory. Recommendations This piece of research has been limited in its nature, however it has allowed the researcher to gain a wider perspective on these issues, to further improve this work and make the findings more valid it is proposed to include the students in any future research. The students were excluded in this case to speed up the data collection and to reduce any ethical issues that may arise from the research. Further research could be developed from the fi

Cultural Ambiguity and the Sexual Relationship :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

Cultural Ambiguity and the Sexual Relationship       The notion that a culture cannot wholly define a term it puts to use every day is perplexing, yet that seems to be the case in American culture.  Ã‚   The term "sexual relationship" is one that is thrown around and used loosely by people of all ages in the United States.   Truly the phrase has many connotations, but as to which is correct, there is little definition.    In order to ascertain some sort of definition it is logical to examine public debates involving this phrase.   The most recent public debate requiring the definition of a "sexual relationship" involved the case concerning President William J. Clinton's relationship to White House intern Monica Lewinsky.   The documentation of this case is summarized in a report commonly referred to as "The Starr Report," in which President Clinton denies having had a sexual relationship with Ms. Lewinsky, even though she claims otherwise.   Clinton does so by standing behind the definition set forth in the Jones Deposition. "[A] person engages in "sexual relations" when the person knowingly engages in or causes -- (1) contact with the genitalia, anus, groin, breast, inner thigh, or buttocks of any person with an intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person . . . . "Contact" means intentional touching, either directly or through clothing." (www.house.gov/judiciary/6nar rit.htm#L11)   Per this explicit definition, Clinton claimed that Ms. Lewinsky had "sexual relations" with him (e.g. oral sex) but he had not engaged in a "sexual relationship" with her.   Therefore, one possibility for the definition of a "sexual relationship" could involve the clear-cut guidelines above, and as President Clinton suggested, involve only one person.    However, Ms. Lewinsky's view was slightly different.   She claimed that, in fact, the two had a "sexual relationship" because President Clinton did engage in some of the acts mentioned above and lied about it.   This added information causes murkiness in the argument that one member of a partnership can engage in a "sexual relationship" without the other partner.   Indeed, much of the argument tends to point towards the idea that two people are usually involved in a "sexual relationship" because it is difficult to have said relationship with only one person.

English Should be the National Language Essay examples -- Should Engli

From the time the Pilgrims landed in this great nation at Plymouth Rock, immigrants have been culturally diverse and have spoken many languages. When the Pilgrims arrived in the New World, they did not know how to communicate with the natives. Through intense study the natives learned the Pilgrims’ language. Even with the common language they were still a melting pot of different culture. Some would say that America has gotten over the language/ cultural barriers and now almost everyone speaks the common language of English, but there are still many immigrants who do not know English. Bilingual education is put into public schools for this reason, so that immigrant children can be assimilated to English gradually. The national language should be English instead of the official language because America has prided herself in being very diverse. If we take away the diversity, then we take away the core values that America has always had since her founding. Just as the Native Americans had to learn English from the Pilgrims, immigrant children need bilingual education to help them learn English. Everyone expects the immigrants to be able to speak English immediately, but that is rarely the case; they need time to learn our culture. In order for immigrants to succeed in this nation it is recommended that they learn English and every American should try to help them learn it. By immigrant children learning English through bilingual education they not only get keep their culture, but also learn the language to help them become successful in America. The Encyclopedia of Education says, â€Å"In most areas of the United States approximately 70 percent of the native-born currently are adopting English as their usual language† (Glenn). This ... ...nal language instead of the official language. Works Cited 1. CIlheran, Patrick. "YouTube - Obama; Americans Learn Spanish! I'm Embarrassed." YouTube – Broadcast Yourself. 10 July 2010. Web. 30 Mar. 2011. . 2. GLENN, CHARLES L. "Immigrant Education." Encyclopedia of Education. Ed. James W. Guthrie. 2nd ed. Vol. 4. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2002. 1097- 1106. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 14 Mar. 2011 3. "Language Acquisition | Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees – GCIR." Welcome | Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees - GCIR. 2008. Web. 17 Mar. 2011. . 4. U.S. English Inc. "States with Official English Laws." U.S. English. 2011. Web. 17 Mar. 2011. .

Border Music by Robert James Waller :: essays research papers

Border Music by Robert James Waller 1.) Title: Boarder Music Published: Warner Books Inc. Author: Robert James Waller Where book was acquired: WBHS Library 2.) What type of book: Fiction 3.) Characters: 1986 1.) Jack Carmine- Is a 48-year-old man who lives an independent life style. Everything he does is a spur of the moment thing. He works all the time, and his jobs are as unpredictable as he is. He originally is from Alpine Texas, but he goes north for the summer. All he wants is to live his life the best he can, and do as much as he can. He also wants to keep Linda with him. 2.) Linda Lobo- She is a 37-year-old single woman with a four-year-old daughter. She was married twice, and both failed to last. She was a dancer at a nightclub in Minnesota, but she is from Iowa. She wants to find a man that will be faithful to her, and support her and her daughter. 3.) Sara Margaret- She is Linda’s four-year-old daughter who lives with Linda’s mother. She gets to be very fond of Jack, but is too young to understand what is going on around her. 4.) Earl- He is Jack’s best friend and houseguest. When Jack is gone, Earl lives in his house for him, and takes care of the farm. He becomes good friends with Sara Margaret, and Linda. He just wants to live his life like any other hard working man. 1993 5.) Vaughn Rhomer- He is Jack’s uncle in his early 60’s. He loves army trinkets and anything to do with the Vietnam War. He worked in the produce section of a grocery store for his whole life, and his son, Nathan, was ashamed of him for this. He lost his nagging wife, Marjorie, a few years earlier, and just wants to finds someone to live the rest of his life with. 6.) Marjorie Rhomer- She was Vaughn’s wife, and was very cranky and bossy. She disliked Jack very much, and didn’t want anything to do with him. All she ever wanted was for her son, Nathan, to never meet Jack. 4.) Two main conflicts: 1.) Jack vs. Self. Jack had episodes, where he couldn’t control what he was doing. He would be back in Vietnam with the other soldiers, and he would relive the day his friends died. He had to over come this, by becoming stronger. When he first started to be with Linda they didn’t happen, but as they grew apart, the episodes became more frequent.

Examine the Ideas of Manliness, Hostility and Aggression in a View from the Bridge. How Are These Ideas Connected?

Examine the ideas of Manliness, Hostility and Aggression in A View from the Bridge. How are these ideas connected? A View from the Bridge: a tragic drama piece, written by Arthur Miller and first published in 1955. Curtained by the never-ending dramatics of the play, is quite basically a fight for an unconditional love, portrayed by a man of whom perplexes his emotions like no other (Eddie Carbone). The play itself is set in the 1950’s; times when masculinity and dominance we’re vital for a man to obtain, and therefore prove to be key concepts during A View from the Bridge. Due to the constant battle to be the top of the hierarchy, a hostile atmosphere is continuously present within the circle of male characters. To be the more predominant man proves highly important; it gives them authority over the female characters, and status over the other males. The play has been written as a Greek Tragedy: a storyline of where a certain person is destined for disastrous misfortune (the Hero). Linking to this, is the opening narration spoken by Alfieri. Alfieri is a lawyer, and as he quotes â€Å"I am a lawyer .. We’re only thought of in connection with disasters†, you are automatically signalled that something bad is bound to happen at some point during A View from the Bridge. Eddie Carbone works as a longshoreman in New York. He lives with his wife Beatrice, and his niece Catherine. Eddie proves to be the protagonist within the first page of A View from the Bridge, of which is chorused by Alfieri (an ageing lawyer). From this, it is rather easy to acknowledge that Eddie is going to play a domineering role, and quite obviously the hero in this Greek Tragedy comparison. As I have previously mentioned, masculinity is highly important, and particularly important to Eddie. Being the utmost respected and powerful man proves rather essential to him during the play, as gives him domination over the household females. An example of this would be in Act Two, just after Eddie rings the immigration bureau. â€Å"Get them out the house†¦ Not tomorrow, do it now. †. Here he is giving Catherine orders in a rather authoritative manor, and this is a prime example of the way he speaks to the female characters. Eddie has incestuous desires for his niece, Catherine. This continues to be an ongoing problem throughout the entire play. It is quite clear to recognise Eddie’s feelings toward Catherine from the opening scene. When Catherine enters, Eddie is overly keen to know where she is going due to the way she is dressed (short skirt etc); he questions her before becoming complimentary about her appearance, because he is obviously panicking that she has dressed herself specifically to impress another male. Eddie quite clearly feels that as a man, he has a right to inquire when he feels necessary; possibly using this to conceal the fact he wants nothing more than direct control of Catherine’s life. â€Å"Beautiful† he quotes Catherine when observing her new hairstyle. Through the whole of A View from the Bridge, Eddie does not pay Beatrice one single compliment, which seems rather obscure, suggesting he has more admiration for his niece than his wife. Catherine constantly seeks Eddie’s approval, repeatedly asking him â€Å"You like it? about the way she looks. This tells the audience that Eddie has brought Catherine up to believe his opinion is always necessary, relating to the idea of masculinity and the dominance possessed by the household male. The actual reason Catherine dressed herself differently was due to the fact that she has been newly employed as a stenographer: somebody who specializes in the transcription of speech. Yet again, Eddie has something to sa y about the fact that Catherine has a job. â€Å"You can’t take no job. Why didn’t you ask me before you take a job? are his exact words when telling her rather directly how he sees the situation. He is implying that she should of asked for his permission before taking the job, and has disobeyed him by not doing so. This goes back to the idea of him being manly and sustaining his authorities. However, I do not think this is the only reason he doesn’t want Catherine taking the job. It is quite clear to see Eddie has more feelings for his niece than he should have, although during the first half of A View from The Bridge I don’t think he has discovered this for himself. From pinpointing that Eddie was overly bothered about the length of Catherine’s skirt, and her getting a job, it is clear for the audience to absorb that he does not want her to grow up, as this could possibly mean letting go and giving Catherine more independence than preferable. Although Eddie beholds a rather harsh identity, he proves himself a warm and welcoming man when his wife’s cousins immigrate to America in search of employment. Marco and Rodolfo are introduced into the household: quoting â€Å"You’re welcome Marco, we got plenty of room here†, Eddie comes across as a very considerate person. Marco greets Eddie with a firm shake to the hand, however Rodolfo does not. A hand shake is a typically manly gesture, and throughout the play it soon becomes clear that Rodolfo does not fit the stereotypical figure of a man. Eddie expects a man to be a breadwinner, to have obvious physical strength, power and domination. Rodolfo appears to not possess any of these qualities, of which soon proves a serious problem to Eddie. â€Å"Paperdoll.. chorus girl.. kid.. hit-and-run-guy†: these are just a minority of the nicknames given to Rodolfo throughout A View from the Bridge. Rodolfo shows himself as a man that does not fit all the categorical standards of a typical male, and as the play goes on we see how this controversial character shines a negative reflection onto Eddie, bringing him nothing but utter aggravation. Rodolfo likes to cook, sing, dance, and even make dresses. These feminine qualities that he possesses cause Eddie to become suspicious about his sexuality, although Miller makes it quite clear that Rodolfo is not a homosexual, when his relationship with Catherine begins to bloom. To Eddie’s dislike, Catherine takes an immediate shine to Rodolfo. When she asks him â€Å"You married too? †, it is quite clear she’s interested in him. Eddie is not in favour of Catherine becoming close to Rodolfo, and he clearly tries to discourage what he does by calling him petty nicknames. Underneath the front that Eddie puts on about hating Rodolfo, I think ,secretly, he is particularly jealous of him. The play is set in the 1950’s, and therefore there was a lot of pressure on men to live up to the expectations and be the typical male. Rodolfo is not afraid to be himself, even if it does go against all rules of typicality. In my opinion, Rodolfo is a very brave character for doing so: he has no fear of being judged, and I think Eddie is intimidated by this. Eddie has never known any different, and so he is automatically against this new idea of a man being slightly feminine. This tells us Eddie cannot cope with change, relating back to when I mentioned how he is unable to come to grips with the fact Catherine is maturing and becoming less reliant on him. In Act Two, a drunken Eddie makes the ridiculous decision to kiss both Catherine AND Rodolfo. He clearly does this in an attempt to clear all cobwebs, and try to see through to the truth about Rodolfo’s sexuality. Unfortunately for Eddie, he only comes to discover that Rodolfo is nothing more than a heterosexual . I also believe this was an act of bare desperation; Eddie could not think of any other way of getting through to Catherine how he feels, and obviously believed this was the only way to put a stop to her and Rodolfo’s relationship once and for all. However, the scene proves Rodolfo to be more manly than Eddie thought, when Rodolfo demands â€Å"Stop that! Have respect for her! †. Respect is an important quality for a man to have , especially in A View from the Bridge. Although saying this, when Eddie â€Å"pins his arms† (Rodolfo), it again goes back to the idea that Rodolfo fails in the physical department of manliness. This scene is a turning point for the audience, as from this they now know rather exactly how Eddie feels towards Catherine, and how insanely jealous he truly is of her and Rodolfo’s relationship. This is a serious downfall for Eddie, telling you that he is getting progressively closer to his Greek Tragedy ending. As an audience, it is evidently apparent that Marco is in complete contrast to his brother, Rodolfo. Straight away he is thought of as a real man: â€Å"Marco goes round like a man; nobody kids Marco†. This is quoted by Eddie, who quite obviously knows where he stands with Marco, and seems rather threatened by the fact that there are now two dominant male figures in the household. This goes back to when I mentioned how there is always a secret fight to be top of the hierarchy: it is just never made official. It is unnecessary for Marco to prove his manliness verbally, due to the fact that his physicality speaks for him. He demonstrates his strength in a rather protective manor, when he strains to lift a chair directly above Eddie’s head. He does this as a discrete warning, cautioning Eddie to leave his brother alone. When Eddie punches Rodolfo at the end of Act One, he makes it out to be a joke, but Marco is not silly, and clearly knows that it was nothing more than a camouflaged threat made toward Rodolfo. Marco uses physical communication; alerting Eddie that if need be, physically, he will always come out on top. When Marco does this, the other characters are oblivious to the fact that it was meant as a threat. However, the audience would be able to recognise exactly what Marco was implying; the staging would portray the shadowed aggressiveness of the gesture, and build serious tension. It would also add to the hostile atmosphere, that had been previously created by Eddie. Alfieri is another example of a conventionally masculine character. His predominate role in the play proves him an honest, helpful and firm man. The fact that he is a lawyer also tells you as an audience, that he possess a lot of power. I think the title of the play (A View from the Bridge), was in fact based around the role of Alfieri. It is as if he is playing God in this tragedy; he has the ability to look over and judge the situation, but remains un-bias and uninvolved (possibly a skill he has developed from his job). Alfieri has a view from the bridge, and is looking down on a fateful occurrence (Greek Tragedy) that he cannot prevent from happening. Just after Eddie’s death, Alfieri quotes â€Å"something perversely pure calls to me from his memory†. Due to the fact that Alfieri has been such an honest and trustworthy character throughout, this line could sway the audience into realizing that maybe there was a good side to Eddie, as well as bad. Eddie had a rather double-sided personality. Although his love for Catherine got the better of his character, underneath it was quite recognisable that he was generally a caring man that looked after his family very well. He was born poor, and worked hard as a longshoreman to ensure he was able to provide for his wife and niece. The background of the author himself (Arthur Miller), most probably had strong influential effects on the way A View from the Bridge was written. For example, his mother and father were polish immigrants; this relates to the storyline of A View from the Bridge, as Marco and Rodolfo are also immigrants. Miller obviously has a clear view of what he expects a man to be. He has made the main character (Eddie) a very typical man: domineering, strong, and respected by all. If Eddie’s death was a tragedy, then in Millers eyes he was obviously the hero of the play. Miller was born in 1915, and therefore raised around people who too, believed that these qualities were necessary if you were to be considered a real man. A View from the Bridge is a play largely involved in the historical/cultural context of the early 20th century. The ‘American Dream’ correlates directly to the storyline of A View from the Bridge. The American Dream is basically the idea that all humans are of an equal worth, and that all people should do things that give them a quotably â€Å"better, richer, and happier life. â€Å". Eddie’s perception of Rodolfo goes against this idea of the American Dream, because he believes that Rodolfo deserves to be lower in status than him, just because he is not the typical man. When Catherine begins to take an interest in Rodolfo, Eddie does his best to prevent their relationship progressing. â€Å"Don’t lay another hand on her unless you wanna go out feet first† are his exact words when thinking only of oneself. He is very selfish by doing this, and is potentially forbidding Catherine from living the American Dream (happier life). The Sicilian code of honour is another historical policy that relates to A View from the Bridge. The Sicilian code is basically a firm rule of extreme loyalty, solidarity and justice. The Mafia in the early 1900’s followed this code rather closely, for example: if someone was to hurt or even threaten a member of your family, you were to honour them and take an immediate action of revenge. The mafia’s law would justify the murder of Eddie Carbone, due to the fact Marco killed him purely because he posed a threat to Rodolfo. The female characters in A View from the Bridge are the main victims of hostility, manliness, and aggression in this play; Catherine in particular. Due to the fact that Eddie highly dislikes Rodolfo, there is a constant hostile atmosphere present within the household. Catherine is made to feel like she must choose between Eddie and Rodolfo, which again causes hostility. This is not a typical father/daughter relationship; it is clear for the audience to see this from the way Eddie behaves when Catherine and Rodolfo are together. Eddie lives in denial about the fact that he is in love with Catherine, and uses fury to disguise it. When Alfieri figures that Eddie has these strong feelings for his niece, he says â€Å"She can't marry you can she? â€Å"; Eddie does not know how to respond to this and again attempts to hide how he feels for Catherine by getting overly angry, â€Å"I don't know what the hell you're talkin' about! â€Å". The audience are affected by this as, making you pity Catherine and the awkward position she is in. Beatrice suffers from this also, as Eddie is her husband. In one scene they argue about sex, because Beatrice is receiving hardly any attention from Eddie due to his aggression and confidentiality throughout the play. Eddie is constantly taking his anger out on Beatrice, yet she never complains. However, in one scene she has clearly had enough and decides to stand up for herself and go against Eddie. â€Å"I want you to cut it out now, you hear me? I don’t like it! Now come in the house. † To this I think Eddie is quite startled, and replies with â€Å"I’ll be in right away†. Beatrice knows full well that Eddie has more feelings for Catherine than he should: â€Å"You want somethin' else, Eddie, and you can never have her! â€Å". In this quote I think jealously is getting the better of Beatrice, as she describes Catherine as a thing, rather than a person.

Growing Up in Charlotte, NC

Growing up here in Charlotte NC was very hard for me and my family. As a young child, I was the younger of two children actually, I was the middle child of three, I had a baby brother who died at a young age from an illness. Well as a young child I grew up on the West side of town called West Blvd. and then we moved to Rosszell ferry Rd.We stay there till I was in the 5th grade we then moved to Columbus Circle and then to Bruns Ave as you can see I moved around a lot but it did not matter everywhere we moved I was always the one who got picked on because of my clothes and hair, My hair was short because it was not took care of, my clothes were not new, we had to shop at the thrift store of the goodwill to find things that would fit. I remember as a young child one year for Christmas me and my brother did not get anything for Christmas, O my God I was so hurt.All my cousins got all these toys but me and my brother did not get anything, and the sad part about all this is my Father had brought me and my brother bikes but he took them to SC and gave them to his girlfriend children. I also remember as a young child as the one who was always took down in the basement and messed with by my uncle, or when I went to visit my cousin their older brother would try to mess with me, This thing I took and push in the back of my mind, and tried to live my life as best I knew how. Living life as a teenager really was hard.I was known as the Black Dolly Pardon, WOW this was hard but I still push my way through this. I manage to finish school and college but life was still hard. At the age of 21 I got pregnant with my second child, O I did not tell you I got popped at the age of 16 and lost the baby, I lost the baby at 3 months. When I was 19 I decided to leave home, and that was the worst decision of my life, I was abuse by my son father, who has passed away, James E. Henderson was killed in 2007. In 1986 I gave birth to a son Jonathan D. Adams. Jonathan is now 26 years old.In 1 987 I had another son name Sirquentin Q Adams and a Daughter name Rasheena Adams. At the age of 24 I had three children and no husband; I didn’t know what to do. God I really needed your help, things began to spin out of control, I was living wherever I could and that was no fun, But I made it, at the age of 27 my father put me and my three children out on the street with nowhere to go, I was so hurt I ended up staying with a guy who hurt me by letting me know that me and my baby girl could stay but not my boys so I had to find somewhere to go, I ended up moving in with a friend who let her hildren abuse my children by biting, scratching, pinching, and whatever they could to hurt my children. Until I moved in with my cousin and only stayed there for about a month or two then I got my own house through the section 8 program. I stayed in the program for 15 years. I became very sick with sleep apnea and high blood pressure. But I still kept trying to live the best life I could.W hat I am trying to say is all my life I was bullied, picked on, talked about and threw under the bus, this hurt very badly. I am learning to live life the best I know how, but I still have not learn the lesson yet. I have always made sure that my children and everyone else that was connected to me was ok, But I never really took care of me, I am now living with my cousin on there couch, I don’t really want to be here but it is either here or in the shelter.God I am in need of your help, this thing is affecting me so bad to the point that I am not even in place in church. I now ask that you forgive me for all my sins, and mistakes, God please forgive me, I just want to please you. God I need my own apartment and I need it to be furniture, I need all my debts to be caught up so I can start over again. God I just want a chance to start over and make things right with you and myself. God I just want to live in peace.