Pros and Cons of Nuclear Energy Essay - 580 Words

Pros and Cons of Nuclear Energy Nuclear power was the world’s fastest growing form of energy in the 1990’s. However, presently it is the second slowest growing worldwide. Considering that nuclear power accounts for eleven percent of the world’s energy supply, one must ask what happened [Nuclear Power]. Why is it that the growth of nuclear power has almost completely stalled? The simple answer is that after meltdowns such as Three Mile Island and Chernobyl, many people are afraid of nuclear power plants, which causes great opposition to the expansion of the industry. Unfortunately, most people are not well informed about nuclear energy; many do not take the time to view its positives and negatives. Contrary†¦show more content†¦Pollution is another topic with both pros and cons. Fossil fuels release harmful pollutants into the air such as carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide. Nuclear power does not release any of those toxins into the atmosphere. However, a pollution problem with nuclear energy is thermal pollution, where a plant’s â€Å"hot effluents† are put into a nearby body of water, and raise the temperature by a small amount but enough to cause a disturbance in the ecosystem of the lake or reservoir. Nevertheless, this could easily be solved by cooling the effluents before releasing them into the water. The other problem facing nuclear energy is waste disposal. Nuclear waste is radioactive and very dangerous. Therefore, it must be kept buried and sealed up for a long period of time until the radioactivity dies [Plasma-Material]. One positive fact about nuclear energy that is not disputed is its abundance. It is estimated that at today’s rate of consumption, the earth has about fifty years left of fossil fuels. In contrast, due to the very small amount of uranium needed to create a huge amount of energy, the supply of nuclear energy is almost infinite [Jiskha]. Therefore, nuclear energy is not as bad as it is made out to be. Should the world convert completely to nuclear energy? Absolutely not, there areShow MoreRelatedThe Pros and Cons of Nuclear Energy3051 Words   |  13 PagesMany people take energy for granted. Most do not think about where that electricity is coming from when they flip a switch or turn on a faucet. The fact is, is that our consumption of non-renewable energy cannot last forever. We need some type of alternative energy source. There are many types of alternative energy sources that are available to us today. Some however, such as nuclear energy, are often rejected due to the fears or concerns of many people. On the other hand, there are also manyRead MoreNuclear Energy Pros and Cons783 Words   |  4 PagesNuclear energy Nuclear energy in scientific terms defined as the inhaustible energy derived from the nucleus of an atom by the process of nucleus break up through nuclear fission and nuclear fusion. Nuclear fission is a process where the nucleus of an atom splits and releases radioactive materials such as uranium which are used in many ways. Nuclear fusion is a process s when the two atoms of an element get together and large amount of heat is generated. in this way the nucleus releases tremendousRead MoreNuclear Energy Pro and Cons1377 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction P 1-2†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. What is the nuclear energy? P 2-3-4†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Avantages and disadvantages P 4-5†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..Nuclear energy in the US P 5†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.Conclusion P6†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..Citations The nuclear energy While demand for energy continues to rise due the continuous need of energy in developing and developed countries and the fast decrease of natural non renewable sources of energy such as oil and gas, many countries face seriousRead MoreThe Pros and Cons of Nuclear Power as an Energy Source Essay586 Words   |  3 PagesThe Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Nuclear Power Plants as an Energy Source Nuclear power is the use of continuous nuclear reactions to do practical work. It is produced by nuclear fission reactions which occur when adequate quantities of Uranium-235 are restricted to a small area. Nuclear fission is the process of nuclei being split. In this case a heavier nucleus splits up into two or more lighter nuclei, then this moves on by a chain reaction when the emittedRead MoreNuclear Power : A Source Of Energy881 Words   |  4 PagesAnother source of energy that is available is wind power. Wind power is able to turn a mill that generates electricity. Wind power is a source of energy that is very reliable, steady, and consistent from year to year. The growth of the wind power sources can lead to more jobs that will help America s and the world s economy grow (Williams,What Are the Different). What is the cleanest and safest type of alternative energy? To some people s surprise it is actually nuclear power. Nuclear power is theRead MoreHow is Energy Produced from the Resource? Essay562 Words   |  3 PagesHow is energy produced from the resource? Nuclear energy is the power produced during a nuclear reaction. It can produce in two different ways like, nuclear fission and nuclear fusion. It is from the sun and stars which releases heat and light energy to warm up the earth. How much nuclear energy do we use? It has been said that it produces 13-14% of the world’s electricity and it accounts for 6% of the world’s energy, France and japan make up 50% alone, and the U.S. has been producing 20% since 1991Read MoreNuclear Energy And Fossil Fuel992 Words   |  4 Pagesbetter the use of nuclear energy or the using of fossil fuel? People over the years have been debating on a realistic way on saving energy but also having an efficient amount of energy to generate millions of homes and places. The two sources of energy that are mostly used are nuclear energy and fossil fuels. Often people say that nuclear energy is the best approach while others believe it is the burning of fossil fuels. These two sources of energy have their own pros and cons when it comes to thisRead MorePros and Cons of Energy Sources1119 Words   |  5 Pages Pros and Cons for Oil Pros Cons - Readily available - Creates jobs for economy when required to drill and transport - Largest provider of electricity - The world has been using oil for the last 100 years - Not much new technology will be required to extract oil - Use of oil continually grows the U.S. economy - If certain regions would be allowed to drill oil in, then more oil could be extracted and the price could lower for gasoline - Production of oil rigs could lead to the development ofRead MoreEssay on Pros and Cons of Nuclear Power966 Words   |  4 Pagesissues and the ever growing scarcity of our current energy resources we may be forced to resort to nuclear energy. The Department of Energy has already given its support to energy companies who have decided to construct nuclear power plants. It appears that nuclear power is the right course to take, but before this decision is finalised it is important to weigh the multiple advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power. There are many pros and cons, but they weigh up almost equally which makes it aRead MoreNuclear Power And Nuclear Waste1272 Words   |  6 Pages Nuclear power, the type of energy that sits on the edge of humanity’s greatest hopes, and its darkest fears. With a country such as the United States continuing to expand its industry, housing, agriculture and commercial buildings there is a need for more and more energy each year. Nuclear power is one of the many ways the United States gets its energy. Nevertheless, it is one of the most controversial means of energy production. The main concern with nuclear energy is the nuclear waste that

Basic Computer Application Exam Paper - 2474 Words

UNIVERSITY OF MAURITIUS FACULTY OF LAW AND MANAGEMENT SECOND SEMESTER EXAMINATIONS MAY 2011 PROGRAMME BSC (HONS) ACCOUNTING (MINOR : FINANCE) BSC (HONS) ACCOUNTING (MINOR : MANAGEMENT) BSC (HONS) FINANCE BSC (HONS) FINANCE (MINOR : LAW) BSC (HONS) MANAGEMENT BSC (HONS) MANAGEMENT WITH FINANCE BSC (HONS) MARKETING MANAGEMENT BSC (HONS) HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT BSC (HONS) BUSINESS STUDIES (PART-TIME) MODULE NAME DATE May 2011 TIME Hours NO. OF QUESTIONS SET 4 BASIC COMPUTER APPLICATION MODULE CODE CSE 1021 DURATION NO. OF QUESTIONS TO BE ATTEMPTED 2 Hours 4 INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES This question paper has 4 questions. Answer ALL questions. This paper has an attached answer sheet to answer multiple choice questions. Detach the answer†¦show more content†¦A. B. C. D. E. Understand the users. Understand the task. Understand the context. Produce a stable set of requirements. Design questionnaires to elicit specific information 15. Which of the following statements is TRUE? A. B. C. D. People’s immediate memory capacity is very limited Context is not important in affecting our memory Interacting with technology is not cognitive During design implications for attention, we should focus on cluttering the interface E. None of the above 16. Which of the following is NOT a method of externalizing to reduce memory load? A. Notes B. Diaries C. Reminders D. Calendars E. None of the above 17. Which of the following is NOT a valid method of doing annotation? A. Crossing off B. Ticking C. Underlining D. Learning E. None of the above Page 3 of 11 BASIC COMPUTER APPLICATION – CSE 1021 18. â€Å"A department hires many employees. An employee is employed by one department.â€Å" Which cardinality mapping best describes the relationship between Department and Employee? A. 1 to 1 B. 1 to N C. M to N D. N to M E. M to M 19. Which of the following statements is FALSE about data gathering techniques? A. Questionnaires are good for answering specific questions from a large, dispersed group of people. B. Interviews can be structured, unstructured or semi-structured. C. Naturalistic observation is good for exploring issues. D. Workshops are good at gaining a consensus view and/or highlighting areas of conflict. E. DocumentsShow MoreRelatedThe Pre Licensing Course Exam1692 Words   |  7 Pagespre-licensing course exam within the acceptable margin which means I answered at least 80% of the questions correctly. Now, on to the state exam. It is a 115 question-multiple choice test with a four hour time frame. 5 of the questions are dummies and will not be scored. You must a nswer correctly 82 of the 110 questions or score at least 75%. 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The major advantage of thisRead Moresyllabus fin6306 Quantitative methods in finance UT Dallas1311 Words   |  6 Pages0-13-249787-5 or ISBN-13: 978-0-13-249787-9 * Course Delivery Methods Computers/ Software Cell Phones Those two textbooks are recommended to learn excel models in finance This course combines interactive lectures and computer lab sessions. The class will work on some Excel examples and R programming. We will be using laptop computers during classes to work on spreadsheet examples and models. We will also learn some basic programming techniques in R. You may not use your cell phones or otherRead MoreThe Competency Of Nursing Students Essay1556 Words   |  7 PagesBefore the NCLEX exam was established, each state created its own nursing regulations and exams to determine the competency of nursing students (â€Å"NCLEX-RN ® Examination†, 2016). 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LAPTOPS/BOOKS/NOTES ARE NOT ALLOWED THIS EXAM PAPER MUST NOT BE REMOVED Page 1 of 9 PART I (MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS) 20 Questions, 1 pt/Question, 20 Points Total Instructions: Circle the correct answer in the following Multiple Choice QuestionsRead MoreIbca Spring 2013 Final Exam Study Guide1566 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction to Business Computer Applications (IBCA) Final Exam STUDY GUIDE Unit 1 – Unit 7 Directions: Use your graded tests and Unit 4 5 notes to answer the following questions. You can find the answers for #’s 1 – 62 on Exam 1 (3rd Nine Weeks Exam) and #’s 63 – 100 on your unit notes. Write your answers in the space provided, below each question. 1. The ____ of every computerized device is a microprocessor. 2. 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Project Management Custom Memory Management

Question: Describe about the Project Management for Custom Memory Management . Answer: Definition of Project Methodology Project Methodology defined for the first time in the 1960s while business institutions started to identify ways to shorten business process without compromising the operational effectiveness. Over the period, several definitions have been provided. Based on this criteria it can be said that a Project methodology is a practice bind with a list of process, which guides a project manager how to plan, develop, integrate, control, implement and evaluate a project from the diverse point of view (Catthoor, et al., 2013). In a different word, it can also be stated that it is a systematic process through which the project manager can take an effective decision, which results in successful completion of any project. A project methodology is also considered as a sum of processes including documentation, technique, sequence and overview. While discussing the role of project methodology, it can be seen that a proper method helps the project manager to make an effective decision that would be realistic, all-inclusive, flexible, and reachable (Kerzner, 2013). Again, the role of project methodology ensures that content will administer discipline but not forbid the application of a project managers acute judgment and comprehension. In short, it can be said that the role of project methodology will help to create a proper project management framework, which in turn heads lifecycle stages of the project. Figure 1: Role of Project Methodology (Source: created by author) PMBOK vs. PRINCE2 There is a list of project methodology available from which Project Management Body of Knowledge or the PMBOK and PRINCE2 have been chosen for this work. In this section, similarities and differences between both PMBOK and PRINCE2 have been analyzed. The detailed analysis has shown in the below-mentioned table: PMBOK PRINCE2 Similarities Approach to project management While talking about the approach to project management, it can be said that both are complementary (Terlizzi, de Souza Meirelles, de Moraes, 2016). It has seen that the PMBOK has provided a descriptive approach to managing a project. On the other hand, the PRINCE2 framework is a little bit prescriptive. Adaptation/ Tailoring to specific Projects The adaptation of both methodological frameworks is quite similar (Kononenko, Aghaee, 2016). Though, it has seen that in the case of PMBOK, some of the processes can be left out if at all not necessary, but in the case of PRINC2 Framework, all the process needs to be taken care off. However, in the case of a PRINCE2 framework, the project manager can scale any project process if required. Empowerment for the Project Manager (PM) It can be said that in both cases, the project needs to take into account the key stakeholders like sponsors, project board and executives. However, the fundamental approach is to ensure that the project is executing in a good manner. Differences Level of certification In the case of PMBOK, there are two levels of certifications, such as CAPM and PMP. In the case of PRINCE2 framework, there are three levels of certifications, such as foundation, practitioner and professional. Project Initiation In the case of PMBOK, it has seen that the project can be initiated by customer requirement (Spundak, 2014). A project charter has been prepared following the customer's needs. In a case of PRINCE2 framework, the initiation of any project principally depends on the business case provided. Controls and checkpoints Here, the checkpoint primarily dealt with the project manager. In the case of PRINCE2 framework, the control of any project depends on project milestone, and deliverables. In another word, it can be said that multi-level controls are clearly defined in the PRINCE2 framework. Relation of project life cycle (PLC) and chosen methodologies While taking about the project lifecycle in PRINCE2 framework, it can be seen that from planning to direct a project, there are six steps through which a project is executed (Schwalbe, 2015). The detailed approach of project life cycle following PRINCE2 framework is shown in the below-mentioned flow chart: Figure 2: Project Lifecycle using PRINCE2 framework (Source: created by author) On the other hand, if the PMBOK framework is taken into consideration, then it can be seen that the project life cycle there are five steps through which a project is executed. The below-mentioned figure explains the process of project life cycle followed in PMBOK framework: Figure 3: Project Life cycle using PMBOK framework Source: From the above two project life cycle, it has become apparent that whatever framework in implemented, the project manager needs to consider the detailed approach as well as auditing the progress to attain success at the completion of the project. References Catthoor, F., Wuytack, S., de Greef, G. E., Banica, F., Nachtergaele, L., Vandecappelle, A. (2013).Custom memory management methodology: Exploration of memory organization for embedded multimedia system design. Springer Science Business Media. Kerzner, H. R. (2013).Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley Sons. Kononenko, I. V., Aghaee, A. (2016). Model and method for synthesis of project management methodology with fuzzy input data. Schwalbe, K. (2015).Information technology project management. Cengage Learning. Spundak, M. (2014). Mixed agile/traditional project management methodologyreality or illusion.Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences,119, 939-948. Terlizzi, M. A., de Souza Meirelles, F., de Moraes, H. R. O. C. (2016). Barriers to the use of an IT Project Management Methodology in a large financial institution.International Journal of Project Management,34(3), 467-479.

The Nature Of Evil In Young Goodman free essay sample

Brown Essay, Research Paper The Nature of Evil in Young Goodman Brown In Young Goodman Brown, Nathaniel Hawthorne tells the narrative of a adult male and his find of immorality. Hawthorne? s primary concern is with evil and how it affects Young Goodman Brown. Through the usage of tone and scene, Hawthorne portrays the nature of immorality and the psychological effects it can hold on adult male. He shows how detecting the being of evil brings Brown to see the universe in a misanthropic manner. Brown learns the nature of immorality and, hence, feels surrounded by its presence invariably. Hawthorne creates a serious and somber tone throughout much of the narrative. From the start, the audience gets a sense that Brown will travel through relentless torment from the diabolic alien. His enunciation in the gap paragraphs is a good index of this. He uses words such as? melancholy? , ? immorality? , ? drab? , and? sculpt? to arouse a certain temper in the reader. We will write a custom essay sample on The Nature Of Evil In Young Goodman or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page There is small alleviation from this earnestness that would propose that Hawthorne? s attitude about the narrative be hopeful. Brown? s attitude and actions portray a negative position of Salem and its people. He ponders the lip service of the town every bit good as that of the Puritans. He examines the possibility that immorality and corruptness exist in a town that is purportedly characterized by piousness and devout religion. The narrative is set in seventeenth-century Salem, a clip and topographic point where wickedness and immorality were greatly analyzed and feared. The townsfolk, in their Puritan beliefs, were obsessed with the nature of wickedness and with happening ways to be rid of it wholly through purification of the psyche. At times, people were thought to be possessed by the Satan and to pattern witchery. As penalty for these offenses, some were subjected to agonizing Acts of the Apostless or even atrocious deceases. Therefore, Hawthorne? s pick of scene is instrumental in the development of subject. He uses contrast as a agency to portray the small town as good and the wood as bad. This adds significance to the fact that Brown begins his journey in the town and returns so to the wood. The usage of imagination captures the visual aspect of the wood every bit good as imparting a sense of predicting towards the impending immorality. Hawthorne says of Brown, ? He had taken a drab route, darkened by the gloomiest trees of the forest? It was all every bit lonely as it could be? ( 2208 ) . Immediately following this description, Brown speculates that he may non be entirely in the wood. He fears that there may be a? diabolic Indian? or? the Satan himself? in his presence ( 2208 ) . He is disturbed by the fact that he? knows non who may be concealed by the countless short pantss and the thick boughs overhead ; so that with alone footfalls he may yet be go throughing through an unobserved battalion? ( 2208 ) . This suggests to the reader that he is no longer experiencing the comfort and s afety he felt at place and is leery of what lies in front. Brown is fearful of his mission even before go forthing. However, in go forthing the small town, he leaves spiritual order, the acquaintance of the scenery, and his darling Faith. Upon come ining the wood, he becomes victim to the possibility of the find and effects of immorality. In fact, it is in the forest where immorality manifests itself to him in the signifier of an older adult male of the same frock and category as Brown. It is this experience which finally affects his mentality of the universe. Taken at a actual degree, the narrative is about a adult male who goes on a journey to the wood and brushs assorted unusual state of affairss. However, the storyteller is working on two degrees. There are objects and characters in the narrative which are representative of something else. For case, Brown? s married woman, Faith, represents spiritual religion. She besides exemplifies what it means to be a good adult female and married woman. He worries that Faith? s dreams are warnings although she is his lone justification for doing the evil journey. She is his hope for an? first-class hereafter? . Brown describes her as, ? blessed angel on Earth? and promises that after this one dark, he will, ? cleaving to her skirts and follow her to heaven? ( 2207 ) . When Brown, in arrant desperation, cries out, ? My Faith is gone, ? ( 2212 ) he refers non merely to his married woman but besides his religion in God. He besides alludes to his married woman Faith as his religious religion when he t ells the alien, ? Faith kept me back awhile? ( 2208 ) . Literally, he means that he arrived tardily as a consequence of the conversation with his married woman. However, because we know the deductions of Hawthorne? s tone, we realize he was kept back by something more. We can presume that it is because deep down, perchance through a surfacing of his unconscious, he knows that he is non get downing a harmless journey. Brown is an everyman. Therefore, his journey is one many people have traveled in the yesteryear and will go in the hereafter. Hawthorne is proposing that everyone at some point experiences the battle between good and evil within themselves. As members of today? s society, we are immersed in the evil ways of adult male at an early age. All we must make is watch the eventide intelligence one dark to experience bewildered at the ceaseless committedness of evil workss. In a sense, Brown? s experience in the wood is our world, what we are faced with mundane. His sodium? ve strong belief that immorality can be controlled can merely boom in an idealistic environment. Because he has seen that environment ( or been deceived into believing he has ) , the find of evil proves even more annihilating. However, Hawthorne shows the complexness of the human experience with what is good and what is corrupt. Salem symbolizes order and the regulations that its dwellers are guided by. It is an highly spiritual town where error is non tolerated. On the other manus, the wood, where Brown ventures, is seen as evil and full of evildoers. As he travels further into the forests, he becomes cognizant of the copiousness of evildoers within the community. Like the forest, the baleful alien he encounters every bit good as his staff, represent immorality. The description of the staff is much like that which we associate with the Satan. The staff, ? bore the similitude of a great black serpent, so oddly wrought that it might about be seen to writhe and writhe itself like a life snake? ( 2208 ) . On more than one juncture, the alien offers it to Brown for support and as encouragement to prosecute the walk. His familiarity says? You will believe better of this? and when you feel like traveling once more, here is my staff to assist you along? ( 2211 ) . Brown knows the alien is the Satan and the staff wi ll merely take him to evil. The fact that he has this cognition suggests that he is fighting with the enticement of immorality. These symbols interacting together along with the secret plan set the phase for Brown to face this immorality. Brown begins his journey about enthusiastically and with great religion. This religion is non merely in God but besides in his married woman, the town, and his full life style. He genuinely believes in the Puritan manner and its ability to steer him along the righteous way. The conversation between Brown and Faith as he is go forthing makes one think that he really believes that he will travel on the journey and return to happen things merely as they were earlier. He is right in his premise that the town and the people in it do non alter ; nevertheless, he fails to see the thought that his perceptual experience of them may alter, which it surely does. Upon come ining the forest, it does non take long for the alien to entice Brown in deeper causation him to abandon his former strong beliefs. He experiences a province of confusion steering his head in two different waies. In one sense, he feels the apprehension of his go oning journey. At this clip, he refuses to travel any further. He says to the alien, ? my head is made up. Not another measure will I stir on this errand? ( 2211 ) . However, a more powerful force than his ain self-control compels him to travel forth. Brown begins to theorize about the thought that many other honest people have walked the same way when the figure tells him that he knew his male parent and gramps. Brown responds to the accusals that his ascendants were evil without much averment bespeaking that he does hold uncertainties. What makes it even more amazing for Brown is that these evildoers are people he recognizes to be pious and solid figures in the community. Upon detecting the Deacon and curate? s presence, he feels? overburdened with the heavy illness of his bosom? ( 2211 ) . It is so when he has uncertainties of Eden? s being at all. Yet, he still vows to? stand house against the Satan? ( 2212 ) . He is still slightly in incredulity at seeing Goody Cloyse, the adult female who taught him catechism. However, after hearing Faith? s voice amidst the other evildoers, he finally deserts his belief in the being of good raw. From this point on, he feels a sickening yet obliging force pressing him on to the evil assemblage with those he describes as? grave and dark-clad company? ( 2213 ) . Whether his experience in the wood is existent or a dream, the consequence it has on him is damaging to his religious development. The figure welcomes the community stating, ? Depending upon one another? s Black Marias, ye still hoped that virtuousness were non all a dream. Now are ye disabused. Evil is the nature of world. Evil must be your lone felicity. Welcome once more, my kids, to the Communion of your race? ( 2215 ) . These words penetrate Brown? s psyche so as non to be forgotten. By the terminal of the narrative, the storyteller describes Brown as? a sad, a darkly meditative, a distrustful, if non a despairing adult male? ? ( 2215 ) . He can no longer look upon his community with the same hopefulness he one time had. He becomes misanthropic of his milieus and lives his life consequently. His find of evil consequences in his loss of clasps with humanity. He comes to believe there is evil in all people and is unable to accept it. He grows old with disdain for his former graven images, and neer once more is he able to gestate of the thought that life is pure, expansive, and good. At his funeral, his household has nil promoting to set on his grave, and neighbours do non even bother to go to. Therefore, he is depicted, even in decease, as an single unable to happen felicity in his ain household and friends. As stated earlier, Hawthorne? s end is to demo the find of immorality can take one to express despair and cynicism. Brown is the medium through which he is able to accomplish this end. He is successful in learning his audience a moral lesson ; which is that in denying the thought that good exists and is capable of overmastering immorality, Brown has committed the worst wickedness of all. Bereft of religious religion, ? his deceasing hr was somberness? ( 2216 ) .

Discussion on Poppers and Sobers View of Simplicity Essay Example

Discussion on Poppers and Sobers View of Simplicity Essay Poppers theory of simplicity is directly derived from his Falsification theory. To illustrate this we can say that; it is true that Popper decreed that the more falsifiable a theory was; the better the theory is, and the better it will be received. If this is true; it is then is stated that the degree that a theory is falsifiable should track the degree to which a theory is simple; so if this were to be true should then prefer the theories that are highly simple (and falsifiability). So if we were to place this Im a real life scientific setting we could say that; i) parrots are feathery or ii) all birds are feathery. Now according to Popper ii) would be a better theory in terms of falsifiability and in terms of simplicity, as; it is falsified by more types of findings, could be falsified by any sighting of a non feathery bird; and it is more simple as a parrot is less simple, as it is much more specific, than birds in general. In terms of the merits of Poppers theory, in a perfect Popperian world this theory of simplicity would make life for scientists quite easy as it is a part of his theory of falsification. Further more his description and application of simplicity makes a great deal of sense, in terms of relation to parts of falsification which are part of the modern scientific process, as complicated and convoluted are usually quite difficult to debunk (falsify). We will write a custom essay sample on Discussion on Poppers and Sobers View of Simplicity specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Discussion on Poppers and Sobers View of Simplicity specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Discussion on Poppers and Sobers View of Simplicity specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer However, take this illustration of a mathematical equation representing a scientific theory, adapted from Post (1969); we have theory a), which represents a linear relationship: y = 1. 5 2x; whilst according to theory b) y = 1. 5 2x + 0. 32. Now according to Poppers falsifiability criteria of determining simplicity; the two theories of are equally as simple (since each can only be falsified by one occurrence). This leads to an automatic counter-intuitive result, which leaves the theory high and dry, as they are clearly not at the same level of simplicity. Sobers view on simplicity goes something like the following; instead of, unlike most who have tackled simplicity, relating simplicity to the correctness of a given theory, sober makes an attempt to relate simplicity to the informativeness of a theory. So what this essentially means for the premise of a simplicistic theory, is that simplicity should be concerned with how much information a theory or phenomena gives us in relation to how many laws, or premises, we begin with. To illustrate this better it may be more prudent to discuss Sobers theory in relation to inputs outputs; therefor simpler theories would produce more outputs in relation to the inputs. Furthermore, a more specific definition of Sobers argument is that the simplest theory may be the most informative one. Sobers theory, to me, is quite bold and, excuse the pun, a very simple way of determining the simplicity of a scientific theory. Unlike Popper and Quinean philosophy, Sober theory seems to give simplictity a greater level of importance, as science is all about gaining information which this theory draws it wisdom from. However, the theory runs into problems quite early on. One major problem concerning Sobers theory is that he tries to relate simplicity on a wider ontological level; which leaves me wondering; if we were use the theory that gives the most information, even if it was false, we would be in the position of having to accept it, and then gaining useless knowledge. If we were to assume that the problems that each theory faces never occurred, the theoretical virtue of Sobers simplicity, is that simplicity is directly influenced by the amount of information a theory has put into it, and outputted from it. Poppers theoretical virtue is the simplest theory is better, as a simple theory is easier to debunk and increases its falsifiability (as it doesnt possess any ad hoc escape routes). Personally I am more greatly drawn towards Sobers take on simplicity, as science is directly concern with the pursuit of knowledge, meaning that his criteria which determines whether a theory if simple or not is more logical. I feel that Popper, whilst does a good job of keeping the his theories in unity, necessarily approach the problem correctly whilst falsification seems to a vital piece of good scientific methodology, I cant quite see the connect between it and simplicity.

Article talks about hospital business offices Essays

Article talks about hospital business offices Essays Article talks about hospital business offices Paper Article talks about hospital business offices Paper Essay Topic: Talk This article talks about hospital business offices and the need for them to think like loan management teams of local banks and credit unions especially when collecting revenues from patients. This strategy will then aid hospitals to increase their cash collections as well as improve the financial experiences of the patients. This is significantly important today as the number of patients who shoulder their own medical expenses are on the rise. In fact, sixteen percent of patients who are insured have outstanding balances that are greater than 500 dollars. According to research, less than 2% of the total patients’ balances are collected before or upon discharge and of the balances that are 500 dollars and above, less than 8% are paid in full and this accounts for about 66% of business office patient collections. There is a need, therefore, to focus on two actions namely: prioritizing actions according to the expected cash potential and to think of the return on investment (ROI). An account with a larger balance does not equate to it being a valuable account. Accounts with greater expected cash value, therefore, necessitate a more intensive collection effort. As such, the author lists 3 operating priorities for business office preparations namely: (1) use healthcare specific predictive models as this will enable management to focus on the most valuable accounts in the most efficient manner, (2) employ multiple collection processes depending on the account cash value and the return on investment and (3) implement new reporting Theme The general theme of the article is to provide new information to improve the processes of the hospital business office. Point of View The point of view is factual and the author’s points are credible and convincing. Furthermore, the author provides a clear and understandable way of presenting data. He illustrates his arguments explicitly and gives specific examples on each point. However, the author cited several researches to base his points in, of which the sources were not named. Issue Analysis: Actions should be prioritized depending on the account’s cash potential. In a research, less than 1/3 of patient accounts generate 80% of the cash collections meaning that these accounts do not have a high value. Furthermore, an account with a large balance does not equate to its cash value. A healthcare specific predictive model should be utilized in order to successfully identify accounts that are of higher value. By utilizing this type of model, the process of cash collections will be improved and at the same time, will minimize the operating expenses. In addition, the collection experiences of patients are improved. By prioritizing those that have the most cash value, the likelihood of the collection team pressuring people with accounts of limited cash value is considerably reduced. A focus on cash value is important as this is the issue that the business office team needs to answer. In a situation outside the area of healthcare, a product or service may be stopped or denied anytime. In the field of healthcare however, it is not usually possible to deny or stop the service immediately and the bill can take several weeks before being sent out to the consumer. The collection strategy utilized by hospitals should be in accordance with the cash value of the patient’s account. Consumers who possess the account with the highest cash value should be devoted with special measures of communication such as extra letters and outbound calls. The hospital may be wasting its time and money by trying to pursue a customer who has a large balance but may not be likely to pay while endlessly pursuing consumers who have more chances of paying their balance. A collection report that measures success against the potential cash value should be implemented. The significant measurement is the cash potential as this is what should be collected by the team. The report should calculate the cash potential accurately for each account to avoid becoming ambiguity and confusion. A clear report can also depict appropriate trade-offs that are made and show that a maximization of the net cash is achieved. In addition, bad debt can be clearly traced which leads to improvements in patient access routines.

TEXTBOOK-Brinkley, American History, Connecting with the Past, Volume Essay - 1

TEXTBOOK-Brinkley, American History, Connecting with the Past, Volume II, McGraw Hill chapters23-24 - Essay Example Despite the fact that the stock market began regaining some of its losses towards the end of 1930, it was not sufficient to avert the onset of the economic depression. Another main cause was bank failures. The 1930s experienced over 9,000 bank failures. There was no insurance for bank deposits, hence with the failure of the banks, individuals simply ended up losing their savings. Because the surviving banks were not certain about the economic condition and had concerns about their own survival, they were not willing to issue new loans. This aggravated the existent situation and led to lesser expenditure. In addition to that was a drop in purchasing across the board. As the stock market had crashed and the advancement of further economic conundrums heightened, people across all classes stopped buying items. The result was a drop in the number of produced items, hence a reduced workforce. Individuals who had been laid off from their jobs were not in a position to deposit payments for i tems they had purchased via installment plans, leading to repossession of these items. The rate of accumulation of inventory began to increase. There was a rise of over 25% in unemployment which of course meant reduced spending that could abate the existent economic condition. The American policy with Europe also contributed in a great way to the Great Depression. With businesses starting to fall, the Smoot Hawley Tariff of 1930 was forged by the government in a bid to protect American governments. The tariff imposed high tariffs on imports resulting in reduced trade between foreign countries and America, coupled with retaliation in the economy (Brinkley, 604) President Hoover and the Republican Response to the Crisis In a similar fashion to the economic crisis of 2008, president Hoover assumed office immediately following the stock market crash in 1929. His response to the economic downturn was remarkably similar to the current response by the Federal Reserve and SEC. He did not wa nt to meddle with the markets and looked to offer support to the banking system by making an offer to fund business in return for collateral. As such, he started programs of public works. The lengths taken by Hoover were obscured by the great lengths that the Franklin Roosevelt administration took. Public works programs during this period had a sizeable impact upon a generation reliant on soup lines to survive. Attempts by president Hover to resolve the economic crisis were in most instances unsuccessful. His loss to Franklin Roosevelt in the 1932 presidential therefore was not a surprise. Hoover thereafter devoted a lot of time over the next dozen years to the fight by the Republicans against the New Deal, and believed that President Roosevelt would function to compromise the political system of the United States with his extensive government programs. Six weeks following the death of Roosevelt, Hoover held a meeting with President Harry Truman in May 1945. Together, they planned t o recover post-war Europe. Upon a request by Truman, Hoover travelled across the globe to afford the president a personal statement on food needs of the world. More significantly, Hoover rallied his fellow Republicans to offer support to President Truman’s food relief programs. Hoover worked as chairman of the newly-formed Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch which later came to be known as the Hoover commission, and worked in

Qualitative research critique on nurse attrition Paper

Qualitative critique on nurse attrition - Research Paper Example With these statistics and proof in mind, the factors that cause these are necessary to be identified in order to prevent the shift which sooner or later will be problematic (MacKusick & Minick, 2010). Physical exhaustion was bound to take place. Having to recommend someone else may also provide psychological risks because the subject may not have wanted any contact with former employees and the interview questions were many and too demanding. The researchers of this research article are both PhD holders and associate professors who teach nursing in renowned universities. MacKusick is from Clayton State University while Minick is from Georgia State University. The participants in this study were briefed about the purpose of the study and before they signed the consent forms to agree they were guaranteed anonymity. They were informed that it was voluntary and hence could leave anytime they wanted to. The best protection was that the participants used pseudonym during the interview and this guaranteed to protect them. The purpose of this research article was to find out the factors that influence the RN’s decisions to leave the field of clinical practice. The article however ends up not directly finding these reasons but having to seek their perceptions and then deduce from there the factors. No directly related information about the perception of RN’s was found and therefore the literature review search had to take a longer route to find most of the information about RN’s and clinical practice and this was in the psychological and sociological databases. The conclusion therefore is that there is missing gap of knowledge in this area of RN’s and their perceptions about clinical practice. The research question was â€Å"what is the experience of RNs who leave clinical nursing?† It is not concise because the information to be collected through this question will not be in line with the purpose of the study and hence more concise

Believe and Culture Build Awareness Research Paper

Believe and Culture Build Awareness - Research Paper Example However, despite this seemingly important trend, many other security concerns are also emerging, which threatens the effective use of these technologies (Erickson 2008). This paper examines some of the challenges being associated with the process of establishing firm security systems in individual and corporate information systems. According to Scambray & McClure (2001), hacking can be described as the unauthorized entry into a person’s information database online. In the need for creating and using technology as a leveraging point for organizational effectiveness, individuals and organisations have developed websites and other online databases where they develop and store their confidential information. In this regard, the information is supposed to be kept away from the reach of unauthorized persons. In order to ensure that this information is secured safely, it is often expected that one uses effective and reliable passwords among other important approaches that can ensure that this information is safely secured (Scambray & McClure 2001). Additionally, the process of hosting these websites is supposed to be done on secure networks, which ensure that hackers and other malicious attackers do not gain entry into these information systems. Just like in normal aspects of life, intruding into someone’s physical space without his/her permission or context amounts to security threat. Culturally, it is important that one seeks permission before entry into a house or an office, in the same way, hacking can be seen to be violating the cultural ties that concern respect for one’s space and freedom. In all societies across the world, good mannerism involves several subsets including observing and respecting people’s physical space among others. In the same way, the development of online systems like websites and social sites is supposed to incorporate this important security concern. Across the world, many issues have so far been raised about the

Case Study of Personal Constructs Theory (PCT)

Case Study of Personal Constructs Theory (PCT) Title/Abstract In this study we aim to provide an analysis of a subjects problems using the Personal Constructs Theory (PCT) suggested by Kelly. The subject is a 35 year old female full time employee working in the same company as the researcher and has shown no barriers to construing. The subjects problems with her relationships have been determined using the Repertory grid interview and we discuss results and provide an analysis of the findings following the interview and data collection. The interview was done to identify elements within the clients relationships and all interview limitations have been considered for the study. We provide an analysis of Personal Constructs Theory in general giving a brief overview of its main premises and principles and then move on to its applications including the Grid interview technique on our client. We discuss the results and analyse the findings accordingly. Introduction George Kellys Personal Construct Theory (PCT) emphasises that the world is perceived by a person according to the meaning the person applies to it and the person has the freedom to choose a meaning according to what he or she wants (Kelly, 1955). Thus a person has the freedom to choose a meaning in terms of which he perceives the world and can apply alternative constructions or meanings to his past, present and future events. Thus a person is not a victim of his events but can liberate himself from unpleasant events by reinterpreting and redefining them. According to Kelly (1955) PCT attempts to explain why a man does what he does and is a theory about how the human process flows, how it strives in new directions as well as in old, and how it may dare for the first time to reach into the depths of newly perceived dimensions Kelly states that a persons processes are psychologically channelized by the ways in which he anticipate the events'(1955). Here, the subject is the process and the individual is a behaving organism who may need an external force to initiate an event. The processes include those of self-definition and relationships with others, and how we interpret events around us as well as the events we perceive and tasks at hand (Kelly 1955). Kelly based his theory of PCT on man as the scientist model and the basic points were as follows: the individual creates his or her own ways of seeing the world and interprets events according to how he perceive them the individual builds percepts and constructs; these constructs are organized into systems, or group of constructs which embody relationships; two or more systems may contain the same events, yet the events are separate from any of the systems; any individuals systems have a definite foci The term construct is a concept that represents the view a person has constructed about the world as he experiences it. Constructs also represent the way a person is likely to construe the world and the construct system as a whole represents the history and predisposition to perceive the world in a particular way. Kelly also distinguished between social reality, individual reality and communality. Individuality denotes that every individual differ from each other in how they construct or perceive the world, communality refers to the underlying similarities or common elements in perception and how the construction of experience in one person is similar to that of another (Kelly, 1955). Social reality is perception of how one person construes the construction processes of another person and how they are involved in a social role. Personal construct theory has been used in several sociological and scientific disciplines and it has been emphasised that social reality and communality should be considered along with the individual or personal reality and both have to be considered together in developing an understanding of the psychological processes (Dalton, 1992). The theory of Personal Constructs, points out that it is our personal psychological constructs that make the world predictable. We use construct systems to help in perception of the world and respond to all situations according to these perceptions. Our construct systems help us to make sense of the world, to make it predictable, to draw conclusions about causes and effects and we learn from experiences and adjust our behaviour accordingly (Fransella, 1995). Kelly wrote that the construct systems influence our expectations and perceptions and reflect our past experiences according to which we shape our future expectations. For example since we known from our past experiences that winters are cold, we would take adequate measures of protection during winter because we expect winters to be cold. However according to Kelly, our construct systems grow and change and are not static and are either confirmed or challenged when we are conscious. We adapt and immunise our constructs according to the situation and alter our feelings according to our experiences. We also tend to think and react according to our construct systems and some constructs represent values and key relationships which are difficult to change and fixed whereas some other constructs are less complex and more flexible and adaptive. The truth about the world as understood and experienced determines the nature of the construct system. Construct systems are not generally judged according to any objective truth and depend on an individuals personal feelings, perceptions and choices (Dalton, 1992). One individuals construct system may be different from anothers and when there is a general disagreement in constructs, it is generally denoted by prejudice or preconception. Although conflicts and differences of opinions are unpleasant, these events help us to understand differences in people and help us to learn how other people perceive things (Stevens, 1996). However construct systems change and may not be altogether internally consistent. People may react or perceive things differently even in similar circumstances and this is normal as there is a certain degree of internal inconsistency in perception of events. Distortions of judgement due to internal inconsistency of personal constructs can be harmful for a person as he may suffer from personal distress. The extent to which one person can appreciate and react to another persons constructs is a measure of empathy or how one perceives another (Banister, 1985). One persons construct system may be markedly different from another p ersons constructs yet one should be able to infer the other persons construct in order to empathise and develop a sense of social oneness and responsibility. Kellys theory is one of the most effective theories in social research and helps to provide a psychological explanation of social similarities and differences. The applications of Kellys theory of Personal constructs are wide and varied as it helps to provide mathematical representations of constructs systems. Construct systems are multidimensional mathematical models and a persons language is used to classify his or her experiences. Kelly developed a number of mathematical models and representations of construct systems and tested hypotheses that followed from basic personal construct theory (Fransella and Bannister, 1977). To understand peoples personal construct systems the repertory Grid Interview technique was developed, also known as the Role Construct Repertory Test. The repertoire of constructs that a person develops represents some form of perception, judgement or evaluation and is always comparative. Thus judgement of anything good is in comparison with the concept of bad. Thus in using a Grid interview three elements are considered and then two are paired in contrast with a third. The theory of personal constructs can be applied to personal experiences and relationships and so parents, relations, friends, colleagues and the individual are largely responsible for the formation of constructs (Smith et al, 1995; Kalekin-Fishman et al, 1996). Kelly elicited a patients constructs, rated the different elements on the constructs and used the resultant grid to point out to the client what his primary problems or concerns were. This helped to decide which therapy would be important and helped to determine the progress and effectiveness of therapy. For example one could find the two elements in a personal relationship of a patient and his mother and use this technique to find out differences between a patients perception of himself and what his mother would like him to be. The patient would then be encouraged to provide a self description and work through means of making his relationship with his mother more pleasant and productive. If there are paranoid elements recognised in a patients perception of himself or his relationships, appropriate therapeutic interventions are suggested. The Repertory Grid interviewing technique was developed by Kelly to overcome some of the methodological limitations of the interview method. The main steps of the Grid technique include 1. Selecting a set of elements – this could be anything from relationships to issues and the elements could be people involved in these relationships with the client. 2. The elements are taken in groups of three and the client is asked to pair two of them separating the third according to a special characteristic (Adams-Webber, 1983). Thus here the differentiation is done according to constructs determined by the client and is done on a bipolar scale with the interviewer setting up the question but the client determining the content (Anderson, 1987). The constructs are examined in some detail and after the interview the constructs are made into scales of 1-5 and the interviewee is expected to rate every element for every construct on this scale. The result is a matrix and this is then analysed statistically to show the client his problems and how they can be tackled. The statistical analysis helps to give measurements of individual people characteristics and compares peoples perceptions before and after the interview. The Grid is thus a statistical, and content free process and although the interviewer initiates its functions, it is the patient who drives it allowing him to come out with his own perceptions thus giving the process a freedom from any interviewer bias and allows complete transparency(Anderson, 1987). Since it is also a standardised interviewing technique any interviewer can read the interview and understand its implications. Russell and Cox (2003) and Morrison (1991) have stressed on the importance of repertory grid in the analysis of individual perceptions. Considering Kellys constructivist alternativism, we can assume that all our present perceptions of the world could be subject to changes and revisions and accordingly our perceptions of people and subsequently our interpersonal relationships could also be changed according to this principle. Method A 35 year old female colleague, Marie Oliver was selected for the interview process. The client was having some relationship problems, especially with her work colleagues and has been showing maladjustment along with problems of anxiety, depression and lack of productivity at work. The participant was apprised of the purpose of the interviewing and was asked to participate suggesting that participation in the interview would help her in overcoming her personal problems. A Repertory Grid Interview was done and the first step was identifying elements or grid components. For this all the possible elements including people in relationships were identified. Thus elements are work colleagues known to the participant and to the researcher, and the participant used triad method with the elements to create constructs around any one chosen topic. Elements were then compared by asking participant to take 3 elements and ascertain where 2 are similar and 1 is different, and the participant was en couraged to continue until all possible combinations were exhausted of 3 elements from the set of 10. The instruction given in this case was , choose any three of these known people and group two of them together separating a possible third to show why two of them are similar and how they differ from the third person. This process was used to identify similarities and differences of individuals until the participant ran out of constructs. Several mini-grids were developed in advance to ensure that the participant was comfortable with the process of grid construction. Then the Participant followed the process, generated the first grid, to ascertain whether each element is more like the similarity pole or difference pole by marking with x or o respectively. The participant then generated a second grid to rate each element on each of the 10 constructs using 1-5 point scale, but presented the grid to experimenter without ratings, experimenter then created the final grid as the participant. The main aim and purpose of the interview was agreed with the participant and views about other work colleagues were thus taken. The participant was fully informed from outset regarding the possibility that the revelations from the Grid Interview could be unsettling for her. However for these purposes, participants consent form was also signed in advance and the constructs were then set up on the grid allowing to be revealed. In the process of the interview, the researcher made notes on participant behaviour and perceptions as verbally revealed. In this case, the participant Marie was asked to identify the elements in her workplace that could be considered in her relationships with colleagues. Marie identified 10 colleagues at her workplace and separated two of them as distinct from a third. The common points and the differences were noted. Each of the 10 constructs chosen were rated on a 1-5 scale and the grids were created with similarity and difference poles marked by x or an o. This was done in case of determining constructs and relationships with work colleagues. After the formation of a grid, an analysis was drawn up. Findings/Analysis The two assumptions of the Grid Interview by Kelly were as follows: 1. If we can identify an individuals construct map there is a strong possibility we can predict that individuals behaviour. 2. We may be able to modify an individuals map, and therefore behaviour, by some form of training. The two aspects of the Repertory Grid are 1. Elements which are the objects of an individuals thinking and to which they relate their concepts or values. These elements may be people with qualities like effective, unprofessional, etc or they may be objects or abstract, concrete concepts like the interview or a test 2. Constructs are the qualities used to describe the elements in our personal, individual relationships thus a person is effective because he has a pleasant relationship with his staff which reflects personal construct as applied to the element of an effective individual The main elements in an analysis when a grid is applied to an individual are: 1. The results relate to that individual alone 2. Only one grid has to be analysed for an individuals report. 3. A grid scoring form is used to perform the analysis The Findings and Analysis help us to probe the following questions: To what extent was the study helpful in understanding the participants view of the topic of examination? Identification and justification of apparent areas of understanding and lack of understanding Is a pattern of understanding evident? How does the analysis link with the notes made prior to completing grids on expected areas of degree of understanding? What is the meaning revealed by the participants choice of elements and constructs? Do the elements and constructs reveal a similar or different view of the topic of analysis chosen? What does the degree of the match imply? Was the study any more helpful when conversation elaboration was also used as an extended method? Is some analysis of new understandings reached during feedback conversation helpful for the process? What do the notes and quotes as revealed by the client suggest? The findings are given as follows: Degree of similarity Elements (Mostly worked together with these individuals) Close agreement on 4, 5, 6 – elements Less agreement on 9 – element (Mostly worked separately with these individuals) Little agreement on 1,2,3,7,8,10- elements with different negative personal experiences working with E7 and E8 on particular projects. Degree of similarity – Constructs Close agreement on 6 – constructs (professional conduct). Upon discussion, views were similar regarding the meaning of professional conduct and who could be trusted. Less agreement on 1,3,4,5,7,9 – constructs. Upon discussion, researcher and client shared similar/same definitions of each construct. Differences in definitions regarding Constructs Little agreement on 2,8,10 constructs. Upon discussion, our definitions were different, hence our measurement of each element came from a different understanding of constructs. The elements identified by Marie were individuals at the workplace and Marie revealed that she worked closely with elements 4, 5 and 6 although had less agreement with element or colleague 9. Marie revealed that she has worked separately and had negative personal experiences with colleagues identified as elements 1, 2, 3, 7, 8 and 10 although she said she was working on the same project with two of these negatively perceived colleagues 7 and 8. Mari suggested a close agreement with 6 on professional conduct and said that her views with 6 were similar regarding professional conduct, friendships and trust issues as to who in the office should or should not be trusted. Marie suggested that her constructs were either in contrast to or were not compatible with those of 1, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9 elements or colleagues identified. Marie and the researcher had some discussions on the nature and definition of particular perceptions and constructs and the general definition of these identified by th e researcher were similar to that of the subject. The subjects perceptions, feedback and opinions on the constructs were noted separately. Marie identified that two of the colleagues were friendly and amicable and compared with the other person who in contrast has been described as unfriendly and not easy to get along with. The Repertory Grid Scoring sheet is drawn as follows: Pairs similarities 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 empathy Work culture attitude friendliness knowledgeable Team orientedness Good style appearance leadership helpfulness The process of producing the Repertory Grid can be broken down into the following steps: Step One The participant Marie identifies ten colleagues whom she knows well. Among these ten colleagues Marie should go along well with at least two of them ideally. Step Two – Marie is given six pieces of card or paper on which she is asked to write the names of the people she has identified. These are the elements described. A number can also be added to the card/paper to signify description and added at the head of column on the scoring sheet. Alternatively, the name itself of the element identified can be entered on the scoring sheet as well. Step Three – Three cards are selected, for example 1, 2 and 3, and Marie is asked to identify some aspect related to these colleagues behaviour which makes two of the three people selected different from the third. The construct word or phrase is written in the top left side of the vertical columns. In the top right side of the vertical columns is written the description of the person one who is different from the other two. This process of obtaining constructs from the three people is continued until no further constructs or perceived characteristics could be elicited from the participant. Step Four – Once the constructs have been completely elicited and entered on the scoresheet, the cards are returned. Each element person is then given a score on a scale of 1 to 5. A score of 1 or 2 is allocated to those who are suited to the description in the left-hand column, the column with the description of the pair. Scores of 5 or 4 are allocated to those who match with the description in the right-hand column, the description of the odd person out Step Five – A different set of three cards is then selected, cards 4, 5 and 6 and the process in steps 3 and 4 is repeated, ensuring that the description of pairs is recorded in the left-hand column and a score of 1 or 2 relates to the pairs similarity and score points of 4 and 5 relate to the description of the single person. A score of 3 is average score. A score of at least one 1 and one 5 is helpful when allocated usually from the set of three people for whom the constructs are being elicited. Step Six – Step five is repeated and the various combinations of the elements are aimed to be covered until the participants run out of perceived characteristics or constructs that could be entered on the card. After the grid consideration, the grid scoring sheet is used to record the views of the participant for each element against each construct which has been offered. The data collected is then subject to analysis. A manual analysis can generate and extract considerable information from the grid and all the constructs are related to the personal characteristics of each work colleague considered in the study by Marie. Step Seven – In this case study we consider the behavioural aspects of work colleagues of Marie which is related to their overall friendliness, therefore at the end of the grid Marie is asked to rate the elements in a single, given construct over a scale of friendly to unfriendly. The scoring for friendliness is then compared with other individual aspects to highlight differences and to provide indicators for friendliness. Step Eight – The scores for each construct are obtained by marking the difference for each element against the general friendliness figure. Step Nine – In this phase, we analyse the various constructs on the basis that if the score is low the aspect measured is significant in the ranking for friendliness It is the duty of interviewer to remain without any bias and to refrain from giving any suggestion to the participant on what constructs should be drawn. Forming the constructs is entirely dependent on the participant and the researcher has no role in its formation. They must be according to the thoughts and perceptions of the individual who is being interviewed in this case, Marie although the constructs must be clear, meaningful. Here the analyst has helped her in one or two cases when she couldnt describe the construct and sought help of the analyst to come out with the right word. After the constructs are listed against the elements, the grid results are scored and are ready to be used for analysis. From the example used in this study -the aspects which go towards the behavioural skills of colleague at work, are identified as follows: Has empathy with other colleagues Has a proper work culture and attitude Has an ethical sense Is friendly and amicable Is knowledgeable and professional Always has a good style and appearance Is a team oriented person Is a leader in the group Comes out with fresh new ideas Is helpful and cooperative Discussion In this study we selected Marie Oliver, a 35 year old colleague who was suffering from some initial maladjustment in the workplace. Marie was asked to participate in the Repertory Grid Interview process to identify the reasons of her problems, categorise them and come out with possible suggestions. The approach taken was qualitative analysis by using the Personal Constructs theory developed by Kelly and a final analysis using scoring sheet and identifying elements through the Repertory Grid Interview technique. Marie was asked to select characteristics and constructs of persons in her workplace. She identified the most desirable and friendly characteristics in her colleagues against the least desirable ones. The notes taken during conversation with Marie reveal that Marie felt she got along only with a few colleagues only three as mentioned. There were basic differences in professional ethic and conduct with at least two colleagues she was working in collaboration with. The behavioural skills Marie identified as important in defining her good relationship with the colleagues are empathic characteristics in others; any concept of an ideal colleague is also associated with being able to follow a proper work culture and having a proper attitude. Having an ethical sense, a sense of justice and being knowledgeable, professional with a good sense of humour are also identified as important characteristics in a proper friendly colleague. Marie indicated that being friendly, amicable and with good style and appearance has been noted in at least two of her colleagues and this is stark contrast to a third colleague she identified and with whom she doesnt seem to get along. If we consider Kellys perspective of constructive alternativism, it is possible to have alternative perceptions as our perceptions of the world depend completely on our personal constructs. Marie also identified leadership skills, helpfulness and cooperativeness, being able to come out with fresh ideas and following a proper work culture as important aspects of professional behaviour and gave high scores on these aspects to at least two of her colleagues. Overall, a Repertory Grid Interview on Marie showed that she has good and easygoing relations with two of her colleagues but doesnt seem to go well with many of them. The negative implications of the findings which suggest why Marie did not get along with most of her colleagues and seem to show anxiety and depression symptoms as well as dissatisfaction with her workplace were revealed in her perception of constructs on most of her colleagues. Marie suggested that some of her colleagues were low on cooperativeness and helpfulness, friendliness and proper professional attitude making the atmosphere competitive and hostile. The dynamics of Maries actual relations with her colleagues were thus revealed using this Grid interviewing procedure and Maries own perception of her work situation, perception of her situation and role in the office, and perception of her relations with her colleagues and her job were also revealed through this study. As Morrison (1991) used the repertory grid technique to understand nurses perception of care and their evaluation of caring attitudes in nursing, Maries perception of her work culture could easily reveal her ideal understanding of a workplace and what she sought in her colleagues. Her inner constructs, precepts and how she saw the world as an individual were revealed and so were her expectations in the future. Considering Maries perceptions, some psychological counselling to improve her working and professional relationships was recommended. Limitations: The methodological limitations and concerns of interview as a means of knowing peoples construct system were many, as noted by Kelly. These are: 1. Interview Bias – sometimes the interviewer and the school he belongs to whether behaviourist or psychoanalytic could determine the way the session goes and this undermines the objectivity and validity of the study 2. Dependence on the interviewer – the role of the therapist should be minimal and the therapist should just be a tool to facilitate self perception according to Kelly. Most individuals have the capacity to understand his or her problems and any overdependence on the researcher should be avoided. 3. There may be problems with measuring and predicting individual or group characteristics. Although psychology seeks to understand laws of human behaviour, large scale studies showing correlations of different behaviour may not be helpful for study of personal constructs which is based on the understanding of individuals or a small group of people. These methodological limitations have been kept in mind while conducting the interview and interviewer bias and any dependence on the interviewer has been kept to a minimum. Interviewer intervention has also been minimal. Conclusion: In this discussion, we set out with an overview of the Personal Constructs Theory proposed by Kelly (1955). We discussed the different tenets of the constructs theory, the inconsistency of personal constructs and how constructs tend to vary in different people or in same people in different situations. Thus situational factors seem important in constructs and perceptions on other people. Individual constructs form the construct systems and Kelly established the grid method to determine the different elements in a social situation that can be considered as responsible for an individuals disturbed social relationships. In our study of Marie Oliver, a 35 year old employee, her social relationships and possible disturbances were studied using the Repertory Grid Interview technique and her analysis of good and bad characteristics of ten of her colleagues were indicated on the card given to her. The scores were drawn up and according to the analysis the desirable characteristics that Marie perceived in some of her workmates and not in others, were found out. Maries behavioural problems and her unique relationships with her colleagues are then analysed suggesting whether Marie needed any further psychological help for her anxiety, depression and other work related maladjustments. Bibliography Kelly, George Alexander The psychology of personal constructs / George A. Kelly. London : Routledge in association with Centre for Personal Construct Psychology,London, 1991, c1955. Dalton, Peggy. A psychology for living : personal construct theory for professionals and clients / Peggy Dalton and Gavin Dunnett. Chichester : J. Wiley Sons, 1992. University of London. An application of personal construct theory (Kelly) to schizoid thinking. University of London, 1959. Fransella, Fay. George Kelly / Fay Fransella. London : Sage, 1995. Anderson, N. Personality assessment in the graduate milkround interview : A personal construct psychology perspective and study using repertory grid technique. Birmingham : University of Aston Management Centre, 1987. Fransella. F, Bannister. D. 1977. A Manual for Repertory grid technique. Academic Press. London. Bannister, P et al. (1994) Qualitative Methods in Psychology Buckingham: Open University Press. Bannister, D. (1985) (Ed) Issues and approaches in personal construct theory London: Academic Press, 1985 Stevens, R (1996) Understanding the Self London: Open University Sage. Kalekin-Fishman, Devorah. and Walker, Beverley. (1996) The Construction of Group Realities: culture, society and personal construct theory. Malabar: Krieger. Bannister, D. Mair, J. (1968) The Evaluation of Personal Constructs London: Academic Press Smith JA, Harre R, Van Langenhove (1995) Rethinking Methods in Psychology London: Sage. Jack Adams-Webber (Editor) (1983) Applications of Personal Construct Theory Academic Press. The emergence of new intentions in subjective experience: A social/personal constructionist and relational understanding Journal of Vocational Behavior, Volume 64, Issue 3, June 2004, Pages 485-498 Mary Sue Richardson Per Case Study of Personal Constructs Theory (PCT) Case Study of Personal Constructs Theory (PCT) Title/Abstract In this study we aim to provide an analysis of a subjects problems using the Personal Constructs Theory (PCT) suggested by Kelly. The subject is a 35 year old female full time employee working in the same company as the researcher and has shown no barriers to construing. The subjects problems with her relationships have been determined using the Repertory grid interview and we discuss results and provide an analysis of the findings following the interview and data collection. The interview was done to identify elements within the clients relationships and all interview limitations have been considered for the study. We provide an analysis of Personal Constructs Theory in general giving a brief overview of its main premises and principles and then move on to its applications including the Grid interview technique on our client. We discuss the results and analyse the findings accordingly. Introduction George Kellys Personal Construct Theory (PCT) emphasises that the world is perceived by a person according to the meaning the person applies to it and the person has the freedom to choose a meaning according to what he or she wants (Kelly, 1955). Thus a person has the freedom to choose a meaning in terms of which he perceives the world and can apply alternative constructions or meanings to his past, present and future events. Thus a person is not a victim of his events but can liberate himself from unpleasant events by reinterpreting and redefining them. According to Kelly (1955) PCT attempts to explain why a man does what he does and is a theory about how the human process flows, how it strives in new directions as well as in old, and how it may dare for the first time to reach into the depths of newly perceived dimensions Kelly states that a persons processes are psychologically channelized by the ways in which he anticipate the events'(1955). Here, the subject is the process and the individual is a behaving organism who may need an external force to initiate an event. The processes include those of self-definition and relationships with others, and how we interpret events around us as well as the events we perceive and tasks at hand (Kelly 1955). Kelly based his theory of PCT on man as the scientist model and the basic points were as follows: the individual creates his or her own ways of seeing the world and interprets events according to how he perceive them the individual builds percepts and constructs; these constructs are organized into systems, or group of constructs which embody relationships; two or more systems may contain the same events, yet the events are separate from any of the systems; any individuals systems have a definite foci The term construct is a concept that represents the view a person has constructed about the world as he experiences it. Constructs also represent the way a person is likely to construe the world and the construct system as a whole represents the history and predisposition to perceive the world in a particular way. Kelly also distinguished between social reality, individual reality and communality. Individuality denotes that every individual differ from each other in how they construct or perceive the world, communality refers to the underlying similarities or common elements in perception and how the construction of experience in one person is similar to that of another (Kelly, 1955). Social reality is perception of how one person construes the construction processes of another person and how they are involved in a social role. Personal construct theory has been used in several sociological and scientific disciplines and it has been emphasised that social reality and communality should be considered along with the individual or personal reality and both have to be considered together in developing an understanding of the psychological processes (Dalton, 1992). The theory of Personal Constructs, points out that it is our personal psychological constructs that make the world predictable. We use construct systems to help in perception of the world and respond to all situations according to these perceptions. Our construct systems help us to make sense of the world, to make it predictable, to draw conclusions about causes and effects and we learn from experiences and adjust our behaviour accordingly (Fransella, 1995). Kelly wrote that the construct systems influence our expectations and perceptions and reflect our past experiences according to which we shape our future expectations. For example since we known from our past experiences that winters are cold, we would take adequate measures of protection during winter because we expect winters to be cold. However according to Kelly, our construct systems grow and change and are not static and are either confirmed or challenged when we are conscious. We adapt and immunise our constructs according to the situation and alter our feelings according to our experiences. We also tend to think and react according to our construct systems and some constructs represent values and key relationships which are difficult to change and fixed whereas some other constructs are less complex and more flexible and adaptive. The truth about the world as understood and experienced determines the nature of the construct system. Construct systems are not generally judged according to any objective truth and depend on an individuals personal feelings, perceptions and choices (Dalton, 1992). One individuals construct system may be different from anothers and when there is a general disagreement in constructs, it is generally denoted by prejudice or preconception. Although conflicts and differences of opinions are unpleasant, these events help us to understand differences in people and help us to learn how other people perceive things (Stevens, 1996). However construct systems change and may not be altogether internally consistent. People may react or perceive things differently even in similar circumstances and this is normal as there is a certain degree of internal inconsistency in perception of events. Distortions of judgement due to internal inconsistency of personal constructs can be harmful for a person as he may suffer from personal distress. The extent to which one person can appreciate and react to another persons constructs is a measure of empathy or how one perceives another (Banister, 1985). One persons construct system may be markedly different from another p ersons constructs yet one should be able to infer the other persons construct in order to empathise and develop a sense of social oneness and responsibility. Kellys theory is one of the most effective theories in social research and helps to provide a psychological explanation of social similarities and differences. The applications of Kellys theory of Personal constructs are wide and varied as it helps to provide mathematical representations of constructs systems. Construct systems are multidimensional mathematical models and a persons language is used to classify his or her experiences. Kelly developed a number of mathematical models and representations of construct systems and tested hypotheses that followed from basic personal construct theory (Fransella and Bannister, 1977). To understand peoples personal construct systems the repertory Grid Interview technique was developed, also known as the Role Construct Repertory Test. The repertoire of constructs that a person develops represents some form of perception, judgement or evaluation and is always comparative. Thus judgement of anything good is in comparison with the concept of bad. Thus in using a Grid interview three elements are considered and then two are paired in contrast with a third. The theory of personal constructs can be applied to personal experiences and relationships and so parents, relations, friends, colleagues and the individual are largely responsible for the formation of constructs (Smith et al, 1995; Kalekin-Fishman et al, 1996). Kelly elicited a patients constructs, rated the different elements on the constructs and used the resultant grid to point out to the client what his primary problems or concerns were. This helped to decide which therapy would be important and helped to determine the progress and effectiveness of therapy. For example one could find the two elements in a personal relationship of a patient and his mother and use this technique to find out differences between a patients perception of himself and what his mother would like him to be. The patient would then be encouraged to provide a self description and work through means of making his relationship with his mother more pleasant and productive. If there are paranoid elements recognised in a patients perception of himself or his relationships, appropriate therapeutic interventions are suggested. The Repertory Grid interviewing technique was developed by Kelly to overcome some of the methodological limitations of the interview method. The main steps of the Grid technique include 1. Selecting a set of elements – this could be anything from relationships to issues and the elements could be people involved in these relationships with the client. 2. The elements are taken in groups of three and the client is asked to pair two of them separating the third according to a special characteristic (Adams-Webber, 1983). Thus here the differentiation is done according to constructs determined by the client and is done on a bipolar scale with the interviewer setting up the question but the client determining the content (Anderson, 1987). The constructs are examined in some detail and after the interview the constructs are made into scales of 1-5 and the interviewee is expected to rate every element for every construct on this scale. The result is a matrix and this is then analysed statistically to show the client his problems and how they can be tackled. The statistical analysis helps to give measurements of individual people characteristics and compares peoples perceptions before and after the interview. The Grid is thus a statistical, and content free process and although the interviewer initiates its functions, it is the patient who drives it allowing him to come out with his own perceptions thus giving the process a freedom from any interviewer bias and allows complete transparency(Anderson, 1987). Since it is also a standardised interviewing technique any interviewer can read the interview and understand its implications. Russell and Cox (2003) and Morrison (1991) have stressed on the importance of repertory grid in the analysis of individual perceptions. Considering Kellys constructivist alternativism, we can assume that all our present perceptions of the world could be subject to changes and revisions and accordingly our perceptions of people and subsequently our interpersonal relationships could also be changed according to this principle. Method A 35 year old female colleague, Marie Oliver was selected for the interview process. The client was having some relationship problems, especially with her work colleagues and has been showing maladjustment along with problems of anxiety, depression and lack of productivity at work. The participant was apprised of the purpose of the interviewing and was asked to participate suggesting that participation in the interview would help her in overcoming her personal problems. A Repertory Grid Interview was done and the first step was identifying elements or grid components. For this all the possible elements including people in relationships were identified. Thus elements are work colleagues known to the participant and to the researcher, and the participant used triad method with the elements to create constructs around any one chosen topic. Elements were then compared by asking participant to take 3 elements and ascertain where 2 are similar and 1 is different, and the participant was en couraged to continue until all possible combinations were exhausted of 3 elements from the set of 10. The instruction given in this case was , choose any three of these known people and group two of them together separating a possible third to show why two of them are similar and how they differ from the third person. This process was used to identify similarities and differences of individuals until the participant ran out of constructs. Several mini-grids were developed in advance to ensure that the participant was comfortable with the process of grid construction. Then the Participant followed the process, generated the first grid, to ascertain whether each element is more like the similarity pole or difference pole by marking with x or o respectively. The participant then generated a second grid to rate each element on each of the 10 constructs using 1-5 point scale, but presented the grid to experimenter without ratings, experimenter then created the final grid as the participant. The main aim and purpose of the interview was agreed with the participant and views about other work colleagues were thus taken. The participant was fully informed from outset regarding the possibility that the revelations from the Grid Interview could be unsettling for her. However for these purposes, participants consent form was also signed in advance and the constructs were then set up on the grid allowing to be revealed. In the process of the interview, the researcher made notes on participant behaviour and perceptions as verbally revealed. In this case, the participant Marie was asked to identify the elements in her workplace that could be considered in her relationships with colleagues. Marie identified 10 colleagues at her workplace and separated two of them as distinct from a third. The common points and the differences were noted. Each of the 10 constructs chosen were rated on a 1-5 scale and the grids were created with similarity and difference poles marked by x or an o. This was done in case of determining constructs and relationships with work colleagues. After the formation of a grid, an analysis was drawn up. Findings/Analysis The two assumptions of the Grid Interview by Kelly were as follows: 1. If we can identify an individuals construct map there is a strong possibility we can predict that individuals behaviour. 2. We may be able to modify an individuals map, and therefore behaviour, by some form of training. The two aspects of the Repertory Grid are 1. Elements which are the objects of an individuals thinking and to which they relate their concepts or values. These elements may be people with qualities like effective, unprofessional, etc or they may be objects or abstract, concrete concepts like the interview or a test 2. Constructs are the qualities used to describe the elements in our personal, individual relationships thus a person is effective because he has a pleasant relationship with his staff which reflects personal construct as applied to the element of an effective individual The main elements in an analysis when a grid is applied to an individual are: 1. The results relate to that individual alone 2. Only one grid has to be analysed for an individuals report. 3. A grid scoring form is used to perform the analysis The Findings and Analysis help us to probe the following questions: To what extent was the study helpful in understanding the participants view of the topic of examination? Identification and justification of apparent areas of understanding and lack of understanding Is a pattern of understanding evident? How does the analysis link with the notes made prior to completing grids on expected areas of degree of understanding? What is the meaning revealed by the participants choice of elements and constructs? Do the elements and constructs reveal a similar or different view of the topic of analysis chosen? What does the degree of the match imply? Was the study any more helpful when conversation elaboration was also used as an extended method? Is some analysis of new understandings reached during feedback conversation helpful for the process? What do the notes and quotes as revealed by the client suggest? The findings are given as follows: Degree of similarity Elements (Mostly worked together with these individuals) Close agreement on 4, 5, 6 – elements Less agreement on 9 – element (Mostly worked separately with these individuals) Little agreement on 1,2,3,7,8,10- elements with different negative personal experiences working with E7 and E8 on particular projects. Degree of similarity – Constructs Close agreement on 6 – constructs (professional conduct). Upon discussion, views were similar regarding the meaning of professional conduct and who could be trusted. Less agreement on 1,3,4,5,7,9 – constructs. Upon discussion, researcher and client shared similar/same definitions of each construct. Differences in definitions regarding Constructs Little agreement on 2,8,10 constructs. Upon discussion, our definitions were different, hence our measurement of each element came from a different understanding of constructs. The elements identified by Marie were individuals at the workplace and Marie revealed that she worked closely with elements 4, 5 and 6 although had less agreement with element or colleague 9. Marie revealed that she has worked separately and had negative personal experiences with colleagues identified as elements 1, 2, 3, 7, 8 and 10 although she said she was working on the same project with two of these negatively perceived colleagues 7 and 8. Mari suggested a close agreement with 6 on professional conduct and said that her views with 6 were similar regarding professional conduct, friendships and trust issues as to who in the office should or should not be trusted. Marie suggested that her constructs were either in contrast to or were not compatible with those of 1, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9 elements or colleagues identified. Marie and the researcher had some discussions on the nature and definition of particular perceptions and constructs and the general definition of these identified by th e researcher were similar to that of the subject. The subjects perceptions, feedback and opinions on the constructs were noted separately. Marie identified that two of the colleagues were friendly and amicable and compared with the other person who in contrast has been described as unfriendly and not easy to get along with. The Repertory Grid Scoring sheet is drawn as follows: Pairs similarities 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 empathy Work culture attitude friendliness knowledgeable Team orientedness Good style appearance leadership helpfulness The process of producing the Repertory Grid can be broken down into the following steps: Step One The participant Marie identifies ten colleagues whom she knows well. Among these ten colleagues Marie should go along well with at least two of them ideally. Step Two – Marie is given six pieces of card or paper on which she is asked to write the names of the people she has identified. These are the elements described. A number can also be added to the card/paper to signify description and added at the head of column on the scoring sheet. Alternatively, the name itself of the element identified can be entered on the scoring sheet as well. Step Three – Three cards are selected, for example 1, 2 and 3, and Marie is asked to identify some aspect related to these colleagues behaviour which makes two of the three people selected different from the third. The construct word or phrase is written in the top left side of the vertical columns. In the top right side of the vertical columns is written the description of the person one who is different from the other two. This process of obtaining constructs from the three people is continued until no further constructs or perceived characteristics could be elicited from the participant. Step Four – Once the constructs have been completely elicited and entered on the scoresheet, the cards are returned. Each element person is then given a score on a scale of 1 to 5. A score of 1 or 2 is allocated to those who are suited to the description in the left-hand column, the column with the description of the pair. Scores of 5 or 4 are allocated to those who match with the description in the right-hand column, the description of the odd person out Step Five – A different set of three cards is then selected, cards 4, 5 and 6 and the process in steps 3 and 4 is repeated, ensuring that the description of pairs is recorded in the left-hand column and a score of 1 or 2 relates to the pairs similarity and score points of 4 and 5 relate to the description of the single person. A score of 3 is average score. A score of at least one 1 and one 5 is helpful when allocated usually from the set of three people for whom the constructs are being elicited. Step Six – Step five is repeated and the various combinations of the elements are aimed to be covered until the participants run out of perceived characteristics or constructs that could be entered on the card. After the grid consideration, the grid scoring sheet is used to record the views of the participant for each element against each construct which has been offered. The data collected is then subject to analysis. A manual analysis can generate and extract considerable information from the grid and all the constructs are related to the personal characteristics of each work colleague considered in the study by Marie. Step Seven – In this case study we consider the behavioural aspects of work colleagues of Marie which is related to their overall friendliness, therefore at the end of the grid Marie is asked to rate the elements in a single, given construct over a scale of friendly to unfriendly. The scoring for friendliness is then compared with other individual aspects to highlight differences and to provide indicators for friendliness. Step Eight – The scores for each construct are obtained by marking the difference for each element against the general friendliness figure. Step Nine – In this phase, we analyse the various constructs on the basis that if the score is low the aspect measured is significant in the ranking for friendliness It is the duty of interviewer to remain without any bias and to refrain from giving any suggestion to the participant on what constructs should be drawn. Forming the constructs is entirely dependent on the participant and the researcher has no role in its formation. They must be according to the thoughts and perceptions of the individual who is being interviewed in this case, Marie although the constructs must be clear, meaningful. Here the analyst has helped her in one or two cases when she couldnt describe the construct and sought help of the analyst to come out with the right word. After the constructs are listed against the elements, the grid results are scored and are ready to be used for analysis. From the example used in this study -the aspects which go towards the behavioural skills of colleague at work, are identified as follows: Has empathy with other colleagues Has a proper work culture and attitude Has an ethical sense Is friendly and amicable Is knowledgeable and professional Always has a good style and appearance Is a team oriented person Is a leader in the group Comes out with fresh new ideas Is helpful and cooperative Discussion In this study we selected Marie Oliver, a 35 year old colleague who was suffering from some initial maladjustment in the workplace. Marie was asked to participate in the Repertory Grid Interview process to identify the reasons of her problems, categorise them and come out with possible suggestions. The approach taken was qualitative analysis by using the Personal Constructs theory developed by Kelly and a final analysis using scoring sheet and identifying elements through the Repertory Grid Interview technique. Marie was asked to select characteristics and constructs of persons in her workplace. She identified the most desirable and friendly characteristics in her colleagues against the least desirable ones. The notes taken during conversation with Marie reveal that Marie felt she got along only with a few colleagues only three as mentioned. There were basic differences in professional ethic and conduct with at least two colleagues she was working in collaboration with. The behavioural skills Marie identified as important in defining her good relationship with the colleagues are empathic characteristics in others; any concept of an ideal colleague is also associated with being able to follow a proper work culture and having a proper attitude. Having an ethical sense, a sense of justice and being knowledgeable, professional with a good sense of humour are also identified as important characteristics in a proper friendly colleague. Marie indicated that being friendly, amicable and with good style and appearance has been noted in at least two of her colleagues and this is stark contrast to a third colleague she identified and with whom she doesnt seem to get along. If we consider Kellys perspective of constructive alternativism, it is possible to have alternative perceptions as our perceptions of the world depend completely on our personal constructs. Marie also identified leadership skills, helpfulness and cooperativeness, being able to come out with fresh ideas and following a proper work culture as important aspects of professional behaviour and gave high scores on these aspects to at least two of her colleagues. Overall, a Repertory Grid Interview on Marie showed that she has good and easygoing relations with two of her colleagues but doesnt seem to go well with many of them. The negative implications of the findings which suggest why Marie did not get along with most of her colleagues and seem to show anxiety and depression symptoms as well as dissatisfaction with her workplace were revealed in her perception of constructs on most of her colleagues. Marie suggested that some of her colleagues were low on cooperativeness and helpfulness, friendliness and proper professional attitude making the atmosphere competitive and hostile. The dynamics of Maries actual relations with her colleagues were thus revealed using this Grid interviewing procedure and Maries own perception of her work situation, perception of her situation and role in the office, and perception of her relations with her colleagues and her job were also revealed through this study. As Morrison (1991) used the repertory grid technique to understand nurses perception of care and their evaluation of caring attitudes in nursing, Maries perception of her work culture could easily reveal her ideal understanding of a workplace and what she sought in her colleagues. Her inner constructs, precepts and how she saw the world as an individual were revealed and so were her expectations in the future. Considering Maries perceptions, some psychological counselling to improve her working and professional relationships was recommended. Limitations: The methodological limitations and concerns of interview as a means of knowing peoples construct system were many, as noted by Kelly. These are: 1. Interview Bias – sometimes the interviewer and the school he belongs to whether behaviourist or psychoanalytic could determine the way the session goes and this undermines the objectivity and validity of the study 2. Dependence on the interviewer – the role of the therapist should be minimal and the therapist should just be a tool to facilitate self perception according to Kelly. Most individuals have the capacity to understand his or her problems and any overdependence on the researcher should be avoided. 3. There may be problems with measuring and predicting individual or group characteristics. Although psychology seeks to understand laws of human behaviour, large scale studies showing correlations of different behaviour may not be helpful for study of personal constructs which is based on the understanding of individuals or a small group of people. These methodological limitations have been kept in mind while conducting the interview and interviewer bias and any dependence on the interviewer has been kept to a minimum. Interviewer intervention has also been minimal. Conclusion: In this discussion, we set out with an overview of the Personal Constructs Theory proposed by Kelly (1955). We discussed the different tenets of the constructs theory, the inconsistency of personal constructs and how constructs tend to vary in different people or in same people in different situations. Thus situational factors seem important in constructs and perceptions on other people. Individual constructs form the construct systems and Kelly established the grid method to determine the different elements in a social situation that can be considered as responsible for an individuals disturbed social relationships. In our study of Marie Oliver, a 35 year old employee, her social relationships and possible disturbances were studied using the Repertory Grid Interview technique and her analysis of good and bad characteristics of ten of her colleagues were indicated on the card given to her. The scores were drawn up and according to the analysis the desirable characteristics that Marie perceived in some of her workmates and not in others, were found out. Maries behavioural problems and her unique relationships with her colleagues are then analysed suggesting whether Marie needed any further psychological help for her anxiety, depression and other work related maladjustments. Bibliography Kelly, George Alexander The psychology of personal constructs / George A. Kelly. London : Routledge in association with Centre for Personal Construct Psychology,London, 1991, c1955. Dalton, Peggy. A psychology for living : personal construct theory for professionals and clients / Peggy Dalton and Gavin Dunnett. Chichester : J. Wiley Sons, 1992. University of London. An application of personal construct theory (Kelly) to schizoid thinking. University of London, 1959. Fransella, Fay. George Kelly / Fay Fransella. London : Sage, 1995. Anderson, N. Personality assessment in the graduate milkround interview : A personal construct psychology perspective and study using repertory grid technique. Birmingham : University of Aston Management Centre, 1987. Fransella. F, Bannister. D. 1977. A Manual for Repertory grid technique. Academic Press. London. Bannister, P et al. (1994) Qualitative Methods in Psychology Buckingham: Open University Press. Bannister, D. (1985) (Ed) Issues and approaches in personal construct theory London: Academic Press, 1985 Stevens, R (1996) Understanding the Self London: Open University Sage. Kalekin-Fishman, Devorah. and Walker, Beverley. (1996) The Construction of Group Realities: culture, society and personal construct theory. Malabar: Krieger. Bannister, D. Mair, J. (1968) The Evaluation of Personal Constructs London: Academic Press Smith JA, Harre R, Van Langenhove (1995) Rethinking Methods in Psychology London: Sage. Jack Adams-Webber (Editor) (1983) Applications of Personal Construct Theory Academic Press. The emergence of new intentions in subjective experience: A social/personal constructionist and relational understanding Journal of Vocational Behavior, Volume 64, Issue 3, June 2004, Pages 485-498 Mary Sue Richardson Per