Diffusion of innovation

Diffusion of innovation describes how a new idea, behavior, or item (an innovation) is disseminated to a population in a given period of time through specific avenues of communication (Rogers, 2003). Innovations are not always adopted even when they have obvious and clear-cut advantages and Rogers (2003) identifies four factors of diffusion: time, the social system, the innovation, and the communication channels.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Diffusion of innovation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More For something to qualify as an innovation it does not have to be temporally recent as what matters is that people perceive it as new. An innovation therefore is that which is perceived as new regardless of its actual age. A communication channel refers to the course a message takes to get from a source to the receiver and examples are interpersonal communication and mass media. Time is a factor when it comes to the r ate of adoption of an innovation and it forms an imperative element in understanding diffusion of innovations. The social system can be viewed as people who jointly seek a common goal. The decision to take up an innovation usually involves five steps: knowledge, persuasion, decision, implementation, and confirmation. The knowledge stage is characterized by someone gaining initial information on what purpose the innovation serves and how it functions, albeit the information is sparse at this stage. During the persuasion stage the person actively seeks information on the innovation and forms an independent opinion about the innovation. Rogers (2003) points out that persuasions are more affective than objective-they are based more on feelings than actual factual information. The decision stage marks the point at which someone decides whether or not to adopt an innovation for their own use. In the implementation stage the person puts the innovation to actual practical use. Confirmation is the final stage and it involves the person making an evaluation of the decision to use the innovation. The stage is also marked by seeking of information that is of a bolstering nature in order to confirm their decision and keep using the innovation. The success of an innovation is usually determined by five aspects: relative advantage, simplicity and ease of use, compatibility with existing values and practices, trialability and observability (Bennet and Bennet, 2003). Relative advantage is subjective to the users of an innovation and it is the perceived â€Å"betterness† of an innovation to its predecessor.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Simplicity and ease of use determine the rate of an innovation’s diffusion in the sense that innovations that are easy to understand and use are likely to have a faster rate of adoption. The extent to which an innovation is c onsistent with current needs and is significant to its users determines the innovation’s compatibility with existing values and practices. An innovation that is highly relevant to the social system is likely to have a higher rate of diffusion. Trialabilty is the degree to which an innovation can be tested by the potential user before the user adopts it e.g. a car that can be taken for a test drive has more trialability than the car which cannot. Observability is basically how perceptible the results of an innovation are. Each social system can be broken down to five categories: innovators, early adopter, late adopters, and laggards depending on how quickly each group chooses to adopt an innovation. Innovators are the quickest and laggards the slowest to adopt an innovation. The graph below is a representation of how the groups’ frequencies are broken down in a population. Figure 1. Frequency distribution of a population according to rate of innovation adoption. This f igure illustrates how the five categories of innovation adoption according to time are spread in a population. References Bennett, J., Bennett, L. (2003). A Review of Factors that Influence the Diffusion of Innovation when Structuring a Faculty Training Program. Internet and Higher Education ,6, 53-63. Rogers, E. M (2003). Diffusion of Innovations (5th ed.). New York: Free Press.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Diffusion of innovation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This essay on Diffusion of innovation was written and submitted by user Carissa E. 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.

The Flu Pandemic of 1918 Essays

The Flu Pandemic of 1918 Essays The Flu Pandemic of 1918 Essay The Flu Pandemic of 1918 Essay During the course of time certain incidents occur that change the course of our future and our thoughts.These incidents effect the population of the world either positively or negatively.Yet one event stood out to show how with the future brings both knowledge and power.Over the course of this century, scientific research has shown that modern medicine is not as exemplary as we would like it to be, since both we as people, and diseases are continuing a rapid growth or race to extinction of one another.For scientific comparisons, the 1918 Flu Pandemic will be the archetype. Since the beginning of time man has been haunted and tormented by one thing.Disease.Disease and bacteria have been causing great pain and strife to people since the beginning of time.From the Egyptians to the pioneers, and now today.As many different forms of diseases break out, society often is caught looking back in history to judge what to do in situations.This includes diseases.Scientists and researchers stil l havent found the direct cause of the Great Flu Pandemic of 1918, let alone many others that are taking place this very second.Diseases have damaged society for a long time, the bubonic plague that swept across Europe during the 1300s nearly half the population of Europe was killed by an epidemic of plague.(Fettner Pg. 1) Though diseases have been lingering in human society since the dawn of time, many have fought back diseases by researching and creating vaccines and advances in medicine to help the ill.From penicillin to advanced surgery techniques and Antibiotics, the world has given its best shots to end disease but are still falling up a little short. Since the beginning of the infectious influenza, which has been taking the lives of many humans for centuries, it has always been consistent with its treatments and symptoms.The flu is well known for being on time.As most are aware of the flu

The Recession in the UK Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Recession in the UK - Essay Example This trend of borrowing also impacted UK banks and financial institutions as well, but the extent was less of course. Once the banks find the lending much lucrative with attractive returns and talks of all round developments, banks start lending to the maximum extent possible, with the notion that 'high risk implies higher returns'. In some case the banks also start lending money to high risk customers as well, in the belief that they'd be able to extract the money in any form from the borrower. This trend gradually spread to sub-prime lending practices. This type of lending is not very common around the world, but in US and UK such lending is preferred by specific categories of population, who are categorised as high credit risk population. But in recent past when sub-prime borrowers started preferring to desert their houses instead of paying back the loans, the banks found themselves under huge debt. This set in motion a chain reaction, resulting in adverse impacts on the stock market, which in turn impacted the confidence of an average investor. The ups and down in equity markets is not a new ph enomenon, but the UK equity markets have not recovered from the shake ups. With threats of failure of many reputed banks, the stock market appeared to be the only option where the investor can look for liquid cash. This started a continuous downtrend in stock markets in US and UK. Having stakes in international markets the Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) in turn started selling their stakes in other markets as well. The trend has been continuing. The net result inter-banking borrowing rates were hiked by banks in order to preserve maximum liquid assets for instilling confidence amongst their customers. Once the bank to bank rates were on the rise, developmental projects started taking a hit, which in turn had an impact on the marketing potential of a whole range of materials including building materials, consumer goods and services etc. With rumours of failing banks, people started taking out their deposits from banks and instead started keeping the money within their custody. This resulted in difficult situation for banks and many banks were on the verge of going bust in UK. Owing to such circumstances, government of Iceland was also forced to intervene. Glitnir bank became the first bank to be nationalised by the Iceland government (Wardell and Satter, 2008). This trend is also quite apparent the world over in many countries including US, Saudi Arabia, China, Japan etc. in order to avoid major breakdowns in the respective economies. Now people are left with less disposable incomes, as some of the investments are stuck up in stock market, some others are gone bust with drowning banks and financial institutions. With companies also resorting to job-cuts, the disposable income levels are further going down with each passing day. People having taken loans from banks and other financial institutions started finding themselves in difficult position to payback those loans. This had a cascading effect on those banks which had earlier resorted to sub-prime lending and unreasonable lending. And banks started feeling the pressure. Northern Rock started sending out SOS signals to the government of UK. Subsequently the government started measures to nationalise the Northern Rock and pump in money

The Concept of Rights Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Concept of Rights - Essay Example By "property" he means "life, liberty, and estate". The philosopher begins by asserting that each individual, at a minimum, "owns" himself, because he is free and equal in the state of nature. In the Second Treatise, Locke espoused the idea of government by consent (representative government). Since there is no natural hierarchy among human beings, any subordination of one to another must be conventional. This convent is called the social contract. In this way, Locke argues that a full economic system could, in principle, exist within the state of nature. Property could therefore predate the existence of government, and thus society can be dedicated to the protection of property. When one joins civil society, however, one joins one's property to it to be regulated by the community. As a practical matter, in every society, a part must rule the whole. As the majority is composed of more wills and is stronger than the minority, the will of society must be determined by the majority. This makes liberal democracy a moral imperative. At a minimum, the majority must support the regime in power; in practice, this support can be demonstrated only by including something like a Parl iament in the government. It must be said that the people rule themselves. The rule of law - the idea that the power of the state may be exercised only pursuant to a general rule crafted by the legislature - is the only legitimate form of government. However, according to the philosopher, if the state overstepped its limits and began to exercise arbitrary power, it forfeited its 'side' of the contract and thus, the contract being void, the citizens not only have the right to overthrow the state, but are indeed morally compelled to revolt and replace the state (Uzgalis). "The Declaration of Independence" (1776). The Preamble of the Declaration is influenced by Enlightenment philosophy, including the concept of natural law. Ideas and even some of the phrasing were taken directly from the writings of John Locke, particularly his Second Treatise. This was done so, because, according to Jefferson, the purpose of the Declaration was not to find out new philosophical principles or arguments, but to convince everyone that leaders of the colonies were right in their revolutionary actions. The preamble is presented as a logical demonstration, with one proposition leading to another proposition. From the first proposition (that all men are created equal), a chain of logic is produced that leads to the right and responsibility of revolution when a government becomes destructive of the people's rights (Locke's idea): "We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness". Again, the Locke's terminology: "That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the consent of the governed". Then, according to the text of the Declaration, "whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is in the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute a new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness"

The benefits of legal human cloning research outweigh the opponents Paper

The benefits of legal human cloning outweigh the opponents negitives - Research Paper Example This process eliminates the emotional pain and expense that accompanies the condition. Moreover, it even puts more couples in a position to have their own children (â€Å"The Advantages of Cloning† par. 6) Rejuvenation, also called therapeutic cloning, can only be advanced through the use of human cloning technology. In this process embryonic stem cells are vital as they are used to produce new tissues and organs, which are used to replace faulty ones such as hearts, spinal cord cells for paraplegics’ tissues. Thus, in this case, cloning plays a key role in preventing and alleviating human suffering for humans who have ailments like Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s. At the same time, if well advanced, even the aging process could be reversed (â€Å"Benefits of Cloning: Benefits of Human Cloning† par. 2). Despite cloning being controversial, it may be a viable solution to many people considering genetic engineering may offer parents a choice of determining what features they would like their children to have. This is concerning their cognitive abilities and physical abilities (â€Å"The Advantages of Cloning† par .14). In addition, parents could have the chance to be better at raising their children, as genetically modified children would have their needs and abilities known to their parent’s beforehand (Smith par. 10). Apart from this, children would be less susceptible to illnesses since all defective genes would be corrected, and immunity boosted at the time of cloning. Moreover, through cloning organs used for transplants would be made readily available through human cloning. For example, currently there are no human livers to make transplant to those patients in need them, instead, pig livers are used to work as a provisional solution until a donor is found. Consequently, human cloning readily avails the required organs without having another person’s

Effect of Simulation Based Education on Medical Knowledge

Effect of Simulation Based Education on Medical Knowledge EFFECT OF SIMULATION BASED EDUCATION ON KNOWLEDGE OF MEDICAL STUDENTS IN CONTEXT OF COMMUNITY MEDICINE Bogam Rahul R. Corresponding Author Dr Rahul Ramesh Bogam ABSTRACT Simulations are being increasingly used to train medical students in diverse clinical skills. Simulation is arguably the most prominent innovation in medical education over the past 15 years. Role play is a simulation technique which can potentially strengthen knowledge that will lead to improved expertise. The present study was undertaken to assess an effectiveness of simple intervention in the form of ‘Role Play Simulation’ on the knowledge of undergraduate MBBS medical students of one of randomly selected medical colleges in Maharashtra regarding ‘Epidemics Investigations.’ Methods: A cross-sectional study consisting of pre and post test intervention was conducted at one of the randomly selected medical colleges in Western Maharashtra. A structured pretested self administered questionnaire consisting of 15 close ended questions was distributed to all 144 participants. The present study attempted to incorporate simulation based role play which was based on epidemic/outbreak investigations for food poisoning. Immediately after this intervention, same questionnaire was distributed to participants as a post test and responses were collected. ‘Paired t-test’ was used to assess pre and post intervention knowledge of participants. Results: Present study revealed significant improvement in knowledge of participants about epidemic investigations from pre to post intervention as a result of ‘Role Play Simulation Based Education’ (t = 42.87, p Conclusion: A simple simulation form like role play can make significant change in knowledge of medical students about very important topic i.e. ‘Epidemic Investigation’ in Community Medicine subject. Key words: Simulations, Community Medicine, Knowledge, Medical students, Role play INTRODUCTION There have been burgeoning developments and changes in medical education.[1] The information and communication technology has revolutionized the teaching and learning process.[1] Various new teaching methodogies are being used to impart medical education to the students in more effective way. The basic reason to look for these methodologies is the dis-satisfaction with conventional mode of education, which is losing it’s relevance in this era of information explosion. [1] Simulations are being increasingly used to train medical students in diverse clinical skills. Simulation is arguably the most prominent innovation in medical education over the past 15 years. [2] They help us to replicate situations which may not possible to get in real settings or where it may be logistically difficult to work on real patients. [1] Role play is a simulation technique which can potentially strengthen knowledge that will lead to improved expertise. Despite of an effectiveness of role play in providing medical education, it’s use in educating medical students is limited. [3] ‘Epidemic Investigation’ is not only an essential aspect in Community Medicine subject but also it has public health relevance. Even though very few studies have been conducted so far in India to evaluate the knowledge of medical students pertaining to investigations of epidemic, some evidences have shown that ‘Simulation Based Education’ can be an effective teaching tool to educate medical students about emergency situation like epidemics. Clinical situations for teaching and learning purposes are created using various forms of simulation like mannequins, part-task trainers, simulated patients or computer-generated simulations. The present study was undertaken to assess an effectiveness of simple intervention in the form of ‘Role Play Simulation’ on the knowledge of undergraduate MBBS medical students of one of randomly selected medical colleges in Maharashtra regarding ‘Epidemics Investigations.’ OBJECTIVE To assess an effectiveness of ‘Role Play Simulation’ on knowledge of undergraduate MBBS medical students about ‘Epidemics Investigations.’ MATERIAL AND METHODS A cross-sectional study consisting of pre and post test intervention was conducted at one of the randomly selected medical colleges in Western Maharashtra. The inclusion criteria were all 144 undergraduate medical students from 7th semester who were present on the day of an intervention. Those who did not attend the class on the day of an intervention were excluded from the study. Written permission was also obtained from participants after explaining the purpose of study to them. A structured pretested self administered questionnaire consisting of 15 close ended questions was distributed to all participants. They were allowed 15 minutes to complete questionnaire under strict supervision. A questionnaire consisted of questions based on various aspects of epidemic investigations like essential criteria for confirmation of existence of an epidemic, spot map, epidemiological case sheet etc. The present study attempted to incorporate simulation based role play which was based on epidemic/outbreak investigations for food poisoning. Few volunteer medical students were selected and trained to participate in simulation based role play. They were asked to focus on ten important steps in investigation of an epidemic i.e. verification of diagnosis, confirmation of an existence of an epidemic, defining the population at risk, rapid search for all cases and their characteristics, data analysis, formulation of hypothesis, testing of hypothesis, evaluation of ecological factors, further investigation of population at risk and writing the report (Table 1). Remaining students were asked to watch this simulation based role play. Total duration of role play was about 20 minutes. Immediately after this intervention, same questionnaire was distributed to participants as a post test and responses were collected. Data Analysis The scoring system for each complete question was assigned for pre and post intervention. Statistical analysis was done using Microsoft Office Excel Sheet. ‘Paired t-test’ was used to assess pre and post intervention knowledge of participants. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION In present study, of 144 participants 78(54.16%) were males and 66 (45.83%) were females. All (100%) participants were in age bracket of 20-23 years. In contemporary medical education, there is strong emphasis on the use of innovative teaching methods like Problem Based Learning, One Minute Preceptor (OMP), Computer Assisted Learning, Flipped Teaching etc. Uses of these types of methods help students to learn various clinical skills in more effective way. The present study attempted to impart knowledge to undergraduate medical students about investigations of an epidemic by using ‘Role Play Method’ rather than using traditional teaching method. The present study showed that simple simulation form like role play made improvement in the knowledge of participants about ‘Epidemic Investigations.’ Similarly other Studies also reported that the use of simulations as a teaching tool increases student’s comprehension of complex theoretical concepts in relation to modules that are taught solely with the traditional lecture/seminar format. [4] Jennifer M Weller et al. [5] also recommended that ‘Simulation Based Education’ needs to be integrated into medical curricula at the development stage, with careful attention paid to transfer of skills learnt to the real clinical environment. In a Malaysian medical school, role plays have been used to teach communication skills in primary care medicine. [6] Table. 1. Pre and Post intervention questions with correct response (n = 144) Table. 2. Mean marks of participants (n = 144) Present study revealed significant improvement in knowledge of participants about epidemic investigations from pre to post intervention as a result of ‘Role Play Simulation Based Education’ (t = 42.87, p However prior to an intervention, poor level of knowledge was found amongst participants regarding certain aspects of epidemic investigations like Spot Map, criteria for confirmation of epidemic, period of investigation of an epidemic etc.( Table 2). The present study reiterates the need for incorporation of innovative methodologies like simulations along with traditional methods for better learning of students. At some places, methodology like ‘Role Play’ has been regular teaching method in medical colleges.[7]At the University of Heidelberg, Germany, introducing role plays augmented the realism of technical training and improved doctor-patient communication and to teach students to obtain a sexual history and discuss sexual health issues. [8] Role-play is simple form of simulation which can be a valuable teaching tool for medical education, requiring few resources and allowing students to look at the material they are learning in a new light. CONCLUSIONS Present study reported significant improvement in knowledge of undergraduate medical students pertaining to epidemic investigation from pre to post-intervention as a result of role play method. It shows that even a simple simulation form like role play can make significant change in knowledge of medical students about very important topic i.e. ‘Epidemic Investigation’ in Community Medicine subject. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We heartily acknowledge the cooperation and support of Dr. Shekhar M. Kumbhar for conduction of this study. DECLARATION OF INTEREST The author reports no conflicts of interest. The author alone is responsible for the content and writing of the article. REFERENCES Tejinder Singh, Piyush Gupta, Daljit Singh. Principles of Medical Education. Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd. 2013; 4th Edn, 1-14. Morgan Passiment Heather Sacks Grace Huang. Medical Simulation in Medical Education: Results of an AAMC Survey. 2011, Association of American Medical Colleges: 1-42. P.Ravi Shankar, Rano M.Piryani, Kundan K.Singh and Bal Man Karki. Student feedback about the use of role plays in Sparshanam, a medical humanities module. F 1000 research. 2012; 1 (65): 1-10. Govinda Clayton and Theodora-Ismene Gizelis. Learning through Simulation or Simulated Learning? An Investigation into the Effectiveness of Simulations as a Teaching Tool in Higher Education.1-25. Jennifer M Weller, Debra Nestel,Stuart D Marshall, Peter M Brooks, Jennifer J Conn. Simulation in clinical teaching and learning.MJA.2012; 196 (9):1-5. Sherina HN and Chia YC: Communication skills teaching in primary care medicine. Medical Journal of Malaysia. 2002; 57(Suppl E): 74–77. Manzoor I, Mukhtar F and Hashmi NR: Medical students’ perspective about role plays as a teaching strategy in community medicine. Journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Pakistan. 2012; 22(4): 222–5. Nikendei C, Kraus B, Schrauth M, P.Weyrich, S.Zipfel, W.Herzogi et al.: Integration of role-playing into technical skills training: a randomized controlled trial. Medical Teacher. 2007; 29(9): 956–960. 1

The Function of the Shawl in Ozicks The Shawl Essay -- Cynthia Ozick

The Function of the Shawl in Ozick’s â€Å"The Shawl† Suffering becomes a way of life for Magda, Stella and Rosa, as they struggle to survive during the Holocaust. During these trying times, some cling to ideals and dreams, while others find unusual vessels of hope – like the shawl – to perdure in their austere living conditions. Although the shawl becomes a source of conflict between Magda, Stella and Rosa in this narrative, it also serves as a pivotal force and a motivational factor. In Ozick’s â€Å"The Shawl†, a small wrap allows its owners to triumph over the adversities of a concentration camp, the â€Å"magic shawl† comforts, nourishes, protects and prolongs life. For Magda, the shawl serves as a magical place, a place of transition and latent life, it acts as a figurative surrogate mother, a pacifier, nourishment and comfort. Hidden away in her warm little cocoon, Magda is not only protected but concealed from the Nazis. When she is wrapped up in the shawl on Rosa’s chest as an infant, Magda is mistaken for Rosa’s breasts, she would â€Å"have been dead already, but had been buried deep inside the magic shawl† (paragraph 6). If it wasn’t for the shawl’s protection, Magda could not have been soothed and comforted by warmth and nourishment as she was during her short life. Not only is the shawl her cocoon, it is also a pacifier for starving Magda’s screams, it nourishes her with its â€Å"good flavor, milk of linen† (paragraph 3) â€Å"for three days and three nights† (paragraph 4). Magda sucks it and wraps herself in it to be very still (paragraph 7) and she guards her shawl â€Å"like a tiger† (paragraph 7). Her instinct is to protect the one thing she knows and loves, the shawl has provided Magda with the basic necessities she need... ...tic and unimaginable of circumstances. Despite the horrifying circumstances she faces, a malnourished, selfless Rosa tries her hardest to be the best mother she can be to her innocent child. Unable to continuously keep Magda safe, nourished and comforted, Rosa counts on the shawl to keep Magda out of harms way, the shawl indirectly becomes a great source of comfort for Rosa because it allows her to know that her baby is safe and sound. Stella wants this comfort, this protection, and so she steals the shawl and murders Magda. In Ozick’s â€Å"The Shawl†, the shawl serves as a source of comfort, nourishment, protection, and life, for Magda, Stella and Rosa during the Holocaust. WORKS CITED Ozick, Cynthia. â€Å"The Shawl†. Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Ed. Edgar V. Roberts. 4th Compact Ed. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2008. 230-233.