Stanford-Binet test Essay Example

Stanford-Binet test Paper Even the latest version of the Stanford-Binet test has been so polished and psychologists rely on their validity and it is undeniably popular, it is not perfect. In fact one of the strong critics of the scale is Gould who states that Binet originally have devised his test to be carried out with an examiner in a one-on-one method for detecting problem areas instead as a means of ranking the general intelligence testees linearly. Moreover, he noted that tests of mental abilities has suffered from inadequate support and its own internal contradictions (Gould 223) that even the mayor of Chicago, had tested as a moron on one version of the Binet scales (Gould 223) I. Robert Sternberg and his Triarchic Theory of Intelligence Another theory on Man’s intelligence is that of Robert J. Sternberg who took a truly holistic approach to the conceptualization of intelligence in his Triarchic Theory. What makes the work of Sternberg special and advantageous over the conventional psychometric test is its bases. Aside from being more cognitive, Sternberg himself proclaimed that his work is based on a theory of human intelligence, the triarchic theory that is broader than conventional differential theories which â€Å"have been based on theories of intelligence that have their roots in differential psychology the psychology of individual differences† (Rowe 183) The three subtheories of Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory are the componential or analytical subtheory , experiential or creative subtheory, and practical or contextual subtheory. We will write a custom essay sample on Stanford-Binet test specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Stanford-Binet test specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Stanford-Binet test specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer These â€Å"theories seek to go beyond the IQ† ( Mackintosh 27) of a human being, though Sternberg acknowledges the importance of IQ testing. He believed that IQ tests measure only a sub-set of the† multiple intelligences† (Mackintosh 27). The first subtheory, which is the componential one deals with the components of intelligence; the experiential subtheory deals with the importance of coping with relative novelty and of automatization of information processing; and a contextual subtheory dealing with processes of adaptation, shaping, and selection. â€Å"I have referred to the theory from time to time as triarchic. †(Sternberg 456) Moreover, one of the arguments of his work is that the g factor or the â€Å"general intelligence does not exist† (Sternbeg 4)although general ability does. Although the Triarchic Theory is very useful and advantageous, even more detailed than that of Binet, it has its own share of criticisms. Quoting sociologist Linda Gottfredson in Sternberg’s book, is an obvious defense for the validity of the IQ tests. The effects of intelligencelike other psychological traitsare probabilistic, not deterministic. Higher intelligence improves the odds of success in school and work. It is an advantage, not a guarantee. Many other things matter. is an obvious qualification of the arguments Sternberg has presented and a defense for the validity of IQ tests. II. Psychometric Approach and the Information Processing Approach Psychometrics or psychometry, being the basis of the Psychometric Approach, is â€Å"the branch of psychology that deals with the design, administration, and interpretation of quantitative tests for the measurement of psychological variables such as intelligence, aptitude, and personality traits† (The Free Online Dictionary) in testing human ability. The Psychometric Approach, which presume that intelligence is a measurable factor, has became the â€Å" primary method of studying intelligence† (Corr) and thus the testing of IQ was born. There are many psychologists who devoted their time on studying intelligence and have paved ways in producing a method to measure the intelligence in a psychometric manner. Among them, as previously mentioned, is Alfred Binet with his Binet-Simon Scale. The study of psychometrics was only starting with that of Binet though and its furtherance can be seen in Dr. John C. Ravens Progressive Matrices, Kaufman couple’s Kaufman’s Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC) and in the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) . If a one is not following the psychometric approach, that psychologist would be using an Information Processing Approach. This is another philosophical theory in understanding the cognitive process, similar to the applications used by Sternberg in his Triarchic Theory and diverse from that approach of Binet as explained above. This approach views human as an â€Å"information processor† (Wyer 2). The same author further explains the idea of this approach on the character of the information processor as: .. capable of receiving information operating upon it according to certain rules, storing the results of these operations in memory, altering the contents of certain areas of memory to which new information is relevant, and ultimately reporting the results of these operations in a form that is implicitly or explicitly specified by a user. The Information Processing Approach, therefore, is based on the premise that humans have brains that are similar to computers. III. Conclusion Intelligence is something measurable and all the efforts done to measure it have greatly influenced the foundation and philosophical views on the cognitive process as well as the educational system all throughout the world. No matter what a person chooses to use to understand the cognitive process, any approach is useful and have their certain characteristic that is superior over the other. They have their respective disadvantages over each other as well. Finally, in measuring the intelligence of an individual, it is not the measurement that matters or the measurement method that was used. The most important is the application of that highly measured intelligence towards the betterness of humanity. Works Cited Becker, Kirk. A.. History of the Stanford-Binet intelligence scales: Content and psychometrics. (Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales, Fifth Edition Assessment Service Bulletin No. 1). Itasca, IL: Riverside Publishing, 2003. Corr, Bradley. The Psychometric Approach to Intelligence: How Smart am I?. Serendep. 2004. Retrieved May 5, 2008

An Appreciation of the Short Story The Black Veil by Charles Dickens Essays

An Appreciation of the Short Story The Black Veil by Charles Dickens Essays An Appreciation of the Short Story The Black Veil by Charles Dickens Paper An Appreciation of the Short Story The Black Veil by Charles Dickens Paper Essay Topic: Black Boy Literature Charles Dickens, as a novel writer, is renown for writing in excessive amounts in order to describe people or the atmosphere, or for setting scenes. However, in his short stories, such as The Black Veil, he has to keep the story short, and so cannot afford to go into as much detail as he would prefer. However, being one of the great authors of all time, he still manages to create classic works in just a few pages. The Black Veil is approximately 10 pages long, which, compared with Dickens novels, is very short indeed, even smaller than a usual chapter in a novel. In the first paragraph, Dickens ttempts to set the scene by describing the weather. Usually, he would write for a relatively long time about such a thing, but here he has to keep it short, spending only a paragraph on the subject. He decides to make the weather outside very harsh in order to quickly set an atmospheric mood of cold and dark, and mystery. He backs up his description of how bad the weather is by contrasting it with the surgeons warm home. First, he thought how hard the wind was blowing and how the cold, sharp rain would be at that moment beating in his face if he were not comfortably housed at home. Dickens also spends little time in describing the surgeon himself, not even telling the reader his name. However, it does mention a character called Rose, who the surgeon wishes to marry. This outlines the surgeons aims in life, and also his problems. Then he began to wonder when his first patient would appear or whether he was destined, by a special dispensation of providence, never to have any patients at all. In this opening paragraph, Dickens has set the scene and has added the start of a plot through a, at this point, very vague character. The next paragraph introduces another character who is intended by Dickens to add both ension and a comical effect to the story. The character has very little description, but from what there is, the reader imagines a chubby little boy eating peppermints all day. He introduces the main subject of the story, the woman in the black veil, and does so in an interesting, and somewhat amusing way. The main purpose of the boy is to add a wider perspective of the woman. He causes suspense and tension, as well as excitement from the way he tries to tell the surgeon of the visitor, but is obviously afraid of her. The boy makes the woman seem disturbing and frightening. The next paragraph describes the womans appearance, vaguely, but showing that she is of a strange appearance. She does not say anything for a long time, adding to the suspense and making her seem even stranger. The woman then tells the surgeon of her problem, which to the reader, and the surgeon, sounds ridiculus. There is a sense of mystery and confusion, as the reader cannot comprehend why the woman will not let the surgeon help the man she speaks of until it is too late. Dickens makes the woman sound desperate and deeply concerned for the person she talks of, but he does not reveal why the woman will not let the surgeon see he man. Tomorrow morning he of whom I speak will be I know, though I would fain think otherwise, beyond the reach of human aid; and yet, tonight, though he is in deadly peril, you must not and could not serve him. Dickens continues to keep the reader confused, not giving away the reason why the surgeon cannot help the man, constantly repeating the fact that he is going to die before tomorrow, but he cannot be helped until tomorrow. Dickens then issues some possibilities of why the man cannot be seen, or helped until tomorrow. He does this to keep the reader thinking and to keep them interested.

CV and personal statement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

CV and personal statement - Essay Example After travelling to other countries, I become a witness as to how modernity changes the phase of infrastructure development. Along with the rapid advancement of science, new technologies are introduced together with better materials which gave way to the creation of taller, more astounding, and beautiful buildings. However, I still often look back at the Great Wall as it provides me with the fondest memories and my huge ambitions of becoming an engineer. I often wish I can build something as significant and distinct as a legacy to world of my existence. I have long admitted my incapacity of building my own Great Wall to be remembered for. However, I remain committed to my aim of building my legacy through pursuing every opportunity to further my strengths and competencies which include seeking admission to graduate school. I dream that someday, I will be able to utilize my knowledge and skills through the aid of technological advancements to erect infrastructure which will be mark my contribution to the world. It might not be as grand, popular, and even remarkable as the Great Wall but it will stand as the fulfillment of my aspirations and will serve as witness to the long years I have labored in acquiring knowledge and skills in the field of engineering. The last four years in my life that I spent in the University College of London marks my continued voyage of finding more about the application of technical and scientific knowledge in the design of efficient processes, machines, and systems. These years have introduced me with the basic concepts of engineering but even increased my interest in acquiring the specialized knowledge and skills that I need to gear me with in order to become a civil engineer. However, I also believed that professional knowledge is inadequate but should go hand in hand with application. Inside our classroom, I have painstaking learned about combining science and technical

Economic Barriers and Healthcare Pursuits Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Economic Barriers and Healthcare Pursuits - Essay Example Healthcare financing is undoubtedly an expensive undertaking (Rapp, et al. 2010). Pooling together adequate resources for to actualize the plan developed to combat implications of HAIs is a challenge. Health care is primarily provided for by the state or the government due to the externalities that characterize the healthcare market. The government undertakes massive projects for the benefit of individuals across all levels, healthcare included. This aspect may pressure the government to direct more funds into healthcare, a scenario that may or may not is realized. One of the critical efforts towards addressing HAIs problem and subsequent problems posed by medical errors is the adherence of both patients and caregivers to set healthcare procedures especially in relation to preventative measures that healthcare facilities are supposed to observe. Patient or caregiver ignorance and failure to adhere to the set measures or systems of combating HAIs and medical errors general poses significant stumbling blocks to the effect of the plan. Healthcare pursuits are sensitive to legal systems. A change in healthcare policy must receive adequate legal attention and support. This is in line with formulating and implementing necessary policies that aid the plan’s practice. Legal obstacles to the plan can be in terms of slow adoption of relevant legal policies to aid the process, or even having the plan legally challenged to rule out its implementation. The future is hard to predetermine following the uncertainties that characterize future times. Healthcare complications are also diverse and dynamic over time, meaning that medical interventions keep taking new directions as new complications emerge. The plan can be implemented today, but be rendered useless some into the future in the event that medical errors worse. This would need that every variable that the plan treated be accounted for all over again. To minimize such occurrences, intensive and extensive research has to be done to confirm long-term viability of the plan.  Ã‚  

Americans should have more holidays and longer vacations Essay

Americans should have more holidays and longer vacations - Essay Example Americans deserve more holidays and longer vacations than are being given to them currently. Americans should have more holidays and longer vacations The Americans deserve more breaks and longer vacations. It is because they work hard and thus need time to satisfy themselves as well. Americans really believe in the dictum of providing themselves more holidays and longer vacations because they have to come back smoothly towards their work domains and give their best concentration towards work ethos and realms. More holidays are required because the Americans work very hard and devote their own selves whole-heartedly towards their work ethos (Author Unknown, 2011). It is of paramount importance to know that they will be requiring more in terms of vacations because they have to refresh themselves. Americans deserve more in terms of their fun and frolic related activities as they help them to enjoy with their family and friends on different locations within America as well as the rest of the world (Monroe, 2010).

Design and Build Contract in Project

Design and Build Contract in Project The term ‘procurement route considers all the activities undertaken by the client or clients representative, whether this is a sole decision or a decision made with the help of other parties, such as the various consultants or in some cases even the contractor, towards the goal of developing a construction project that the client is ultimately happy with.   There are various procurement routes, which can be categorized into three main procurement route contracts, a Traditional contract, a Design and Build contract, and a Management contract. A Traditional contract benefits in cost and quality, but at the expense of time.   It is not the fastest of methods, and with this procurement route it is desirable to have all the information at tender stage.   It is basically straightforward, but complications can arise if the client requires that certain sub-contractors are used.   With this procurement route the client requires certain standards to be shown or described, but the client is wholly responsible for achieving the stated quality on site, and controls the design and variations to a large extent.   It has certainty in cost and time before commitment to build, and requires clear accountability and cost monitoring at all stages.   Competitive tenders are possible for all items.   The risk is generally fair and balanced between all the parties.   (CLAMP, Hugh, COX, Stanley LUPTON, Sarah, 2003) A Design and Build contract benefits in cost and time, but at the expense of quality.   It is a relatively fast method. The pre-tender time largely depends on the amount of detail in the clients requirements, but the construction time can be reduced because the design and building phases proceed in parallel.   With this procurement route the client has no direct control over the contractors performance, has little say in the choice of specialist sub-contractors, and has virtually no flexibility once the contract is signed.   It has a guaranteed cost and completion date.   The risk with this procurement route lies almost entirely with the contractor. (CLAMP, Hugh, COX, Stanley LUPTON, Sarah, 2003) A Management contract benefits in time and quality, but at the expense of cost.   An early start on site is possible with this procurement route, long before tenders have been invited for some of the works packages.   It involves a complex management operation requiring sophisticated techniques.   The managing contractor is responsible for quality of work and materials on site and can easily adjust the programme and costs, meaning the client can also easily modify or develop design requirements during construction.   With this procurement route the client is committed to start building on only a cost plan, project drawings and a specification.   The risk lies mainly with the client in this method of procurement. (CLAMP, Hugh, COX, Stanley LUPTON, Sarah, 2003) For the purpose of this project we propose to use a Design and Build contract.   We have made this decision based on the project requiring cost and time to be prioritized, a guaranteed completion date being essential to minimise down time, and the benefit of having the responsibility of risk being taken away from the client. Tender Process Tendering is the name given to the process or procedure that is used to obtain offers leading to a contract between two parties.   The two main types of tender process are single stage tendering and two-stage tendering. Single stage tendering is suitable for small simple projects, where the key issues are speed and cost assurity.   It is considered by clients because of a need for greater cost certainty during the design and construction phases, the need for a well documented, fixed-price contract, the benefit from the discipline of completing the design before a contractor appointment takes place, and the use of commercial pressure to secure cost reductions for projects that might otherwise be unviable.   A single stage tendering process however offers limited scope for a team to develop a shared objective or for a contractor to contribute to design development, and changes introduced by the design team will undermine the certainty achieved with a lump sum tender. A two-stage tendering process is particularly suitable for large or complex projects, where a key factor is the close collaboration between the contractor and client, particularly during the design phase, as the contractor will endeavour to find the best solution for the project in terms of cost programme and design.   A two-stage tendering process is considered by clients because of its second stage being based on more complete information and therefore the contractor having a better understanding of the scope of works, which in turn should help obtain a final account that is closer to the contract sum, the ability to continue the development of the design during the second stage of the tender in conjunction with the main contractor and specialist sub contractors, and because it helps promote a specific focus on issues of buildability and economic construction during the later stages of design.   However the cost of second stage tenders tend to be higher because of negotiation p remiums and the inclusion of additional risk transfers, and not exceeding the cost and completion date are not binding prior to the finalisation of the contract. In two-stage tendering, like single stage tendering, the first stage is a competitive tender and it is usual to base these on the tenderers track records, preliminaries, overheads, an outline programme and the contractors pricing documents in relation to the preliminary design information.   Unlike a single stage tender, the first stage ends not with a contract being awarded but with the selection of a contractor for the second phase, in which the level of pricing provided in the first stage of the tender is used to open negotiations to produce a firmer price based on the drawings, bills of quantities and any other relevant documents that reflect the completed design. For the purposes of this project we propose to use a single stage tendering process.   We have made this decision based on the need for speed and cost assurity on the project, with the two key issues being time and cost. As early as possible during the design process we will propose a list of suitable contractors obtained from an electronic database containing a list of approved contractors.   The main criteria for selecting contractors for the initial tender list will include adequacy of available resources, adequacy of technical and management structure, financial stability and insurance cover, health and safety record, quality of work and adequacy of quality control, and performance record. We propose to issue preliminary enquiries to each contractor on the initial tender list 4-6 weeks before the tender documents are due to be issued, including a project information schedule and a questionnaire.   This will determine whether each contractor is both suited to the project and willing to submit a tender.   The contractors will be given 10 days from its original dispatch to return the completed questionnaire.    Once a short list of tenderers has been agreed and the tender documents are ready for release, they will be sent to the tenderers along with a Form of Invitation to Tender and a Form of Tender.   The latest time and date for submission of the tender will be included on both the Invitation to Tender and the Form of Tender, and will state that they are to remain open for acceptance for a period of 28 days from the bid submission date. When the tender return forms are received, the ones which are returned by the closing date will be analysed and a summary report will be written and sent to the client, and those which are returned after the closing date will remain unopened and be sent back to the sender.   As project managers we will offer advice upon the choice of appointed contractor, if the client requests so.   When we have received confirmation from the client regarding the chosen contractor we will notify them that they have won the work, and notify the unsuccessful tenderers that they have not. On Site Strategy Prior to work commencing on-site we propose to call a pre-start meeting, where the programme of works will be discussed and a letter of intent will be issued to the client.   When the contractor begins work on site we propose to take a monitoring roll.   On the first day of the work commencing on-site, as contract administrators, we will meet with the contractor and discuss site security, access, welfare facilities, deliveries and storage, and notify them of the time and date that snagging will be carried out. We propose to commence snagging 6 hours before the end of the construction phase, in order to give the contractor time to rectify any issues raised during the snagging process.   The snagging process will assess the quality of the work, the workmanship, and ensure all of the work complies with the clients specification.   We propose, as the contract administrators, to write the snagging list in conjunction with the foreman on site due to time constraints, of which a copy will be left with the foreman on site so that they can rectify any snags prior to the completion of the construction works. We propose to commence de-snagging once the contractor has informed us, as the contract administrators, that the construction work has been completed.   At this point, acting as the contract administrators, we will issue a certificate of practical completion and initialize the defects liability period, as determined in the contract.  Ã‚  Ã‚   References CLAMP, Hugh, COX, Stanley LUPTON, Sarah. (2003). Which Contract? Choosing the Appropriate Building Contract. 4th ed., London, RIBA Enterprises Ltd. Bibliography CHAPPELL, David. (2006). Construction Contracts, Questions Answers. Oxford, Taylor Francis. CHAPPELL, David. (2006). Contractual Correspondence for Architects Project Managers. 4th ed., Oxford, Blackwell Publishing Ltd. LUPTON, Sarah. (ed.) (2001). Architects Handbook Practice Management. 7th ed., London, R.I.B.A. Publications. LUPTON, Sarah. (ed.) (2000). Architects Job Book. 7th ed., London, R.I.B.A. Publications. ROY, Morledge, SMITH, Adrian KASHIWAGI, Dean T. (2006). Building Procurement. Oxford, Blackwell Publishing Ltd. MURDOCH, John HUGHES, Will. (2008). Construction Contracts, Law and Management. 4th ed., Oxon, Taylor Francis.

Comparing At the Morgue by Helen Garner and Basics Training by Deborah

Comparing At the Morgue by Helen Garner and Basics Training by Deborah Hope AT THE MORGUE – Helen Garner, True Stories 1996 This article is written in the first person's point of view. The style is informal, almost chatty in spite of the morbid topic it deals with. The author uses this style to tell the reader a story, like telling a friend an experience. The author's feelings and thoughts are freely expressed. This helps to put the reader into the author's shoes, to see through her eyes and feel through her heart. This article is a narrative. It does not aim to analyse the topic. It describes the author's experiences at the mortuary and the resulting disturbing thoughts she had. Descriptive language is used to give graphic details. This paints vivid mental pictures in the reader's mind. It contributes to the feeling of personal involvement of the reader. All the author's observations are described in detail. Words used are simple yet effective. The article was an enjoyment to read. It provides an insider's view of what goes on in the mortuary, where not many people can access. It deals with a subject which people do not usually seek information on but are nonetheless intrigued by. The style lessens the formality of the subject, which makes it less scary to deal with. The descriptive language is effectively used. The expression of the author's feeling and thoughts encourages empathy from the reader with the author. BASICS TRAINING – Deborah Hope, The Au...