Men and Women in Internet and Social Media Real

Introduction: Real Problems in Virtual Communication The differences between genders and the peculiarities of the communication within completely male and completely female mini-societies have always been key issues that allowed a borderline to be drawn between the two genders.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Men and Women in Internet and Social Media: Real-Life Stereotypes in the Virtual Communication specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Indeed, predetermining men and women’s roles in society, the aspect of communication between the former allow to establish a paradigm for a certain social behavior, which is completely different between the two genders. As Barrett Davidson (2006) stress, â€Å"it has been shown that women and men use email in ways that replicate gender roles and communication style differences in other forms of communication† (133). In the given paper, the specifics of the use of and access to the Internet and social media are discussed. Social Media Use and Access Established long ago and shaped throughout the centuries of human development, the communication within the female and the male mini-communities has taken certain shapes, which, although slightly changed with the advent of feminism, still remain relatively the same, mostly because of the behavioural patterns established for both genders; as Barrett and Davidson (2006) explain, women’s speech patterns â€Å"are asserted in terms of contrast with male norms, which means they are linked with subordinate roles rather than leadership† (p. 10). However, in the sphere of virtual communication and the social media, due to the considerable change of the environment, behavioural patterns might change, which could lead to different attitudes and different specifics of female and male communication and â€Å"suggest new, variant patterns† (Barrett Davidson, 2006, p. 14). By understanding the way new technologies impacts the communication of men and women, it may be possible to determine how the future communication of the two genders will evolve and whether â€Å"using these technologies will retain or change previous research findings about male and female communication patterns, suggest new, variant patterns [†¦]† (Barrett Davidson, 2006, p. 14).Advertising Looking for essay on gender studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It seems that the cyberspace, first defined as the â€Å"electronic space of data and representations generated, organized, and presented consistently to all viewers connected to a set of globally-networked computers† (Benedikt, 1993), has become much more than merely a storage of facts and information. Entering the sphere of social media and the Internet, people try to determine their new roles and see if the new space differs from the real one (Munusami Ismali, 2009). However, even though the virtual reality allows users to create any image possible and literally break any stereotypes, people still seemingly prefer to act in their online communications according to the gender roles which they have in their real life: â€Å"Because of its anonymity, online communication may be more uninhibited. This may in turn lead to more, rather than fewer, gender-based stereotypical comments† (Barrett Davidson, 2006, p. 133). Analyzing the peculiarities of the communication processes carried out via the Internet and social media, one can see the way gender issues impact the atmosphere and the course of the communication among men and in female circles in the virtual life. When the Virtual Borderline Is Washed Away Online communication differs greatly from the real-life communication, mostly because of the lack of visual support and non-verbal communication. In most cases, the people involved in online communication cannot see each others’ facia l expressions and gestures; as Jones (1998) explained, among the needs that have not been fully satisfied yet, â€Å"the primacy of the visual, the tendency toward the image† (p. 10) â€Å"is being developed† (p. 10). Therefore, allegedly, a user can bend the communication rules much harder in online conversation and reinvent his/her image and even the image of a certain social layer as a whole.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Men and Women in Internet and Social Media: Real-Life Stereotypes in the Virtual Communication specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More For example, at times, the lack of visual or audio information allows to erase the gender differences and make it easier for women to integrate into the online communication. F or instance, the infamous problem concerning the way women’s voices differ from those of men is removed: â€Å"I am convinced that the belief that women’s voice s are high-pitched and shrill is one way of disqualifying women from public speaking† (Spender, 1998, p. 40). The Internet and Men: A King in His Castle When taking a closer look at the way in which men communicate in their online communities, one can see distinctly that the internet and the social media are highly gendered and that there is a certain line drawn between the communication within masculine and feminine circles (Ono Zavodny, 2002). Male communication patterns are quite different and the way men socialize online presupposes different approaches (Munusami Ismali, 2009). To top it all, the aims of men and women in their online conversations and the use of social media are quite different – while women pursue a chance to plunge into a relaxing atmosphere and exchange their impressions with each other, men tend to see the Internet and the social media as a way to establish their superiority, take the lead and train their skills in arguing and drawing conclusi ons (Barrett Davidson, 2006). Taking online conversations as another variation of a hunting game where they have either to lose or to win, men use the Internet as the training ground for their skills. The Media Access: Be the Leader Like in most spheres, men tend to be leaders even in the access to the Internet (Ono Zavodny, 2002). Despite the fact that gender inequality is already a history in most countries, women still have less access to the Internet than men, as Ono and Zavodny (2002) claim.Advertising Looking for essay on gender studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More According to the latter, â€Å"about 5 percentage points more likely than women to have access to the Internet in 1996 and 1998 – a statistically insignificant gap – but the gap increased to 10 percentage in 1999 and was significant† (p. 3). As the authors assert, the difference in the rates of access opportunities between men and women can be explained by the lack of technical skills among women (Ono Zavodny, 2003). Media Usage: Veni, Vidi, Vici According to Spender (1998), the way men communicate in real and virtual life is developed â€Å"in the interest of promoting their own primacy† (p. 151). Therefore, men use the Internet and the social media in the same way as they address the issues of the real life, which involves â€Å"such masculine behaviours as verbal dueling, arguing, dominating the floor, being cool and reserved† (Cameron, 2000, p. 88), which must be stemming from the well-known â€Å"masculine social privilege† (p. 145). H ence, it appears that men try to establish their superiority with the help of the online communication, thus, enhancing their status even more and reaching the top of their leadership career. According to what Jones (1998) says, the amount of time taken by men during the use of the social media is much greater than the time women usually spend: â€Å"[†¦] if we consider amount of time spent on computers, the type of equipment, and the influence on programming, everywhere the technologically elite overwhelmingly are men† (p. 109). Internet and Women: Treading the New Territory It can be suggested that the media tend to reinforce social and gender stereotypes for adults and, especially, children, offering certain role models to follow and certain patterns which people have to accept as the only ones that are suitable. As Cameron (1992) emphasizes in her Feminism and linguistic theory, Children are treated differently according to sex both inside and outside the family from the moment they are born. Gendered behaviors are modeled or hem, and explicitly taught to them. Peer groups and social institutions (like schooling and mass media) reinforce norms of masculinity and femininity all the time. All these social processes are embedded in language, and all of them contribute to a child’s linguistic development. (p. 181) Therefore, the behavioural patterns among women in Internet and social media display the typical communication style similar to the one which is accepted in the real-life environment: according to the Gender styles in CMC research (n.d.), women â€Å"†¦displayed features of attenuation — hedging, apologizing, asking questions rather than making assertions†¦ [and] and a personal orientation, revealing thoughts and feelings and interacting with and supporting others.† Such stereotypes contribute to shaping children’s vision of gender and sexuality, which prevents from various sexual deviations (Cameron Kulick, 2003). However, it could be argued that such stereotypical perceptions of people are not the kind of attitude that the 21st century world should experience. Thus, it is rather doubtful that the Internet and social media will revolutionize the sphere of female communication and provide the changes that will offer at least a slight change in the social patterns of female communication. The Media Access: New Experience The access to the media in present days seems hardly an issue; owing to the gender equality principles which have already been established, women and men should have the same amount of opportunities in media access (Ono Zavodny, 2002). Since women are no longer oppressed by men, it must be supposed that women should have the same chances to access Internet as men do. Indeed, as Munusami and Ismali (2009) say, However, if we look into today’s education opportunity and technology advancement, Internet access and gender imbalance is not as significant as th e access is readily available for both genders. In other words, there is a democratic space to which both genders have equal excess to the Internet. However, despite all the equal excess opportunity, gender differences are still apparent in the extent and purpose of its usage. (309) In addition, despite the fact that the access to Internet often demands the technical skills and knowledge which men typically possess, women obviously access Internet almost as frequently as men; according to the statistical data offered by James Stewart (n.d.), women access the Internet in 41.8% of cases, while men make 58.2% of users who access the Internet efficiently (5). Hence, women have fewer opportunities to access the Internet. The Media Usage: Careful Exploration In terms of certain violations that users commit when using social media, men display tendencies to practice interruption of communication much more frequently than women; as Coates (2004) explains, the given specifics of male convers ational strategies stems from childhood: â€Å"Sociolinguistic researchers have found that boys in secondary schools interrupt others more than girls do† (p. 192). Rather similar to the latter, though considerably milder, the approach of overlapping is quite a widespread phenomenon for a conversation among women, which allows to suggest that the female communication is also flawed; however, as Coates (2004) explains, overlapping technique is more frequent â€Å"in mixed conversation† (p. 137). Still, it is important to note that the overlapping technique used by women in their communication serves a different purpose from the one of interruption. While the latter is used to demonstrate power and leadership, overlapping keeps the conversation going and prevents its ceasing or becoming uncomfortable and â€Å"may come into conflict over overlapping talk† (Coates, 2004, p. 137). However, the percentage of women using the Internet still remains lower than the percen tage of men; according to Stewart (n.d.), only 41.6% of the Internet users make women, while men make the remaining 58.4% (5). In addition, out of 41.6% of all Internet female users, 41% are at-home users, as Stewart (n.d.) explains. Gendering of the Access to and Use of the Internet: The Comparison To understand how access to and use of the Internet and social media are gendered, one has to compare the peculiarities of the ways in which men and women communicate online. Therefore, the specifics of the online behavior, the perception of both genders online by their partners in conversation and the typical topics of their conversations must be discussed. Thus, the full picture of the online gender issues and the most widespread stereotypes can be obtained and a complete analysis will be conducted. Men and Women in Social Media: The Similarities It is rather peculiar that, disregarding the differences between the two genders, men and women actually display certain similarities in thei r communication strategies, such as the practice of overlapping (Coates, 2004, p. 137). Transferring these strategies into the sphere of the online conversation, both genders create relatively similar patterns of behavior, which make it possible to suggest that the online space can be used as the grounds for breaking the stereotypical ideas about the way men and women communicate. However, taking a closer look at the way women and men nowadays access the social media, it becomes clear that in present days, women and men have relatively equal chances of accessing the Internet and other social media. According to what Munusami and Ismali (2009) say, both genders have the same opportunities in accessing the Internet and seem to make efficient use of their chances: If we look into today’s education opportunity and technology advancement, Internet access and gender imbalance is not as significant as the access is readily available for both genders. In other words, there is a democ ratic space to which both genders have equal excess to the Internet. (p. 309) Therefore, as for access to the Internet and social media, women and men have presumably the same opportunities. Therefore, the access to the social media is gendered according to the modern idea of equality between a man and a woman. Hence, there is very little difference in the specifics of access to the social media between men and women. Men and Women in Social Media: The Differences Mostly because of the fact that people transfer their real-life social roles into the virtual space, men and women display patterns in their online communication, which are similar to those which they demonstrate in real life, e.g., men play the part of leaders, while women prefer not to get involved into online arguments and conflicts, which, according to Barrett and Davidson, â€Å"women were less likely to resolve† (Barrett Davidson, 2006, p. 212). When it comes to the actual use of the Internet and the social m edia, it can be considered that women are more likely to structure their own style of relationships and create their own universe based on the ideas and patterns introduced earlier by men: â€Å"Men certainly play a pathfinder role in adoption of technology, through particular employment distribution, interests, resources and as a result of marketing, but women quickly follow† (Stewart, n.d., p. 5). Creating their cyberspace reality, in most cases women follow the strategy that men used earlier, and do not attempt to create any new concept, thus, only evolving, but not revolutionizing the virtual communication patterns, softening them to make these patterns more â€Å"feminine†: â€Å"Some findings are that men tend to interrupt, take long, sole-speaker turns, and use direct forms, while women tend to use indirect or modalizing strategies† (Barrett Davidson, 2006, p. 52). In the sphere of online communication, men tend to take matters in their own hands, prefer ring to manage the entire process of communication (Cameron, 1998), leading even to the situation when women are isolated from the communication process. Such actions are quite rough, yet rather typical of the male population of Internet users. According to one of the examples offered by Jones (1998), there are certain pages on the Web that have high traffic, with mostly men having online conversations, for instance, in the sphere of business. Men and Women in Social Media: The Results Nevertheless, one must admit that, in certain cases, men and women display complete equality concerning the use of Internet and social media, without splitting into certain categories and showing specific patterns of communication. According to what Al-Deen Iendricks (2011) say, â€Å"However, Gerlich, Browning, and Westermann (2010) found no significant differences between male and female college students in their Internet usage, social media usage, or beliefs about social media sites in generalâ⠂¬  (p. 139). Nevertheless, most people tend to transfer the specifics of their real-life communication in the Internet and social media. Thus, the typical split between male and female culture exists. Whilst allowing the culture of genders to remain stable, the Internet and social media have made it considerably more flexible: â€Å"Our results indicate that there is no longer a gender gap in Internet usage. However, there continues to be a gender gap in frequency and intensity of use, although this gap appears to have diminished over time† (Ono Zavodny, 2002, p. 11). Conclusion: Gender Issues in Virtual Communication It can be concluded that the development of virtual communication and social media allows women and men explore new tactics of communication. Despite the fact that the first steps made by women in the sphere of the online communication and social media life are quite careful, it could be suggested that that the shift in gender roles owes much to the modern so cial media. Although the social media powered by online communication can be used as a powerful weapon to establish even more prejudices concerning the role of a man and a woman in the present-day world, it is evident that women can try a relatively new behaviour within the boundaries of the Internet and may then stretch it even further, into the real-world social life, which will enable the eradication of numerous stereotypes. Reference List Al-Deen, N H, Iendricks, J 2011, Social media: usage and impact, Lexington Books, Idaho Falls, ID. Barrett, M, Davidson, M 2006, Gender and communication at work, Ashgate Publishing, Farnham, UK. Benedikt, M L 1993, Cityspace, cyberspace, and the spatiology of information, the University of Texas in Austin, Austin, TX. Web. Cameron, D 1992, Feminism and linguistic theory, Macmillan, Basingstoke, NY. Cameron, D 1998, The feminist critique of language: a reader, Routledge, London, UK. Cameron, D 2000, Good to talk?, SAGE, London, UK. Cameron, D Kulick, D 2003, Language and sexuality, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. Coates, J 2004, Women, men and languages, 3rd edn, Pearson Education Ltd, Harlow, UK. Gender styles in computer-mediated communication, n.d., Georgetown.edu. Web. Jones, S (ed.) 1998, Cybersociety: revisiting computer-mediated communication and  community, SAGE, London, UK. Munusami, K Ismali, M (2009). â€Å"Influence of role on Internet usage patterns at home among academicians†, Journal of International Social Research, 2(9), 308-318. Ono, H, Zavodny, M (2002). Gender and the Internet. Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA. Spender, D 1998, Man made language, Routledge, London, UK. Stewart, J n.d., Chapter 2: information society, the Internet and fender. A summary of pan-European statistical data. Web. This essay on Men and Women in Internet and Social Media: Real-Life Stereotypes in the Virtual Communication was written and submitted by user Nakia 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.

Understanding Americas Digital Divide

Understanding America's Digital Divide While America’s once vast digital divide is narrowing, the gap between groups of people who have those who lack access to computers and the internet persists, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. What is the Digital Divide? The term â€Å"digital divide† refers to the gap between those who have easy access to computers and the internet and those who do not due to various demographic factors. Once referring mainly to the gap between those with and without access to information shared via telephones, radios, or televisions, the term is now used mainly to describe the gap between those with and without internet access, particularly high-speed broadband. Despite having some level of access to digital information and communication technologies, various groups continue to suffer the limitations of the digital divide in the form of lower-performance computers and slower, unreliable internet connections such as dial-up. Making quantifying the information gap even more complex, the list of devices used to connect to the internet has grown from basic desktop computers to include devices such as laptops, tablets, smartphones, MP3 music players, video gaming consoles, and electronic readers. No longer simply a question of having access or not, the digital divide is now best described as â€Å"who connects to what and how?† Or as Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai described it, the gap between â€Å"those who can use cutting-edge communications services and those who cannot.† Drawbacks of Being in the Divide Persons without access to computers and the internet are less able to fully take part in America’s modern economic, political and social life. Perhaps most significantly, children who fall into the communication gap lack access to modern educational technology such as internet-based distance learning. Access to broadband internet has become increasingly important in carrying out simple day-to-day chores like accessing health information, online banking, choosing a place to live, applying for jobs, looking up government services, and taking classes. Just as when the problem was first recognized and addressed by the U.S. federal government in 1998, the digital divide remains concentrated among older, less educated, and less affluent populations, as well as those living in rural areas of the country that tend to have fewer connectivity choices and slower internet connections. Progress in Closing the Divide For historical perspective, the Apple-I personal computer went on sale in 1976. The first IBM PC hit the stores in 1981, and in 1992, the term â€Å"surfing the internet† was coined. In 1984, only 8% of all American households had a computer, according to the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey (CPS). By 2000, about half of all households (51%) had a computer. In 2015, this percentage grew to nearly 80%. Adding in smartphones, tablets and other internet-enabled devices, the percentage rose to 87% in 2015. However, just owning computers and connecting them to the internet are two different things. When the Census Bureau began collecting data on internet use as well as computer ownership in 1997, only 18% of households used the internet. A decade later, in 2007, this percentage had more than tripled to 62% and increased to 73% in 2015. Of the 73% of households using the internet, 77% had a high-speed, broadband connection. So who are the Americans still in the digital divide? According to the latest Census Bureau report on Computer and Internet Use in the United States compiled in 2015, both computer and internet use continue to vary based on a variety of factors, most notably, age, income, and geographic location. The Age Gap Households headed by persons 65 years and older continue to lag behind households headed by younger persons in both computer ownership and internet use. While up to 85% of households headed by a person under age 44 owned desktop or laptop computers, only 65% of households headed by a person age 65 and older owned or used a desktop or laptop in 2015. Ownership and use of handheld computers showed an even greater variation by age. While up to 90% of households headed by a person less than 44 years of age had a handheld computer, only 47% of households headed by a person 65 years and older used some type of handheld device. Similarly, while up to 84% of households headed by a person less than 44 years of age had a broadband internet connection, the same was true in only 62% of households headed by a person aged 65 and older. Interestingly, 8% of households without a desktop or laptop computer depended on smartphones alone for internet connectivity. This group included 8% of householders ages 15 to 34, versus 2% of households with householders age 65 and older. Of course, the age gap is expected narrow naturally as younger current computer and internet users grow older. The Income Gap Not surprisingly, the Census Bureau found that using a computer, whether a desktop or laptop or handheld computer, increased with household income. The same pattern was observed for a broadband internet subscription. For example, 73% of households with annual incomes of $25,000 to $49,999 owned or used a desktop or laptop, compared with only 52% of households earning less than $25,000. â€Å"Low-income households had the lowest overall connectivity, but the highest proportion of ‘handheld only’ households,† said Census Bureau demographer Camille Ryan. â€Å"Similarly, black and Hispanic households had relatively low connectivity overall but high proportions of handheld only households. As mobile devices continue to evolve and increase in popularity, it will be interesting to see what happens with this group.† The Urban vs. Rural Gap The longstanding gap in computer and internet use between urban and rural Americans not only persists but is growing wider with the increased adoption of new technologies such as the smartphone and social media. In 2015, all persons living in rural areas were less likely to use the internet than their urban counterparts. However, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NITA) found that certain groups of rural residents face a particularly wide digital divide. For example, 78% of Whites, 68% of African Americans, and 66% of Latinos nationwide use the internet. In rural areas, however, only 70% of White Americans had adopted the Internet, compared to 59% of African Americans and 61% of Latinos. Even as internet use has increased dramatically overall, the rural vs. urban gap remains. In 1998, 28% of Americans living in rural areas used the Internet, compared to 34% of those in urban areas. In 2015, over 75% of urban Americans used the internet, compared to 69% of those in rural areas. As NITA points out, the data shows a consistent 6% to 9% gap between rural and urban communities internet use over time. This trend, says NITA, shows that in spite of advances in technology and government policy, the barriers to internet use in rural America are complex and persistent. People who are less likely to use the internet no matter where they live- such as those with lower income or education level- face even greater disadvantages in rural areas. In the words of the FCC chairman, â€Å"If you live in rural America, there’s a better than a 1-in-4 chance that you lack access to fixed high-speed broadband at home, compared to a 1-in-50 probability in our cities.† In an effort to address the problem, the FCC in February 2017, created the Connect America Fund allocating up to $4.53 billion over a period of 10 years to advance high-speed 4G LTE wireless internet service primarily in rural areas. Guidelines regulating the fund will make it easier for rural communities to get federal subsidies for advancing internet availability.

GSV Software Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

GSV Software - Assignment Example GSV has a well-planned production strategy that is aimed at satisfying its large customer base. The aim of a company being to satisfy its customers with high quality products, GSV has attained that without compromising the quality of its programs. In its working, it integrates CSR and sustainability with their products and their operations. To ensure third party satisfaction, it complies with supply chain security global standards of various regions which include PIP in Canada, CTPAT, WCO and AEO in Europe. According to Johnson and Clark (2008), customer satisfaction is the ultimate goal of any company, the providers liaise well with the parties in the supply chain to get the information required to maintain global business security (71). The security self-assessment tool that is incorporated into the program is important in verifying the integrity of the person. GSV product delivery is done by third parties. This means that it has to introduce ways to ensure that the customers are satisfied with their products or risk losing their large customer base. This can be done by introducing a customer feedback forum so that they can address the arising issues and improve on their

Business Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Business Law - Essay Example This means that there is unlimited liability and the owner will be responsible personally to repay any debts that may arise from the business. An electrical contracting business would require large amounts of capital to set up and then run the day to day activities. Such limitless capital would not be available with a single person who plans to open a new business, thus he may resort to borrowing or taking loans from lenders. This too is not a guaranteed way to acquire capital as lenders would be unwilling to invest in a new business controlled by a single person with unlimited liability. They would want the personal assets of the owner to cover their loans so that in case of default in the repayment, the assets might be used to recover the loan provided. Secondly, an electrical contracting business needs sophisticated machinery and constant supervision. A single person will not be able to control and supervise 24/7, causing mismanagement which the competition can take advantage of. However, a sole proprietorship is easy to form and dissolve as it does not include legal formalities for starting and closing a business. Although a business such as an electrical contractor would require a government license giving permission to produce and supply electricity which would require certain conditions to be fulfilled. A sole proprietor does not need to share his profits with anyone and he pays minimum income tax as he is not a partnership or a corporation which pay a large proportion of their profits in tax. Electrical contracting business as a Partnership An electrical contracting business being set up as a partnership means ownership is shared between 2 to 20 people. This means that the business will have greater capital and credit resources. A partnership is governed by the law and follows a written document known as the partnership agreement. This document contains all the provisions necessary for smooth running of the business for example managerial duties, share of profits etc. A partnership too can be formed relatively easily as compared to a company. Forming a partnership for conducting an electrical contracting service would require a government license. This license can be achieved relatively easily as compared to sole proprietor business. A partnership consists of two or more thus each person can utilize their managerial skills and benefit the business. For example a partner who is an electrical engineer can work on the machines while another partner who is an accountant can manage the accounts of the business and ensure smooth running. A partnership means the risk of the business is spread over the numerous partners thus one person does not have to take the burden. However, a partnership has unlimited liability as well. This means that all the personal assets of the partners are at risk and a bad decision by one partner can result in loss for all the partners. Being a partnership there is still a limit to the amount of capital that ca n be acquired thus the business has a limitation on the size. Lastly, a partnership will be subjected to large amounts of taxes under the law. A partnership can acquire several types of tax id numbers, e.g.  A Federal EIN Number - The Federal Tax Identification Number is used to identify a business entity and is required for employers and corporations as well as partnerships. A State Sales Tax Id - Sales tax

Trust in E - Commerce Essay Example for Free

Trust in E Commerce Essay Introduction The composition of this essay will concentrate on the topic about Trust in E-Commerce. Hence, this would focus in rendering a clear understanding on how such trust in E – Commerce would work in the actual practice of electronic business. The completion of this essay is up to provide general information about the importance of trust in E – Commerce. In addition to this, it will give an evident rationale in the primary functions of trust in actual practice of business in E – Commerce. Moreover, this paper holds on the purpose of providing comprehensive details on trust in E – Commerce. The following will be discussed: 1. A Brief Back Ground: Trust in Online environment 2. Importance of Trust in E Commerce 3. Major Risks in E-commerce 4. Arguments, Issues and More At the end of the paper, its goal includes determining the importance of trust in the practice of E – Commerce. Nevertheless, this essay would work to tackle prominent issues about E – Commerce with regard to trust. The Definition of Trust in an Online Environment Singh (1996) differentiates between two types of trust, which is that of soft trust and hard trust. Under the concept of soft trust, the important elements are that which â€Å"involve human psychology, brand loyalty, and user-friendliness† (Bollier 1996: 21 as cited in Singh 1996: 145). On the other hand, that of hard trust has factors, which â€Å"involve authenticity, encryption, and security in transactions† (Bollier 1996: 21 as cited in Singh 1996: 145). There is distinction that is to be made between the two that is the main reason for its separation. However, both sets of factors enable the users to have a sense of trust in a virtual environment where the virtual characteristic of the online environment has produced uncertainties.   Likewise, it is to be noted that the factors included for the â€Å"soft trust† involves those which are relative to the customers and are points where the online environment interacts with the users. These are the things, which are related to the client and would vary from every user. On the other hand, those elements under the category of hard trust leans towards those characteristics of the online environment which the users look for and which the different participants in the online environment should provide and possess in order for trust to be built. Moreover, Sutherland and Tan (2004) define trust as the element of the users that allow them to be vulnerable and take risks. It results to their acceptance of both the positive and negative consequences of their use of the online environment. The level for such may vary from one person to another depending on the elements of hard and soft trust placed above. Figure 1. E-Commerce Diagram for Secure Transactions Importance of Trust in E – Commerce Trust in a sense has always been significant aspect in doing business (The Importance of Trust and Credibility n.d.). Hence, establishing trust and credibility is a helpful way to gain the confidence of consumers or the customers (The Importance of Trust and Credibility n.d.). In sales, establishment of such trust is an efficient way to reach higher rate of sale (The Importance of Trust and Credibility n.d.). Likewise, trust and credibility is significant in building firm relationship with consumers and attract potential customers or buyers in the future (The Importance of Trust and Credibility n.d.). The E-commerce is a type of a socio-technical system in exchanging business data and information, upholding business relationships, and accomplishing business transactions through the used of telecommunications networks (E – Commerce Relationships n.d ). In literature, trust is commonly characterized as the confidence or predictability in individual’s potentials (Pavlou n.d ) and the confidence or faith in others goodwill (Trust in Electronic Environment n.d.). In the practice of E – Commerce, trust is considered to be the focal point of creating a firm relationship with the clients or the consumer (E – Commerce Relationships n.d.). This is due to the fact that in such environment the presence of risks, uncertainties, and interdependencies are prevalent (E – Commerce Relationships n.d.). Hence, such trust in the field of E – Commerce is significant for the fact that it serves as the key factor in establishing social capital (On-line trust: concepts, evolving themes, a model n.d.). In addition to this, trust in E-commerce is important in achieving positive outcomes or results such as improving supplier performance, attaining consumer’s satisfaction increasing competitive advantages, and other substantial economic achievement (Building E-commerce Trust Applying Usability Principles n.d., eCommerce and the electronics industry n.d.). In citation of these facts and information it is reasonable enough to say that such trust in the field of E –Commerce is proven to be significant and effectual in many ways. Moreover, apart from the significance of trust in E –Commerce, it also entails positive benefits. Such reward of trust is measurable in a broader range in E – Commerce such as reducing the transaction costs, endorsing advantageous behaviors to attract and limiting the extent of formal contracts (E – Commerce Relationships n.d., Egger n.d.). Nonetheless, trust plays a significant role in e-commerce due to the scenarios like lack of physical proximity, inefficiencies in web technology, anonymity, potential opportunism and lack of control (E – Commerce Relationships n.d.). Major Risks in E-commerce With the speedy development and improvement of technologies, more specifically that of the Internet, it is a fact that this entails a broader range of significant and new opportunities (Hunter n .d.). However, such new opportunities have come with new risks that are commonly not included in the company’s actual risk management strategy (Hunter n .d.). Likewise, the utilization of risk management has been part of the part of the business industry and is widely implemented in such environment (Hunter, n .d.). This is in support of protecting the company’s tangible assets that are exposed to different perils or risks (Hunter, n .d.). Thus, in the field of E –Commerce, such management strategy relies more in the use of technology such as the internet (Hunter, n .d.). Nonetheless, with the appropriate and accorded utilization of such risks management program, possible perils in E – Commerce could be addressed accordingly (Hunter, n .d.). In a sense, it is considered that the possible risks or perils in the field of E – Commerce is associated in different detrimental form such as, viruses, hackers and abuse of credit card numbers used in the transactions over telecommunication lines (Managing Risks in Electronic Commerce n.d.). However, such risks in E – Commerce could possibly be addressed by means of utilizing technological advances (â€Å"Managing Risks in Electronic Commerce n.d.). Certainly, in E – Commerce, major risks are categorized in three primary areas which are business risks, information risks, and technology risks (Managing Risks in Electronic Commerce n.d.). In a sense, the Information Risks are perils that involve information published and depicted in the web page or sites, which are associated with the manner of e-commerce (Managing Risks in Electronic Commerce n.d.). In addition to this, such category of risk in E – Commerce is considered to be the threats that are associated with the mismanagement of vital information such as violation of laws in a given state and other countries (Managing Risks in Electronic Commerce n.d.). The Technology risk is defined as the hazard that is associated with the databases, telecommunications, software and hardware (Managing Risks in Electronic Commerce n.d.). Also, these specific risks entails consequences that result to the mismanagement or misuse of technology and the utilization of inappropriate technologies in support of addressing the business needs (Managing Risks in Electronic Commerce n.d.). Business risks, on the other hand, are all about the relationship between the customer or consumers and the supplier. Also, this include risks that are associated with products and services, which are marketed and distributed over the Internet (Managing Risks in Electronic Commerce n.d.). In addition to this, such risk in E – Commerce also involves the possible risks associated with managerial factors in the business, which includes contractual and personnel matters (Managing Risks in Electronic Commerce n.d.). Furthermore, the risk of Credit Card Fraud is also perceived as one of the detrimental threats or danger in E – Commerce (Electronic Commerce n.d.). It is believed that such business peril has been in the system ever since credit cards are introduced (Electronic Commerce n.d.). As such, this risk of fraud is anticipated in the business as far as the credits cards are utilized mainly in the E – Commerce transactions (Electronic Commerce n.d.). Likewise, most of the companies involved in the E – Commerce industry is considered to be exposed to such risk by means of credit card utilization and losses for such (Electronic Commerce n.d.). By citing the actual process of utilizing the credit card in E – Commerce, it is clearly evident that such risk of fraud is prevalent in the business (Electronic Commerce n.d.). However, through the use of simple, but effective, strategies such risks in E –Commerce could possibly be addressed (Electronic Commerce n.d.). For instance, the service-based businesses with returning transactions from recognized client or customers entails a much lower risk of fraud (Electronic Commerce n.d.). Nonetheless, with the appropriate implementation of strategies and utilization of effectual business system, it is a fact that companies in E – Commerce could mitigate and prevent the possible risks that are stated above and gain positive benefits from online businesses such as credit transactions (Electronic Commerce n.d.). Arguments, Issues and More Just like any other business industry, the E – Commerce also experiences different issues that could be harmful in a sense. From a personal point of view, issues and arguments in business sectors is part of its actual practices. Thus, this could also serve as the valuable source of learning, which could be used for improvement and development of the company. In the industry of E – Commerce, it is perceived that the notion of trust is a significant matter that is considered in different issues. Moreover, â€Å"trust† is a notion that everyone clearly understands at a given personal perception (A Thoughtful Approach to Web Site Quality, E Commerce | Trust Trustworthiness n.d.). However, it is considered that one of the main issues with regard to trust in E –Commerce is associated with the people’s difficulties in expressing specific definition of such idea (A Thoughtful Approach to Web Site Quality, E Commerce | Trust Trustworthiness n.d.). Some of the public entails stricter basis in measuring and evaluating their trust in a person or a company (A Thoughtful Approach to Web Site Quality, E Commerce | Trust Trustworthiness n.d.). Moreover, the strategy to provide or render a reliable state of trust in the field of E – Commerce is considered to be one of the most pervasive issues in the industry that is still in search of possible resolution (Trust Issues in Ecommerce n.d.). This is due to the fact that such traditional method of face-to-face contact and reputation is far from occuring as compared to that of the actual business transaction of E – Commerce (Trust Issues in Ecommerce n.d.). Thus, the new method that is based on the utilization of digital certificates and cryptographic algorithms rendered by Certification Authorities are one of the common issues in E – Commerce as it is not enough to solve the issues with regards to trust (Trust Issues in Ecommerce n.d.). Conclusion With the above facts and information depicted in this essay, it is clearly reasonable to say that trust in E – Commerce plays a profound role in the industry. Hence, such notion is indeed significant in the entire process and actual practice of electronic business. As such, trust in Electronic Commerce works as the essential component towards the achievement of business success. In addition to this, such trust is important in rendering rooms for improvement and development in terms of financial aspects, operational, and over-all business performance. Thus, such is significant in the industry of Electronic Commerce as it is considered to be the key factor achieving various positive outcomes and results in the business. Nonetheless, the completion of this essay renders definite information on the primary uses and significance of trust in Electronic Commerce practices and business transactions. Moreover, this depicts the major issues of trust in E – Commerce and incorporated with the accorded reasons on such topics together with the appropriate mechanism or methodology to accordingly address such trust issues. References A Thoughtful Approach to Web Site Quality, E Commerce | Trust Trustworthiness [online] available from http://www.philosophe.com/commerce/trust.html [August 15, 2008]. Building E-commerce Trust Applying Usability Principles [online] available from http://www.nicolasdeproft.be/pages/ecommercetrust/conclusion.html [August 15, 2008]. eCommerce and the electronics industry [online] available from http://www.ferret.com.au/n/eCommerce-and-the-electronics-industry-n686364 [August 15, 2008]. E – Commerce Relationships [online] available from http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0198-239216/E-commerce-relationships-the-impact.html [August 15, 2008]. Egger F. (n.d.) Affective Design of E-Commerce User Interfaces: How to Maximise Perceived Trustworthiness [online] available from http://www.ecommuse.com/research/publications/CAHD2001.htm [August 15, 2008]. Electronic Commerce [online] available from http://www.responsivesystems.com.au/ecommerce/index.html [August 15, 2008]. Hunter S. (n.d.) E-commerce Risks [online] available from http://www.marsh.com.au/ECommerceRisks.htm [August 15, 2008]. Managing Risks in Electronic Commerce [online] available from http://www.muhlenberg.edu/depts/abe/business/miller/ecrisks.html [August 15, 2008]. On-line trust: concepts, evolving themes, a model. (n.d.) [online] available from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL_udi=B6WGR-48DXRCC-1_user=10_rdoc=1_fmt=_orig=search_sort=dview=c_acct=C000050221_version=1_urlVersion=0_userid=10md5=9893dfb675be4b1cc30748424542452e [August 15, 2008] Pavlou p. (n.d.). The Transitional Role of Institutional Trust in Online Interorganizational Relationships [online] available from http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.3.6276 [August 15, 2008] Singh, S. (1996). The social impact of electronic money. In G. Rosston D. Waterman (Eds.), Interconnection and the internet (135-154). NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. Sutherland, P. Tan, F. (2004). The nature of consumer trust in B2C electronic commerce: A multi-dimensional conceptualism. In Information Resource Management Association International Conference, Innovations through information technology: 2004 Information Resources Management Association International Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, May 23-26, 2004. UK: Idea Group Inc. The Importance of Trust and Credibility. (n.d.) [online] available from http://www.zeald.com/Resources/The+Importance+of+Trust+and+Credibility.html [August 15, 2008] Trust Issues in E – Commerce. (n.d.) [online] available from http://www.unsw.adfa.edu.au/~lpb/research/trust/ [August 15, 2008] Trust in Electronic Environment. (n.d.) [online] available from http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGki7BHKhIaHYAmwpXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTBydHRjbmRzBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMwRjb2xvA3NrMQR2dGlkAw/SIG=12fkedrf3/EXP=1219063361/**http%3a//www.hicss.hawaii.edu/HICSS36/HICSSpapers/STFMS01.pdf [August 15, 2008]

Low Voter Turnout is NOT a Significant Problem in the United States Ess

Low Voter Turnout is NOT a Significant Problem in the United States The different strategies in political campaigning have led to lower voter turnout and less political participation by the general public according to Steven Schier in his book, "Payment Due: A Nation In Debt, A Generation In Trouble." Different public and private interest groups can link these downturns to the changing political strategies and the lobbying of the government. Political participation and lower voter turnout is something that we should not be concerned about and doesn’t pose a significant problem in the United States. The low level of political engagement that Schier says is going to be approximately 50% of the citizenry can be explained in many ways. One of the reasons for the low level is what Martin Wattenberg points as being the citizenry lacking party identification. People are tending to not identify with a party and therefore not vote solely for that party. Wattenberg claims that some saw the lack of party identification to have implication that seemed quite threatening for democracy (Wattenberg, 23-25). Keefe points out that â€Å"strong partisans are less numerous than in the past. Split-ticket voting is common everywhere. Most voters do not view parties in a favorable light (Keefe, 74).† With the lack of party identification has come the rise of parties of accommodation. Parties of accommodation have made it impossible for the number of citizens engaged in politics to remain as high as it once was. If the party does not stand for something than people aren’t a s interested in making a stand with the party. In the 2000 election there where 2 parties of accommodation running candidates of accommodation against each ot... ...y. The two major parties ensure that people with the same basic ideas and the same basic goal for the country, such the life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, will remain in power. Schier’s concerns have basis to them, but in the end the United States political structure will continue to run. The presidents may become indistinguishable from each other but they will still have the same general goals and the same outlook. The average American citizen may not be interested in and may not participate in politics, but politics in general will remain the same. The elite will run the country and the average citizen will either voice their opinion by voting or ride the shirt tales of other voters. Politics may be exclusive, but the exclusive elite is chosen by the masses. Timothy J Penny, Steve Schier. Payment Due: A Nation In Debt, A Generation In Trouble

Learning Contracts Essay

Table of Contents Section Page Abstract1 Introduction 2 Definition of Learning Contract2 Purpose of the Learning Contract3 Uses of Learning Contracts3 Advantages and Disadvantages of Learning Contracts4 Advantages4 Disadvantages5 Designing Learning Contracts5 Conclusions and Recommendations 6 Conclusion 6 Recommendations†¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦6 References8 Abstract Learning contracts are being used in post-secondary education. Adults approach learning as problem solving and in theory by implementing learning contracts, the student becomes more involved in their own learning process. This paper discusses the use of a learning contract, the advantages and disadvantages for using contracts and the general design of a learning contract. The use of learning contracts provides opportunity for the student to be more involved in their own learning and apply relevance to their own educational experience. Learning Contracts â€Å"Contract learning is, in essence, an alternative way of structuring a learning experience: It replaces a content plan with a process plan.† Malcolm S. Knowles (1991, pg.39). In the early 1970’s, the concept that adults learn differently than children was introduced by Malcolm Knowles. This theory of andragogy has inspired research and controversy. The complexity of adult learning and motivation provides opportunities to explore new methods of teaching. Implementing learning contracts is an alternative way to structure the learning  experience. Definition. Learning contract by definition is an agreement between students and teachers that grant the student certain freedoms and choices about completing tasks yet requires the student to meet certain specifications (â€Å"Definition,† n.d., p. 1). According to Knowles (1980), contract learning solves, or at least reduces, the problem of dealing with wide differences within any group of adult learners. Knowles (1986) defines a learning contract as containing specifically: 1.the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values to be acquired by the learner (learning objectives); 2.how the objectives are to be accomplished; 3.the target date for their accomplishment; 4.what evidence will be presented to demonstrate that the objectives have been accomplished; and 5.how this evidence will be judged or validated. In academic settings the contract also specifies how much credit is to be awarded and what grade is to be given (p.38). Understanding the purpose and advantages of learning contracts and being able to apply them in our future careers as adult instructors will help prepare us for the variety of learning styles our students will have. Purposes of Learning Contracts Learning contracts have multiple purposes. One purpose is that it can enrich and extend the curriculum. They can connect educational needs to individual needs. The responsibility of learning is shared by the student and the educator. Learning contracts can also challenge the abilities of highly able students and provide alternate options that can be altered specifically for the differences in abilities, learning styles and interests of individual students. The contract is a tool for structuring the learning process. Uses of Learning Contracts Findings from research about adult learning have shown that when adults go about learning something naturally, they are highly self-directed (Tough, 1971, 1979). Coincidentally, when adults learn on their own initiative, they have a deeper understanding and more permanent memory of when they  learn by being taught. Core adult learning principles view the adult learner as the primary source of data for making sound decisions regarding the learning process (Knowles, Holton, & Swanson, 1998, p. 183). Contract learning is compatible with the notion that adult learners are self-directed learners. Online instruction is an example where contract learning can be highly effective. In an online environment, instructors are not physically meeting with the students to discuss learning goals, objectives and expectations. Learning contracts can help negotiate and define the learning goals and outcomes. Sample learning contracts can be placed on a web page and the student can determine which contract best suits their learning goals. Students can also engage in online discussions about the different options with their peers and gain a broader perspective through shared knowledge. Learning contracts can also be highly effective in the corporate world. Training employees is costly and can require large investments from organizations. Learning contracts allow the employee to take responsibility and increases motivation in the learning process when they are able to relate the training directly to their job responsibilities. Contracts can also clearly define the company’s expectations of the outcomes. When the expectations are defined, both instructor and trainee can track progress and stay focused on the company’s business goals and strategies. Learning contracts are useful in research. Research learning contracts provide form and structure to an unstructured environment such as the research laboratory, while ensuring maximal flexibility (â€Å"Contracts,† n.d., para. 2). It allows the student to control their own learning. Contracts allow students to define learning objectives, activities, rate of progress and methods of assessment that will evaluate the student’s success or failure. Advantages and Disadvantages of Learning Contracts Advantages. There are many advantages for learning contracts in adult education. Learning contracts enhance the adult learner’s self-directed learning experience. They promote creative and critical thinking for the student and develop their time management, planning and decision making skills. They can target specific individuals and their specific learning  activities. Each students experience can be unique to them and incorporate their own prior knowledge and experience. The contracts also allow students to work at their appropriate pace and can increase the student’s motivation which in return can increase their class participation. Contracts can help keep students on course if the contracts are specific and concrete. This can also help minimize miscommunication or misunderstanding of expectations and outcomes. The contract also provides a means for the learner to receive continuous feedback regarding progress toward accomplishing learning objectives. Disadvantages. There are disadvantages to using learning contracts. Contracts can be time consuming to develop. They typically are more detailed and require you to put in more work in the developing stage. Also, students can have confusion especially if their prior learning experience has only been the traditional method of instruction in a classroom. If students are only familiar with â€Å"instructor taught† learning and have not learned to be self-directed learners, the student could have difficulty adapting to this method. The learning contract method in pedagogic learning may require more instructor involvement verses student driven in andragogic learning. The attitude of the educator can have an influence on the learning contract as well. Some educators feel the learning contract gives the student too much control. Designing Learning Contracts There are many different ways to design a learning contract. Learning contracts can address the diverse learning needs of different students and may be designed to suit a variety of purposes. Despite the flexibility, there is a general format starting with identification of the content that will be learned. Specific methods and strategies that will be used to learn the content should be identified. Specifying resources to be used in order to learn the content and determining the type of evidence that will be used to demonstrate the learning should be identified. Last, the evidence that will be validated and by whom needs to be defined. Having clarity will lead to improved performance and allow for revision of learning objectives if needed throughout the learning experience (â€Å"Learning Contracts,† n.d.). Conclusion and Recommendations Conclusion. Malcolm Knowles’ introduction of andragogy has influenced adult education. A distinguishing characteristic of adult learning programs is the shared control of program planning and facilitation (Knowles, Holton, & Swanson, 1998, p.133). Engaging adults as partners in their learning experience satisfies their â€Å"need to know† and appeals to their self-concept as independent learners. Learning contracts are a tool that encourages students to participate more actively in their own learning experience. It is an alternative method of structuring a learning experience unique to individuals. It enables educators to work with differences among a group of learners. Learning contracts, more so than any other type of instructional method, create the conditions for individualized instruction. The contract method will not be effective if the adult learner is passive in their own learning experience. Disadvantages include extensive planning and commitment as well as excessive focus on individual success (Duggan, n.d.). In general, adult learners are going to be self-directed learners as opposed to child learners. Based on the five assumptions learned in WED 486 regarding adult learners: adults need to know why they need to know; adults need to learn experientially; adults approach learning as problem solving; adults learn best when the topic is of immediate value; and adults need to integrate new ideas with what they already know, learning contracts are an effective tool to enhance a self-directed experience. Recommendations. Additional research related to contract learning involves the fairness of learning contracts. In the traditional method of instructor taught learning, all students are given the same syllabus and information on what it takes to earn a particular grade. In the case of learning contracts, they are individualized to the learner. The contract may be specific as to how each learner will obtain earned grades but will the content be equal? Additional research is recommended to determine if contracts are efficient if not all students are covering the same material. References Duggan, T. (n.d.). The disadvantages of training agreements. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/list_6075915_disadvantages-training-agreements.html  Guidelines for writing. (n.d.). In Learning contract guidelines [PDF]. Retrieved from https://dsacms.tamu.edu/sites/sllo.tamu.edu/files/LearningContractGuidelines.pdf Knowles, M. S. (1980). The modern practice of adult education from pedagogy to andragogy. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Cambridge Adult Education. Knowles, M. S. (1986). Using learning contracts (p. 38). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Inc., Publishers. Knowles, M. S., Holton, III, E. F., & Swanson, R. A. (1998). Beyond andragogy. In (Ed.), The adult learner (5th ed., pp. 153-183). Houston, TX: Gulf Publishing. Learning contracts. (n.d.). In How to create and use learning contracts [PDF]. Retrieved from http://fcpsteach.org/docs/directions-learning%20contracts.pdf Research learning contracts. (n.d.). In webGuru. Retrieved October 1, 2011, from http://www.webguru.neu.edu/undergradu ate-research/structuring-ur-experience/research-learning-contracts Tough, A. (1971, 1979). The adult’s learning projects. Toronto: Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.