Cattells Big Five Factors Essay -- science

Cattell's Big Five Factors Cattell’s Big Five Factors of Personality, Behavioral Genetics, and Evolutionary Personality Theory. Current Research Raymond Cattell (1905-present) designed the â€Å"Big five Factors of Personality†, in which five classifications are revealed. Big Five factors: #1 extraversion vs. introversion, #2 agreeableness vs. antagonism, #3 conscientiousness vs. undirected ness, #4 neuroticism vs. emotional stability, and #5 openness to experience vs. not open to experience. Han’s Eysenck’s and Sir Francis Galton behavior genetics research and Arnold Buss’ three concerns for evolutionary personality theory coinsided with each other. The Big five represents a catalog of traits that some personality psychologists suggest capture the essence of individual differences in personality. Raymond Cattell used Allport and Odbert’s 4500 trait-descriptives in which he extracted 35 traits. After others continued to analyze these factors and found congruence with the ratings, that eventually became the Big five Factors of Personality. In order to fully understand the origin of these factors an outline for factor analysis must be explained. Factor analysis studies where conducted and the results where used in an analysis technique generally done with computers to determine meaningful relationships and patterns in behavioral data. Beginning with a large number of behavioral variables, the computer finds relationships or natural connections where variables are maximally correlated with one another and minimally correlated with other variables, and then it groups the data accordingly. After this process has been repeated many times a pattern of relationships or certain factors that capture the essence of all the data appears (Pervin & John 1999). The same process used to determine the Big Five Personality factors; copious amounts of different researchers that have done numerous tests and they all agree that the â€Å"Big five Factors† are the only consistently reliable factors that have been found. Big Five factors include: #1 extraversion vs. introversion, #2 agreeableness vs. antagonism, #3 conscientiousness vs. undirected ness, #4 neuroticism vs. emotional stability, and #5 openness to experience vs. not open to experience, these breakdown into understandable terms. #1 Extraversion implies an energetic approach to the social and material wo... ...between human nature and individual characteristics? He also acknowledged three criteria from evolutionary biology for determining a characteristic as a part of human nature. These are: it must be universal. Must be â€Å"innate, unconditioned, and relatively difficult to modify† (p.1139). And lastly it must have an adaptive function (Lindsey and Campbell p. 352,1998). In conclusion, all of these theories have laid the groundwork for mapping complex human behavior. It is still unclear when and how much of our personalities/traits come from genetics and how much is influenced by outside factors. Many believe you must learn of your past in order to succeed in the future, but understanding how we became what we are today is of equal importance. With the advances in technology, DNA/Genetics who knows what answers the future will hold for us. References Hall, C., Lindzey, G., Campbell, J. (1998). Theories of Personality (4th ed.) (pp.343-356) John Wiley and Sons, Inc. Pervin, L. & John, O. (Eds) (1999). Handbook of Personality: theory and research. New York: Gilford. Potkay, C. & Allen, B (1986). Personality: Theory, research, and applications. California: Brooks/Cole.

Behind Closed Doors at WorldCom Essay

1.Two General Accounting employees—Dan Renfroe and Angela Walter—made journal entries in the amount of $150 million and $171 million, respectively, without detailed support. It was noted that this was not out of the ordinary at WorldCom. In your opinion, was this a proper accounting practice? Explain. Though this may not be out of the ordinary for WorldCom, this is not a correct accounting practice. The way the entries were made does not comply with the proper account practice according to GAAP. Detailed support is an important part of providing support to a journal entry and it explains the reason or purpose as to why the journal entry was created. 2.Based on GAPP, describe the propriety or impropriety of releasing of $150 million in line cost accruals in the Wireless division over Deloris DiCicco’s objections. Support your position using the authoritative accounting literature. When instructed to reduce the Wireless Division’s line cost by $150 million due to savings from the prior period, DiCicco refused because there was no support for the entry.   WorldCom would prepare an adjusting entry each month to recognize the estimated cost of the period as period expense, by capitalizing the expense as an accrued interest. According to GAAP, a line item cost must be reported as an expense on a company’s income statement. WorldCom capitalized the line expense, instead of expensing it and placed it on the balance sheet as an accrued liability rather than on the income statement as an operating expense. 3.On the topic of capitalizing line costs, critique the rationale included in CEO Scott Sullivan’s White Paper. Based on your own analysis of GAAP, explain the propriety or impropriety of capitalizing line costs in the telecom industry. In the White Paper presented to the Board of Directors, the CEO Scott Sullivan supported the decision to capitalize line costs. Sullivan provided that the White Paper was in line with the company’s goal of maintaining strong growth rate through increasing its capital investment. Management noted that the treatment of the E/R cots as an asset was in no way in any contradiction of the definition of an asset as per FASB Concept Statement No. 6 which states, â€Å"Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by a particular entity as a result of past transactions or events†. However, as per GAAP, line costs must be reported as an expense in the company’s income statement as these are fundamentally,  ope rating expenses. It was put in the Balance Sheet as an accrued liability rather than in the income statement as an accrued expense. This resulted in falsely projecting income and profits; and concealing huge losses by wrongly capitalizing the line costs. 4.Consider journal entry that recognized $35 million of revenue in 2001 from the EDS contract based on WorlCom’s expectation that the five-year required cumulative minimum payment would not be met. Based on your own analysis of GAAP, explain the propriety to impropriety of this journal entry. This is not in compliance with the provisions of GAAP or SAB 101. Revenue should not be recognized until it is realized or becomes realizable and earned. If we followed this statement the company did not have realized revenue Furthermore, the penalty payments if enforced could not be paid till the year 2005 as stated in the contract. Also, the journal entry resulted in recognizing revenue when it was not earned or realized and thus, overstated the profits. 5.Why do you think the professionals in this case, most of whom are CPA’s, would agree to record a material journal entry contrary to their best professional judgment? I think that in many situations employees were able to twist statements which follow GAAP guidelines. May employees were convinced they were doing the right thing and those that were unwilling to participate were overlooked. Most of the material journal entries which were made contrary to best judgment were so done with a view to mask the declining profits and to show increasing profits, which in turn would increase stock prices. 6.In general, how does the role of Internal Auditing differ from the role of Independent (or External) Auditing? What is the role of Internal Auditing in a well-run corporation? When performed by internal auditors, what is a financial audit versus an operating audit? Do you think WorldCom’s Internal Audit Department was functioning as it should have been? Explain. Internal auditors work within an organization and report to its audit committee and/or directors. They help to design the company’s organizing systems and help develop specific risk management policies. External auditors are independent of the organization they are auditing. They report to the company’s shareholders. They provide their experienced opinion on the truthfulness of the company’s financial statements and perform work on a test basis to monitor systems in place. Internal Auditing  is designed to look at the key risks facing the business and how the business is managing those risks ef fectively. It usually results in recommendations for improvement across departments. Internal auditing is an independent, objective assurance and consulting activity designed to add value and improve an organization’s operations. It helps an organization accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of risk management, control, and governance processes. A financial audit is an audit or examination of the financial reporting process, determining the reliability and integrity of the financial statements and preparation of such statements. It also involves an appraisal of the internal controls related to the finance function of the enterprise. An operational audit, on the other hand, is a systematic review and evaluation of an operational unit in terms of its effectiveness and efficiency of operations, accomplishment of its laid down objectives and goals, and determining its appropriateness in the use of various resources. It is clear that the WorldCom’s Internal Audit department was not functioning as it should have been. It was concentrating only on operational audits and totally avoiding financial audits. On the cause of cost-saving, it clearly avoided any and every function which could overlap with the role of the external auditors.

Overview of Noncount Nouns in English Grammar

A noncount noun is a  noun (such as oxygen, music, furniture, steam) that refers to something which cant be counted or divided. Also known as a mass noun. Contrast with count noun. With a few exceptions, noncount nouns take singular verbs and are used only in the singular. Many nouns have both countable and non-countable uses, such as the countable dozen eggs and the non-countable idiom egg on his face. Examples and Observations Arm in arm, the King and Bartholomew went down to the counting room to count out the gold. (Dr. Seuss,  The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins. Vanguard, 1938) Keep all trash and garbage away from your cat, and your cat out of trash cans and garbage bins. (Wendy Christensen, Outwitting Cats. Lyons Press, 2004) She considered, maybe for the first time, how lucky she was to be able to pick up the phone and call her mother whenever she needed some bad advice. (Brady Udall, The Lonely Polygamist. W.W. Norton, 2010) The novel manufactured to entertain great multitudes of people must be considered exactly like a cheap soap or a cheap perfume, or cheap furniture. (Willa Cather, The Novel Demeuble. The Editor, August 26, 1922) I read the news today, oh boy,about a lucky man who made the grade,and though the news was rather sad,well I just had to laugh. (John Lennon and Paul McCartney, A Day in the Life. Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band, 1967) Types of Noncount Nouns That May or May Not Take Determiners - Abstractions: democracy, education, health, knowledge, loveAn education is of utmost importance.Education is crucial to economic security.- Groups of things: clothing, equipment, garbage, homework, money, trafficThe homework for French class is time-consuming.I spend a lot of time doing homework.- Substances: air, blood, coffee, ice, rice, tea, water, woodThis tea is watery.She prefers tea for breakfast. (Cheryl Glenn and Loretta S. Gray, The Hodges Harbrace Handbook, 18th ed. Wadsworth, 2013)   [T]here is a resolute sadness between X and me that our marriage is over, a sadness that does not feel sad. (Richard Ford, The Sportswriter. Vintage, 1986)​ Noncount Nouns and Indefinite Articles Some noncount nouns accept the indefinite article when they are modified . . ., e.g.: They are doing a brisk business. (NOT * a business.)​ In some cases no modification seems to be required. In the following example, however, modification is in fact implied:​ She has had an education. [a good education] (Randolph Quirk et al., A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language. Longman, 1985)   How do you go to a woman who lives at the foot of a mountain of sadness and shovel more around her ankles, the sadnesses of strangers? (Rick Bragg, All Over but the Shoutin. Random House, 1999) Quantifying Noncount Nouns What about a loaf of bread or a slice of bread? Arent these count nouns? The noncount noun, e.g. bread is still a noncount noun. What has happened is that we have added a quantifiying phrase, a loaf or a slice, before the noncount noun, bread.Many noncount nouns can be quantified, that is made countable, by adding certain phrases before them: a grain of sand, three bottles of water, a piece of advice. When one of these phrases comes before a noun, we call the entire group of words a noun phrase. (Andrea DeCapua, Grammar for Teachers: A Guide to American English for Native and Non-native Speakers. Springer, 2008) Noncount Nouns and Mass Nouns Non-count nouns are often called mass nouns. We have preferred non-count, in part because it reflects clearly the test we use for determining whether a noun is count or non-count, in part because mass is not suitable for the full range of non-count nouns. The term mass is readily applicable with nouns like water or coal that denote substances but it is less evident that it applies transparently to abstract non-count nouns such as knowledge, spelling, work. (Rodney Huddleston and Geoffrey Pullum, The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language. Cambridge University Press, 2002)

A Brief Note On Deforestation And Charcoal Production

Mahdi 8 Deforestation and Charcoal Production in Somalia Mahdi Haile DPP 911.01: Environ Factors in Development Practice Kalle Matso July 30, 2015 INTRODUCTION According to the information thrown from the course reveals that over the past 30 years, assessments of the woodfuel situation in developing countries, have changed substantially. In the mid-1970s, recognition that huge and growing numbers of people depended on fuelwood as their principal domestic fuel led to predictions of potentially devastating depletion of forest resources, with serious negative livelihood consequences for the rural poor, unless action was taken to address this fuelwood crisis? (Arnold,J.E, and Gunnar Hlin 2006). Charcoal consumption is often growing faster than fuelwood consumption. Though still less relative to fuelwood in most of Asia, charcoal use is becoming a much larger part of the woodfuels total in Africa and South America. In Africa, the aggregate of consumption of fuelwood and wood for charcoal is growing at a rate close to that of population growth. The overall quantities involved, and the numbers still relying on woodfuels continue to be very large. The International Energy Agency recently estimated that, although shifts to other sources of energy could be expected to substantially reduce the share of these fuels by 2030, biomass energy will still account for an mated three quarters of total residential energy in Africa in that year, and that theShow MoreRelatedQs on Forests4908 Words   |  20 Pagesto European planters at cheap rates. They had cut down the forest for land to start the plantation. This was another way for deforestation. Large areas of forests were cleared to ma ke way for the plantation of tea, coffee and rubber to meet the growing demands of these commodities in European countries (Q.)Can you relate the progress of railways with the idea of deforestation in colonial period? Explain. (1 Mark) (Ans)  Ã‚   1) Railways were essential forcolonial trade and for the movement of imperialRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 Pagesmodernity is not just a teleological assumption. Moving may have been one of the elemental activities of our species, along with eating and reproducing, but mass movement was a new phenomenon—as was the related â€Å"massification† of reproduction, production, trade, and transportation, as well as communication, consumption, and culture. Mass migration is an integral part of these broader global processes that have shaped the modern world. Dating the shift is—like the periodization of any social process—aRead MoreLogical Reasoning189930 Words   |  760 Pagesyard and claims this is dramatic proof that UFOs landed in his backyard. That cartoon also illustrates the following principle of logical reasoning: Extraordinary statements require extraordinarily good evidence to back them up. A bit of charcoal is not extraordinarily good evidence of a UFO landing, but you ought to have extraordinarily good evidence if you are going to believe in such an unlikely event. Similarly, if I were to say to you, â€Å"I met my friend Tiffany Whetstone at the Co-op

She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb Essay - 687 Words

Before taking this course, I always looked at films and read books just as the average person does; interesting plot and how long will it hold my interest, but this course gave me an entire different perspective when watching films and reading books. Now that I have taken this course and have watched the required films, the most important thing when watching other movies and reading books, is the meaning behind each scene and how they relate and affect our world. For this paper, I will discuss a book that I read a long time ago, which is She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb and how this book relates to this course. She’s Come Undone is a story about a girl named Dolores Price. In this book, the author takes you through Dolores’ life, starting†¦show more content†¦In this particular film Harold was very interested in death, and because of this he attempted many fake suicide attempts as a cry for help and attention. When Harold meets a woman named Maude, she te aches him many life lessons and the importance of living life to the fullest. In turn Harold opens up to her about his thoughts and feelings and the two of them become great friends. This film relates to She’s Come Undone because just like Harold, Dolores battled her own issues and attempted suicide. Both of these characters meet people who help them understand that life is worth living no matter the struggles or hardships we face. With Harold, there was Maude and for Dolores, there was Dr. Shaw. Dr. Frost mentioned something in the notes that I believe helped both of these characters get through there hard times and that is: One of the most powerful and saving emotions is laughter. It helps keep us healthy both emotionally and physically. We can literally laugh our way out of illness! During the talks with Maude and the therapy sessions with Dr. Shaw, both Harold and Dolores were able to laugh through their troubles. As I mentioned before, I really enjoyed this course bec ause it gave me a different perspective on what to look for when watching films and read books. She’s Come Undone was a great book the first time I read it and even better this time around. This book relates to the other films as well, but theShow MoreRelatedShes Come Undone by Wally Lamb Essays1253 Words   |  6 PagesObesity and mental illness cause constant struggle in the life of Dolores Price, and social and behavioral aspects of family, social network, socioeconomic status and behavior change play vital roles in the health issues that she endure. Shes Come Undone follows Dolores and her struggles with health and behavior problems from childhood, through adolescence and into adulthood. We first meet Dolores as a happy, care-free child, but when her father leaves Dolores and her mother unexpectedly her lifeRead MoreI Know This Much Is True By Wally Lamb1079 Words   |  5 Pages Book Review: I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb. â€Å"Its not just a book it’s a life experience† These are the words of Oprah Winfrey as she heavily promoted Wally Lamb’s latest novel following his best seller; She’s Come Undone. Oprah, clearly an undeniable fan of Wally Lamb’s works trumpeted her review of She’s Come Undone to her audience in 1997. Now she has returned to promote ‘I Know This Much is True’ which no doubt will captivate her followers. Being a loyal Oprah fan myself, I haveRead MoreShe s Come Undone By Wally Lamb1767 Words   |  8 PagesIn the book She’s Come Undone by author Wally Lamb, we travel on a journey with a young girl Dolores Prices, as she matures from early childhood to adulthood and all the terrible things that accompany her along her voyage. It was rather intriguing the Wally Lamb did such an excellent job of writing in a first person perceptive as a woman. He accredits his ability to his older sisters. Wally Lamb wrote this book to hel p emphasize one’s journey to self-discovery. This book’s theme heavily shows theRead MoreThe True Meaning Of Madness2862 Words   |  12 Pagesshe chose what to do with her life. Esther constant bitter emotions and society’s expectations and gender roles is what lead her to be mad. 3. Yet Silvia Plath isn’t the only writer to include madness as a scapegoat for her protagonist in She’s Come Undone Dolores goes through a difficult life. As a child she sees her mother and father getting a divorce, and she sees how it is she dad’s fault but she does not blame him, instead she blames her mother. Yet Dolores’s father is clearly the one toRead MoreShe s Come Undone By Wally Lamb1983 Words   |  8 PagesThroughout the course of any being’s life, they are greatly influenced by the people and environment around them. In the coming of age fictional biography, She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb, the reader follows the protagonist Delores Price throughout her journey in life from the age four to forty. Delores goes through many trials and tribulations in the course of her life, which include witnessing abuse and infidelity, experiencing rape, alienation, the deaths of her loved ones, suicidal tendencies

Apple and Increasing Market Share Free Essays

Apple Inc. is a successful developer of both computers and consumer electronics. The company’s most popular products include Macintosh computers, iPod mp3 players, iPhone smartphones and most recently the iPad, which is a hybrid of a tablet computer, and an eReader. We will write a custom essay sample on Apple and Increasing Market Share or any similar topic only for you Order Now Apple’s Macintosh computers, iPods, iPhones, and iPads all share characteristics that make them part of the general information technology industry. However, since they are very different products each belongs to a more specific industry. The Macintosh computers are included in the personal computer industry, iPods in the personal media player category and, depending on the model, the mobile internet device (MID) market and iPhones to the smartphone and MID industry. The iPad has not been released to the general public yet, but considering its various features it could belong to many markets. However, it will most likely be competing with the internet tablets, netbooks, and eReaders. Considering their competitors, one could surmise that the iPad will belong to both PC and eReader markets. By incorporating market assessment and predictions for each of Apple’s products, as well as consumer research into the promotional strategy, Apple will be able to improve its product sales 10% over 2011. Macintosh computers are Apple’s oldest product category. Their price point is significantly higher than Windows based PCs. This knowledge, combined with Apple’s popular Mac vs. PC television ads, can tell us a little bit about Apple’s target consumer. In the Mac vs. PC ads, Mac is represented by a young, trendy individual while PC is represented by a middle-aged nerd. This depiction of Mac, coupled with its higher prices (the cheapest Mac sells for $999), tells us that Mac is trying to attract younger individuals, within the 18-24, 25-34 and 35-44 age bracket with a higher-than-average income of the $50,000-$79,000 bracket and above. Due to the higher price point, Apple is targeting college graduates, because they tend to make more money. In the famous Mac vs. PC ads, Mac is portrayed by a male actor indicating that the company’s target market may be slightly more aimed at males than females (Get a Mac – Watch the TV Ads). Maintaining the current target market appears to be a wise strategy since reducing prices now in order to attract less affluent consumers could risk Apple’s image as a status symbol and its brand equity, especially when one considers a recent study of Apple consumer psychographics in which Mac users were considered to be less modest and more assured of their self superiority than the general population. I would recommend, however, that the Macintosh not entirely dismiss the female audience or older consumers. Older consumers tend to have more disposable income than the younger consumer. Therefore, with the brand’s higher price point, it would make sense to include the 45+ consumers in promotional strategy as well (Fried). As part of the personal computer industry, Macs are subject to several trends occurring within the industry. First, industrial design is becoming much more important in the minds of consumers than technological features. Consumers want computers that are more portable and can handle work and school requirements. Lower-priced mini-notebooks are becoming increasingly popular with consumers. It should be noted that the according to Gartner, ‘mini-notebooks were the only growing PC segment in 2009. ’ In another recent study by Gartner, it was predicted that by 2014 in a mature market, design would be the primary reason 20% of consumers will decide to purchase a new computer. However, computer firms should consider not only the outward design of the machine. Consumers also want user-friendly systems that work well with their other electronic devices. The second factor impacting the personal computer market is increased concentration on targeting even younger consumers. The main features expected to entice these youths are touchscreens and cheap mini-notebooks. Gartner has predicted that ‘by 2015, more than 50% of PCs sold to users under the age of 15 will have touchscreens. ’ Similarly the research company predicted that 20% of mini-notebooks would be sold to consumers 12 years of age and younger by 2012. It is also predicted that mini-notebook sales to children will be the quickest growing segment among PCs (Kitagawa). Considering this information there are many routes Apple can take to increase their market share in the personal computer industry. First, for consumers who want cheaper options, portability, and great design, Apple should use this as an opportunity to position the iPad as an alternative to the mini-notebook. The $499 device is capable of running Apple’s version Microsoft Office, iWorks, and in the future the iPad application store may include Microsoft Office apps. The device basically allows consumers to do more or less the same things as a mini-notebook but has the sleeker design and more user friendly interface that consumers are demanding. An alternative to this would be for Apple to design a mini-notebook version of the Macintosh since at present, the closest thing Apple has to compete with this product is the Apple Air, which while it does weigh less than most computers on the market, the product is still very wide in comparison to the standard mini-notebook (IPad – See the Web, Email, and Photos like Never Before). If Mac wants to continue to compete against its Windows counterparts, Dell, Toshiba, HP and Asus, the company needs to be prepared to compete in the mini-notebook arena. Apple could do this by positioning the iPad as a mini-notebook in consumers’ minds or by creating a new product, a Macintosh mini-notebook (Kitagawa). A second route Apple could take to improve its sales involves the trend of multi-touch surface computers becoming increasingly important in targeting younger personal computer users. Gartner noted that due to this trend, new markets will be developed for lower cost, with touchscreen computers targeted toward younger users. Apple could define this market with its iPad, or a version of the iPad. Especially since younger users have an easier time using touch screens that are horizontal (like the iPad) than vertical screens (like a netbook). It is important that Apple work on defining this market now, because the new Windows 7 operating system is fully equipped to allow PCs, Mac’s biggest competitors, to enter the portable touch-screen PC market (Kitagawa). To solidify the best strategy in increasing sales in the personal computer industry, Apple should conduct research surveys to determine if an Apple mini-notebook is something consumers would be interested in, and if given the choice at the same price (currently $499), would they prefer an Apple netbook to an Apple iPad? This would enable Apple to determine whether or not a new product needs to be created to compete in the mini-notebook market. In addition, since design is becoming increasingly important in the computer industry, Apple should seek consumer feedback concerning ways Macs could improve their current designs. To effectively promote the iPad as a netbook, Apple can take several avenues. First, because the iPad could be easily adapted by children, Apple could greatly bolster its iPad sales by developing educational software for the device and targeting elementary schools with sales promotions and direct marketing emphasizing the product’s educational benefits. To employ this strategy, Apple should send direct mail to public schools and include discounts on iPads based on the schools economic need. Marketing the iPad as computer for children via direct marketing and not the mass media will also help avoid associating the iPad solely as a children’s computer. Apple’s iPad has already done a great job of utilizing public relations to create a buzz about the product. In fact, the product won’t be released until April, 2010 but the United States government is already worried that its popularity will slow down the internet as new iPad users access the internet (Bellaria). To market the product as a netbook, Apple should consider emphasizing the attachable keyboard that would allow the product to be better positioned as mini-notebook (IPad). The best way to do this would be to put ads on the big four broadcast networks, ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC. Apple targets a wide range of consumers and advertising on these networks prior to the product’s release would reach a wide range of the target market. As far as marketing Macintosh computers, Apple should keep the current Mac versus PC ads, but incorporate female versions of the ads to entice more females to switch from PC to Mac. Finally, because the older consumer is a great potential market, Apple should include advertising in news magazines, a medium popular with older adults (Newsmagazine Demographics: A Graying Market). Since many older consumers are apprehensive about technology, the ads should emphasize Macintosh computers’ ease of use and small learning curve. Currently the Apple iPod personal media player offers lower price points and has garnered a market share of around 70%, exceeding all mp3 players for several years. The iPod is to mp3 players what the Sony Walkman was to tape players (Elmer-DeWitt). For this reason, Apple’s target demographic is definitely broader for iPod than its Macintosh brand, partly because of the mix of low and high prices of iPods ranging from the $59 iPod Shuffle to the high-end $399 iPod Touch. Apple still focuses its attention on younger consumers for the simple reason that this age bracket is more comfortable with technology. The iPod targets age brackets from the 12-17 range to the 35-44 age range. Males are typically more tech savvy so they make up a slightly higher percentage of the gender demographic. Since the iPod is a cheaper product, household incomes, with the exception of the $15,000 and below bracket are potential consumers. High school students are another great market for the iPod so those with some high school education and beyond are also targeted by Apple. As for psychographics, the consumer base for the iPod is so broad it would be hard to narrow down consumer similarities to anything more than a love of music (Play Music and More on IPod). The portable mp3 industry is reaching its penetration point and sales are starting to stabilize (Elmer-Dewitt). Portable media players like the mp3 are also following a more connected trend. This means more and more devices, such as the iPod touch are allowing users to access the internet through Wi-Fi networks. Because the iPod is doing so well and has such a loyal brand following, all Apple needs to do is continue to invest just enough in RD to stay with the competition (Baker). The iPod has reached the maturity age as sales have stabilized in this area. It is time for Apple to start thinking about cutting costs in this department and milking the brand by reducing costs to increase profit margins (Aaker). The iPod can employ a flighting schedule, going on flight hiatus until before and during the peak holiday period to cut costs. iPod only needs to maintain its image as the mp3 player to have. This can be done by continuing some television advertising to general audiences on the 4 major broadcasting networks as well as channels popular with youth, like MTV and the Disney Channel, in which new music is promoted along with the Apple device, thus linking the iPod with youth. Also, since online advertising is extremely effective with younger consumers, commercial banners on youth oriented sites such as MTV. com or Hulu. com will continue to keep the iPod positioned as the definitive music player for the 12-17 and 18-24 year old consumers. Sales promotions allowing consumers to get a discount on a new iPod if they turn in their old model could also be effective for the product. This would also maintain brand loyalty and create a unique selling proposition among mp3 players. The iPhone is very similar to the iPod, especially the iPod touch, in that it can play music and video, (and like the iPod touch, access the internet); however, the device also acts as a cell phone. Over the course of the first quarter for 2010, Apple sold 8. 7 million iPhones, a 100 percent growth in sales from 2009’s first quarter. (Reports First Quarter Results) However, in the smartphone industry, Blackberry still leads the market and Google’s Android has gained a 4% increase in market share. Currently, these smartphones are Apple’s biggest threat. The iPhone has only gained a . 04% market share (Turner). The problem iPhone is likely facing here is the demographics the product is targeting and attracting. The average buyer of the iPhone is almost evenly split among the 15-24, 25-34 and 35-49 age brackets (31, 32 and 31 percent, respectively). 74 percent of iPhone consumers are males and 58% have graduated college. Finally, the average household income of the iPhone is $75,600, so the target consumer likely falls into either the $50,000 to $79,000 or $80,000 to $94,000 household income range. The psychographics of the Apple iPod are the same as those of Mac users because both products, iPhones and Macs, are considered status symbols (White). In the case of the iPhone, Apple needs to work on targeting older users. Only 6% of iPhone users are above the age of 50; however, these consumers have more money to spend. Also, because of the intuitive touch interface, the ease of use of the iPhone could be a strong selling proposition for older consumers without much technological experience. Apple should continue researching ways to improve the ease of use of its product since as the smartphone industry progresses, large screens and touch interfaces are becoming commonplace. Improved usability, longer battery life, and network optimization is where smartphone will be competing in the future (Baker). To improve the user experience of the iPhone, Apple should conduct ethnographic research on current iPhone users. These studies could uncover user frustrations concerning the iPhone experience and focus on the features consumers currently like about the product. This will help Apple improve the user experience even more and enable the company to more effectively market the device to a wider range of less technologically inclined users. Apple could also include an ‘easy interface’ application specifically designed for the older consumer (Aaker). Like the promotional strategy discussed for Macintosh computers, Apple should take out ads in news magazines like Time and Newsweek ,which are targeted to an older demographic, in order to promote the iPhone’s ease of use and possibly the new ‘easy interface’ application to more senior consumers. In regards to the newest Apple iPad, this product has a lot of potential to increase Apple’s sales over the next year. It has already been discussed how the product could increase sales by positioning itself as a competitor in the netbook and touch PC market. In addition, the device can also be positioned as competitor in the eReader market. Gartner recently suggested that the eReader industry would great potential if some current issues were resolved. The first issue is that the eReader industry has not agreed on a proprietary file format for eBooks. This means that currently, there is not a standard book file format that can be transferred from one eReader to another (Baker). However, Apple has enjoyed much success with its iTunes and Application stores for its iPhone and iPod devices. Apple can leverage it online media store competencies to really make the iBookstore a success. If the iBookstore can be as successful as iTunes, not only will this increase eBook sales for Apple, it will also be good for the industry as a whole as it may provide eBook readers with a common file format (Aacker). The Apple company needs to be cautious and strategic however since Barnes and Noble, the owner of one of Apple’s eReader competitors, The Nook, has announced plans to create its own free online bookstore application for the iPad (Hamblen). Another element that has been afflicting the eReader industry is the price relative to the benefit. The Amazon Kindle’s cheapest version sells for $259 (Kindle Wireless Reading Device) and Barnes and Noble’s Nook sells for the same price (Nook, EBook Reader, EReader). The Sony Reader has a pocket version of its reader, set at a price of $199 (Sony – Reader Pocket Edition). These prices are currently considered to be too high for most consumers considering the only function of the eReader is to allow consumers to read. The cheapest version of the iPad is to sell at $499. Even though this is almost twice as high as the Kindle, Nook, and Sony Reader, the iPad offers many more benefits, such as video and audio playback, and access to the internet (IPad). Consumers are therefore more likely to forgive the relatively higher price of the iPad since it offers so many more benefits (Baker). The iPad should continue its mass media commercials on the major networks and work to emphasize its iBookstore in commercials in order to edge out the Barnes and Noble reader application being designed to compete with the iBookstore. Historically, new Apple products are much sought after and are considered status symbols. Because of this, the iPad will be targeted to higher household incomes, primarily the $50,000 to $79,000 and $80,000 to $94,000 brackets. Like other Apple products, the target market will likely lean more toward the male audience and include primarily college raduates. The age range will also likely be 18-24, 25-34, and 35-44 as older consumers typically avoid newer technologies. To generalize all Apple products and their promotional strategies, CEO Steve Jobs does an excellent job of using PR to introduce Apple products and create a buzz for them. However, after the initial buzz wears off, so does the PR. One way Apple could keep its name in the news is by creating a charitable organization, such as an after school technology learning program for inner city high school students, incorporating Mac products into that organization. Overall, Apple is in a very good position to increase its sales over 2011. Consumers are embracing technology, especially mobile media technology. More and more people are watching videos online and embracing smartphone technology (Bhatia). Apple should continue to emphasize the user-friendliness and great design of its products to the young, old, and everyone in between. If Apple does this, in addition to the many promotional strategies outlined above, a 10% increase in sales over 2011 will be very probable and Apple will have a lot of potential for future growth as well. How to cite Apple and Increasing Market Share, Papers

Dementia and the Different Parts of the Brain Affected Essay Example For Students

Dementia and the Different Parts of the Brain Affected Essay A part of the brain severely damaged in one person may be left completely intact in another person, even though they both have dementia. This helps to explain why people with dementia vary so much in the ways they behave and in What they can and cannot do. For example, a person may be able to play the piano well, long after forgetting the names of the pieces of music. This is because the memory needed to recall a sequence of physical movements is stored in a different area to that responsible for remembering facts such as names. Similarly, although a person may have difficulties with speaking, they may be able to sing or hum a favorite tune quite fluently. Again, this is because there are different parts of our brain responsible for speaking and for singing. Below is an illustration of the side view to the outer layer tooth brain (The cerebrum): Cortex (Cerebrum) The cortex, or cerebrum, is made up of two hemispheres (or sides) connected by a band of tissue called the corpus callous_ These hemispheres control speech, intelligence, and memory. There are specific centers for specific functions; for example, the speech centre governs the ability to form sounds into meaningful words, phrases, etc. Left Hemisphere The Left hemisphere controls the right side Of the body. It controls speech, comprehension, arithmetic, and writing. Right Hemisphere The right hemisphere controls the left side Of the body. It is responsible for more abstract skills, such as creativity, spatial ability, and artistic and musical skills. Each cerebral hemisphere is divided into lobes. In this illustration, the Frontal Lobe, the Temporal Lobe, the Parietal Lobe and Occipital Lobe are all the efferent parts that make up the Cortex). Frontal Lobe The frontal lobe is located in front of the cerebrum behind the forehead. It is the centre for judgment, reasoning, behavior, movement, personality, motivation, interpretation and inhibition of impulses. It also plays a role in controlling emotions, social skills, and expressive language, Parietal Lobe The parie tal lobe sits just behind the frontal lobe. It is responsible for receiving and processing the sensations of touch (for example, pain, heat, cold, pressure, size, shape, and texture). It covers language, spatial awareness and recognition. It analyzes the combined information coming in from all five senses. It is also closely linked to writing and speech fluency. Temporal Lobe The temporal lobe is located alongside the frontal and parietal lobes, just above the ear. It is the centre for the senses of hearing, taste, and smell. It is also involved in receiving auditory information and in memory and speech. Occipital Lobe The occipital lobe rests in back of the cortex behind the parietal and temporal lobes. Damage to this area may affect sight, such as perceiving or understanding visual information, Cerebellum The cerebellum is located beneath the cerebral cortex in the back of the skull. It is smaller than the cortex. Its job is to transmit and coordinate the signals from the cortex. It also controls the movement of voluntary muscles, balance, posture, and in coordinating movements. Brain stem The brain stem is in front Of the cerebellum and beneath the cerebral cortex. It connects the spinal cord to the cortex. Its role includes passing messages back ND forth between various parts Of the body and the cerebral cortex. The brain stem coordinates the bodys functions such as breathing, blood pressure and pulse. It also contains the reticular formation which is responsible for consciousness, drowsiness, and attention. Originating in the brain stem are 12 cranial nerves. These nerves control smell, hearing, vision, eye movement, facial sensations, taste, and swallowing. .ub194efd87d1be333765c0fdc3e611a44 , .ub194efd87d1be333765c0fdc3e611a44 .postImageUrl , .ub194efd87d1be333765c0fdc3e611a44 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ub194efd87d1be333765c0fdc3e611a44 , .ub194efd87d1be333765c0fdc3e611a44:hover , .ub194efd87d1be333765c0fdc3e611a44:visited , .ub194efd87d1be333765c0fdc3e611a44:active { border:0!important; } .ub194efd87d1be333765c0fdc3e611a44 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ub194efd87d1be333765c0fdc3e611a44 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ub194efd87d1be333765c0fdc3e611a44:active , .ub194efd87d1be333765c0fdc3e611a44:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ub194efd87d1be333765c0fdc3e611a44 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ub194efd87d1be333765c0fdc3e611a44 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ub194efd87d1be333765c0fdc3e611a44 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ub194efd87d1be333765c0fdc3e611a44 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ub194efd87d1be333765c0fdc3e611a44:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ub194efd87d1be333765c0fdc3e611a44 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ub194efd87d1be333765c0fdc3e611a44 .ub194efd87d1be333765c0fdc3e611a44-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ub194efd87d1be333765c0fdc3e611a44:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Beatles to this day are one of the most famous EssayThey also control muscle movements in the face, neck, shoulders, and tongue, Epic] The Limbic System (The Emotional Brain) Deep within the brain is the limbic system, sometimes called the emotional brain. It links your brain stem and automatic body functions with the more highly evolved intellectual areas of the cerebral cortex. The limbic system consists of several structures: Hypothalamus The hypothalamus is in charge Of homeostasis, or maintaining the bodes status quo. It regulates body temperature, hunger, and thirst, and is involved in emotion and your sleep cycle. Hippopotamus The hippopotamus is vital to learning and memory, particularly converting our shorter memory into long-term. This part of the brain also helps you comprehend spatial relationships and navigate the world around you. The hippopotamus is one of the first parts of the brain that suffers damage from plaques and tangles in the course of Listeners disease. Thalamus The thalamus serves as a relay station for nearly all sensory information that travels to and from the cerebrum and the rest of the body. Magical The magical controls memory, emotion, and fear. It triggers the so-called fight- or-flight response.