The Invention Of Designer Babies - 902 Words

In Mary Shelley’s, Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein becomes fascinated with the secret of life and sets out to discover what life truly is. Thinking he discovered the secret to life, Victor successfully creates a living creature out of old body parts. Unfortunately, the creature becomes dangerous and goes on to murder Victor’s family and friends. Though Frankenstein is fictional, with modern technologies, the creation of designer babies is an increasing reality. Designer babies are genetically engineered in vitro for specially selected traits, which can vary from lowered disease risk to gender selection (â€Å"Ethics of Designer Babies† 1). With the possibility of designer babies becoming a reality, many ethical arguments have come into play. Within these arguments the pros and cons of designer babies are discussed and many ethical issues are brought up. There are many pros involved in the creation of designer babies. First, a popular argument is, scientists wou ld have the ability to prevent diseases, such as Huntington’s disease and Down syndrome, by directly manipulating genes and implanting â€Å"healthy† genetic sequence into human germ cells (Resnik). Additionally, some people argue that natural selection fails to achieve perfection. Natural selection is the process in which species adapt to their environment. Natural selection leads to evolutionary change when individuals with certain characteristics have a greater survival or reproductive rate than other individuals in anShow MoreRelatedThe Invention Of Designer Babies1257 Words   |  6 Pagespotential to genetically modify embryos has created controversy whether this procedure if ‘morally correct.’ ‘Designer babies’ have been created by screening embryos for genetic diseases. However, ‘Designer babies’ has also been used to contain selected desired qualities such as eye colour, hair colour and skin complexion. The question rema ins, â€Å"where is the line drawn for ‘designer babies?’† In Vitro Fertilisation â€Å"In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) is a procedure in which eggs (ova) from a woman s ovaryRead More Lets Hit Pause Before Altering Humankind?746 Words   |  3 PagesWith modern technology comes the breakthrough of the decade by altering the human genes. This altering gene invention is called CRISPR/Cas9. However, this invention in the beginning stages of altering genes, began with rats until perfection. The process began early with the embryo stages to edit the genes. With the introduction of CRISPR surrounds a lot of controversy. Some people believe editing genes is playing with the hands of God and refuse to believe in CRISPR. With the article, â€Å"Let’s HitRead MoreNew Ideas And Inventions Of The World s Technology Essay981 Words   |  4 Pagesideas and inventions are generated every day for people’s convenience, and nearly nothing seems impossible. One of the largest grossing markets today are physical appearance and health.Because of these technological adv ancements, people are able to essentially â€Å"Design a baby† by altering DNA and choosing which physical traits they want their children to have. This idea of genetic modification was introduced by the U.S. in 2000 when the first â€Å"designer baby† was born. The first Designer baby was AdamRead MoreHuman Enhancement Should Be Discontinued1627 Words   |  7 PagesJose Cruz ESL51 Designer Baby Throughout history science has played an important role in society to help the human species strive and achieve numerous accounts of greatness. However; in today s society science has expanded into new territories trying to achieve human perfection, by using technology to create what they think a perfect baby should be. Genetic Engineering or known to the public as designer babies is a term used to describe the use of technology to modify embryos and choose specificRead MoreGenetic Engineering Is Responsible And Manipulating The Genes Of An Organism1707 Words   |  7 PagesA couple, a man and a woman, sit in front of a screen. The woman said, â€Å"Let’s choose brown hair and grey eyes for him.† â€Å"Oh! He needs to be tall and smart,† replied the man. What the couple is doing is designing their future baby. It might sound crazy to be able to engineer one’s children genetically, but technological advancements in the medical and scientific fields have a llowed this as a possible option for potential parents. Genetic engineering is controlling and manipulating the genes of anRead MoreOur Posthuman Future : Consequences Of The Biotechnology Revolution1163 Words   |  5 Pagesquestion that we added in our PowerPoint was, â€Å"Is there a difference between new drugs being invented with unknown side effects, and designer babies?† Using the first part of critical thinking the first question asked among the group was, â€Å"What can we say about this comparison?† After thinking about the invention of new drugs, the side effects, and designer babies, we were able to progress on to the second step, which was to reason this question out. Reasoning meant elaborating more on the questionRead MoreGene Review : Gene Editing1665 Words   |  7 Pagesediting CRISPR-Cas9 has been the most precise of them all. As soon as it is perfected it will be the next biggest invention. With every new invention there is an issue. One of the big issues with CRISPR-Cas9 is designer babies. Many people think that once CRISPR-Cas9 becomes mainstream that it will led to families picking the gender, appearance, intelligence, and personality. Designer Babies will led to issue in society. The IFV is extremely expensive and only the rich will be able to afford it. TheRead MoreVitro Fertilization : A Type Of Assisted Reproductive Technology1578 Words   |  7 Pagesdesigning these babies in a specific, customized way outside of the female body. In â€Å"The Three-Parent Baby’s First Step,† Neurobiology writer, Kenan Malik touches on this is common misunderstanding among those who are against in vitro fertilization because they are somehow under the impression that the personality traits and physical features of babies can be picked or chosen while going through the in vitro process. Malik discusses the new British law stating the allowance of three parent babies. â€Å"ManyRead MoreThe Possibilities of Brave New World in Our Society942 Words   |  4 Pageslike the society much like in Brave New World. It all starts with the genetic modification of bacteria leading up to genetically modified humans, and then eventually having children being conceived in test tubes. All these studies, experiments, and inventions being done today are the stepping stones to a controlled society in Brave New World. Genetic modification in our world all started with the genetic modification of bacteria according to Theresa Philips of Nature Publishing Group. After bacteriaRead MoreEugenics -Not the Way of the Future Essay721 Words   |  3 Pageslives of unborn innocent babies. It shown not be accepted as discrimination The idea of eugenics is today very controversial, because in the past it had been used in order to justify discrimination and injustice against people who were thought to be genetically unhealthy. But now eugenics has become all so more popular with the discovery and invention of In vitro fertilisation (IVF), which consists of fertilising the female egg and male sperm ‘in glass’, thus a test tube baby. â€Å"We now have discrimination

Reality Television and the Dance World Essay - 890 Words

A great deal of the world possesses a vague sense of the existence of the dance world, but they do not know much past that. The assistance of reality television shows, such as Dance Moms, So You Think You Can Dance, and Dancing with the Stars, present the inner workings of the dance community to the general public. Unfortunately, the publicity can change how society perceives the dance world. Reality television affected the dance world by contributing an air of commercialism to it, influencing younger dancers to suppose the main focus should be in the eye-popping tricks rather than artistry, and it drives audiences focus on the glitzy costumes and dazzling on stage performances rather than exhibit the sweat, blood, and tears that go into†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"(Young dancers) want to turn out eight pirouettes and do fouettes all over the place- but then we make them understand how difficult it is just to stand on one foot,† said Victoria Flores Cook, co-owner of D enise Wall’s Dance Energy in Virginia Beach, VA, (Real n.p.). This yearning to learn the flashy, over-the-top tricks has made it harder for young dancers to focus on their artistry as well. These dancers that watch the flips, turns, and leaps on television begin to think that all dance is about is the tricks and how high you are able to put your leg. Performing the aerials and dozens of turns does not give the audience a sense of the dancer’s â€Å"unique voice and vocabulary,† as Michaels puts it. Thus, losing the artistic ability to just stand on stage with a presence and focus that makes the audience hold their breath; so when the leaps and the legs do show up, the audience is even more amazed. Though the onstage performance is a rewarding experience for both dancers and choreographers alike, reality television shows have become more focused on the flashy, high-gloss performances rather than providing for the audience a look into the grueling rehearsal proces s that leads into the spectacular of the performance. â€Å"These days you can’t swing a sequined dress without hitting a dance reality T.V. show,† (Macel n.p.). Shows like So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing with the Stars may give short clips of a lift that needs work or a fastShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Television On Society s Society1583 Words   |  7 Pagesvery powerful source in today’s society, especially, television. Through technological advancements, television has given people the ability to access almost any program at their fingertips. Shows like Dance Moms, So You Think You Can Dance, and Dancing with the Stars acquire exponential ratings and leave quite the impact on their viewers. As such, viewers around the globe, both young and old, are inspired to dance and keep dancing. Dance is an expressive art form, which allows people to communicateRead MoreAnalysis Of The Zuni Turkey Dance1119 Words   |  5 PagesThe Zuni Turkey Dance is an Native American Indian dance performed to entertain and to get people knowledgeable about their cultural heritage. It appeals to unfamiliar and familiar people. This dance appeals to an audience because it is a form of entertainment. Entertainment can be defined as a performance that pleases and audience. In the Zuni Turkey dance we can see the art of ;dancing, drums/musical instruments begin played ,costumes, and hymns.The performers are enthusiastic and full of energyRead MoreAnalysis Of The Movie D I V O R B N E904 Words   |  4 PagesRoseanne uses her television series to show how women really were like in the 1980s. They were pretty much in control of the family and relationship. They rejected all stereotypes of the man being the king of the house. The women had the power and authority to back them up. In another episode titled â€Å"D-I-V-O-R-C-E† Roseanne tries to convince her husband Dan to go on a romantic dinner. She goes out of her way to convince Dan to suit up with a tie and go out to dinner with her. In the episode RoseanneRead MoreEssay about Functions of Dance in Society1516 Words   |  7 PagesQuestion: What are some of the functions of dance in society? Select two or three examples from diverse periods and support your arguments through observations and readings from this course. Dance in the Troubled times. Dance has been functioning in our society for centuries. It is undeniable to claim that dance has never crossed your path because it appears in our daily lives such as in school, television, parks, clubs, places of worship, parades etc. Dance was able to alleviate the numerous problemsRead MoreThe Positive and Negative Effects of Reality TV1031 Words   |  4 PagesFactor, reality television can impact many lives everyday. Growing up in the era of the growth of reality television, I’ve seen many shows that influence and affect other teenagers and people more and more every day. The variety of shows seem to find something to interest anyone, leading to positive and negative effects. They are produced on more channels daily causing people to wonder how reality television is impacting our world today and what the future holds for it. Reality television is nonfictionRead MoreMovie Analysis : Dance Moms 951 Words   |  4 Pagestraits and unique characteristics that give both consistency and individuality to a person’s behaviour (Feist and Feist, 2009). Slide 2: Abby Lee Miller The hit reality television show, ‘Dance Moms’ shows the life of a junior elite dance team taught by Abby Lee Miller. Throughout the show, Abby is portrayed as a loud and aggressive dance teacher obsessed with her team winning. Abby is most notably known for her aggressive and non-empathetic approach to creating amazing dancers, but is constantlyRead MoreThe Reality Of Television Shows1276 Words   |  6 Pages This Is What The Reality Of TV Is. The popularity of reality TV shows lately do not amaze me, in the society today, people admire excessive pride than high moral standards. A lot of shows which need to be cancelled portray and teach a lot of bad behaviors. Although these reality TV shows may make us laugh or even amaze us with its characters, who are bad influences to the society especially children. These shows gives us a picture of how people are drasticallyRead MoreConflicts of Race, Class and Gender Under the Hidden Patriarchal System on Dance Moms2951 Words   |  12 PagesINTRODUCTION Dance Moms, in its fourth season on Lifetime, a channel whose main demographic is women, featuring dance studio owner/dance teacher Abby Lee Miller, is the flagship â€Å"maternal television† program to be examined in this paper. Abby is famous for the pyramid, a system in which she ranks her favorite dance students (top of the pyramid) and least favorite (bottom) directly in front of the students and their mothers. These three groups of females, particularly the mothers and AbbyRead MoreThe Censorship Of Ray Bradbury s Fahrenheit 4511481 Words   |  6 PagesFahrenheit 451, characters are forced to be nothing or more than then rest of the civilizations that are living there. Women are usually the ones who stay at home watching television and the men are out working, the best job you can get is working for the government. Children usually go to school, at school they usually watch television about subjects instead of reading about them from books. The main character , Guy Montag, is a fireman who goes around with his crew burning down the houses of the manyRead MoreThe Popularity of Reality Shows Among Young People1480 Words   |  6 Pagesimpact on various aspects of private and public life. The media (especially television) has become an important type of leisurely activity and entertainment in our lives. Television heroes stormed into our lives like new best friends. We talk about them all the time and we try to be and act more like them every passing minute. We are constantly surrounded with different media images and messages. Within one hour of television viewing, we can be faced with more â€Å"images† than a man in pre-industrial

Hemophilia Essay Research Paper Hemophilia Hemophilia is free essay sample

Hemophilia Essay, Research Paper Hemophilia Hemophilia is a genetically inherited hemorrhage upset which is caused when one of the plasma proteins ( needed to coagulum ) is losing or abnormally formed in the blood. The word Hemophilia comes from the Latin word hemo, intending blood and the word affection, significance: holding a inclination towards. Knowledge of haemophilia has been around since scriptural times ( due to the age of haemophilia it is unsure who the exact laminitis of the disease is ) but it wasn # 8217 ; t until the 1960 # 8217 ; s that scientists began to do new progresss towards calculating out what haemophilia was. There are two types of haemophilia: hemophilia A or factor VIII lack, and haemophilia B or factor IX lack. Hemophilia A is more common than hemophilia B with 85 % of those affected by haemophilia holding it. A individual with haemophilia does non shed blood harder or faster than a normal individual would when injured, but they bleed longer because their blood is unable to organize a h ouse coagulum. We will write a custom essay sample on Hemophilia Essay Research Paper Hemophilia Hemophilia is or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Small cuts are usually non a job, but sometimes shed blooding in the articulations occurs due to a individual # 8217 ; s organic structure growing. This consequences in swelling of the affected articulation and extreme hurting when the joint or musculus is moved. It is reported that one in ten thousand males get hemophilia A. It has been calculated that worldwide there are about 350,000 people with terrible or moderate haemophilias, although haemophilia B is 5 times less common that hemophilia A. All races, faiths, and economic groups are affected by haemophilia. Hemophilia is a hemorrhage upset which is inherited genetically. Due to the form of heritage, the upset by and large affects males merely. About one tierce of hemophilia instances come with a old household history. Womans with a haemophilic cistron are called bearers while work forces are either haemophiliac or normal. A girl of a female parent who is a bearer and a male parent who is normal has a 50 % opportunity of being a bearer herself. A boy of the same female parent and male parent has a 50 % opportunity of holding hemophilia. Most of the clip bearers are non affected by the disease, but sometimes there are minimum symptoms. Many times hemophilia is hidden for many coevalss if no affected males are born. Therefor the haemophilic cistron is carried through many coevalss of females who, because they have one X chromosome that is normal, do not suffer from the disease themselves. Other cases may have no family history, which would mean that the change in the X chromosome is a new one. This is called a mutation of the gene. Hemophilia has played an important role in Europe’s history, for it suddenly cropped up in the children of Great Britain’s Queen Victoria. It became known as the â€Å"Royal disease† because it spread to the royal families of Europe through Victoria’s descendants. Hemophilia first appeared in Victoria’s family in her eighth child, Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany. Throughout his short life, Leopold had suffered severe hemorrhages, and always was described as â€Å"very delicate.† Leading the life of a normal youngster was impossible for Leopold because any cut or bump could lead to death and it had been necessary to keep him always under strict surveillance. However, in spite of all protection, Prince Leopold died at the ag e of thirty-one, as a result of a minor fall. The disease then took off from there in the royal family. It was either given to a male descendant (causing him to be a hemophiliac) or a female descendant (causing her to be a carrier). The present-day royal family is unaffected by the disease. The treatment of hemophilia involves the simple injection of the deficient factor (usually found in blood derivatives or factor concentrates) directly into the individual’s vein. This will either prevent bleeding, or minimize the effects so that the patient remains free of disability and problems. If treatment is delayed the bleeding continues, causing more tissue damage, and eventually a permanent disability. If a hemophiliac has severe bleeding or surgery, a continuous blood replacement therapy is applied to maintain healthy levels of the clotting factor. Untreated, hemophilia is a lethal disease. At the beginning of this century the life expectancy of someone with hemophilia was less th an fifteen years. Today, with good treatment, and a fair amount of knowledge, a male’s life expectancy with hemophilia is only ten years less than a normal male’s life. This is only the beginning of treating hemophilia. With the recent genetic technological advances taking place, there is no telling what treatment or prevention methods scientists will think of next.

Adults Managing Mental Health

Question: Explain the scope and nature of dementia in adults, and consider the responses that might be taken to such conditions? Answer: Dementia in adults: Introduction: Adults often suffer from many metal disorders due to excess of workload, stress, depression, lack of family attention etc. Dementia is a mental disorder seen almost in adults, is a type of disease results in loss of memory and power of thinking that increase gradually. The patient affected by dementia could not be able to perform the daily woks (Colyer, 2011). In this topic we will discuss about the definition, types, causes and treatments of dementia in adults. Definition: Dementia is the disability of an affected persons loss of memory, thinking power eventually and failure to perform his daily functions and communicating. Types of dementia: There are many types of dementia seen in adults and the most common type is Alzheimers disease. Others are Lewy body dementia, vascular dementia, Parkinsons disease, fronto temporal dementia, syphilis and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease etc. Alzheimers disease related to shortest memory loss and word finding problems. Vascular dementia is cause due to injury to blood vessels and disease. Lewy bodies dementia is shows the primary symptoms of visual hallucinations and Parkinsons disease. Parkinsons disease is disorders in nervous system which affects the movement of the patient. Frontotemporal dementia has the symptoms of drastic changes in personality and language difficulties. Symptoms of dementia: Some common symptoms for dementia are recent loss of memory, difficulty in performing daily tasks, communicating problems, confusion, lack of taking any decisions, problem with conceptual thinking, mood swings, loss of interest in performing any work etc. Causes of dementia: Dementia mainly caused due to the death of brain cell in most of the cases. Head injury, brain stroke, tumor in brain can also be the cause for dementia. The cause of dementia also found associated with HIV. Depression, deficiency of vitamin, medications are some of the causes of dementia. There some recent developments in the cause of dementia those are vitamin D deficiency, serious brain injury, and lack of proper sleep (MacGill, 2015). Diagnosis of dementia: The first step for diagnosis concern with memory power and cognitive health. This can be done by asking simple questions. Basic tests associated with drawing and word could help to diagnose dementia. Mental tests, GPCOG test, MMSE (Mini Mental State Examination) are some of the tests to diagnose dementia. Recently developed tests are four biomarkers of dementia and physical abilities of the adults (Mahoney, 2011). Treatments for dementia in adults: Since dementia is mainly cause due to death of the brain cell there is no such effective treatment for dementia. I f symptoms shoe that dementia due to reversible cause and non degenerative cause; this can be prevent ed. Alzheimers disease symptoms can be reduced by medications. Some medicines for this are Donepezil, Alantamine, Rivastigmine and Tacrine etc. Brain train also helps decreasing the symptoms of Alzheimers disease (Fischer et al., 2011). Care from family members and friends is very much need in prevention of dementia in adults. There are some current developments in controlling dementia, they are drugs that prevent the brain cell death, taking nuts and oil with Mediterranean diet can prevent memory loss. Some risk factors for dementia are tobacco smoking drinking of alcohol, high cholesterol level, high blood glucose level etc. Conclusion: Dementia is a mental disease cause mainly due to the death of brain cells. It can also cause due to prolonged medication, HIV infection, depression etc. Since it is due to the death of brain cells there is no proper treatments but some medicines are available to prevent this. Adult having high cholesterol high blood sugar, taking alcohol and smoking are at high risk of getting this disease. There are some recent developments in treatment of this disease and are still more researches in this regard are going on. References list: Colyer, H. (2011). Dementia care a positive future: a postscript.Quality Ageing Older Adults, 12(2). Fischer, C., Schweizer, T., Joy, J., Jiang, D., Ringer, L. and Herrmann, N. (2011). Determining the Impact of Dementia on Antidepressant Treatment Response in Older Adults.Journal of Neuropsychiatry, 23(3), pp.358-361. MacGill, M. (2015).Dementia: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments. [online] Medical News Today. Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/142214.php?page=2#tests_and_diagnosis [Accessed 15 Jul. 2015]. MAHONEY, D. (2011). Adult ADHD Associated With Dementia Risk.Internal Medicine News, 44(4), pp.22-23.

Culture and Politics of the country of Mexico

Culture is the way of life of a given people. It entails how people behave and perceive different life issues. It includes aspects like religion, ethnicity, customs, language, beliefs, and food among other aspects that define a people. Culture varies from one place to another depending on the circumstances surrounding a place, for instance, climate and environment and how people perceive things.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Culture and Politics of the country of Mexico specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Politics on the other hand entails the process by which a group of individuals come together and make collective decisions. It could also be seen as a way through which state or governmental affairs are run. This piece of work will give an in depth discussion of the culture and politics of Mexico. Mexico has an interesting culture. Just like any other aspect, culture in Mexico has undergone a lot of changes espe cially as from the 20th century. People’s lifestyle, particularly those in the cities, has become similar to that experienced in Europe and the United States of America. In regard to language, Spanish is widely used in Mexico. However, there are a total of 62 indigenous languages that have been recognized by the Mexico government as national languages. Another cultural aspect in Mexico is art. Mexico is a country that is known for its folk art. The art has its origin from indigenous and Spanish crafts. There is a lot of pottery and garments embroidery. Pre – Columbian architecture is widely spread in the country. In Mexico, religion is left open and there is no one religion that is made official. However, Catholicism has the largest membership, approximately 83%. Protestantism has 9% followers of the total population including Jehovah’s Witness and Seventh-day Adventist. Buddhism, Islam and Judaism are also proclaimed in Mexico although to a small extent. The et hnic groups include the Mestizos and about 52 indigenous ethnic groups (Joseph and Henderson 47). In regard to politics, Mexico government is a federal republic, led by President Felipe Calderà ³n who was elected in the year 2006. The government is founded on a congressional political system and thus the President has got a lot of powers and heads the state, the government as well as well as a multi-party structure. The federal government is deemed to represent the United Mexican States. It is divided into three branches; the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary. The government follows the political constitution of the United Mexican States, of 1817 (Wasserman 99).Advertising Looking for report on cultural studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More There are about seven political parties in Mexico the main ones being the Institutional Revolutionary Party, the National Action Party, and the Party of the Democratic Revol ution. All political parties are required to promote democracy in the country and to act as a medium through which the citizens can participate in public office affairs. Every individual who has reached 18years has a right to vote. In Mexico, there are usually different levels of elections, that is, the presidential elections, the congressional elections, and the State elections. There have been considerable changes in the Mexican politics all aimed at making the country better. However, there exist some political disputes due to varying views by different agencies. This has affected the country’s economy. For this reason, there ought to be a positive move taken by the President, the politicians and the political parties irrespective of the compromise that each unit ought to make for the best of the majority (Starr and Council on Foreign Relations 25). A map showing Mexico Culture and Politics (including the Government, Economy and Population) Source: https://www.factmonster .com/atlas/north-america/mexico Works Cited Joseph, Michael Gilbert, and Henderson Timothy. The Mexico Reader: History, Culture, Politics. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2002. Print. Starr, Pamela, and Council on Foreign Relations. Challenges for a Post election Mexico: Issues for U.S. Policy. New York: Council on Foreign Relations, 2006. Print.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Culture and Politics of the country of Mexico specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Wasserman, Mark. Everyday Life and Politics in Nineteenth Century Mexico: Men, Women, and War. Albuquerque, New Mexico: UNM Press, 2000. Print. This report on Culture and Politics of the country of Mexico was written and submitted by user Noel V. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Is Political Analysis a Scientific Enterprise Should It Be

Is Political Analysis a Scientific Enterprise Should It Be According to Fay (1996)1, the study of political science involves a close analysis of dates, governments and politics. This discipline concerns with the study of human behavior and all issues related to politics as observed in controlled environments. This means that it would be very difficult to reproduce results through experimental methods.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Is Political Analysis a Scientific Enterprise? Should It Be? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Many scholars have argued that the study should be based on observations rather than experiments. Historically, most advances and conclusions in political science are derived from observations of the general trends of nation’s politics and government. The fact that the results from studying a variety of governments of a given number of nations limits the probability of obtaining reproducible results and thus limits the study of political science t o be classified as a scientific enterprise. Political analysts utilize a variety of means to obtain their research data. Most primary data is obtained through historic records and official documents. The secondary materials have been traditionally derived from results of surveys, case studies, statistical analyses and experimental models and research buildings. Political science builds its theories on critical observations of political elites, individuals and groups, as well as institutions. These patterns are drawn, generalized before the theories are being created. The correlation between the study of political science and science is a subject to debate due to some specifications that scientific studies and models stipulate as mandatory in all scientific models. This paper analyzes some of the scientific requirements in a scientific enterprise and then correlates them to the model and research methods used by political analysts to draw its conclusions Literature review The definit ion of political science has changed over the years since the 1950s. Initially, the discipline had been comprehensively descriptive in nature, but has since relied on statistical methods. Political analysts have over the years rejected political science as a science based on two approaches: practical and philosophical objections. In the first one believes that political behaviors are very complex and therefore mislead researchers having made the data collection quite hard. Philosophical objections, on the other hand, base their arguments on the fact that human reasoning cannot be objectively quantified. This leaves observations and perceptions by the researchers as the only alternative (Rosenberg, 2012)2.Advertising Looking for essay on political sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Political analysis lacks a standard methodology for quantifying the validity of its measurements and therefore makes it hard for ob taining testable results. The complexity and uniqueness of the political analysis make the results of the study unreliable. According to Cherry (2010)3, reliability is a measure of consistency of a given measurement. For a test to be reliable, it must deliver similar results on a regular basis. The results are independent of the reason for administering the test, but should be approximately similar every time the test is done (Cherry, 2010)4. Unfortunately, mathematical quantification is not possible in political analysis when making approximations about the reliability of a given test. Two aspects are normally considered in science: inter-later and internal reliability. In order to assess the first one, a minimum two independent judges should score the test. The scores are then analyzed to establish the consistency of the rater’s approximations. The best way to test inter-rater reliability is to assign each rater to test a score (Silva, 2010)5. Then, the test administrator c omputes the correlation between two ratings to establish the degree of inter-rater reliability. On the other hand, internal reliability is a measure of consistency of test results conducted on the same test. The researches compare test variables, which measure the same construct to establish the tests internal consistency(Cherry, 2010)6. On many occasions, these tests involve very similar or repetitive questions that are utilized to assess the reliability. Since the questions are identical and are structured to answer the same phenomena, the researcher must provide answers to the question in a similar fashion meaning that the test has internal consistency (Cherry, 2010)7. Political analysis lacks a standard methodology for quantifying the validity of its measurements and therefore makes it hard to obtain testable results. Additionally, science capitalizes on knowledge to explain how phenomena is the way it is. As a result, theories and testable predictions based on empirical reliabi lity are created. The more similar observations are observed, the more the theory is deemed to be testable and therefore correct. Poor consistency of the human behavior thus reduces the rate of testability of the theories and consequently reduces the reliability of the results (Silva, 2010)8.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Is Political Analysis a Scientific Enterprise? Should It Be? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Political analysis is a social study and involves numerous examples of complex human behaviors. Human beings are neither identical nor interchangeable. Their complex nature makes them lack a general conclusion based on the results of the methodology used. In science, generalization is a must concept and relies on the building relationships between two or more facts and utilizes empirical generalization to reach a credible conclusion (Buttolph Reynolds, 2012)9. Since humans cannot be put in a Petri dish in an effort to control their behaviors to study certain variables, the validity of the results obtained is thus questionable. It would be important to look at the definition of variability as an important factor in quantifying scientific studies (Silva, 2010)10. Validity is defined as the ability of an instrument to achieve its goals. Tests should be valid in order to ease interpretation, and provide accurate application of the results. Validity is a measure that uses research methods that can demonstrate the existence of a predefined relationship between the test and the behavior it is supposed to measure. There are two types of validity measures: content and face validity. In case the elements of the test represent the whole range of possible results the test should cover, then the test have content validity (Silva, 2010)11. Content validity draws the test questions from a wide pool of items covering a wide range of topics. Face validity, on the other hand, is a component of cont ent validity that is determined when the person assessing the instrument makes a conclusion that measures the desired element or trait in the test (Cherry, 2010). Quantification While scientists insist on quantifiable tests, Political analysis, being a social science, relies on behaviors, values, beliefs and so on to make conclusions. This implies that their results cannot be measured accurately. Measurement is a fundamental element of science and although generalizations and assumptions are common, the quantification process must be illustrated clearly.Advertising Looking for essay on political sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Some political scientists vehemently criticize this approach by citing the scientific methodologies that have been employed historically in science. Galileo, for instance, used a crude telescope to view the moon and other planets. Scientific developments in astronomy were developed from the foundations he discovered through more and more precise observation instruments. Another fundamental element of science is the ability to offer transmissible knowledge. Scientists insist that scientific knowledge must be transmissible or, in other words, they must be explicit enough to allow other scholars to analyze them and replicate their results. Unfortunately, the methodologies used in social sciences are basically based on objective and systematic observations. This means that a fundamental goal of science is left out since the results obtained cannot be verified. The theories constructed from these verifications of public inspection and results are not in a credible position to explain why phenomena behave the way it does (Fay, 1996). In the scientific world, the knowledge is used to describe things and facts, for example, how things are created and why they are what they are. On the other hand, political analysis depends on causal relationships which derive their results from correlations in order to establish useful and important information. These however fail to explain issues related to why and how (Fay, 1996)12. Falsifiability During the development of theories, it must be quite clear whether the theory is falsifiable or not. Science insists that an empirical theory fails to satisfy the fundamental of science if it cannot be proved to be either right or wrong through various tests. When a theory is found to be wrong, it gives the researchers the motivation to look for alternative theories through elimination of the previous theory. The truth is that no political setting is interchangeable. If we argue from this point, it means therefore that the results we will obtain from analysis of a political setting will be subjected to alterations once an identical study is carried out. This would consequently lead to situation where theories will be formulated today and dismissed the following day. Political analysts use case studies to come up with comprehensive theories but fail to generalize them being afraid of criticism from independent similar theories. The Organization of the American Political Science Association (2006)13 reported new developments in the scientification of political analysis. In the early 1960s, most political analysts used scientific means to build on the behaviorism during the early foundations of political science as a discipline. However, over the years, these theories have been challenged by different authors owing to their nature of lack of reliability and generalization. The line between facts and values has been a nightmare to most political scientists and other social scientists for a long time. Some held on the ar gument that values are facts, but in the real scientific world, a clear distinction between the two must be established. Epistemology As one of the key pillars of philosophy, epistemology concentrates on propositional knowledge. The political analysts utilize this approach by classifying certain elements of beliefs and values to be true or false. The results produce normative knowledge which deals with the evaluation and recommendation of what should be rather than what it is, or how it came to be. On the other hand, real science aims at creating a non-normative kind of knowledge which is based on facts or, in other words, the objective determination of what things are. While the real scientific world insists on knowledge being cumulative, the research methods used by previous experiments and results should be used as foundations of new work. Political analysts deal with variation in the settings of political arenas, governments and institutions in such a way that the conclusions fr om different studies yield different results. In their words, the repeatability, reliability and validity of the data obtained cannot be used to make a general observation. By presenting a systematic a systematic and well reasoned anticipation, science is able to make accurate predictions for future occurrence of events. Thus, science is in a position to generate predictions for the future. Social analysis fails in generalization of its theories and therefore most of its conclusions cannot be used to predict the occurrence of future events (Fay, 1996)14. Science relies on parsimony in an effort to give other researchers a chance to choose between alternatives. Scientists therefore prefer methodologies that give a vivid explanation of phenomena while maintaining few parameters. In real scientific research, deductive arguments must not necessarily be reached. These relate to arguments that are proved to be true through the use of a series of logical statements to derive a conclusion b ased on true premises (Buttolph Reynolds, 2012)15. Although deductive reasoning is used in political analysis, inductive reasoning prevails in most research work making inferences though observations and propositions (Buttolph Reynolds, 2012)16. This brings the issue of probabilistic explanation. In science, it is required that 100% accuracy be met prior to making any predictions. The use of inductive reasoning therefore forbids this practice of making prediction based on previous findings. In other words, every situation in political analysis requires an independent research and conclusion. For example, if a researcher was to research about the political situation in a country, say Britain, it would be wrong to make inferences about the United States using the results of the study. On the other hand, a scientific experiment could be reproduced to another similar case. For example, the behavior of bacteria inside a Petri dish could be used to make general conclusions about the beh avior of all similar bacteria. From the given example, several observations can be made. The situation of political institutions in Britain and America are likely to change with time. By the time the study was taken, several parameters such as the nature of economy and the general perceptions of the respondents will have changed. The scientific study of bacteria in the same environment and conditions will yield similar results day-in-day-out. We therefore concluded that the Petri dish experimental results are reproducible, valid and reliable. Reliability is important in this case in order to assess the practicability and efficiency of the materials used to gather the data (Martin, 1994)17. Conclusion The paper analyzed the scientific approach of research and made equal comparison to the study of political science. The scientific approach look more tangible and reflective results compared to the social science approach. The paper concluded that political analysis therefore cannot be classified as a scientific enterprise. For a long time, the study has based its reflections on descriptions obtained through observations. The fact that these systems are undergoing transformations to include statistical inferences suggests the birth of a new approach to the subject. At the moment, the scientific requirements for a theory to satisfy the discussed expectations of a scientific study do not allow the prevalent method in political analysis to be described as a scientific approach. Deductive reasoning may not be practical in political analysis since every time the research is carried out, the probability of obtaining different data is high. Bibliography Buttolph, J Reynolds, T H, 2012, Political Science Research Methods, 7th edn., sage Publications, http://college.cqpress.com/sites/psrm/Home/chapter2.aspx Cherry, K, 2010, Reliability and Validity, viewed on http://psychology.about.com/od/researchmethods/f/validity.htm Fay, B, 1996, Contemporary philosophy of social sci ence: a multicultural approach. Blackwell, Oxford. Martin, M, 1994, Readings in the philosophy of social science, MIT Press, Cambridge. Rosenberg, A, 2012, Philosophy of social science, Westview Press, Boulder, CO. Silva, E, 2010, Racism without racists: color-blind racism and the persistence of racial inequality in the United States, Rowman Littlefield Publishers, Lanham. The Organization of the American Political Science Association, 2006, Proceedings of the American Political Science Association, Vol. 1, pp. 5-15, First Annual Meeting, 1904. Footnotes 1 Fay, B, 1996, Contemporary philosophy of social science: a multicultural approach. Blackwell, Oxford. 2 Rosenberg, A, 2012, Philosophy of social science, Westview Press, Boulder, CO. 3 Cherry, K, 2010, Reliability and Validity, viewed on http://psychology.about.com/od/researchmethods/f/validity.htm 4 Cherry, K, 2010, Reliability and Validity, viewed on http://psychology.about.com/od/researchmethods/f/validity.htm 5 Silva, E, 201 0, Racism without racists: color-blind racism and the persistence of racial inequality in the United States, Rowman Littlefield Publishers, Lanham. 66 Cherry, K, 2010, Reliability and Validity, viewed on http://psychology.about.com/od/researchmethods/f/validity.htm 7 Cherry, K, 2010, Reliability and Validity, viewed on http://psychology.about.com/od/researchmethods/f/validity.htm 8 Silva, E, 2010, Racism without racists: color-blind racism and the persistence of racial inequality in the United States, Rowman Littlefield Publishers, Lanham. 9 Buttolph, J Reynolds, T H, 2012, Political Science Research Methods, 7th edn., sage Publications, http://college.cqpress.com/sites/psrm/Home/chapter2.aspx Cherry, K, 2010, Reliability and Validity, viewed on http://psychology.about.com/od/researchmethods/f/validity.htm 10 Silva, E, 2010, Racism without racists: color-blind racism and the persistence of racial inequality in the United States, Rowman Littlefield Publishers, Lanham. 11 Silva, E , 2010, Racism without racists: color-blind racism and the persistence of racial inequality in the United States, Rowman Littlefield Publishers, Lanham. 12 Fay, B, 1996, Contemporary philosophy of social science: a multicultural approach. Blackwell, Oxford. 13 The Organization of the American Political Science Association, 2006, Proceedings of the American Political Science Association, Vol. 1, pp. 5-15, First Annual Meeting, 1904. 14 Fay, B, 1996, Contemporary philosophy of social science: a multicultural approach. Blackwell, Oxford. 15 Buttolph, J Reynolds, T H, 2012, Political Science Research Methods, 7th edn., sage Publications, http://college.cqpress.com/sites/psrm/Home/chapter2.aspx Cherry, K, 2010, Reliability and Validity, viewed on http://psychology.about.com/od/researchmethods/f/validity.htm 16 Buttolph, J Reynolds, T H, 2012, Political Science Research Methods, 7th edn., Sage Publications, http://college.cqpress.com/sites/psrm/Home/chapter2.aspx 17 Martin, M, 1994, Re adings in the philosophy of social science, MIT Press, Cambridge.

Workflow design and management Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Workflow design and management - Case Study Example The fourteen day period that is taken up during the assessing of whether a student is qualified or not for credit transfers is impressive but can still be considerably improved. Downloading the application form and attaching supporting information before submission is vital for the commencement of the process. It is also very important that the Clerical Officer counter-checks the applications to ensure that all the forms are appropriately filled, and all supporting information attached. This considerable cuts out the time that would have been wasted on application forms not properly completed. There is, however, an overloading of the same Clerical Officer on aspects of the entire process that would have otherwise been done away with. Instead of having the clerical officer making photocopies of the application form AS 41c and supporting documents according to the number of subjects the student is claiming credit transfer, it would be more efficient if the students were to be involved. The students should be required to make applications depending on the number of subjects they are claiming credit transfers. This would reduce the work-load of the Clerical Officer. The time spent in sending the forms back and forth could also be reduced by making use of an integrated system of analysis. A system that connects the Clerical Officer to the teachers directly would be effective. When the Clerical Officer inputs data of students who have applied for credit transfers to the system, the teachers could have access to the same system, but in terms of the department. The teachers would then indicate into the same system whether a certain application has been accepted or denied. The clerical Officer would then generate the appropriate letters. As the letters are being signed by the Programme Leader, the applications would then be returned back to the Clerical Officer by the Department