The Age Of Criminal Responsibility - 1682 Words

Introduction The purpose of this report is to understand the age of criminal responsibility in both England and Singapore. The report will include a comparative study on both countries, whilst evaluating the impact each criminal system has on the child. The main focus will be upon the key policies and legal frameworks emplace to support the imprisonment and punishment of children and young people. The definition for the age of criminal responsibility is disputed worldwide, however according to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children criminal responsibility is defined as when a child is considered capable of committing a crime and old enough to stand trial and be convicted of a criminal offence (NSPCC, 2015). In†¦show more content†¦This was then lowered to 7 by the fifteenth century, however, re-rose to the age of 8 under orders of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933. Finally in 1963 the age was returned to 10. Contrastingly, a ‘juvenile’ in Singapore is defined in legislation as ‘a male or female person who is 7 years of age or above and below the age of 16 years’ (Children and Young Persons Act: section 2), although this criminality age never existed until 1933. Though numerous adjustments to the criminal system were made. Although a Report of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the UN (2008) defines that al l countries are encouraged to raise their minimum age of criminal responsibility to12 years of age, as this is seen as the absolute minimum age. Countries who currently have the recommended criminal age are urged to continue to increase it to a higher age level. Effects on child It is understood that facing the justice system at such a young age in both England and Singapore can have a long term impact on the child. In England it is recorded that approximately from 2013/14 there were 33,902 young people under the age of 17, sentenced in England and Wales (Youth Justice Board / Ministry of Justice Statistics bulletin, 2015). In Singapore this figure is considerably lower, it is understood that in 2014 there were 3,094 juveniles arrested, however the youth arrests

Jfk And Khrushchev s Impact On The World War II - 1293 Words

Thirteen days in October of 1962 were a few to remember. They were the days in which World War Three almost started and it was a time in which America was being threatened. It was a day that all people would remember as the closest we ever came to a nuclear war. To many Americans this was very frightening; we have all heard what nuclear weapons can do. No one wants to feel the effects of these nuclear weapons. But you may ask, what caused the crisis and why did it not end in World War III? Who and/or what were the most important actors, structures and institutions involved? And most importantly, which characteristics of those actors, structures and institutions provide the strongest, clearest and most efficient explanations for the†¦show more content†¦In the end, Khrushchev decided to give up and disarm. This was a relief for America, there wasn t going to be a war. This was a point in history where it almost felt like the world stop turning, as if it was at a stand still. Forty-one years later, it seems as if this situation with Saddam is the exact same as the Cuban Missile Crisis. Maybe we can learn from it, maybe we can t. During these 13 days, America had to come up with a gameplan in order to protect their people in the safest manner. President John F. Kennedy created the Ex Comm or Executive Committee. The Ex Comm was a group of advisors that were gathered by President Kennedy in order to deal with this crisis. Members of the ExComm included some notable people such as Ted Sorensen (personal advisor and speechwriter for JFK), the attorney general, and the brother of JFK, Robert F. Kennedy. Their first task was to clearly identify the problem in which they used U-2 spy planes to circle the expected location of the missiles . They then came up with a goal; to remove the missiles from Cuba. Afterwards, they came up with alternatives such as bombing Cuba, if their goal wasn’t met. The attorney general found this to be the best thing to do mainly because he thought in the Constructivist perspective. In essence, he wanted to blow Cuba off the face of the earth not thinking even the slightest bit that that action would cause a nuclear war. However, President Kennedy thought otherwise; he had a more realist

Evolution of Health Care Information Systems - 1196 Words

Evolution of Health Care Information Systems Health Information Systems HCS/533 April 21, 2013 Evolution of Health Care Information Systems The evolution of the health care information systems (HCIS) since 20 years ago had a profound impact in how health care is deliver today. In the mid-60’s health care information system began its history with President Lyndon Johnson signing of the law that provides medical coverage to the poor, the elderly, and the people with long-term disabilities through Medicare and Medicaid programs. This revolution brought along the Computer system technology to speed the billing and reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid. The health care system notice the necessity to improve the billing process†¦show more content†¦Similar to any other industries, the nature of healthcare industry has changed over time from a relatively stable industry to a dynamic one. And health information systems have evolved through several different technologies† (Almunawar amp; Anshari, 2011, p. 1) 20 years ago these technologies did not exist in many hospitals and organizations including the Veteran Hospital Administration for that reason many hospital suffered multiple medical errors, loss of documentations, time consuming for providers and staff at the time of updating patient’s document records, more workload, unable to make reports, the collecting of data was poor, and decreasing hospital revenues. The majority of health care documents 20 years ago including the Veteran Hospital Administration were hand-written with carbon copy to be store or send to pharmacy for prescriptions. In the Mid 60’s the Veteran Hospital Administration was using paper based documentation and medication cards making the billing process difficult and increasing the workload. In the past the roles of computers in the health care industry was marginal, and normally use just for administrative and human resources purposes. Two major events that influenced current health care information systems was the implementation of the health information technology (HIT) and electronicShow MoreRelatedEssay on Evolution of Health Care Information Systems1299 Words   |  6 PagesEvolution of Health Care Information Systems Dimetria Major HCS/533 March 29, 2013 Suzie Mays Evolution of Health Care Information System Health care has come a long way in technology for the past, implementing new technology has made the health care industry grow in size. Major events of health care have paved the way for future technologies influence the physicians, administrators, clinicians, andRead MoreCurrent Historical Trends Involving The Evolution Of Health Information System And Respective Health Care Environments1112 Words   |  5 Pagesseveral decades, health care and information technology have undergone a period of dramatic change caused by a multitude of pressures and opportunities, many of which continue to persist and evolve. As we have moved into globalization of communication, technology, and information, Health Information Systems need to reflect what is happening to ensure optimal use of clinical information. In 2-3 (full) pages, discuss key historical trends involving the evolution of Health Information System and respectiveRead MoreAnnotated Bibliography : Robotic Surgical Training808 Words   |  4 Pageswould be in real surgeries. Conklin, T. P. (2002, Fall). Health Care in the United States: An Evolving System. Michigan Family Review, 07(), 5-17. Retrieved from http://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/mfr/4919087.0007.102/--health-care-in-the-united-states-an-evolving-system?rgn=main;view=fulltext This periodical is good because it breaks the information down into areas of discussion. The areas are What are the Factors Driving the Change?, How Has Health Care Delivery Changed?, How are the Changes Impacting FamiliesRead MoreThe Evolution Of Health Information Systems885 Words   |  4 PagesHealth information systems are continuously evolving as both technology and information grow. Information, and information exchange are crucial aspects of health care delivery. To ensure quality of delivery, health care organizations must have access to tools and technology for the continuous growth of information, and knowledge. Historical trends that impact the evolution of health information will be discussed. 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Christians Concerns for Social Justice issues Essay Example For Students

Christians Concerns for Social Justice issues Essay Since the beginning of time people have been concerned with social justice issues. Social justice is helping people using Gods love as a tool to do it. St. Catherine of Siena, and the prophet Isaiah, were two people who knew what social justice really meant and they were concerned with it. Also the Lutheran church is very concerned with different types of social justice issues. Through these three sources we are able to see the different types of social justice issues that arose in their times and through exploring them we will find out that they are not unlike the ones that exist today. Also we will find out that even though not all three of the sources are Christian they all act like the Christian church teaches us to in order to tackle social justice issues Catherine of Siena grew up in Italy during the fourteenth century. Many things were happening at this time in the world, people had a lot of the same concerns about the future as we do today. The fourteenth century was a time of many wars, of famine, and of many sicknesses including the bubonic plague. Also church at this time was full of people who were losing faith, and it was spiting into two parts. They also had many of the same problems as we have today such as poverty, problems between ethnic groups, hunger, oppression, and homelessness. There was also corruption among the powerful just like today. This is why study Catherine of Siena because many of her concerns for the state of society and social justice issues are not unlike ours today. One concern that Catherine has for society is she feels that self-centered love may destroy us and we must rid ourselves of it You understand, therefore, dearest brothers and lords, how self-centered love destroys the city of soul, and also destroys and overturns our earthly cities(Catherine 40). Catherine feels that there is a lot of selfishness in the world today and we must stop it before it destroys us. She also feels that selfishness will destroy our souls. It is like the devil working with in us. She also says that if something is not done soon about the selfishness in the world it will not only destroy our souls but also our cities. For instance, a selfish king will try to rule the world, and by trying to rule the world this king will probably destroy many people and cities along the way. Also a king that is selfish will never grow and if he never grows he wont be able to help his people. Selfishness is just one concern that Catherine has for the state of society. If you think about we also have this concern. We would like people to be less selfish and help out others in order to have harmony in this world and to live out Gods will. Another concern for society that Catherine has is she seems to think that people have trouble coping with there problems. We find this out by a letter that she wrote to her brother who was having some troubles in Italy. She tells us that all we have to do in order to get through hard times is be patient I beg you, therefore, to hold the weapon of patience firmly so that you may receive benefit from all your troubles(Catherine 21). As you can see Catherine sees patience as a weapon that can help you get through many things especially hard times. She knows that this is a difficult task so she gives three suggestions how this may be done. The most important and interesting one is Firstly, I want you to think about the shortness of live, for you are not certain even of tomorrow (Catherine 21). .u777795507b733fe7cfa340cdeb869a31 , .u777795507b733fe7cfa340cdeb869a31 .postImageUrl , .u777795507b733fe7cfa340cdeb869a31 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u777795507b733fe7cfa340cdeb869a31 , .u777795507b733fe7cfa340cdeb869a31:hover , .u777795507b733fe7cfa340cdeb869a31:visited , .u777795507b733fe7cfa340cdeb869a31:active { border:0!important; } .u777795507b733fe7cfa340cdeb869a31 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u777795507b733fe7cfa340cdeb869a31 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u777795507b733fe7cfa340cdeb869a31:active , .u777795507b733fe7cfa340cdeb869a31:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u777795507b733fe7cfa340cdeb869a31 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u777795507b733fe7cfa340cdeb869a31 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u777795507b733fe7cfa340cdeb869a31 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u777795507b733fe7cfa340cdeb869a31 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u777795507b733fe7cfa340cdeb869a31:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u777795507b733fe7cfa340cdeb869a31 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u777795507b733fe7cfa340cdeb869a31 .u777795507b733fe7cfa340cdeb869a31-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u777795507b733fe7cfa340cdeb869a31:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Autism Essay This is a very good suggestion not only for the time of Catherine but also for us today. We all have hard times and if we are patient we will get through them. A good way to do this is to do what Catherine says, think about how short life really is and you will begin to see that your problem maybe isnt so .

Buying Decisions of Consumers

Since the introduction of the first Blackberry Smartphone in 2002, the Smartphone market has tremendously grown from a backdrop of information explosion. Park (2011) claims that the number of people who use Smartphones have tremendously grown to about one in every three adults.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Buying Decisions of Consumers specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This increased the demand for Smartphones heralded the expansion of the Smartphone market. Chow and Chen (2012) project the global shipment of Smartphone gadgets to increase to about one billion, by the year 2015. The increased adoption of Smartphones in the mobile phone market has come at an opportune time because feature phones are becoming increasingly obsolete. Feature phones have traditionally dominated the mobile phone market, but because of the increased demand for new applications among mobile phone users (and the sophisticatio n of software engineering), feature phones are slowly phasing out, to give way for the adoption of Smartphones. Since Smartphones have infused new features and technologies that were earlier nonexistent in feature phones, the factors informing its adoption greatly differ with those that affect the adoption of feature phones. Indeed, Smartphones are able to perform even the most sophisticated tasks (normally a reserve for computers), while feature phones were only able to perform basic tasks such as calling and text messaging. Therefore, from the increased adoption of new applications in Smartphones, the gadgets have penetrated a new category of customers, tech-savvy customers. Considering the adoption of Smartphone is a new and emerging trend, it is critical to point out that most research studies investigating the adoption of Smartphones have done so by viewing Smartphones as a specialised tool, such as Smartphones for clinical purposes.Advertising Looking for critical writing on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, researchers like Cheong and Park (2005) disagree with this view because they see the adoption of Smartphones, not for specialised purposes but rather, for general purposes. According to Hutt (2009), the purchase of a Smartphone (for any consumer) highlights an information cascade, which also stems from a decision-making pattern, where decisions from people of influence affect consumers’ purchase decisions. For example, before a consumer decides to buy a Smartphone, he considers other buyers’ decisions (creates awareness regarding other buyers’ decisions) and infers a specific message from what is known by previous buyers (Hutt 2009). Ilyas (2006) contends that the decision to buy a Smartphone is normally dependent on the level of satisfaction a customer experiences when the purchase ends. Before consumers make the decision to purchase the product , Ilyas (2006) believes that consumers experience several cognitive processes including â€Å"recognition, search information, evaluation, and ultimately the purchase decision† (p. 4). The provision of feedback regarding the customer’s user experience may follow this process. Varying psychological and market factors normally affect a customer’s buying experience. However, these factors do not always show similar results for different customer groups. Indeed, different consumers have different tastes, preferences, motivations, and lifestyles that affect their decisions to buy a Smartphone. For example, some consumers are always willing to buy Smartphones at a premium, while others are hesitant to do so.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Buying Decisions of Consumers specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Similarly, some consumers are always looking out for good quality Smartphones in the m arket, while others do not see this need. Park (2011) believes that most of these consumer dynamics represent varying customer characteristics. â€Å"Brand conscious, price conscious, quality conscious, recreation conscious, innovation conscious, confusion over choice, impulse, and brand† (Chow and Chen 2012, p. 44) further characterise these characteristics. From the complexities and dynamics informing consumers’ buying decisions, the importance of understanding the factors that affect consumers’ buying decisions is very important. Product Features Product features distinguish different products, not only in the Smartphone market, but also in other competitive markets as well (Kupiec and Revell 2001). In the Smartphone market, a product feature denotes a product’s attribute that is capable of satisfying a specific consumer need. This need is satisfied from using the product’s feature. Sexton (2007) posits that today’s rapidly changing marke t has proved that different features bring different levels of satisfaction for every Smartphone user. Indeed, as Chow and Chen (2012) demonstrate, â€Å"in this new era, phones now feature with wireless connectivity, a built-in Web browser, application installation, full programmability, a file management system, multimedia presentation and capture, high-resolution displays, several gigabytes of storage and location and movement sensors† (p. 45). Chow and Chen (2012) say, besides the above features, users also look for the best operating systems and cameras when making their decision to purchase Smartphones.Advertising Looking for critical writing on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In this regard, Chow and Chen (2012) say the most popular operating systems for Smartphone users are â€Å"Symbian, RIM Blackberry, Apple iPhone, Windows mobile, Google’s Android, and Linux† (p. 46). Each operating system manifests its uniqueness, based on the different backgrounds they hail from. Oulasvirta and Wahlstrom (2011) add that Smartphone consumers normally select phone attributes that provide them with the specific benefits they are looking for. He also adds that most of these attributes reflect consumer personalities (Oulasvirta and Wahlstrom 2011). Therefore, Smartphone users select phones that mirror their personalities and add value to their lives, depending on how much importance they attach to integration. Wickliffe and Pysarchik (2001) also say consumers use phone attributes to make the distinction between competitive brands and Smartphone brands that marketers impose on them. Marketers similarly acknowledge this distinction and create advertisements that highlight a phone’s attribute to influence a consumer’s ability to substitute a phone’s attribute for another (Puth and Mostert 1999). Comprehensively, product features influence consumer buying decisions. Brand Name In today’s globally competitive market, companies cannot underrate the importance of product differentiation. Indeed, portraying brand superiority adds to a company’s profitability (within several competitive brands). Indeed, researchers have affirmed the importance of brand superiority in improving a product’s value among its customers. Mei and Dean (1999) admit, brands also communicate a product’s knowledge structures that are cognisant of the product’s brand superiority. Brand names therefore improve a product’s value by simply appealing to the consumer’s cognitive perception. Therefore, when a product comes from a respectable brand, consumers automatically attach the same value to the product . Different companies advertise different product attributes in their branding strategy. Some companies package their products to be superior in quality, while others package their products as ‘pocket friendly.’ Some Smartphone manufacturers even package their products as reliable brands that withstand even the toughest environments. Recent years have seen Smartphone companies package their phones as durable items. Consumers have tested such attributes through experiments like dropping a phone on concrete, to see if it cracks. People have broadcast such experiments in social media sites including YouTube (and the likes). Branding helps to package such product attributes (such as durability) to create a perception that such products portray the conveyed message. For example, as portrayed in the above example, a company’s branding strategy may hinge on durability. Therefore, whenever consumers see a given brand, they immediately assume the product is durable. A com pany may similarly brand its products to be reliable and therefore, whenever companies expose consumers to the given product, consumers assume it is reliable (Chow and Chen 2012). Some phone companies have successfully managed to brand their products as such, and are attracting a huge user base. Some technology companies like Apple Incorporated have successfully managed to brand their products as having superior quality and reliability. Apple Incorporated has also successfully managed to market its brand as innovative and therefore, whenever customers purchase Apple iPhones, they expect it to have some ‘innovative attribute’ that other brands do not have. Srinivasan and Till (2002) define the value of brands as brand equity. Dodds and Monroe (1991) add that brand equity plays a big role in brand building. The advantages of successful brand building are obvious to companies because companies have been able to develop sustainable competitive advantages through this proces s. This works when consumers have a successful perception of specific brands in the market. Since the early 2000s, companies have identified their most important assets to be their brand names. Chow and Chen (2012) affirm this observation by saying â€Å"In the recent aggressive competitive marketplace, the most critical success element for companies is the brand name, that were being used in a product, and further stated that the brand names are considered the last source of differentiation for the companies’ products and services† (p. 50). According to Khasawneh and Hasouneh (2010), brand names have a strong impact on consumer’s buying decisions because they affect their product evaluation process, which later informs their buying decisions. Therefore, through branding, Smartphone companies have been able to differentiate their products from the competition. Nonetheless, at this point, it is crucial to say, brand names do not only denote ‘names,’ they could also mean symbols, terms, or designs. Many companies have benefitted from introducing brand extensions. Many companies have adopted this strategy to benefit from brand knowledge. In other words, new products that stem from a successful branding campaign experience a low failure rate and low marketing costs. Comprehensively, consumers are likely to be attracted to successful brand names in the market. In turn, companies gain from brand recognition (in the short-term) and brand loyalty (in the end). Price For a long time, researchers have investigated the effect of price on consumer buying decisions. These researchers later say price plays a big role in the consumer decision-making process because price acts as a monetary value for the trade of goods and services (Chow and Chen 2012). In this regard, Nagle and Holden (2002) claim that price remains a key concern for consumers, before they make any purchase decision (not only within the Smartphone market). The price of a Sma rtphone normally affects the behavioural intentions of consumers. Price also has a close association with a product’s brand because price defines a product’s image. Market researchers have always said that consumers perceive high pricing to mean high product quality, while low pricing denotes low product quality (Chow and Chen 2012). For purposes of conceptual convenience, it is pertinent to understand that pricing models divide into two groups: low priced goods and highly priced goods (Smith and Carsky 1996). As explained in this paper, highly priced Smartphones have a very keen emphasis on the product’s image. Therefore, consumers who purchase such highly branded products also want to enjoy the positive product image that comes with the high pricing. Such consumers are also willing to pay a premium so that they have a premium product of high quality. Ordinarily, such a consumer group is willing to buy a Smartphone (expensively) for its perceived high quality a nd status. When such consumer groups form the biggest part of the market, such a market is price inelastic. Consumers purchase low-priced Smartphone because of their perceived value. Such groups of consumers are more wary of the utility they are going to derive from such purchases than the perceived status they derive from the same. Such purchase decisions therefore centre on utilitarianism (perceived value for the price). Consumers who make purchase decisions using this strategy always look for lowly priced Smartphones or substitute some brands for others because of their perceived value (Chow and Chen 2012). Despite the decision-making clusters adopted by each consumer group described above, Aaker and Keller (1990) still believe that both consumer groups (high-end and low-end) believe that high product prices reflect premium quality, while lowly priced Smartphones reflect inferior quality. These findings reflect similar findings done by Etgar and Malhotra’s (1981). Indeed, Etgar and Malhotra’s (1981) affirmed that consumers would always perceive products with high quality to have a superior quality and low-priced products to have a lower quality. However, this perception may not always be true in the Smartphone market considering there may not be much difference in product features or quality of different bands (from completely different price categories). However, Chow and Chen (2012) admit that if a Smartphone is highly priced and the product quality relatively meets the consumers’ expectations, the consumer may still be willing to pay a premium for the specific product. Chow and Chen (2012) say the proliferation of Smartphone brands in the phone market has further intensified the price perception among Smartphone buyers because it has become increasingly difficult to distinguish one brand from the other. Consumers are therefore using product pricing to distinguish one brand from the other. Most of the cognitive or buying decisions for mulated by the buyers purely stem from perception. From this background, Khasawneh and Hasouneh (2010) claim that it is very crucial for Smartphone companies to stop ignoring the impact of pricing decisions on their products because price has been proven to affect consumer buying behaviour. The importance of pricing decisions on consumer purchasing behaviour manifests in the online shopping phenomenon where consumers are willing to pay a premium (high prices) for the convenience and security offered on online shopping. Chow and Chen (2012) also agree that 90% of customers use price constructs to scrutinise different products from different companies. Customers do so frequently. Comprehensively, price constructs denote a psychological phenomenon that appeals to consumers’ cognitive processes and buying decisions. Comprehensively, this persuasion improves the sales margin. This happens through the exploitation of consumer willingness to pay (especially for high-end products). T herefore, among all the marketing mixes exploited by marketers worldwide, pricing is a very critical tool for appealing to customer willingness to buy products. Comprehensively, in the context of this study, pricing is one factor that determines consumer-buying decisions when purchasing Smartphones. Social Influences Social influences border on the ability of a person to influence the activities of another person. This influence occurs through the ability of a person to influence the attitudes, feelings, and thoughts of others. This may occur either intentionally or unintentionally (through the interaction with other people). The main influences in social interactions come from media sources, friends, and people from other spheres of influence (such as colleagues). Social influences thrive on the perception among customers regarding the perception of other people towards them. This group of customers also thrives on having a sense of belonging to a specific social group or class. A research group in America claims that peer influences are the primary source of influence in social interactions (Chow and Chen 2012). Secondary influences are the media and parents. However, today, the role of the media in defining consumer tastes, fashion, and interests regarding a specific brand is increasingly strong (from the influence of the media and other sources of influence, consumers learn the skills, knowledge and attitudes relevant for consumption). Nelson and McLeod (2005) draw a sharp distinction between conformity, power, and authority, which manifest whenever the influence of social interactions occurs as the main influence for consumer buying behaviour. Mourali and Loroche (2005) say conformity always manifests when consumers make buying decisions so that they meet the expectations of other people. However, power is a way of exerting one’s influence over people to gain control and determine the overall outcome of their interaction. Those who wield this power often perceive authority as a legitimate power. Power and authority are therefore strong influences regarding the way consumers make their purchasing decisions because people derive their actions from the word of other people. This is human nature. For example, among teenagers and other young people, researchers affirm that both males and females seek their fashion advice from friends and other people of influence in their lives. Therefore, depending on the fashion preference of these people, consumers are bound to follow the same fashion preference as their peers. The same pattern occurs during the decision-making process to purchase Smartphones from phone manufacturers. Consumers are then motivated to buy phones that their friends approve and have. A recent research by Mourali and Loroche (2005) showed customers who purchase Smartphones as the greatest consumers of social networking applications (such as Facebook and Twitter) because of the ability of such applications to ease so cial interactions. Consequently, Smartphone users use these applications to stay in touch with their friends and other people of influence in their lives. Through such applications, the influence of peers, friends and colleagues in informing consumer buying decisions remains strong (even though indirectly). Motivated by the willingness of people who have the same school of thought, feelings, and attitudes, Smartphone users are motivated to seek phones that enable them to stay in touch with one another within their circles of influence. Through this sphere of influence, social interactions influence consumer-buying decisions. Hutt (2009) claims that another issue affecting a buyer’s decision to purchase a Smartphone stems from the direct benefits that the customer enjoys from the purchase. This effect is normally realised when the direct benefits to be enjoyed from the purchase stems from the reactions or opinions of other people regarding the purchase. Therefore, unlike the à ¢â‚¬Ëœinformational effect’, the direct benefits effect does not depend on changing one’s information. For example, if a prospective Smartphone buyer intends to make a choice regarding which type of operating software to use, he would potentially consider the user base for every type of software available in the market (Android, windows, and the likes). The size of the user base therefore influences the consumer experience when using such a phone (often, the user experience improves with operating systems that have a wide user base because of an increase in applications). The logic behind the selection of applications that have a wide user base stems from the expansive array of willing users to help a frustrated user through online support (Cheong and Park 2005). Through this logic, it is easier to understand the reasons for the large consumer base that android Smartphones have around the world. It is also easier to understand why it is more economical for Smartphone d evelopers to develop more applications for an expanded audience, rather than a small audience. From the above consumer decision-making frameworks, evidently, many factors affect consumer buying behaviour. Product brand name, price, social interactions, and product features are among the most notable factors influencing the way consumers make the decision to purchase Smartphone. Almost all consumer groups feel motivated by at least one factor (among the above) to make their purchase decision. Depending on the demographics of the consumer group, price, brand name, social interactions, and product features are bound to affect consumer purchase decisions in the Smartphone market. References Aaker, D Keller, K 1990, ‘Consumer evaluations of brand extensions’, Journal of Marketing, vol. 54 no. 1, pp. 27-41. Cheong, J Park, M 2005, ‘Mobile internet acceptance in Korea’, Internet Research, vol. 15 no. 2, pp. 125-140. Chow, M Chen, L 2012, ‘Conceptual Paper : Factors Affecting the Demand of Smartphone among Young Adult’, International journal on Social Science Economics and Art, vol. 2 no. 2, pp. 44-47. Dodds, W Monroe, K 1991, ‘Effects of price, brand and store information on buyers’ product evaluations’, Journal of Marketing Research, vol. 28, pp. 307-19. Etgar, M Malhotra, N 1981, ‘Determinants of price dependency: Personal and perceptual factors’, Journal of Consumer Research, vol. 8 no. 2, pp. 217-222. Hutt, M 2009, Business Marketing Management: B2B, Cengage Learning, London. Ilyas, M 2006, Smartphones: Research Report Intl. Engineering, Consortiu, London. Khasawneh, K Hasouneh A 2010, ‘The effect of familiar brand names on consumer behaviour: A Jordanian Perspective’, International Research Journal of Finance Economics, vol. 43, pp. 44 -56. Kupiec, B Revell, B 2001, ‘Measuring consumer quality judgement’, British Food Journal, vol. 103 no. 1, pp. 1-22. Mei, W Dean, A 1999, ‘Analysing service quality in hospitality industry’, Managing Service Quality, vol. 9 no. 2, pp. 138-143. Mourali, M Loroche, M 2005, ‘Individualistic orientation and consumer susceptibility to interpersonal influence’, Journal of services marketing, vol. 19 no. 3, pp. 164-173. Nagle, T Holden, R 2002, The Strategy and Tactics of Pricing: A Guide to Profitable Decision Making, Prentice-Hall, New Jersey. Nelson, M McLeod, L 2005, ‘Adolescents brand consciousness and product placement: Awareness, liking and perceived effects on self and others’, International Journal of Consumer Studies, vol. 25 no. 1, pp. 1-13. Oulasvirta, A Wahlstrom, M 2011, ‘What does it mean to be good at using mobile device? An investigation of three levels of experience and skill’, International Journal of Human- Computer Studies, vol. 69, pp. 155-169. Park, J 2011, Future Information Technology: 6th International Conference on Future Inform ation Technology, Springer, New York. Puth, G Mostert, P 1999, ‘Consumer perceptions of mentioned product and brand attributes in magazine advertising’, Journal of product and brand management, vol. 8 no. 1, pp. 38-49. Sexton, R 2007, Essentials of Economics, South-Western Publishers, London. Smith, M Carsky, M 1996, ‘Grocery Shopping Behaviour: A Comparison of Involved and Uninvolved Consumers’, Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, vol. 39 no. 2, pp. 73-80. Srinivasan, S Till, B 2002, ‘Evaluation of search, experience and credence attributes: role of brand name and product trial’, Journal of Product Management, vol. 11 no. 7, pp. 417-431. Wickliffe, V Pysarchik, D 2001, ‘A look at product attributes as enhances of group intergration among US and Korean consumers’, International Journal of Retail Distribution Management, vol. 29 no. 2, pp. 99-108. This critical writing on Buying Decisions of Consumers was written and submitted by user Mat Moth to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

God Bless America! The 8 Weirdest College Majors in the US

God Bless America! The 8 Weirdest College Majors in the US God Bless America! The 8 Weirdest College Majors in the US America has a long tradition as the land of the free and home of the brave. Does this include the freedom to study whatever you darn well like? And the bravery to dedicate yourself to a college course that will confuse your friends and family? You bet it does! To prove it, we’ve found seven of the weirdest college majors currently available in the USA, as well as another that (sadly) is even more unique. 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Booze Studies! If you want to make your own beer, you could always study for a degree in Fermentation Sciences from the Appalachian State University. More into wine than beer? Try Cornell University’s Viticulture and Enology degree instead! 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Masters of Packaging For more than sixty years, Michigan State University has â€Å"been a leader in teaching, research and outreach focused on packaging containers, materials, their functionality and improvement.† We never knew so much thought went into packaging, but we’ll definitely remember next time we can’t get a pickle jar open. 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Decision Sciences Unable to pick your major? Why not try a course in Decision Sciences? It’s not actually designed to help you make decisions, but it does cover statistics, information systems and operation management, so it sounds quite useful. 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Become a Professional Adventurer! Ok, so a degree in Adventure Education won’t make you an adventurer in the same way Indiana Jones is an adventurer, but it’s definitely a start. 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Truth is Out There†¦ Meet my PhD project Do people look at you funny when you say you’ve dedicated your life to discovering aliens? They might take you more seriously if you introduce yourself as a qualified astrobiologist! 6.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Shoeing Horses Horses across the country are glad that farriers are trained professionals, as no one would want to have strips of metal nailed to their feet by an amateur. 7.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Mortuary Science If you find busy office environments a little stressful, you might enjoy the peace and solitude of the mortuary instead (as long as you don’t mind all the dead bodies). 8.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Enigmatology According to its inventor, enigmatology is the study of puzzles. Why haven’t you heard of it until now? Because only one person has ever earned a degree in enigmatology: Will Shortz, who designed his own major program at Indiana University in 1974. This makes Will Shortz the world’s only college-accredited â€Å"puzzle master,† which sounds a bit like the name of a crossword-based superhero. For this reason alone, we salute him.

Archaeology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Archaeology - Essay Example In â€Å"Fishing from past to present: continuity and resilience of red abalone fisheries on the Channel Islands, California†, Braje et al. develop an 8000-year time-line employing archaeological data from the Holocene and historical data from the last century and a half â€Å"with the objective of integrating deep time into modern resource management.† (906) In 1997 emergency closure by the California Fish and Game Commission was instituted on the red abalone fishery in response to what was viewed as a catastrophic decline in the red abalone population. However, according to Braje et al., the archaeological record indicates that â€Å"anthropologic trophic cascades began some 8000-7500 years ago along the Santa Barbara Coast.† (917) In other words, the number of various prey and predator species has oscillated significantly over the last eight millennium along the Santa Barbara Coast. This optimistically indicates that the current decline in the red abalone popu lations is not necessarily permanent.