Cluster Sample in Sociology Research

Cluster sampling may be used when it is either impossible or impractical to compile an exhaustive list of the elements that make up the target population. Usually, however, the population elements are already grouped into subpopulations and lists of those subpopulations already exist or can be created. For example, let’s say the target population in a study was church members in the United States. There is no list of all church members in the country. The researcher could, however, create a list of churches in the United States, choose a sample of churches, and then obtain lists of members from those churches. To conduct a cluster sample, the researcher first selects groups or clusters and then from each cluster, selects the individual subjects either by simple random sampling or systematic random sampling. Or, if the cluster is small enough, the researcher may choose to include the entire cluster in the final sample rather than a subset of it. One-Stage Cluster Sample When a researcher includes all of the subjects from the chosen clusters into the final sample, this is called a one-stage cluster sample. For example, if a researcher is studying the attitudes of Catholic Church members surrounding the recent exposure of sex scandals in the Catholic Church, he or she might first sample a list of Catholic churches across the country. Let’s say that the researcher selected 50 Catholic Churches across the United States. He or she would then survey all church members from those 50 churches. This would be a one-stage cluster sample. Two-Stage Cluster Sample A two-stage cluster sample is obtained when the researcher only selects a number of subjects from each cluster – either through simple random sampling or systematic random sampling. Using the same example as above in which the researcher selected 50 Catholic Churches across the United States, he or she would not include all members of those 50 churches in the final sample. Instead, the researcher would use simple or systematic random sampling to select church members from each cluster. This is called two-stage cluster sampling. The first stage is to sample the clusters and the second stage is to sample the respondents from each cluster. Advantages of Cluster Sampling One advantage of cluster sampling is that it is cheap, quick, and easy. Instead of sampling the entire country when using simple random sampling, the research can instead allocate resources to the few randomly selected clusters when using cluster sampling. The second advantage to cluster sampling is that the researcher can have a larger sample size than if he or she was using simple random sampling. Because the researcher will only have to take the sample from a number of clusters, he or she can select more subjects since they are more accessible. Disadvantages of Cluster Sampling One main disadvantage of cluster sampling is that is the least representative of the population out of all the types of probability samples. It is common for individuals within a cluster to have similar characteristics, so when a researcher uses cluster sampling, there is a chance that he or she could have an overrepresented or underrepresented cluster in terms of certain characteristics. This can skew the results of the study. A second disadvantage of cluster sampling is that it can have a high sampling error. This is caused by the limited clusters included in the sample, which leaves a significant proportion of the population unsampled. Example Let’s say that a researcher is studying the academic performance of high school students in the United States and wanted to choose a cluster sample based on geography. First, the researcher would divide the entire population of the United States into clusters, or states. Then, the researcher would select either a simple random sample or a systematic random sample of those clusters/states. Let’s say he or she chose a random sample of 15 states and he or she wanted a final sample of 5,000 students. The researcher would then select those 5,000 high school students from those 15 states either through simple or systematic random sampling. This would be an example of a two-stage cluster sample. Sources and Further Reading Babbie, E. (2001). The Practice of Social Research: 9th Edition. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Thomson.Castillo, J.J. (2009). Cluster Sampling. Retrieved March 2012 from http://www.experiment-resources.com/cluster-sampling.html

Peri Archon An Analysis - 1128 Words

1. The Peri Archon presents a systematic exposition of the basic tenets of the Christian faith, and represents a mid-point in the shaping of Origens exegetical practice, (Clements 4-5). Book IV of the Peri Archon represents the culmination of Origens hermeneutical and exegetical argument. Origen was living in Caesaria at the time of writing the Peri Archon, and was at the time heavily influenced by frequent contact with rabbinical scholarship. In the Peri Archon, Origen argues for the unity of scripture, (Clements 6). Origen and his contemporaries were concerned about judicious interpretations of scripture. The main problem with interpreting scripture, according to Origen, is twofold. First, there are different levels of meaning embedded in scripture. These levels of meaning include spiritual levels, which are not accessible or understandable to the average human being. Second, human beings can and do progress spiritually. This means that scripture will be interpreted differently at different times, even by the same human being. Origen holds that scripture should be interpreted on three distinct levels, which the author models after the threefold structure of the human person as soma, psyche, and pneuma. This tripartite division corresponds well with the levels on which scripture can be interpreted. The most obvious method of interpreting scripture is also the most obvious level of understanding human life: the basic physical level. Literal interpretations of

Describe Your Learning Style Free Essays

Running head: How Do I Learn Best How Do I Learn Best Kelli Powell Grand Canyon University: NRS 429V September 30, 2012 What is a learning style? Well a learning style is the way a person tends to learn best. It involves your preferred method of taking in, organizing, and making sense of information, Lake Washington Institute of Technology (2012). Some people prefer to learn by doing and touching, others prefer to learn by seeing, or by hearing the information. We will write a custom essay sample on Describe Your Learning Style or any similar topic only for you Order Now Still others learn using more than one learning style. If a person was interested in finding out what their particular learning style is would be to take the VARK questionnaire for learning styles. The most common learning style is the multimodal, but the learner can switch from one type of learning style to another depending on what the subject is being learned and or their mood, Fleming (2011). After taking the VARK questionnaire, Multimodal learning styles was assessed as the learning style of choice. The multimodal learning environments allow instructional elements to be presented in more than one sensory mode (visual, aural, written, and kinesthetic), Sankey, Birch amp; Gardiner (2010). In this particular case visual and kinesthetic were the dominate methods of learning. Strategies of learning that this person uses are highlighting and underlining notes, grouping subjects together with a certain color highlighter, use of charts, graphs and images to help them learn the subject matter. They would also make graphs or note cards with the information placed in sequenced that they can take with them, listen to music while studying and try to make the material personal to them and others that they know. They would also break their study time up into smaller sections so that it would not seem so overwhelming. As a multimodal learner they would be very adaptable to the different learning styles as they could adapt more easily to different situations and learning environments. For example if their instructor was only doing a verbal lecture an auditory learner may want to sit towards the front of the room away from windows and doors so that there was less distractions. As a visual learner they would try to take notes during the lecture, would color code their notes, and pay attention to any visual aids that were being used. Where a kinesthetic learner would ask questions and participate in discussions, take a laptop for notes so that they are doing something actively with their hands during lectures, consider taking a three hour class versus one three hour class, Student Development Centre (2009). As a multimodal learner, it is easier to learn when doing more than just reading a textbook as it harder to understand than when doing something that is interactive. As a multimodal learner some adjustments that they would need to make in their study habits would be to not to try and do the assignment all at the end of the week. By starting at the beginning of the week they would be able to break the assignment down into smaller sections so that it would not seem so overwhelming when typing a paper. Other changes that they would need to make would be finding an area and time to study where there were fewer interruptions. The use of more visual aids, for example outline of topic in chart or diagram format. This would help them keep track of where things fit together in their subjects and projects. The major benefit of having a multimodal learning style is that it â€Å"allows students to experience learning in ways in which they are most comfortable, while challenging them to experience and learn in other ways as well†. Someone who is a multimodal learner, that learners on more than one level tends to have a deeper processing of the information, maintains their attention span longer, making the information easier to understand and remember. Sankey, Birch amp; Gardiner (2010). The VARK Questionnaire Results My scores were: * Visual: 11 * Aural: 6 * Read/Write: 9 * Kinesthetic: 11| | You have a multimodal (VRK) learning preference Reference Lake Washington Institute of Technology, Learning Styles: Why do They Matter? , Retrieved from http://www. lwtech. edu/trio on September 26, 2012 Sankey, M. , Birch, D. amp; Gardiner, M. (2010) Engaging students through multimodal learning environments: The journey continues. In C. H. Steel, M. J. Keppell, P. Gerbic S. Hopusego (Eds. ), Cirriculum, technology transformation for   an unknow future. Proceedings ascilite Sydney 2010 (pp. 852-863). http://ascilite. org/au/conferences/sydney10/procs/Sankey-full. pdf Student Development Centre, The University of Western Ontario (2009), Learning Skills Services, Handouts amp; Advice, Learning Styles amp; Preferences, Retrieved from www. sdc. uwo. ca/learning/index/html? styles on September 29, 2012 Fleming, N. D. , (2011), VARK: A Review of Those Who Are Multimodal, Retrieved from http://www. vark-learning. com/english/page_content/multimodality. htm on September 23, 2012 How to cite Describe Your Learning Style, Essays

Managing a Value Chain Integration and Partnership

Question: Discuss about theManaging a Value Chain for Integration and Partnership. Answer: Introduction Value chain management is an analysis tool used to analyse business strategies for a unified integration and partnership of value chain constituents and resources (Bruhn George 2006). It involves the process of organizing an associated group of activities which includes producing goods and services from undone original materials for purchase by a consumer. It requires a full range of activities right from designing, production, marketing, and distribution, the primary objective of employing value chain management in business is to incorporate communication and enhance the relation between the members of production chain to reduce the time taken when delivering good, reduce inventories and finally upsurge customer satisfaction. The management of the value of the string in every company begins at raw materials used to make products plus everything needed before the products reach to the consumers. The main impact of the value chain to a company is it separates the companies' useful ac tivities which allow it engage into again competitive advantage from the uneconomical activities which obstruct the company from doing well in the market (Bruhn $ George 2006). The Managing of a value chain depends on the elementary economic principle of benefit. Firms get served by operating in sectors where at the end they will produce a productive advantage associated with their competitors. The Understanding of Managing the Value Chain Changed as through the Subject At the beginning of this question, I could not comprehend or even realize what consisted. However, as I progressed it became apparent to me that Managing a value chain consists of both primary and support activities (Bailey Francis 2013). The main activates involves all inbound logistics these include tasks like getting undone material and getting them processed. The outbound logistics which includes activities like delivering or distribution of the processed products to the sale point, marketing and auctions which involve selling, branding and promotion of products and the service which upholds the value and functionality of the product after the sale. Through the learning lessons, I certainly comprehend that support activates are all activities that feed into all the primary functions for instance MIS and give the managers a peaceful place to monitor the environment carefully, the Human Resource which erupts all the skills needed to keep the company going, source the products at the right price. The support activates vital, ensures the company benefits besides the pressing edges of the economic conditions and technology and at the end, the company can improve its speed accuracy and quality. Impact Created after Understanding the Importance of Managing the Value Chain After learning about and understanding it deeply managing a value chain impact was formed in my minds and the slight awareness I had earlier increased amazingly. I now started viewing it in a different way. The management of the value chain is essential to any operational efficiency. It can be employed to enhance the customer satisfaction, companies success and societal settings which involve medical missions, the operation of disaster relief plus any other kind of emergency cultural evolution and in general increase quality of life. Besides I now. They understand why many of the employers go for the employees with excellent skills and experience managing a value chain (Chyi Lee Yang 2013). The reason as to why I openly reveal this is because I didnt know a lot of thing concerning it. For example, I could not understand why companies would prefer hiring people with great knowledge as well as experience in managing the value chain than graduates. They prefer them since they would a b enefit to the organization. The biggest advantage which got to know through the discussions is that the value chain a very elastic strategy tool for incorporating into ones corporation, their competitors as well as all the respective dwellings in the value system of the organization. However, it can be used to analyze and create a healthy competition between cost and differentiation. It helps you to clearly understand the issues of the organization tangled in keeping the customer's value promise as well as their commitment.If you compare your business model with that of your competitors via the value chain analysis, it gives you a profound understanding of your sales strengths as well as the weaknesses. From the group discussions, it finally came to my knowledge that the value chain management has been the backbone of the business strategies teaching in schools for the last 20. The tool can adapt to every industry that exists such as manufacturing, retail or service either large or small. The last important thi ng that I got from the discussion is that value chain has advanced into the other model, the industry value chain that brings a profound understanding of a much competitive environment. Application of the Knowledge got from Managing a Value Chain. After completion of these subject, I will be able to apply all the knowledge I got in the workplace. For instance, I may be working in an organization; I will be organizing all the activities and engage in all healthy business competition (Dekker 2014). Besides I will be able to separate all the useful activates from the un- useful ones, and this would make the organization running smooth. Furthermore, I would ensure the company gains marginal value with all the product or service. I will make sure that the business's products are high to ensure the customers transact their services willingly since the return benefit will belong to the organization. Conclusion In conclusion, there are no other aspects I have reflected about the Managing a value chain; it is my perception that everything taught about it is amazing, adding some aspect may be obscuring. The Managing a value chain is critical, it enhances the relationship of a corporation activates and finally the organization benefit. Every business or enterprise should employ it. Otherwise, it will not be able to compete with other business which is using it and eventually may fail or remain stagnant for many years. References Bruhn, M. and George, D., 2006.Services marketing: Managing the service value chain. Pearson Education. Bailey, K. and Francis, M., 2013. Managing information flows for improved value chain performance.International Journal of Production Economics, 111(1), pp.2-12. Chyi Lee, C. and Yang, J., 2013. Knowledge value chain.Journal of management development,19(9), pp.783-794. Cravens, D.W. and Piercy, N., 2006.Strategic marketing(Vol. 7). New York: McGraw-Hill. Dekker, H.C., 2014. Value chain analysis in interfirm relationships: a field study.Management accounting research,14(1), pp.1-23. Narayanan, V.K., 2000. Managing technology and innovation for competitive advantage. Payne, A.F., Storbacka, K. and Frow, P., 2008. Managing the co-creation of value.Journal of the academy of marketing science,36(1), pp.83-96. Simchi-Levi, D., Kaminsky, P. and Simchi-Levi, E., 2004.Managing the supply chain: the definitive guide for the business professional. McGraw-Hill Companies.