Pericles Funeral Oration Plato, Augustine, More, And...

The foundations of the views in the world, I believe, came from the ideas of Thucydides, Plato, Augustine, More, and Machiavelli. Their ideals set the foundations for todays society. The ideas of giving all to the state, gender inclusiveness, equal suffering among the good and the wicked, an unattainable city, and how one should gain power altered the world for the better. Thucydides â€Å"Pericles Funeral Oration† is a speech given by Pericles that mainly sanitizes death. Pericles tells the Roman people that their beloved who were soldiers died for the state honorably and that they should not mourn. Pericles goes on a monologue about how the state is amazing, they should be willing to die, and that they should not mourn the dead. Pericles†¦show more content†¦Augustine’s â€Å"City of God† states, â€Å"the identity of their sufferings does not mean that there is no difference between them† (592), this does not mean that the good and wicked are equal in terms of morality. God is not using this suffering in the same way for both offenders. Augustine says that suffering endured by Christians is to test them. Suffering endured by the wicked is to punish them for their ways. If someone is supposedly good, then why would God allow them to suffer? This is important because in this modern day we want to see all suffering as something that we should avoid at all costs and is seemingly purposeless. In the modern world, we strive to reach our own â€Å"Utopia†, but this is just an unattainable ideal. Thomas More’s â€Å"Utopia† is the pinnacle world where you are equal by choice, or by force. This ideal society is extremely communal were nobody has want and nothing is closed off to any body. The people in Utopia criticize and ridicule those of contemporary society, they mock their rulers who were gems and fancy clothing to show their high rankings. The Utopians theological statement regarding sins that underlie these problems, namely greed and pride- sins against the social order. Modern day needs more equality among diversities, the segregations and prejudices we live with sour the world and make it prone to violent outbreaks. Machiavelli’s â€Å"The Prince† is a perfect representation of the real world of politics/government where there is no

Ap European History Reading Questions-Chapter 15 Free Essays

1. The upmost important reason for economic and social problems that troubled Europe from 1560 to 1650 was an incredible inflation among other things. The Spanish empire brought tons of gold back to Europe and caused the value of gold to plummet. We will write a custom essay sample on Ap European History Reading Questions-Chapter 15 or any similar topic only for you Order Now Since this was a situation that Europe had never experienced, they didn’t understand it. More gold was supposed to be good, right? Suddenly prices started to rise for no reason. Also in Spain, unlike gold, there was very little silver being produced at the time and therefore pirate attacks began to take place. Other problems facing Europe during this time include, population decline, plague, economic warfare, and famine. As a result of all these problems, social tension was greatly increased, all involved with a â€Å"crisis† at hand. 2. Although initially caused by religious issues, by the mid 1630s the Thirty Years War had become a dynastic conflict between two Catholic powers; France and the Hapsburgs. As the Battle of the Boyne and the Jacobite risings the ’15 and the ’45 in Scotland were directly linked to religious ideas that the TYW was the last religious war in Europe are therefore mistaken. Really, a more accurate name for the Thirty Years’ War would be, ‘The first modern war’ would be more accurate. New tactics, deployments, equipment and methods were introduced in European armies which were widely adopted within a decade by almost all armies and all further developed over the next few decades. 3. The Military Revolution refers to a radical change in military strategy and tactics with resulting major changes in government. The concept was introduced by Michael Roberts in the 1950s as he focused on Sweden 1560–1660 searching for major changes in the European way of war caused by introduction of portable firearms. Roberts linked military technology with larger historical consequences, arguing that innovations in tactics, drill and doctrine by the Dutch and Swedes 1560–1660, which maximized the utility of firearms, led to a need for more trained troops and thus for permanent forces. These changes in turn had major political consequences in the level of administrative support and the supply of money, men and provisions, producing new financial demands and the creation of new governmental institutions. Thus, argued Roberts, the modern art of war made possible — and necessary — the creation of the modern state. † 4. Women were viewed as being spiritually weaker than men, and more susceptible to demonic influence, and this meant that women tended to be suspected of being witches much more often than men. However, this was not a consistent pattern found throughout Europe. In some regions, there were more men convicted of witchcraft than women, in the Lorraine region of Fra nce for example, and in Iceland, where the overwhelming majority of convictions were of men. Overall though, about 75% of those executed for witchcraft were women. So ultimately what this suggests about women in the 16th and 17th centuries is that women were not nearly as important as men in society during this time. 5. Absolutism pertains to an absolutist state, where all power, or sovereignty is made in the ruler. These rulers claimed to have divine right, meaning they ruled by the grace of God and were responsible only to God. However, these absolute monarchs respected the basic laws of the land. They controlled interest groups within their territories and created bureaucracies as well, in which the offices held public/state positions, directing the economy to the benefit of the king. Absolute monarchs also kept permanent standing armies and created new methods of compulsion. Louis XIV of France was an aggressive expansionist. He followed in the footsteps of Cardinal Richelieu in that aspect. His foreign policies were mainly against the Habsburg dynasty’s power and the ownership of French-speaking territories by nations other than France. Hence, his foreign policies included many wars. He took over the Spanish Netherlands and some of the United Provinces of Holland, and Franche-Comte. However, his aggressive advances caused alliances to be formed against him which included the Habsburg domains of Spain and the Holy Roman Empire, England, and Holland in all of their incarnations. Eventually, Louis XIV could not defeat the alliances, and some acquired territories were lost again in treaties, even French colonies. 6. The reign of Peter the Great marked the emergence of a decisive Russian influence in European affairs, an influence that would last into the twenty-first century. It was Peter who inaugurated modern Russia’s vigorous and aggressive foreign policy against its three neighboring states, Sweden, Poland, and the Ottoman Empire. Through the Great Northern War (1700-1721), he decisively broke Sweden’s supremacy in the Baltic, while his wars against the Ottoman Turks and his interference in the internal affairs of Poland set precedents that later Russian rulers would follow in subsequent decades. These great strides made by Russia in Eastern Europe were to a considerable extent the result of Peter’s extensive program of reforms, which touched all facets of Russian life. 7. Although it may sound strange, it was Napoleon who was majorly responsible for the transformation of Brandenburg-Prussia. Napoleon invaded half of Europe and also the most German states. Only East Prussia remained free and became the leader in the â€Å"Befreiungskrieg† (Freedom war) against France. It was this war against Napoleon 1812-1815 that created a common German national feeling. This transformation is still evident in modern society of Germany today. 8. In the later fifteenth century- the period of the ‘refoundation of the Crown’, in Sir John’s Fortescue’s phrase- there was a marked change in the structure of politics and hence in the nature and role of faction also; a politics of many centres became a politics of one. To begin with, in the feebly strange grasp of Henry IV the monarchy had descended into being one noble faction among many- and not necessarily the strongest. The fact became manifest from 1456 when the King abandoned the government of the kingdom: the court withdrew from London to Coventry in the heart of the Lancastrian lands, and the national revenues were diverted from the Exchequer and used directly- like the income of any other lord- to pay for the royal household and the royal retainers. Henry was now only effectively Duke of Lancaster and he was soon to loose that. 9. The main issue was a disagreement between the king and Parliament about who had ultimate political power. King Charles believed in Divine Right, the idea that he was king because God wanted him to be. Further, as the king’s power was God given, no earthly power or person could justly remove it from him. Parliament saw themselves as the elected representatives of the People and therefore believed they should have ultimate political authority, even over the king. Thus, when Charles needed money, Parliament would refuse to cooperate unless Charles addressed alleged abuses of his power first. This always led to political deadlock, and eventually to civil war. Puritans took control of Parliament’s war effort during the First English Civil War, and by 1646 and the end of the war extreme Puritans known as Independents had taken control of the military, The NMA. Using the NMA as his power base, Oliver Cromwell was able to intimidate Parliament into the execution of Charles I, The abolition of the Monarchy, and the establishment of the Commonwealth. The main change was that, on the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660, Parliament ensured that the King had a guaranteed annual income that was enough both to live off his own, and pay for the ordinary expenses of state and expenses. 10. The Dutch Republic, officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands, the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces, was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic, the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and ultimately the modern Kingdom of the Netherlands. Alternative names include the United Provinces Federated Dutch Provinces and Dutch Federation. 11. Art reflected the political and social life of the second half of the seventeenth century primarily through mannerism, which reflected environment attempt to break down renaissance principles. Baroque however, reflected search for power and just the will to control all people during that time. Then, literature reflected political and social life during this time through writing research on a new type of stage, known as the â€Å"golden stage of literature. † Literature was a major component of this time period also in that in was an era of many great dramas and playwrights such as the still-praised today, William Shakespeare. 12. Forms of monarchy differ widely based on the level of legal autonomy the monarch holds in governance, the method of selection of the monarch, and any predetermined limits on the length of their tenure. When the monarch has no or few legal restraints in state and political matters, it is called an absolute monarchy and is a form of autocracy. Cases in which the monarch’s discretion is formally limited (most common today) are called constitutional monarchies. In hereditary monarchies, the office is passed through inheritance within a family group, whereas elective monarchies are selected by some system of voting. Historically these systems are most commonly combined, either formally or informally, in some manner. For instance, in some elected monarchies only those of certain pedigrees are considered eligible, whereas many hereditary monarchies have legal requirements regarding the religion, age, gender, mental capacity, and other factors that act both as de facto elections and to create situations of rival claimants whose legitimacy is subject to effective election. ) Finally, there are situations in which the expiration of a monarch’s reign is set based either on the c alendar or on the achievement of certain goals (repulse of invasion, for instance. ) How to cite Ap European History Reading Questions-Chapter 15, Essay examples

To Kill a Mockingbird Atticus Closing Argument free essay sample

Atticus: To being with, this case should never have come to trial. We are looking at an innocent man here, one whom the prosecution has not conjured up enough evidence to make this man guilty. We must, as moral people, take ourselves out of our bodies, and place our minds into another man’s mind, a human being’s mind, one of Tom Robinson and imagine the trials and tribulations he must face as an innocent man. Would you be able to do it? Put away an innocent man. Is it the color of his skin that makes him guilty to you, or his actions that make him innocent to me? We are all one, and we cannot look at a black man as immoral when he is one of us. Imagine yourself as the minority and what emotions you would be facing on a daily basis if you were in the shoes of Tom Robinson. We will write a custom essay sample on To Kill a Mockingbird Atticus Closing Argument or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Would you be able to live with yourself knowing that you are putting away an innocent man? Can you even play with the idea that possibly he did not do this crime you are charging him with? Try to take yourself out of what you have been spoon fed to know, and use your own minds and hearts to look within yourselves to put away your stereotypes and try to see that the man you are facing is innocent. The more we hate, the less love we know. The more we violate, the less peace we will see, and the more we turn our backs on what is right, the more wrong we will do. If a woman came on to you, and tempted you, would you feel that your reaction to her seductive nature should be one that this man deserves? What makes this action so unspeakable? That a white woman wanted the attention of a black man? We would not be faced with this trial if Tom Robinson was a white man. And because she chose a black man for affection, we are standing here eliminating her offense, which is a human being. This to you, my fellow jurors, should stand out as morally incorrect. Look beyond our rigid and time-honored code of our society, and look beyond to the truth. Tom Robinson stands in a difficult place, facing all you white men in an upward battle. It is his word against the worlds. Now gentlemen, do what this country stands for, do what the manifest destiny of our founders were and let us lead by example rather than by hate. If you have any doubt within you, regarding Tom Robinson’s innocence, then look deeper within your hearts to follow your duty. This is not a piece of evidence that we can abolish and get rid of, this is our society, and a human being. We are all connected therefore we shouldn’t deteriorate one another by making a wrong decision.

Workgroup Learning Development Proposal †Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Workgroup Learning Development Proposal? Answer: Introducation The sudden change in the overall operational process both in context with technical and customer service department has caused severe problems. The first six months after the change took place were evident to encounter with increased number of calls, which resulted to become a matter of serious frustration and stress for the staffs (Kahn et al. 2017). A further instigation to this issue got raised when the staffs faced a sense of loss of colleagues as well as their overseas counterparts. The old structure being changed for the company has added to the overload of work as restructuring and expansion are conducted. Proposal objective The relocation of the Red Telecom organisation encompasses Customer Resolution Department for the Australian call centre. The formation of the team for the conduct of working along with a multi-skilling labor is encouraged with the inflow of an updated team leader role. Background information Red Telecom organisation is a telecommunication carrier based in Australia. They served data, internet, fiber optic internet; web hosting and home phone product through high-speed broadband service is caters for both business as well as residential purpose. it is only in the recent times that Red Telecom Australia underwent a major restructuring procedure both in the sphere of technological and customer service. The changes were taken place in context with customer call operations (Lehmann et al. 2017). Before provision of adequate training and learning development process a mere outsourcing call center was to be relied upon to attain support from overseas to handle the excess enquiries. The after hour services for Australian customers the same assistance was necessary. It is hence considered as a prospective measure to incorporate appropriate learning and development of the definite field to suffice servicing aids to generate the operations for the respective organisation. However, the need for cultural training along with technical training is essential to make the operation within call centers of overseas locations connected from Australia. Organizational objectives Red Telecom Organisation is known to follow their management decision regarding the formulation of the firms objectives. As suggested by the managements rationale such changes are necessary to be brought into practice for inducing a facilitating environment for the organisation. It shall not only contribute in enhancing the support and empowerment but also lead to innovative solutions for the Australian customers (Horn et al. 2017). The changes were therefore identified as extremely necessary to impact upon the company by transforming the perceptions of Reds service quality. As the required amount of proficiency was lacking among the employees an elaborate session of training the necessary aspects were to be given. Analysis on the basis of the observation and case study On the basis of the present case study an analysis can be drawn that training is necessary through various aspects to enhance the learning and development process among the staffs of Red Telecom Organisation (Kahn et al. 2017). After the analysis it can be suitably found that obtaining feedbacks against the work that the staffs perform help them to understand the areas they need to work in. the team leaders pose their valuable opinions regarding their working outputs which not only enable in identification of their faults but also inhibits the tendency to repeat such practice on different occasions. In order to convince the upper level senior management team with the upgraded performance level, the team leaders responsibilities are enhanced through incorporation of skilled efforts (Horn and Kane, 2015). They are required to take an account of members working under them. Self-reporting surveys are needed to be conducted by such team leaders. Gap/impact on client and/or organisation The role of team leader is given utmost relevance in upgrading the performance level through learning and development progress among all the staffs of the Red Telecom organisation. The employee behavior and the work efforts are critically analysed by the team leaders. Each of the employees tend to make faults or have their own incidents of excellence, those are critically scrutinized or encouraged respectively by the team leader (Lehmann et al. 2017). In order to identify and understand the gap in the skills of the staff members which are resulting in failure to achieve the customer demands are assessed. The customer complaint nature is tried to be configured to be able to evaluate the training process accordingly. The staffs are required to train in such a manner that they become equipped to address the customer querie Individual intervention The Team Leader is attributed to perform the pivotal role for the particular said organisation (Li et al. 2015). Red Telecom organisation is primarily concerned with the Technological aspects although invests most of their resources towards the Customer Resolution Department. In context with the roles of the staff members it was found out by the team leaders that they were incapable to fulfill the customer requirements through skilled efforts. The employees lacked in required skills to deal with changes taking place in the internal strategic configuration. The employees due to failure to achieve the resolution point regarding customer services used to pass on the complaints to higher authorities. These incidences are evident to result in workplace tension striking with the overseas colleagues regarding matters concerning customer services (Seidel Horn and Kane, 2015). Therefore it is necessary on the part of the Team Leader to generate appropriate and a friendly communication process within the workplace to facilitate the performance. Description and analysis of the performance issues/knowledge In order to address the gaps identified by the Team Leader in the Red Telecom organisation some of the extremely necessary steps are required to be taken as prerequisite. The training course acts as a potential means to build an adequate team which comprises efficient staff members. The diverse theoretical concepts tend to implicate upon the learning and development processes to generate productivity among the employees (Morey et al. 2015). The behaviorism theory indicates of the fact that any unwanted practice can be avoided and controlled by following a certain regime. The Red Telecom organisation also adheres to implementing such a procedure upon their employees. Behaviorism believes in the fact that on repeatition of the same habits the habit gets automatically strengthened which helps to remove the undesired practices. On achieving such habits bonus points in terms of incentives are extended towards the employee to reinforce their behavior with positive attitude. Verbal reinforcements are utilized by the Team Leaders to generate effective and proficient skilled activities by the organizational staffs (Goldman et al. 2014). The deficit that lies with this theoretical approach states that the learners are not prepared for problem solving and creative thinking . The Constructivism theory is one which is regarded as a better and more appropriate approach to gain greater acceptance among organizational scenario (Ens et al. 2017). The individual intervention on the part of each of employees is involved in this process. This is one such approach where case studies are of great benefit. The similar scenario that has been successfully encountered and managed are referred to by the staffs of the organisation. This helps resolve real life events in the most practical manner. Constructivism is that approach where learning and development is generated among the needed employees by assessing their problem areas. Rigorous brainstorming is done by the Team Leaders as well as the employees to bring in the necessary changes and managed with the changed surroundings. It is brought in by the diverting skilled labor and effective communication process (Grason et al. 2015). A collaborative learning measure is what mostly intended keeping relevance with the pre sent scenario is. Group work and collaborative development and learning methods are appropriately practiced to facilitate appropriate behavior using Constructivism theory. Reference list Ens, A., Janzen, K. and Palmert, M.R., 2017. Development of an Online Learning Module to Improve Pediatric Residents' Confidence and Knowledge of the Pubertal Examination.Journal of Adolescent Health,60(3), pp.292-298. Goldman, E., Wesner, M., M. Plack, M., N. Manikoth, N. and Haywood, Y., 2014. Secondhand learning from graduates of leadership development programs.Journal of Workplace Learning,26(8), pp.511-528. Grason, H., Huebner, C., Crawford, A.K., Ruderman, M., Taylor, C.R., Kavanagh, L., Farel, A., Wightkin, J., Long-White, D., Ramirez, S.M. and Preskitt, J., 2015. The MCH Navigator: Tools for MCH Workforce Development and Lifelong Learning.Maternal and child health journal,19(2), pp.324-334. Horn, I.S. and Kane, B.D., 2015. Opportunities for professional learning in mathematics teacher workgroup conversations: Relationships to instructional expertise.Journal of the Learning Sciences,24(3), pp.373-418. Horn, I.S., Garner, B., Kane, B.D. and Brasel, J., 2017. A Taxonomy of Instructional Learning Opportunities in Teachers Workgroup Conversations.Journal of Teacher Education,68(1), pp.41-54. Kahn, R.S., Iyer, S.B. and Kotagal, U.R., 2017. Development of a Child Health Learning Network to Improve Population Health Outcomes.Academic Pediatrics. Lehmann, S.W., Brooks, W.B., Popeo, D., Wilkins, K.M. and Blazek, M.C., 2017. Development of Geriatric Mental Health Learning Objectives for Medical Students: a Response to the Institute of Medicine 2012 Report.The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. Li, S.T.T., Paterniti, D.A., Tancredi, D.J., Burke, A.E., Trimm, R.F., Guillot, A., Guralnick, S. and Mahan, J.D., 2015. Resident self-assessment and learning goal development: evaluation of resident-reported competence and future goals.Academic pediatrics,15(4), pp.367-373. Morey, R.A., Dunsmoor, J.E., Haswell, C.C., Brown, V.M., Vora, A., Weiner, J., Stjepanovic, D., Wagner III, H.R., Workgroup, V.M.A.M. and LaBar, K.S., 2015. Fear learning circuitry is biased toward generalization of fear associations in posttraumatic stress disorder.Translational psychiatry,5(12), p.e700. Seidel Horn, I. and Kane, B.D., 2015. Opportunities for Professional Learning in Mathematics Teacher Workgroup Conversations: Relationships to Instructional Expertise.

How To Use Advantage And Disadvantage Essay Samples

How To Use Advantage And Disadvantage Essay SamplesSome advantage and disadvantage essay samples do a great job of testing students' comprehension of basic concepts. However, those that test students' writing skills and composition skills often miss the point. As a writer, you should be able to use these essay samples to make learning easier for yourself.Disadvantages are most often chosen by students in college classes or tests, because they lack confidence. It can take a while to get comfortable with what you are doing, especially when it is new to you. Not only will you make mistakes, but also, you will make negative comments about your fellow students. If you have too much confidence, this could be a huge drawback.One of the biggest advantages to writing an essay is that you are learning all at once. Although it might be very hard to write in a group, writing an essay is going to teach you a lot. So if you are hesitant about putting down the pen and paper, a few practice essays w ould be a great way to get used to the writing part.Advantages are much harder to come by in a classroom. If you do not have a huge amount of confidence, it can be hard to practice what you learned. You need to show confidence to your peers in order to break through your weaknesses.One disadvantage to writing an essay is that most students are going to expect your writing to sound like what they have already heard before. This can turn your writing into a copy of the stuff they read in a class. This is going to put you at a disadvantage in the end. Writing should stand out and be different from other writing.Essays can be written in many different styles. Each student has their own personal style that is different from all the others.Advantage and disadvantage essay samples can do a great job for students, but they can sometimes be a little bit misleading. If you do not feel comfortable with the essay that you have, give a few more practice essays until you are comfortable with it.

Paul Harvey - So God Made A Farmer FFA Speech free essay sample

Assumptions in Quantitative Research Essays

Assumptions in Quantitative Research Essays Assumptions in Quantitative Research Paper Assumptions in Quantitative Research Paper Post-positivism allows researchers to examine realities through a variety of measurement tools; thus accessing realities which could elude measurement by direct observation (Giddings Grant, 2007; Schumacher Greener, 1992). Regardless of whether the researcher adopts a positivist or post-positivist philosophy, the description of the paradigms begin with assumptions about the researchers role and relationship to the setting, and by identifying the epistemological and validity assumptions underlying the choice of the role and relationship. The conviction that there is a reality existing outside of the researcher, hat this reality can be observed (ontology), and that knowledge of this reality can be measured objectively (epistemology) are foundational assumptions in quantitative research (Hathaway, 1995). Thus the objects of interest are measured by instruments (e. G. , telescope), the data is examined and analyzed to determine if logical patterns are present, and rational theories are constructed to explain and predict a variety of facts (Hathaway, 1995). Ontologically the researcher assumes that the external reality is comprised of facts that are law-like and provide structure or a theoretical framework to this reality. Physics provides an example of this approach. Methodological and Ontological  Assumptions Empirical-analytical inquiry is characterized by the researchers detached or objective view from the setting under study. This objectivity or detachment is, in part, due to the assumption that the object under study is separate from or independent of the researcher (Eisner, 1981; Smith, AAA; Smith, Bibb). In the empirical analytical view, researchers adhere to the mind-reality duality and the mind is seen as separate from reality (Hathaway, 1995). Another way of considering objectivity is that of being hurry neutral (Schumacher Greener, 1992). This is an extreme view and within the contemporary empirical analytical view, researchers would claim that most inquiry is theory laden (Smith, Bibb). However, with objectivity as the goal, the researcher strives to prevent biases throughout the research process and attempts to control the research design for validity, credibility, and reliability (Burns Grove, 1997). While it is impossible to achieve complete objectivity, cultivating an awareness of potential threats and taking measures to decrease threats whenever possible serves to strengthen the research project. It is important to underscore the intertwined nature of the assumption about objectivity and the assumption that a reality exists outside of the observer. The observer, or researcher, assumes that reality exists outside of the human experience (Carroty, 1998; Polite-OHara et al. , 1991). In other words, there are facts with an objective reality separate from the beliefs of the researcher therefore reality exists regardless of the researchers presence (Firestone, 1987). In a contemporary perspective, reality holds a mediated position between the objective and subjective worlds. Reality affects human beings and unman beings effect reality (Schumacher Greener, 1992). Thus unobservable realities exist and can be represented in theoretical concepts. This line of thinking extends teen assumption AT realty Deanna Tanat wanly can De crossover only Dye slung the senses. An example of an unobservable reality would be a belief that depression is a reality. Depression is not an object that we can observe. Rather we can observe phenomena such as actions, behaviors, and consequences that may be associated with depression. Given this phenomenon, theoretical Judgments are made about what constitutes a theoretical reality of depression. The theoretical construct enables the researcher to design a research project on the subject of depression. Linked to the assumption about reality is the assumption that reality consists of facts or truths that can be known (Hathaway, 1995) and these facts provide the researcher with a theoretical framework to help guide the inquiry (Firestone, 1987). The researcher aims to precisely and define categories based on these facts before the study begins and then determines the relationships between them (Firestone, 1987; Smith, Bibb). Hypotheses establishing a relationship between cause and effect are rived from these categories and only the data that is relevant to them are collected and tested. An extreme critique may be that reality is being actively structured by the researchers prosecuted categories and that this methodology is unduly controlled regarding what is relevant to the study. The assumption underlying this point is the deterministic or linear nature of hypothesis testing. Control is inherent in this method of inquiry which is another underlying assumption of quantitative research. Researchers using a more moderate approach within the post positivist paradigm recognize that research is a human endeavor. They derive their a priori categories from personal beliefs or experience, from theoretical formulation, or from their own or others interpretive research (Hathaway, 1995). Because reality is considered to be relatively stable and researchers are able to observe it, a further assumption is that of objective measurement (Polite-OHara et al. , 1991). The purpose of objective measurement is to gain an understanding about the reality of a phenomenon in an objective manner (Giddings Grant, 2007). Thus, in the act of documenting and measuring, the researcher, in the role of a detached onlooker, reserves objectivity (Hathaway, 1995). In other words, it is essential that the measurement tool(s) and process are objective to gain closer proximity to true knowledge of the phenomenon. Measurement is an important assumption in quantitative research and measurement tools, if properly designed and applied, can lead the researcher to greater understanding about the phenomenon. Measurement is the process of assigning numbers to the phenomenon using some type of rule (Burns Grove, 1997). Before assigning numbers there is an assumption that the measurement tool(s) will be accurate in measuring the phenomenon. For example, if a researcher wants to measure pain, a measurement tool such as a pain scale could be used. Alternatively, the researcher could choose to measure opinions about various pain treatments. In order to measure the opinions, the researcher would assign numbers to the most likely responses observed. In constructing the pain treatment opinion tool(s), it is essential that the measurement tool(s) have an appropriate correspondence to the reality of pain treatment opinions (Polite-OHara et al. , 1991). Thus to accurately measure a phenomenon, the measurement tool(s) must be based on a reality and be as objective as possible. The assumptions of reality, objectivity and measurement are interrelated and integral to the ontology and methodology AT quant I t tattle research. I nose assumptions are essential components in the design of quantitative research projects. An example is if the researcher seeks to understand philosophies of childhood, their assumptions about reality, objectivity, and measurement related to this philosophy are embedded in the designing the research project. There is an assumption that a reality about philosophies of childhood exist. Additionally, there are assumptions that philosophies of childhood can be measured and done so objectively. The researcher would consider how to objectively measure philosophies of childhood when developing the research design. If there were no existing tool(s) to measure the reality of philosophies of childhood, it would be necessary to develop a measurement tool(s) which could accurately measure the phenomenon. In developing the tool, the researcher would make objective theoretical Judgments about what variables (e. G. , psychological, biological, etc. ) would signify this phenomenon. In sum, assumptions that the reality (philosophies of childhood) exists, that such realities are measurable, and that the assortment and process of inquiry are as objective as possible are hallmarks in the quantitative approach to research. Epistemological Assumptions Knowledge within the empirical analytical paradigm has utility if it is generalized. The aim of inquiry is to generalize from the particular and apply a theoretical framework that can be applied universally (Hathaway, 1995). Therefore the aim of generalization is served by the development of universal knowledge. A broad example is research on the efficacy of pain medications. Control and experimental groups are observed to determine the effects of a specific drug. If there is justification to believe it alleviates pain the medication is made available for treating the population at large through a regulated process. Knowledge is also defined by what researchers call data and the selection of meaning. The researcher conducting empirical analytical inquiry makes decisions that will reveal what is generally applicable to all similar situations (Firestone, 1987; Smith, AAA; Smith, Bibb). Taking a critical stance, Habeas (1971) claimed that such inquiry implies a dissociation of knowledge from human interest (Habeas, 2005) and questions the it with individual contexts, values, and preferences. Caution must be taken when considering that the context of discovery may be quite different than the context of practice. Separating the universal from the particular is accomplished through several processes (e. G. , instrumentation and precision) and methodological assumptions (e. G. , measurement techniques) (Hathaway, 1995). The researcher, independent of specific situations under study, determines a set of hypothesized categories based on a priori knowledge and conducts a controlled inquiry to give meaning to phenomena that have significance at a generalized level. Data are considered factual or context-free when they have the same meaning across situations and settings (Hathaway, 1995). Conclusion The decisions researchers make concerning research methods have a direct impact on how they make meaning of their world. By adopting quantitative research, reality is structured and understood in a particular way. In some ways, the choice of quantitative approaches creates the reality we are attempting to discover. By making a choice to conduct quantitative inquiry, we choose our paradigm or assumptions auto teen world (Leaner, BIBB; Hathaway, 1 Assumptions Tanat a realty exalts operate from the researcher, that such realities are measurable, and that the measurement and process of inquiry are as objective as possible are hallmarks of quantitative research. References Lender, J. S. (1986). Educational research: A personal and social process.