Second Amendment Rights -Gun Control

Second Amendment Rights -Gun Control

 Introduction

OK, so what is the Second Amendment? One might infer its definition from the words themselves, but it might be tough to interpret depending on individual or group viewpoints. The Second Amendment was adopted on December 15, 1791, along with the rest of the Bill of Rights. These rights were included to prevent an overly powerful government. But with wars between countries and the Civil War, the idea began to morph in two different ways. The idea of protecting the state and the idea of protecting the people. This posed a problem as it allowed for individual interpretations of the Second Amendment. This led to numerous court battles and laws between state and federal governments. Fast-forward to present day and we have a convoluted mess of federal laws, state laws, and court rulings which have made the Second Amendment indefinable. This complex is further confounded by the idea that culture and different regions of the United States have different ideas on gun control. By taking in these conflicting beliefs, we can conclude the following statement to be the modern definition of the Second Amendment: “The Second Amendment is a person’s right to possess a firearm for traditionally lawful purposes such as self-defense and hunting. The right is further reinforced by a state’s right to bear arms to protect against an overreaching Federal Government.” This complex and heavily disputed Second Amendment will be the key issue as to whether the right for guns goes too far.

The history of the United States. It is safe to say, we, as American citizens, have read about the civil rights movement’s period. These events throughout history have had a significant impact on the way the American citizens live today. It affected the way we live in terms of education, religion, and the right to vote. Two of the most well-known changes that have made a significant impact are the changes in the criminal justice system and the right to own a firearm. In the criminal justice system, changes such as Miranda rights and police techniques have changed the way law is done today. Another significant impact would be the change of the right to own a firearm. This right is guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution written in 1776: “A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” Today, the debate for this amendment has sparked significant interest in the rules of firearms in the United States. These rules affect ordinary citizens and firearm dealers. And now, we are currently struggling with the idea of whether the Second Amendment complex does more harm than good. This may lead to the tweaking of firearm rules or a possible revision of the entire concept of Second Amendment rights.

1.1. Definition of Second Amendment Rights

This view was not always the view held by US courts. Up until the mid-20th century, US courts and attorneys felt that the Second Amendment protected a state’s right to form and keep an armed National Guard unit. This changed in the 1960s with an increase in the amount of crime in the United States, and a 200 year old law right in to challenge. This all led to a modern view of the Second Amendment to protect the right of individuals to own firearms for private use.

In June 26, 2008, The Supreme Court issued a landmark decision, ending almost seventy years of confusion over the meaning of the Second Amendment. In District of Columbia v. Heller, the Court held that the Second Amendment protects an individual’s right to possess a firearm, unconnected to service in a militia. In a 5-4 decision, the Court stated that the Amendment’s prefatory clause regarding the necessity of a militia was irrelevant to the right identified in the operative clause. The Court found that the operative clause was clear and afforded private citizens the right to possess firearms. This decision has since been critically important to the argument over the Second Amendment in the modern day.

The Second Amendment states that: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” (second amendment to the constitution) Many pro-gun organizations take this literally. They say that the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed upon. The National Rifle Association, a major player in United States gun rights politics, makes frequent reference to the Second Amendment in its efforts to block new gun control.

The true meaning of the Second Amendment has been a key issue in American politics. Its meaning has been the subject of many interpretations through the years. Many in the pro-gun movement view the amendment as a collective right, whereby individual citizens arm themselves to protect the nation or their state. Those who are against the pro-gun movement view the Second Amendment as a simple rights issue. They view it as the right for the National Guard to bear arms, not the individual citizen. This argument has been going on for many years, on what the true meaning of the Second Amendment is.

1.2. Historical Background of Second Amendment

In December 1791, the same year that the Second Amendment was adopted, the state of Virginia also adopted a Declaration of Rights. This document clearly defined an individual’s right to own a gun. It states: “That a well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state; that standing armies, in time of peace, should be avoided as dangerous to liberty; and that in all cases the military should be under strict subordination to civil power. … No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.” This document is very similar to the Second Amendment and helps define exactly what the founding fathers meant. Today many people are in the dark to what the Second Amendment actually means. The historical context and true meaning of the Second Amendment is what the courts must use to interpret it.

The right to bear arms in the United States is a right guaranteed by the Second Amendment of the Constitution. This amendment, adopted in 1791, specifically states: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Contrary to popular belief, the Second Amendment does not directly address an individual’s right to own a gun. It is often viewed as a collective right of state militias and does not address the issue of gun ownership for non-military purposes. However, today the Second Amendment is hotly debated and both sides argue over the true meaning of this law.

2. Proponents of Gun Control

2.1. Arguments for Stricter Gun Control Laws

2.1.1. Reducing Gun Violence

2.1.2. Preventing Mass Shootings

2.1.3. Enhancing Public Safety

2.2. Organizations Advocating for Gun Control

2.2.1. Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence

2.2.2. Everytown for Gun Safety

3. Opponents of Gun Control

3.1. Arguments against Stricter Gun Control Laws

3.1.1. Protection of Individual Rights

3.1.2. Preserving the Second Amendment

3.1.3. Self-Defense and Deterrence

3.2. Organizations Supporting Gun Rights

3.2.1. National Rifle Association (NRA)

3.2.2. Gun Owners of America (GOA)

4. Current Gun Control Policies

4.1. Federal Gun Control Laws

4.1.1. Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act

4.1.2. National Firearms Act

4.2. State Gun Control Laws

4.2.1. California Gun Control Laws

4.2.2. New York Gun Control Laws

5. Impact of Gun Control Measures

5.1. Effectiveness of Gun Control Policies

5.2. Controversies and Challenges in Implementing Gun Control

FAQs

  1. Does the Second Amendment guarantee an individual right to own guns?
  2. Should there be stricter gun control laws in the United States?
  3. What types of gun control measures are most effective?
  4. How can we balance gun rights with public safety?
  5. What role do mental health issues play in gun violence?
  6. How does gun violence in the United States compare to other countries?
  7. What is the impact of the gun lobby on gun control legislation?
  8. Can gun ownership deter crime?
  9. Does gun control infringe on the rights of law-abiding citizens?
  10. How can we prevent mass shootings and other gun-related tragedies?

Paying Student Athletes

Paying Student Athletes

Paying Student Athletes

1. Introduction

At the other end of the spectrum, there have been situations where an athlete has exhausted all four years of eligibility and still has not obtained his or her degree. A lot of times, these athletes are considered “program changers,” and it is said by many that they are drafted to the pros from college. But there is an unfortunate number of college athletes who do not successfully “go pro” and may have to return to school to finish their degree at a later time. A rule was passed in 2001, now called the “degree completion award,” which permits former athletes who were at least 10 years removed from college to return and gain financial aid to finish their degree. This opportunity exemplifies the hardships of athletes who were unable to secure adequate income through their collegiate tenures and are forced to sustain regular employment. With so much money being generated in college sports, it is truly a shame that athletes of all economic backgrounds do not have the opportunity to get paid.

Moving onward, the NCAA is responsible for “enforcing” the Title IX statute, which prohibits gender-based discrimination between the sexes in educational institutions that are recipients of federal aid. There are numerous sanctions in college sports that have made a direct and indirect impact on the ability of athletes to receive proper compensation for their play. With the rise of economic hardships in today’s society, many athletes come from impoverished backgrounds and rely on financial aid in order to attend universities. Unfortunately for these poor families, their sons or daughters are no longer able to receive eligibility for endowments or subsidized educational loans. It is a known fact that partial athletic scholarships do not always pay in full, and many athletes are left paying out of their own pocket for tuitions, living expenses, and various other fees. An athletic scholarship is a transitory year-to-year agreement between athlete and coach, of whom decides the duration of an award (1-4 years) and whether to reduce, increase, or not renew an athlete’s aid. Due to the competitive nature of college sports, injuries are very common, and if an athlete endures a serious injury, there is a chance that his/her scholarship may not be renewed. Either way, an athletic scholarship is not guaranteed money, and not every athlete is given the full cost of attendance. So athletes who come from poor economic backgrounds must face the harsh reality that a scholarship is still not enough to scrape by. Because the NCAA has been reluctant to adjust scholarship amount or increase the number of full scholarships given, it is imperative for athletes of this nature to start earning an income.

Despite working hard and making a lot of money for their respective schools, college athletes are not financially compensated for their efforts. The NCAA, which is responsible for the welfare of the athletes it governs, has delayed proper compensation for far too long. In the bigger realm of things, college sports exist to bring in money for the NCAA, universities, and sponsors. It is a simple and underlying fact that without college athletes, there would be no money to be made. No coaches would have million-dollar salaries, no CBS would have multi-billion-dollar television deals, and most importantly, universities would not be able to afford all the luxury items that the athletes themselves are not permitted to have. So, if these athletes are responsible for generating massive amounts of revenue and, in the process, create a consumer market for their very own sport, why should they not be fairly compensated?

1.1. Overview of the issue

Overall, the issue is bounded by a vicious cycle. Revenue for major athletic programs is increasing dramatically and yet the quality of life for the student athletes is getting worse. As mentioned earlier, many of these students come from poor families and they are essentially living in poverty while the institution reaps the benefits of their work. In a seminar on running a profitable athletic program, University of Wisconsin Athletic Director Barry Alvarez made the following statement: “Every time I take a coach aside and tell him I can get him a better athlete if he morally and legally questionable, I feel like I’m selling my soul.” Many institutions are faced with this dilemma. They know that under the current system they are reaping the benefits of student athletes’ hard work and getting many of these athletes through questionable means. This is a sad state of affairs for the student athletes and also for these institutions. Unsatisfied with the current system, many student athletes have succumbed to nefarious methods in order to make ends meet. Compiled evidence suggests that many are not attending class and are being funneled into easy curriculum programs in order to stay eligible and better perform athletically. Ideally, these athletes would not have to make sacrifices in morals or education in order to subsidize their cost of attendance. It’s the opinions of the authors that a system involving direct payment with interests accrued until graduation (to ensure educational completion) for student athletes with a capped maximum compensation may be a solution to this problem.

Student athletes would end up with a distorted view of the value of their contribution to the institution. If they are paid salaries equal to the work they are doing or the revenue they bring to the institution, it sends the message that their first priority should be sport, not education. This is sending the wrong message to student athletes. It is true that they have more responsibilities than non-athletes, but they are still students. Finally, and possibly the most important issue in this debate, is the tax and Title XI implications of paying student athletes. Currently, athletic scholarships are considered grants-in-aid and taxed differently than salaries. The tax on a scholarship is much lower than on a salary. Any institution with a big-time athletic program would lose millions in revenue. Currently, Title XI mandates equal opportunity and support for male and female student athletes. This measure has been widely criticized but is still in place and if student athletes were paid, it would become a serious legal issue.

There are three main reasons the NCAA does not want to pay college athletes. The first, and most important, is that paying college athletes would make it very difficult to increase the salaries of coaches. In a predatory manner, profits would decrease and the value of the institutions would also decrease. In the competitive athletic and educational markets, this would be an unacceptable result. Colleges and universities also contest that by paying the athletes, they would be converting these students into employees. This would radically change the landscape of college sports. Players would no longer play for the love of the game. Instead, the recruitment process would become a bidding war in which only the richer institutions can afford to compete. Athletes would be less concerned with the quality of the education they are to receive and more concerned with finding the institution that will pay them the most money.

1.2. Importance of the topic

While it is against NCAA rules, there have been incidents where a student-athlete accepted money or illegal benefits in order to get by. This in turn can end the career of a student-athlete or even result in punishment of the team he/she plays for. The fact that a student-athlete would suffer punishment for an act most other students would never receive punishment for is both immoral and unfair.

The topic of paying student athletes is critically important due to the fact that student-athletes are in one of the most exploitative situations in the student-education system. Student-athletes are constantly practicing, playing in games, and keeping up with their studies. The time constraints of being a student-athlete are great and it is quite common for a student-athlete to go an entire season without being able to find the time for a job. This contributes to the fact that a student-athlete is more likely to go hungry than a regular student.

There are numerous schools which make a great deal of income from their athletic programs. From merchandise to televised games, college athletics is a multi-million dollar industry. Yet, many college athletes would struggle to buy themselves a meal. There is no simple solution to this problem as there are numerous stipulations and factors to consider.

Paying student-athletes is a major topic of debate in today’s society. The issue of whether or not to pay college athletes, a great deal of whom are only on scholarship, is of great importance as it affects millions of student-athletes and could potentially change the landscape of college sports.

2. Arguments in Favor of Paying Student Athletes

2.1. Fairness and equity

2.2. Compensation for time and effort

2.3. Financial benefits for athletes

3. Arguments Against Paying Student Athletes

3.1. Maintaining amateurism in college sports

3.2. Potential negative consequences

3.3. Impact on non-revenue sports

4. Current Compensation Models for Student Athletes

4.1. Athletic scholarships

4.2. Cost-of-attendance stipends

4.3. Other forms of compensation

5. Legal and Ethical Considerations

5.1. NCAA regulations

5.2. Title IX implications

5.3. Student-athlete rights

 

FAQs

  1. Should college athletes be paid?
  2. Do college athletes generate enough revenue to justify being paid?
  3. How would paying college athletes affect the NCAA?
  4. What are the potential benefits of paying college athletes?
  5. What are the potential drawbacks of paying college athletes?
  6. Should student athletes be considered employees or students?
  7. How can we ensure that student athletes are compensated fairly?
  8. Would paying college athletes professionalize college sports?
  9. What impact would paying college athletes have on academics?
  10. Is paying college athletes a step towards a minor league system for professional sports?

Legalization of Sex Work

1. Introduction

Sex work has a long history, it is the world’s oldest profession. It has been prevalent in a variety of forms since ancient times, often being an occupation which comes to the fore in times of economic crisis or war. It carries a variety of social meanings and has been associated with religious and cultural rites. The status of sex work has often been linked to the socio-economic position of women. In his book The Prostitution of Women and Girls, Barry argues that in times of female oppression, women are likely to resort to sex work because it is a means of best utilizing their sexual and reproductive capacities, over which they may have a comparative advantage. Given this, and the fact that people enter sex work for a variety of reasons, it is crucial not to stereotype sex workers or the reasons why people choose the occupation.

Sex work is not an easy term to define, nor is it one which has a universal meaning. The Oxford Companion to Law suggests that the difficulty in defining sex work arises from the use of the term “prostitution” in law and literature, providing an incomplete term of reference with which to identify the range of work encompassed by sex work. “In most countries anything other than penile/vaginal intercourse in which payment is received is legal–so long as it is not formally solicited as here the crime of prostitute” (Oxford Companion to Law p. 388). Prostitution itself is seen as the exchange of sexual services for money, encompassing a diverse range of activities from phone sex and internet sex to models of escort work which sometimes focus on the provision of non-sexual companionship. A narrow definition of sex work for the purpose of the current essay will be that of prostitution, encompassing the exchange of sex for money.

Sex work is a widespread occupation within contemporary Western society, encompassing a diverse range of activities and individuals, each with a different relationship to law and regulatory practices. This essay will argue that sex work, defined as the exchange of sexual services for money or goods, should be legalized. This is not to suggest that the various forms and implications of sex work are desirable or that the occupation is not without serious problems. However, it will be demonstrated that criminalization of sex work leads to more negative implications than would occur under a system of regulation. Human rights considerations, the health and safety of sex workers, and community welfare are best served through a system which legitimizes sex work and provides for regulation and harm minimization. This policy contradicts the present Victorian response towards sex work, which continues to favor a strategy of repression and eradication.

1.1. Definition of sex work

I then proceed to discuss society’s perception of sex work as deviant or ‘immoral’ behavior. I explain that this perception stems from dominant cultural and religious values and has been reinforced through the criminalization of sex work itself. I explain that this attitude forces sex workers to work in secret or in isolation, using greater unsafe practices and hindering their ability to negotiate safe sex practices with clients. This, in turn, only serves to enforce the notion of sex work as deviant – a self-fulfilling prophecy that only serves to legitimize the discrimination and violence directed at sex workers. I explore the implications this has on society’s perceptions of sex workers as individuals, which are often based on stereotypes of drug addiction, poverty, and mental illness. I conclude that changes in stigma and social attitudes towards sex work are prerequisites to changes in legislation, legal rights, and social policy.

In this section, I begin by discussing the controversial nature of sex work. The terminology used by Western society to label those who sell sexual services has changed several times over the past century, going from ‘prostitute’ to ‘sex worker’ in an attempt to remove the stigma associated with the activity. I explain that for the purpose of this paper, the terms ‘sex work’ and ‘prostitution’ will be used interchangeably to refer to any situation in which money exchanges hands for a sexual service. This is to ensure a broad definition of the types of activities sex workers engage in, as the term prostitution does not fully encompass the nature of all sexual services provided for payment. I discuss that the term sex work is used to describe all prostitution as a form of labor, and that it supports the rights and self-determination of the individual selling sexual services.

1.2. Historical perspective

The medieval period saw the first major attempt by the state to supervise the personal lives of its citizens. Prostitution was well established as an institution in Western Europe, deriving from both pre-Christian and Christian attitudes to female sexuality. Aristotle had thought it a necessary safety valve for the male population. At the Council of Vienna in 1358, the church agreed to tolerate brothels under state supervision as a lesser evil than uncontrollable, clandestine prostitution, and this policy was continued in trials such as the one by public brothel in Bologna, set up by papal decree in 1492 (Bullough and Bullough, 1994). This was a rare concession by the church to the pragmatic needs of its flock, for much of its teaching had been hostile to the institution and it had often been suppressive in its attitudes to unlicensed or irregular sex. The twin peas of unregulated sex outside of marriage and the spread of venereal disease aroused the ire of the clergy, and legal sanctions against prostitution intensified all over Europe from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century. The Reformation’s emphasis on social morality led to further suppression, and countries which remained Catholic underwent similar reactions in the Counter-Reformation. France typifies the vacillation between tolerance and condemnation, with reglementation from the 16th to the 18th centuries, outright abolition during the Revolution and Napoleonic era, reinstatement by the police from 1802 to its revocation in 1946 (Bey, et al., 2003).

At different periods over the past thousand years, the attitude of the state has oscillated between intimidation and permissiveness; and in modern times, too, there have been striking changes in national attitudes within Europe. This suggests that the potential for simple binary comment is limited (Lane, 2002).

1.3. Current legal status

Sex work is illegal in most countries. The degree of illegality varies though, and some countries have specific provisions that are aimed at sex work. These provisions can fall under a number of distinct categories, such as public order offences, revenue (tax) offences, specific restrictions for sex workers and their clients, and immigration offences. The more of these laws a country has, the more complex these laws become to enforce. However, none of these laws are aimed at reducing the exploitation of sex workers, and for the most part, enforcement of these laws commonly results in the displacement to more hidden areas and the creation of health and safety issues for sex workers. This is illustrated by the typical law enforcement strategy of periodic crackdowns on sex work. While such laws remain on the statute books in many countries, only Canada has made a serious attempt to reduce the number of laws and simplify the legal treatment of sex work. There are only a few countries that have fully legalised sex work (The Netherlands and Germany being notable examples). Coming from the liberal school of thought, The Netherlands fully legalised sex work in October 2000. Since then, all prostitution is subject to local authority permits, and there are state health checks for sex workers. Other regulations include the outlawing of brothels that do not have the appropriate licenses, and an individual may be required to undergo a medical examination in order to work as a sex worker. Prostitution is also legal in Germany, and both states have a reputation for having migration from countries with high sex work exploitation rates. It could be argued that fully legalising sex work may be a way to reduce the exploitation of foreign sex workers in the long term, as it may be harder to force someone into sex work in a fully legal environment, than in one where it is illegal. Unfortunately, due to EU law on freedom of movement for workers, this has also led to an inflow of illegal immigrants, particularly from Eastern Europe. The migration of foreign sex workers has led to increased reports of some of these workers working in forced prostitution, demonstrating the complex effects of migration in a legal environment.

2. Arguments in Favor of Legalization

2.1. Empowerment and autonomy

2.2. Health and safety regulations

2.3. Economic benefits

3. Arguments Against Legalization

3.1. Exploitation and human trafficking

3.2. Moral and ethical concerns

3.3. Societal implications

4. Comparison of Legalization Models

4.1. Full legalization

4.2. Decriminalization

4.3. Regulation and licensing

5. Case Studies of Legalization

5.1. Netherlands

5.2. Germany

5.3. New Zealand

6. Impact on Public Health

6.1. Access to healthcare services

6.2. STI prevention and control

6.3. Substance abuse and harm reduction

7. Impact on Sex Workers’ Rights

7.1. Labor rights and protections

7.2. Violence and exploitation prevention

7.3. Access to justice

8. Social Stigma and Discrimination

8.1. Stigmatization of sex workers

8.2. Intersectionality and marginalized communities

8.3. Educational campaigns and awareness

9. Regulation and Oversight

9.1. Licensing and registration

9.2. Zoning and location restrictions

9.3. Monitoring and enforcement

10. International Perspectives

10.1. Global approaches to sex work

10.2. Human rights considerations

10.3. International conventions and treaties

11. Conclusion

11.1. Summary of arguments

11.2. Recommendations for policy-makers

FAQs

 

1. Should sex work be legalized?

2. Does legalization improve the safety of sex workers?

3. How can we regulate sex work to prevent exploitation?

4. What are the ethical considerations of sex work legalization?

5. Does sex work legalization promote human trafficking?

6. How can we address the stigma associated with sex work?

7. What role should law enforcement play in regulating sex work?

8. Can sex work ever be a truly consensual profession?

9. How does sex work legalization impact public health?

10. What are the long-term implications of legalizing or criminalizing sex work?

Utilizing Feedback in the Dissertation Process

Question
It is essential that you remember to utilize the feedback that you receive from your Chair. The more you pay attention to and address the suggestions you receive, the more intuitive this process will become. Stay focused. Remember to set aside time each week to work (do not wait until the night before work is due). The dissertation is something that requires much more attention than a weekly assignment. 
Dropbox Assignment(s): In Week 3 Dropbox, submit a draft of Chapter 1 that now includes your problem statement and a section discussing the significance of your research to practice and the community of scholars.  Remember to add this section to your dissertation template. If you are already beyond this point, submit your revised draft of Chapter 1. Refer to your timeline and check off your accomplishments.

Answer
1. Importance of Utilizing Feedback
When approaching the task and responsibility of creating a high quality dissertation, receiving continuous feedback from those who have been through the process at the same level is invaluable. The greater the depth and extent of feedback can only result in a greater final product. It is becoming more and more evident that the form of feedback from the tutors in this scenario is insufficient due to the lack of experience of the supervisor in the topic area, with many only being a year or two ahead of the student in their career learning the same principles. Therefore, alternate methods of feedback are becoming more popular such as online forums and posting work for peer review, with students who find experienced professionals in the given area willing to provide feedback in their own time. This method involves much less stress and hassle compared to arranging meetings with supervisors, and it allows the student to consider a wider variety of suggestions and criticisms from people not involved in the dissertation process at their university. These outsiders are more likely to point out the flaws in logic in the work as they will not have the available knowledge to understand what the student is trying to get at if it is unclear. This feedback could be considered even more important than that from the supervisor, but in the case of all feedback, the more sources consulted, the greater the variety of suggestions. This process could take quite a long time, but it can be much less stressful and produce a better result working using only intuition and suggestions. Without the intuition to consider other people’s opinions is folly. This is especially true in the scenario where a student has to change topic far into the dissertation. If intuition told them the original idea was not good, then it is likely that this was the case, but no feedback was received to confirm this and a waste of time and effort ensued.
1.1. Addressing Suggestions from the Chair
These steps will increase the chance of the feedback being a positive experience for the student and will lead to a stronger dissertation.
A. Understand the feedback B. Organize a time to further understand the feedback and discuss possible alternatives C. Be appreciative of the Chair’s involvement and consideration of the student D. Make a decision whether or not this is a suggestion that aligns with the goals of the dissertation E. Keep open communication with the Chair about the suggestion and its outcomes F. Consider the best approach to implement the suggestion.
When a student submits a dissertation to a committee, and ultimately the Chair of the committee, he or she will receive feedback. Invariably, the Chair will present suggestions that the student will have to address. Many times these suggestions will alter the course of the dissertation. Addressing the feedback can be a difficult and frustrating process. The relationship with the Chair is important to the student’s success so it is critical to handle the suggestions in the most effective manner. Steps the student can take to handle the feedback that will foster a positive relationship with the Chair and result in the best possible outcome are as follows:
1.2. Enhancing the Intuitive Process
A parallel notion exists in the contrasting of two modes of thought, automatic and controlled cognitive processes. Automatic processes are those which are fast, intuitive, and non-conscious, while controlled processes are those which are deliberate, analytical, and reasoned. While much research and writing of the dissertation will involve controlled processing as the student seeks to develop the best possible document, automatic processing is nonetheless involved in many of the activities and products of the research. Automatic processing is important in reading, comprehension, idea generation, drawing inferences, and many other aspects of the research process. Moreover, research activities will often be driven by intuitive hunches about what might be interesting or important to look at; automatic cognitive processing can be an area of research to the degree that some intuitive hunches about a topic seem to cost too many cognitive resources. Stepkin and Greene (2005) suggest that utilizing feedback from colleagues can be the best way to share research findings at an informal level. Coming to understand how colleagues are understanding the topic can give an indication of the readability of one’s work or if it might need to be rewritten; it represents automatic processing. Given that automatic processing can take forms in a wide range of research activities, it is reasonable to assume that the quality of these activities can be enhanced by feedback in the same ways that the quality of the dissertation document itself might be improved. Feedback can be specifically utilized as a means of enhancing automatic or intuitive processing through asking for reactions to ideas and work in progress, as Green (2005) experienced with his own advisor who often called him to discuss new ideas. Feedback can also serve a reminding function about research directions that resulted from automatic hunches; in receiving feedback about the dissertation document itself, the student may gain insight on forgotten ideas or be reminded why a certain study was undertaken and not another. Dilmac (2009) has suggested that utilizing automatic and controlled cognitive processes is important for the dissertation student who often alternates between writing and reading over his own work.
A primary argument in favor of utilizing feedback from the chair and committee in the dissertation process is that doing so represents a concrete means of enhancing the intuitive process of research and writing. It has been pointed out by numerous authors that research itself is, or should be, an intuitive process relying on a sense of discovery and a search for understanding (Thornberg, 2012). Butkin and Green (2005) describe the role of intuition in research as a movement from seeing patterns to making inferences to the development of (or contemplation of) models or theories. Sidebar comments, queries, and suggestions from colleagues during research activities suggest that they also view the research process as a continuous interplay between hunches and hypotheses and that responding to feedback can often shake loose new and important hunches or directions in the research. Boone (2011) reflects a similar sentiment from his experience as an academic consultant, that the best ideas about research tend to emerge in conversation and by stepping back from the specifics of the study.
In-text citation omitted.
2. Staying Focused in the Dissertation Journey
2.1. Setting Aside Time for Weekly Work
2.2. Avoiding Last-Minute Approaches
3. The Dissertation vs Weekly Assignments
3.1. Understanding the Difference in Attention Required
4. Dropbox Assignment(s) in Week 3
4.1. Submitting a Draft of Chapter 1
4.1.1. Including the Problem Statement
4.1.2. Discussing the Significance of Research
4.2. Adding the Section to the Dissertation Template
4.3. Submitting a Revised Draft if Already Beyond Chapter 1
5. Referring to the Timeline and Accomplishments
5.1. Checking Off Completed Tasks

Technology and Informatics in Evidence-Based Practice

Question
For this discussion, consider the ways in which technology and informatics are used to support evidence-based practice. Please address each of the following questions in your discussion response for this week:
Choose a specific evidence-based practice (examples: CAUTI reduction, sepsis protocol, SCIP protocol, bedside shift report, etc.).
Describe how technology and informatics are used to support the interventions used in practice?
Describe how employing evidence-based practice guidelines improve patient outcomes?
What benefits and challenges have you experienced with (the integration of) information technology in your practice?
What strategies did you, or could you, use to overcome these challenges?
Answer
1. Introduction
Informatics is any practice that involves the use of information. It involves using information and applying cognitive and practical skills for manipulating the information (knowing), and comparing this with the various health sciences aiming at a better understanding of health problems and evidence leading to decisions or actions (doing). Informatics has a broad application across health care including management data on service utilization, assessing population health needs, disease management, and consumers making informed decisions about their health. For EBP, informatics can provide enhanced access to and dissemination of information. It provides means to the management of vast volumes of information and presenting this at the right time in the right place to enable high-quality decisions. Today with the internet, the amount of information is huge, informatics can help break this down and provide the correct research for the right area in the instance of say a clinical encounter. For evidence-based clinical decisions, there are methods of decision analysis and modeling using probability to predict the best course of action and assess potential outcomes. Finally, informatics can provide monitoring and audit against best evidence through various means of information, to determine if practice is effective and to make improvements in areas of sub-optimal care. All of these methods are a vast improvement for integrating evidence into practice in contrast to the traditional methods of medical education which focus on retraining the facts to be recalled at a later time.
Evidence-based practice (EBP) involves making clinical decisions based on the best available evidence, using it alongside clinical expertise and patient values. Evidence-based practice is not new, but it is now receiving increasing attention in health care as medicine becomes more complex with more decisions and therapy options. There is some resistance to EBP which arises from the ‘art’ of medicine with its individualistic craft approach and its tradition of passing down information from mentor to protégé. We must stress, EBP is not about cookbook medicine. EBP is about integrating individual clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research. In ideological terms, it aims to keep the ‘art’ of medicine while emphasizing some of the science-based aspects in the ‘art’. For medical practitioners, it is applying a conscientious, explicit, and judicious process in making decisions. This will help to improve the quality of their clinical judgments and keep up to date with the new and relevant research. Evidence-based practice is patient-centered. It’s about providing care that is of the best quality with the understanding of the potential risks and benefits for treatment and non-treatment for the patient, with the use of informed consent. For the patient, it means receiving high-quality care which is up to date with minimal error in diagnosis and treatment with the view that will increase the length and quality of life. With the explosion of research, medicine has a struggle to change practice. Major barriers include problems with the volume and lack of awareness of new research, and the lack of resources and time, so changing practice can be quite slow. Measures need to be taken and doctors must come to understand the research and change their practice, and patients must understand that the quality of care is directly linked to the care that’s been proved to be effective through research.
1.1 Importance of Evidence-Based Practice
The practice of evidence-based medicine can be regarded as a systematic and disciplined way of evaluating clinical problems and practice. EBM is a lean, mean patient care providing machine. It allows the clinician to quickly, efficiently, and effectively weigh the pros and cons of a particular treatment. If there are no current RCTs suggesting the use of a particular medication, the clinician is able to use clinical experience, hierarchy of evidence, and patient values to make a very informed decision. Evidence-based medicine involves conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients. The practice of EBM is very important, and in fact, it’s the backbone of our internal medicine residency program. Because many different treatments lead to similar outcomes, we want to ensure that we’re providing the most efficient and effective care for our patients. This residency program is going to teach us how we can acquire the best evidence, how to assess its validity and usefulness, and how to apply it when making medical decisions. The concept of EBM and steps involved are summarized in the article: “Evidence-Based Medicine: What It Is and What It Isn’t” (Sackett, 1996). The practice of EBM has proven successful in many surgical and medical specialties. It’s been shown to reduce costs, improve the quality of intervention, and lead to better patient outcomes. In a study conducted by David L. Berger, M.D., MS (2003) and colleagues, it was found that EBM is most successful when it involves the cooperation of clinical scientists, biostatisticians, and personnel in biomedical informatics. To be EBM practitioners, we must become efficient in avoiding outdated practice habits and to stay informed on recent developments and evidence across all areas of patient care. This is no easy task, but with practice and familiarity, it becomes second nature.
1.2 Role of Technology and Informatics
Technology has come a long way and has become more affordable and easier to use. In a recent survey of US adults, 72% of internet users said they looked online for health information within the past year. One of the many reasons why they are seeking health information online is that it has become easily available and convenient. The use of computers and mobile devices can now allow practitioners and patients to access health information from any location with internet wifi or cellular access. This is an important determinant as with EBP, it is not only important to access evidence, but it is also important to be able to apply and integrate it into clinical practice. This improved access to technology can dispel the restrictive view that evidence-based practice can be limited to only using research when it is available. In a clinical scenario, it is not uncommon to encounter situations where there is no clear evidence or evidence-based guideline to best manage a patient. Often without easy access to research materials, decisions are often defaulted to previous practice habits or even mere intuition. With improved access to information technology, such a situation can prompt the practitioner to search for evidence at the point of care, and thus, will close the gap between practice and research. As a matter of fact, it is suggested that the best method to promote evidence-based practice is to teach clinicians how to form questions about clinical practice and search for the answers. With the improved availability of research materials and evidence, technology can ultimately teach us how to think critically.
The concept of evidence-based practice (EBP) has created a substantial impact in the medical industry. Though its formulation has been a long and rough process, it has proven itself to be a critical player in improving the existing healthcare system, which is filled with outdated practices that are either flawed or have been rendered obsolete by newer and more effective interventions. According to the definition provided by Sackett and colleagues, EBP is “the conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of the individual patient. It means integrating individual clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research.” The expected outcome of EBP is to improve the quality of clinical practice and ultimately improve patient outcomes. It is clear that the goals of EBP correspond with the needs of the healthcare system, and it’s important to recognize that technology and informatics is a key driver behind the success of EBP and the execution of its objectives.
2. Specific Evidence-Based Practice
2.1 Selection of a Practice
2.2 Overview of the Chosen Practice
3. Technology and Informatics in Practice Interventions
3.1 Integration of Technology in Practice
3.2 Informatics Support for Practice Interventions
3.3 Benefits of Technology in Practice Interventions
4. Improving Patient Outcomes through Evidence-Based Practice
4.1 Understanding the Impact of Evidence-Based Practice
4.2 Patient Outcomes and Evidence-Based Guidelines
5. Benefits and Challenges of Information Technology in Practice
5.1 Benefits of Information Technology
5.2 Challenges Faced in Integrating Information Technology
6. Strategies to Overcome Challenges
6.1 Identifying and Addressing Barriers
6.2 Training and Education for Information Technology
6.3 Collaboration and Support
7. Conclusion

The Benefits of Using ED Meds to Improve Sexual Performance

Question
Many people use erectile dysfunction (ED) medications to improve their sexual performance and address issues related to ED for several reasons:
Improved Erection Quality: ED medications, such as   
  
[url=https://genericpillmall.com/product/vidalista-40-mg/]Vidalista 40[/url] Cenforce 150, work by increasing blood flow to the penis, which helps achieve and maintain a firm erection. This can lead to improved sexual satisfaction and confidence in men who experience difficulties with erections.
Enhanced Sexual Experience: By facilitating erections, ED medications can enhance the overall sexual experience for both partners. They can lead to longer-lasting and more satisfying sexual encounters, contributing to increased intimacy and pleasure.
Increased Confidence: For men who experience ED, the inability to achieve or maintain an erection can lead to feelings of inadequacy, embarrassment, or anxiety. By successfully treating ED with medication, individuals may experience a boost in confidence and self-esteem, which can positively impact their sexual performance and relationships.

Answer
The Benefits of Using ED Meds to Improve Sexual Performance
1. Introduction
Sexual intercourse is a desire of every couple, be it human or animals. Sex connects two persons and the relation of couple gets stronger. If you look into the basis of sexual activities, the ultimate point is to get maximum pleasure and satisfaction during sex. But sometimes, various factors damage the sex activity and reduce the level of satisfaction. Sometimes, it is due to aging, sometimes due to mental stress and work load, sometimes due to hormonal changes and sometimes due to various medications of chronic diseases. The issue of impotency is also rising these days and it is a major hindrance in enjoying the sex. Impotency puts a person in a real tough situation and his confidence seems to fade away. He finds it difficult to get the same level of sexual satisfaction. High prevalence of impotency has brought various discoveries and new products are being designed to fight this problem. Same is the case with improved sex power. Many people lack behind due to lowered stamina and sex power. With discovery of new products, constant efforts are being made to find ways to improve sex power. Sex power is basically the ability to perform sexual activities and complete it with full satisfaction. It includes stamina, strength, quality and duration of sex. A person with higher sex power will have better chances to enjoy sex. It is also a part of competitive couples and has indirect influence on the relations. People having lower sex power often have inferiority complex. So they are always in search of ways to improve sex power. But up till now, there was no proper solution to this problem. Only this, impotency and sex power are very complex physiological processes and require a better understanding and new discoveries for an effective solution.
1.1. Understanding the Need for Improved Sex Power
Sexual dysfunction and inconsistency are more common in the present day due to the stressful hectic lifestyle. The most common problem dealt by men is Erectile Dysfunction (ED), causing failure to attain the mega power and due to this an inconsistent behavior pattern in response to sexual activities. It has been a silent problem for men as it affects their identity and masculinity. This problem in a way can be the cause for a man to attain different forms of sex power violation. There are many ways to restore the sex power. A good diet changing the unhealthy fast food with greens, regular exercise or just a simple 20 minutes’ walk and attempts to reduce mental stress using yoga and meditation are ways whereby persons with sexual dysfunction are trying to restore sex power. However, in the fast pacing society, we all expect rapid results so that we can cope with the present lifestyle and follow what is demanded. ED meds are alternative solution which is quick and effective.
Sex power is essential for all forms of sexual intents. Be it a common sexual activity with your partner or whether it is sexual harassment or molestation, sex has got a crucial role to play in all. Dating back to the history of human kind, since the primitive times, mega power has always been the super power and the most adored one. With the passage of time, people have been more and more conscious about their sexual life. This is an outcome of the fast pacing stressful life, where it is taking a toll on the mental and physical health leading to inconsistency, frustration, anxiety, guilt, and depression. A home to these negative traits pose as a severe difficulty to maintain sexual activity and to the worst, even various forms of sexual dysfunction. A study says, it is very much a fact, “To survive in this world, a person is compelled to have sex!” That’s the demanding situation of the most powerful tool in the entire human kind, “sex”.
1.2. Role of ED Meds in Enhancing Sexual Performance
Sexual intercourse between two individuals is a very personal experience. It is the main desire of every human being, and we are all aware of the need for a satisfying sexual experience. A great amount of sexual power is required to enjoy this aspect of life. Sometimes situations may arise when a person is unable to express himself sexually. This may be due to various reasons like impotence, erectile dysfunction, and premature ejaculation. These disorders may lead to impotence causing a person to be debarred from the sexual experience. Using ED meds can help in such conditions. Erectile dysfunction meds can be only considered effective if they enable a person to enhance his sex power rather than just allowing him to attain an erection. Erection of the penis is useless unless it is able to last and is followed by ejaculation to enhance sex power, fulfilling the sexual experience between partners. Erectile dysfunction can cause many problems to an individual because they put a strain on relationships. This often causes avoidance of the sexual experience which leads to tension, and can often make the problem worse through performance anxiety. Using ED meds to enhance sex power, and not solely for treating erectile dysfunction will help in relieving this problem. The use of modern medications in particular phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, can be effective in enhancing sex power. Usually PDE-5 inhibitors are taken orally before any sexual activity is due to take place. They act by enhancing the effects of nitric oxide, which generally acts by dilating blood vessels of the penis. This will then allow a better and longer lasting erection, as well as improving the duration of sexual intercourse and enhancing climax or ejaculation. This will enable a person to improve sexual experience usually more than what was occurring before the onset of erectile dysfunction. In a study of males with erectile dysfunction, 50% of the sample reported that their sexual function had improved after the onset of treatment with PDE-5 inhibitors.
2. Psychological Benefits
2.1. Boosting Confidence and Self-Esteem
2.2. Reducing Anxiety and Performance Pressure
2.3. Strengthening Emotional Intimacy
3. Physical Benefits
3.1. Enhancing Erectile Function
3.2. Increasing Stamina and Endurance
3.3. Improving Blood Flow to the Genital Area
4. Relationship Benefits
4.1. Restoring Sexual Satisfaction
4.2. Revitalizing Intimate Connections
4.3. Strengthening Bond and Communication
5. Medical Considerations
5.1. Consulting a Healthcare Professional
5.2. Understanding Potential Side Effects
5.3. Proper Usage and Dosage Guidelines
6. Lifestyle Factors
6.1. Incorporating Exercise and Physical Activity
6.2. Maintaining a Balanced Diet
6.3. Managing Stress and Mental Well-being
7. Alternative Approaches
7.1. Natural Supplements and Remedies
7.2. Lifestyle Changes for Sexual Enhancement
7.3. Behavioral Therapy and Counseling
8. Conclusion

The Future of Care Coordination for Chronic Conditions

Question
The Future of Care Coordination for Chronic Conditions:
Describe your vision for the future of care coordination for chronic conditions in light of technological advancements.
Discuss how collaboration between healthcare professionals, patients, and technology can lead to better disease management and improved quality of life.
Possible prompts:
What role will artificial intelligence (AI) play in care coordination and personalized medicine?
How can we leverage data sharing and patient portals to create a more patient-centered approach?
What policies and infrastructure changes are needed to ensure a sustainable and efficient care coordination system for chronic conditions?

Answer
1. Introduction
The modern world is filled with constant technological advancements. There are inventions and upgrades made on a daily basis to every piece of technology available on the market. The health care industry is no different. New technologies are constantly being introduced to the healthcare industry. With so many new technologies being introduced, it often becomes difficult to keep up with what is available and what may benefit a patient. This is especially true for patients who have chronic illnesses. It is important these patients are aware of all the resources available to them. With the recent Affordable Care Act, there is a newly found focus on chronic care management by both patients and the government. Section 1.1 of “The Future of Care Coordination for Chronic Conditions” by Jodi Gray and her associates says “the Internet, the increase in mobile phone use, and advancements in health information technology all offer new possibilities for managing care, and for patients to garner support in their self-management efforts.” These new technologies all present novel ways to aid patients with chronic diseases. 1.1 goes on to talk about how these resources can be used to better inform patients of their disease and the treatments available. This is crucial in improving the education of patients with chronic diseases, and this self-education is a huge part of chronic disease management. It is important to note that the technology itself does not provide better management, but it is the implementation of such resources. This involves collaboration between health care professionals, patients, and the technology itself. When considering these new technologies, there are many different ways to utilize them for chronic care management. The most apparent is through use of the internet and various programs aimed at educating patients and even simulating a virtual healthcare visit. However, a very recent and novel idea is to digitize patients’ medical records, making them easily accessible. Coordination between visits update by specialists and hospitals is vital in care for chronic diseases, and this is very often hindered by poor communication. Gray writes in 1.2 “an infrastructure to support information exchange between patients and providers should become a national priority. This would enable improvements in the coordination and quality of care, and promote evidence-based self-management.” This is suggesting creation of a unified network where records can be passed between treating physicians and also seen by the patient. This would be a very beneficial option for patients that have to frequently see several different specialists. Coming of technology advances also pertains to a research aspect, as described in the article. With technology, patient care data can now be more easily compiled and analyzed for improvements in care coordination strategies and to better predict outcomes for patients.
1.1 Technological advancements in care coordination
The improvement of technology in healthcare has resulted in a vital need for the reformation of care coordination. Individually, care coordination and technology have made considerable advancements; however, there has been no considerable effort to combine the two. Health information technology is a rapidly growing area worldwide, and its implementation is considered vital to improving the efficiency, cost-effectiveness, quality, and safety of medical care delivery. Health information technology is cited as a universally important tool in the management of care for chronic conditions, and the efforts to integrate technology with care coordination are becoming increasingly prevalent. These efforts are broad and vary widely from the use of personal health records, patient web-portals, or the utilization of telehealth and telemedicine. These technologies are seen to enable better-informed decision making for treatment and management of chronic conditions, offer more efficient communication between patients and healthcare providers, and offer potential for greater patient empowerment in self-management. An example is the use of telehealth interventions for patients with congestive heart failure; a study showed that it helped reduce the rate of hospitalization and length of hospital stay. The Affordable Care Act of 2010 has the potential to steer care coordination towards technology as it placed 3 billion dollars in an effort to create Accountable Care Organizations as well as incentives for improving coordinated care in Medicare/Medicaid with a focus on using health information technology. With the rate and prevalence of chronic conditions being at an all-time high, there are high hopes that further research and implementation of technology in care coordination will yield substantial improvements in patient outcomes.
1.2 Importance of collaboration between healthcare professionals, patients, and technology
Although the chronic care model seems effective for care coordination, it is an overarching framework and does not clearly identify the technology that can be used today for facilitating care coordination.
A prepared team will make use of registry functions in the electronic medical record to track patients and ensure that they are receiving the care that they need. This interaction will involve productive interactions and informed decision making as patients’ needs will be assessed. Self-management support includes client and server applications that help patients learn more about their condition and possibly improve their behavior. The prepared team and the informed and activated consumer will coordinate to ensure patients are receiving the right resources that will help to improve their quality of life.
Coordination can be improved across multiple providers and settings using modern information technology like electronic medical records. Coordination of care is complex and involves many organizations, individuals, and functions. The chronic care model alone is useful for considering how to improve care coordination for patients with chronic diseases. The model describes the organization of healthcare and the self-management support that provides the interactions between the informed and activated patient and the prepared proactive team.
The rapid advancement in technological innovations, combined with the complex healthcare system over the years, has generated a multitude of challenges in the coordination of patient care. With an increasing number of chronically ill patients, it is essential to invest the time and effort in developing more advanced methods for care coordination. An effective and efficient care management program is going to be vital to the health of patients with chronic diseases.
2. Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in care coordination and personalized medicine
2.1 AI-driven disease management
2.2 AI-enabled personalized treatment plans
3. Leveraging data sharing for a patient-centered approach
3.1 Benefits of data sharing in chronic disease management
3.2 Patient portals for improved communication and engagement
4. Policies and infrastructure changes for a sustainable care coordination system
4.1 Policy considerations for effective care coordination
4.2 Infrastructure improvements for efficient information exchange
5. Conclusion

The Impact of Self-Efficacy Beliefs on Personal Development

questions
http://people.wku.edu/richard.miller/banduratheory.pdf
scroll to How Self Efficacy Beliefs Are Created 
Describe how each of the four sources has affected your life now and in the past.  The sources are:
Mastery Experience
Vicarious Experience
Social Influences
Somatic Influences

answer
1. Introduction
Self-efficacy beliefs affect the choices we make, the effort we put in, and our persistence at a task. It also determines how we feel and think about a task. If a person has high efficacy of a task, they will view it as a challenge to be mastered, whereas low efficacy will make a person see the task as something to be avoided. People with high efficacy will set themselves challenging goals and maintain strong commitment to them. They heighten and sustain their effort in the face of failure. This, in effect, brings about better performances, which in turn reinforces the beliefs in their capabilities, as does not completing the task. Self-efficacy can impact many areas in a person’s life, and this essay will be looking into how it affects a person academically and their career choices.
Self-efficacy beliefs can be seen as one of the major points of learning in social cognitive theory. They are an individual’s belief in their ability to perform and succeed at a specific task. This belief has been conceptualized as self-efficacy. Self-efficacy is an individual judgment of their capability to complete a task. This judgment can be applied to a specific task, such as public speaking or global measures of efficacy. The theory was proposed by Albert Bandura in a 1977 publication and has had a large impact on cognition and social psychology, as well as clinical psychology. Bandura’s theory has been thought of as a reversal of the more common stimulus-response theory. He stresses the importance of observational learning, as he believes that when we see other people succeeding, it raises our beliefs that we too can master the task. Bandura also believes that a large part of learning is not trial and error, as the cost of errors is often too great. Instead, he believes that it is less costly to instill belief in a person that they have the capabilities to master the task.
1.1. Definition of Self-Efficacy Beliefs
This indicates that self-efficacy beliefs are a crucial determinant of behavioral change. A later study by Scholz et al. (2005) on adherence to exercise interventions found similar results. Both the studies done on exercising by Scholz et al. provide evidence that high self-efficacy can lead to behavior change. This is determined through the extent of the change such as trying to maintain or improve their level of exercise in the first study on cardiac patients and in the other study on men and women trying to increase their level of exercise. Behavior change is an essential aspect of personal development as improving and learning behaviors assist in achieving desired goals and outcomes. By connecting these studies to personal development, it can be said that people with confidence in their ability to perform exercise are more likely to implement the necessary behavioral changes to help them improve their health and prevent relapse. These studies, in addition, indicate that self-efficacy is a strong predictor of exercising behavior and it’s quite clear that behavior change can only occur if the individual has confidence in their abilities. So if we deduce a stronger meaning from this, a person with high self-efficacy belief in their ability to exercise will change their behavior to perform exercise with the confident belief that they can succeed and manage to keep that behavior with minimal chances of relapse. This compared to someone with little confidence will either not attempt any behavior change or not put in a wholehearted effort into it with a higher chance of relapse. So in terms of exercising, these individuals are at different levels but correspond to the same concept in that confidence or lack of it in their abilities will guide their level of effort and persistence.
1.2. Importance of Self-Efficacy Beliefs in Personal Development
Self-efficacy beliefs influence the choices people make and the courses of action they pursue. This, in turn, determines the goals they set and the extent to which they persevere in the face of difficulty. These, in turn, affect the level of accomplishment reached. The process of personal development is considered a cycle in which self-regulatory systems function. In other words, people set themselves challenges in order to alter their current functioning and reach a more desirable level. This is achieved through intention and planning. If the goal is achieved at a satisfactory level, then this will have a positive effect on the person’s perception of their efficacy in that area and raise their perceived self-efficacy. Alternatively, failure results in lowered perceived self-efficacy. Changing levels of self-efficacy is a mediating process between goal and outcome. In personality development, successful mastery of tasks in any given area of functioning is the best predictor of increased self-efficacy in that area. Mastery is achieved through the combination of behavioral change and cognitive processing, including vicarious experience, verbal persuasion, and interpretation of physiological states. These are also the processes involved in self-efficacy change. Since accomplishment is usually tied to a sense of well-being and a reduction in stress, the enhancement of perceived self-efficacy produces corresponding improvement in psychological functioning. A strong sense of self-efficacy also helps people to prevent developing stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms during times of adversity. This plays an important preventative role in the stress of depression. The self-efficacy beliefs that affect coping with trauma and adversity are those revolving around the belief of being able to manage and prevent negative experiences from occurring. Persistent use of maladaptive coping and perceived inefficacy often results in altered self-efficacy and long-term negative effects on psychological health. High perceived self-efficacy has beneficial effects on every level of personality development and psychological functioning. High levels of it will promote an adventurous approach to life and a strong sense of commitment to goals, tasks, and activities. This, in turn, leads to a healthy and productive lifestyle. Changing undesirable or inefficient behavior is an attempt to better oneself, and self-efficacy is the belief that these changes can be accomplished. High perceived self-efficacy will, on more occasions, lead to successful mastery and behavior changes.
2. Mastery Experience
2.1. Gaining Confidence through Personal Achievements
2.2. Overcoming Challenges and Building Competence
2.3. Reflecting on Past Mastery Experiences
3. Vicarious Experience
3.1. Learning from Observing Others’ Success
3.2. Role Models and Their Influence
3.3. Identifying with Successful Individuals
4. Social Influences
4.1. Peer Support and Encouragement
4.2. Feedback and Validation from Others
4.3. Cultural and Societal Factors
5. Somatic Influences
5.1. Understanding the Role of Physical Sensations
5.2. Managing Anxiety and Stress
5.3. Utilizing Body Language and Nonverbal Communication
6. Personal Reflection
6.1. Analyzing the Impact of Mastery, Vicarious, Social, and Somatic Experiences
6.2. Identifying Patterns and Trends in Self-Efficacy Beliefs
6.3. Setting Personal Goals for Enhancing Self-Efficacy
7. Conclusion
7.1. Summary of the Importance of Self-Efficacy Beliefs
7.2. Strategies for Cultivating and Strengthening Self-Efficacy

The Impact of the Israel-Hamas Conflict on the World Economy and the US

Questions
Read the following NEWS item and share your perspective on the current war between Israel and  Hamas. Be respectful of each other’s opinions and try not to be political. How will this war affect the world economy and the US? (200+ words)
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/10/biden-condemns-terror-and-bloodshed-by-hamas-vows-to-support-israel.html
NO AI, CHEGG, BRAINY, ETC. 

Answer
1. Introduction
The two most prominent groups in this conflict between Israel and Palestine are the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority (PA). The PA is comprised of two separate political entities, Fatah, which controls the West Bank of Palestine, and Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip. The Gaza Strip is a narrow piece of land on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, which is separated from Israel by a wall built by Israelis. It is important to understand that this conflict does not just affect Israel and Palestine, but other nations around the region. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, facilitation of peace between Israel and Palestine would benefit the Middle East and North Africa regional GDP by $2.4 trillion over the next decade. This would potentially increase growth by 3-5% of GDP per annum, or 1.5 to 2.6 million new jobs per year. This would also lead to development of human and physical capital as a result of preparatory investment. High productivity led by peace and stability could possibly raise the level of annual GDP growth by 6-10% per annum in some countries. This is saying that if peace would result in a better quality of life over time for a multitude of countries surrounding Israel and Palestine. The future of the conflict is unclear, so it is important to analyze the most recent conflict and its effect on Israel and Palestine, as well as the rest of the world.
1.1 Background of the Israel-Hamas Conflict
Hamas is an Arabic acronym for the Islamic Resistance Movement and is Palestine’s predominant fundamentalist Islamic organization. It was established in 1987 at the beginning of the first Intifada, an uprising against Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, which began in December 1987. Sparked by a visit by then Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, it led to increased Israeli security measures and resulted in more violence. In its beginning, Hamas’ main goal was to destroy the state of Israel, a goal they still maintain today. The movement’s founders pulled together various religious, charity, and political organizations, and in 1989 created Dawah, an underground network that provided health, education, and welfare services. These were seen as an alternative to the various Israeli sponsored institutions and sometimes as a means to gain support for Hamas’ activities. Due to the violent nature of the Intifada, Israel detained and deported a large number of Palestinians, mostly activists of the PLO and leftist groups, who were leaders in the first Intifada. With the added effect of the Gulf War and the subsequent peace conferences, this left a huge political void in the Occupied territories and Hamas gained a lot of support and popularity. During its years in operation, Hamas has been involved in countless violent and more recently, political activities.
In the simplest terms, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is over territory. Israel currently holds a lot of the land that is also claimed by Palestine. This has led to wars and many peace talks. As of recent, the main powers of Palestine, Hamas, and the state of Israel agreed to a ceasefire. This was a later development and escalation in the situation had severe impact on not just the surrounding countries, but much of the world. To gain a full understanding of the context of this ceasefire and the conflict at the present time, a situational analysis of the conflict is necessary. This analysis will be explained using various tools and frameworks learnt throughout the Strategic Management course.
1.2 Purpose of the Analysis
This analysis was initiated with the purpose to provide a detailed informative study on the impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on the world economy and the US. The great expansions in monetary terms affect the political decisions. The impact can be considered minor, but in the detailed aspects, economy plays a huge role in every decision of the political authority. The impact clarifies the strength of political and economic decisions. War and conflict can shake and be a cause of a broken economy. Every decision of political authority is based on the strength of the nation, and the budget available. The decisions are based to act tough and firm or soft and apologetic? The stance with the world economy decides the decision. If the impact is great, then decisions will be adapted to recover and to regain the status of the nation. If the impact is minor, no relevant steps will be taken to change the decisions.
2. Economic Implications
2.1 Global Trade Disruptions
2.2 Stock Market Volatility
2.3 Impact on Oil Prices
2.4 Tourism and Travel Industry
2.5 Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
3. Regional and Global Security Concerns
3.1 Escalation of Regional Tensions
3.2 Threats to International Peace
3.3 Implications for Diplomatic Relations
4. Humanitarian Crisis and Aid Efforts
4.1 Displacement of Civilians
4.2 Humanitarian Assistance
4.3 Role of International Organizations
5. US Involvement and Policy Considerations
5.1 Historical US-Israel Relations
5.2 US Diplomatic Efforts
5.3 Military Assistance and Arms Sales
5.4 Impact on US Foreign Policy
6. Long-Term Economic and Political Consequences
6.1 Rebuilding and Reconstruction Costs
6.2 Socioeconomic Impacts on Israel and Gaza
6.3 Political Dynamics in the Middle East
6.4 Potential for Future Conflicts
7. Conclusion

The Influence of Leadership in Developing Quality Capacity

Question
Develop a tri-fold brochure about the influence of leadership in developing quality capacity. The brochure will also focus on what leaders do to enhance the development of quality and sustaining capacity. Search the peer-reviewed databases for current studies of how leadership style relates to growing and sustaining quality capacity. Develop the brochure as a manager of an organization for top executives.
The tri-fold brochure needs to include the following:
· A discussion to illustrate the relationship between the leadership style of a leader, and the growth and sustainability of an organization’s capacity.
· A description that explains how and why leadership style provides influence upon capacity.
· Examples of how leaders can enhance the development of quality and sustaining capacity. 

Answer
1. Introduction
The key to providing tangible results of this research lies in a mixed method approach. In order to effectively evaluate the success of leadership development programs, one must measure the changes in those expected to display the recently acquired skills and competencies. TDR leaders have agreed that the best way to measure effectiveness at the individual and team levels is through studies of those who have taken part in TDR development programs. This will be done by following a cohort of program participants within the Neglected Infectious Diseases research teams. By assessing this group, we can more effectively gather quantitative data on changes in team leadership and use the control teams for comparative studies to assess changes in the quality of health research. A qualitative comparison will be made through interviews of program participants from various research teams in an attempt to better understand how and why changes in leadership occurred at the individual, team, and of course, organizational level. We will also be evaluating the effects of general leadership and research team management on research capacity within the above-mentioned cohort study and through case studies of differing disease research teams. By unearthing the successes of various leaders and how they improve the effectiveness of their differing research teams, we will gain important insight into the complex interactions between leaders, team members, and how various leadership styles can best develop research capacity in a multitude of differing contexts.
Overall, we are interested in researching capacity change at the individual and organizational level. Leadership is the key to most change efforts, and if successful, we can show that TDR has developed the leaders of health research in their respective countries, we will have demonstrated an important pathway to well-articulated change. By assessing the changes in leadership at the individual and team levels, research carried out in this project will greatly increase understanding of the complex relationship between leadership and capacity and provide useful insight to policymakers and research program managers in both TDR and the broader international health field.
Like other organizations, the World Health Organization has a distinct leadership hierarchy with directors, supervisors, and front line managers. In many cases, especially in developing countries, health workers are also looked to as community leaders. Leadership opportunities within their own health organizations and communities are often the driving force behind their professional development. In terms of health, it is fast becoming evident that the quality of health care is highly affected by the quality of leadership at and below the policy-making level. For this reason, the Department of Organization of Health Services has decided to assess the effects of the Tropical Disease Research (TDR) leadership development programs on health research capacity.
1.1. Importance of Leadership in Capacity Development
In the study of capacity development, leadership is identified as one of the key thematic areas influencing the quality of capacity improvement within an organization, and it is stressed that without proper leadership, capacity development initiatives tend to have limited impact. This is due to most leaders circumventing the leadership development process and very often, leapfrog to launching capacity development initiatives. The irony lies in that leaders are drivers of change, and if leadership is not changed with clear direction citing reasons for the change, followers would not be aligned and would likely carry out tasks as how they have perceived to be the old way and leadership to change the new tasks. This uncovers the issue of the quality of capacity development and reiterates that leadership is a key factor influencing it.
Leadership is important when it comes to increasing the quality of an organization’s capacity due to the guidance, assistance, and support of a leader providing direction to an organization’s followers in order to achieve performance beyond expectations. With effective leadership, it will increase the old way of doing things within an organization to do it in a new and better way. The change in working methods will increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the work being done. Effective leaders make a real difference when it comes to increasing the quality of an organization’s capacity by influencing the followers and aligning their goals to work towards an achievable future in improving the organization.
1.2. Purpose of the Brochure
This brochure is a concise and informative guide designed for policy-makers and practitioners, as well as researchers. The primary aim of the package is to provide a knowledge base for leaders and leadership development, which is directly and indirectly linked with the more effective public sector and thus better service to the public. The guide will also help to deliberate various options and learn from the practices in developed and successful nations in terms of their investment in leadership and the benefits they received. This can also help them enable a leadership succession strategy. The analysis of the political economy of reforms will help them understand the constraints and enabling factors to change the quality of public institutions. The brochure is designed keeping in view the paucity of time with the widespread audience it is targeted to. The language of the brochure is simple and avoids using jargon. The numerous case studies have come from a variety of nations to help readers understand by relating to their situations. The easy accessibility of the content will persuade readers to use the guide as a starting point every time they wish to initiate a reform. At many places, links have been provided to the tools to be used, and the reader can visit the site to learn the tool.
2. Relationship between Leadership Style and Capacity Growth
2.1. Impact of Leadership Style on Organizational Capacity
2.2. Case Studies on Leadership Style and Capacity Growth
2.3. Factors Influencing the Relationship
3. Sustainability of Organizational Capacity
3.1. Role of Leadership in Sustaining Capacity
3.2. Strategies for Long-term Capacity Sustainability
4. Influence of Leadership Style on Capacity
4.1. Direct and Indirect Influence of Leadership Style
4.2. Examples of Effective Leadership Styles
4.3. Case Studies on Leadership Style and Capacity Influence
5. Enhancing the Development of Quality and Sustaining Capacity
5.1. Leadership Practices for Quality Capacity Development
5.2. Strategies for Enhancing Sustaining Capacity
5.3. Promoting a Culture of Continuous Improvement
6. Conclusion
6.1. Summary of Key Findings
6.2. Recommendations for Leaders