Collective Bargaining and Unions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Collective Bargaining and Unions - Essay Example Traditionally, trade unions were very powerful in championing employee rights hence were viewed as adversaries by the management but nowadays the management has realised the need to partner with them. Though collective bargaining is an effective way of ensuring favourable working conditions, the employment context has changed and new ways of handling employee issues have emerged such as the human resource management approach which views workers as assets hence partnering with them in realisation of the organization aims (Wilton, 2011). The question that begs an answer is; which is the most appropriate approach to employment relations in a dynamic and turbulent environment? This requires us to delve into the benefits of having strong unions and the disadvantages as well as the HRM approach to employment relations. Collective bargaining and a strong role for unions have various implications on the various actors in employment relations such as the employees, employers, trade unions and the state. In Britain, trade unions had a lot of power before the conservative government took over power. The players in British employment relations include the Trade Union Congress, European Union, staff associations, state, employee representatives, and employers among others (Armstrong, 2009). ... They also help to settle disputes by participating in disciplinary and grievance hearings, legal representation for members, ensuring health and safety standards are maintained and ensuring job security by protecting them against unlawful dismissal. Trade unions can effectively bargain for improved wages and benefits for workers but what does this imply for the employer? If it results in higher wages than equilibrium wages in the market, the employer is unable to compete effectively in the highly competitive global market hence may be forced out of business or reduce production (Hyman, 2001). Moreover, increased wages lead to high production costs thus reduced output which may force the employer to cut labour costs by reducing the number of employees. This is a disadvantage to the employees as they lose income. For unions, increased wages means increased returns for them although a reduction in membership means loss of returns. Sometimes collective bargaining does not end up in an ag reement hence conflicts arise. A strong union may influence members to go on strike until their demands are met or stay on the job but slow their production (Singh, 2010).This leads to great losses for the employer due to reduced productivity or lost production. For example, British Airways strike in 2010 led to disruption of flights from Heathrow airport hence massive losses due to cancellation of flights and loss of consumer confidence. Trade disputes are therefore inevitable where unions are strong. Collective bargaining determines the relationship between employee and employer through an agreed employment contract (Torrington et al. 2011). This may limit workplace flexibility which is much needed in today’s

Ocean warming Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Ocean warming - Essay Example These recognized services of the ocean are required in sustaining the life support system in the earth, thus, the earth should have a healthy oceanic and coastal environment. Ocean warming is a threat to the health of the world ocean that is why ocean management strategies are to be properly implemented. These management strategies of marine ecosystem are not properly applied which result to the decreasing capacity of the ocean to store C02 secretion. The ocean is now suffering the severe consequences brought about by unmonitored secretion of C02 by human activities and one of this is ocean acidification (Feely, et al., 2006, pp.1-4). This is the result in too much giving up of C02 in the earth’s atmosphere which paved the way in the warming of the ocean. This paper’s aim is to get a clear idea on scientist’s suspicion about the warming of the ocean and its real scenario. Its main objective is to be able to know what exactly is ocean warming as well as to identify and assess changes that had led to this situation. Illustration and evidences are presented to have a clear picture on how C02 greatly affects the increased heating of the ocean. The environmental and social impact of changes in the ocean/atmosphere interaction will also be tackled. This is also design to inform the society of their share, a recommendation on what to do upon knowing that the ocean is warming. Global climate change is a very crucial issue especially with regard to the increasing of heat content of the world ocean and the raising of sea level. U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator Dr. James Baker (2000) said, there â€Å"has been warming to a depth of nearly 10,000 feet in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans† (cited in Stevenson, n.d.). Ocean warming is considered to be a complex problem and is not a simple matter for scientists that are engrossed in

Short Research Proposal On Fear Of Crime

Short Research Proposal On Fear Of Crime In this short research proposal, I will critically analyse and justify the reasons why I have chosen to use in depth interviews compared to other qualitative methods in order to research fear of crime among young men aged between 18-25 in inner London. My primary objective is to find out to what extent do young men aged 18-25 living in inner London fear crime. Altogether there are three main types of qualitative data; they are in depth interviews, focus groups and ethnography (Bryman, 2004). However, before I justify the reasons why I have chosen to use in depth interviews compared to focus groups and ethnography I will first give a brief definition of fear of crime among young men. In order to carry out a short research proposal, it is important that I have background knowledge on my research topic. On the whole, there are many different types of interviews however in my research I will be conducting in depth interviews with thirty young males aged between 18-25. I have chosen in depth interviews to conduct my research as this will provide me with rich data, it will also enable the participants to express their feelings and experiences on fear of crime (Bryman, 2004). There are two different types of in depth interviews they are known as semi-structured and unstructured interviews. In my research, I will be carrying out semi-structured interviews whereby I will have a set of questions to ask the participants. In Semi structured interviews the questions are usually open ended hence this will enable me to gather rich, detailed information about the experiences and attitudes towards fear of crime among young men (Miller and Brewer, 2003). On the other hand, although unstructured interviews are a great way to build rapport with the respondent there is a slight possibility that the participants may go off on tangents, and hence this will be more time consuming (Seale, 2004). In relation to my research topic, by carrying out a semi-structured interviews young men will feel more comfortable to talk about their experiences. I will now discuss and justify the reasons why I have decided to select in depth interviews compared to focus groups and ethnography to carry out my research. According to May, in depth interview is a great way to understand the attitudes and feelings of an individual on a specific topic (May, 2001). In depth interviews will enable me to explore in more detail the fear of crime among young men in inner London (Seale, 2004). Hence, compared to focus groups and ethnography, in depth interviews will allow me to have a better understanding of the individuals views, experiences, opinions and feelings towards fear of crime among young men (Seale, 2004). Another advantage of in depth interviews is that it allows flexibility; interviews can be adjusted to cater the needs of different types of people (Sarantakos, 2005). Furthermore, another advantage is that researchers can ask questions on the spot, probe the participants as well as change the order of questions if needed (Miller and Brewer, 2003). Another advantage is that during my study, I will have full control of the environment, under which questions are answered (Sarantakos, 2005). In depth interviews will also enable me to clarify any questions which are not understood by the participants (Sarantakos, 2005). Another advantage of in-depth interviews is that I will gain high response rate, with rich, detailed information about the fear of crime among young men. Hence, with in depth interviews it is much easier to discuss sensitive issue compared to when interviewing a group (Miller and Brewer, 2003). Despite these advantages, there are many limitations to in depth interview. With in depth interviews participants may not always be as honest about their fear of crime; hence this will lack reliability (Miller and Brewer, 2003). Another limitation of in depth interview is that it is very time consuming compared to other data collection methods (Seale, 2004). From gaining access to individuals, to conducting the interviews and then analyzing the data will take a huge amount of time (Miller and Brewer, 2003). This is one of the reasons why I will be conducting my research on only thirty individuals. Furthermore, according to May, the researchers physical characteristics such as age, class, race, gender and ethnicity may have an effect on the interviewees responses (May, 2001). This is another limitation as interviews may be affected due to the physical characteristics of the researcher (Sarantakos, 2005). For example, if a female researcher was conducting the study on fear of crime among young men many participants may not be as honest about their attitudes and experiences of fear of crime due to the researcher being a female. Another issue of in depth interview is that people tend to prefer to write about sensitive topics, such as fear of crime rather than discussing the issue in an interview (Sarantakos, 2005). As the study will only be conducted on thirty individuals, another concern is that once the information is gained and analysed, it will be difficult to generalize fear of crime among young men who live in inner London (Sarantakos, 2005). I will now define, discuss and analyse the advantages and limitations of ethnography and why I decided not to use ethnography for my research topic. Ethnography allows researchers to understand the social meanings and activities of people they are conducting research on (Miller and Brewer, 2003). Furthermore, ethnography studies will allow the researcher to observe the participants for a longer period of time (Bryman, 2004). By spending time with the participants, listening and engaging in conversations and getting to know them individually on a daily basis it will help and allow the researcher to have a better understanding of the participants he or she is studying (Bryman, 2004). However, in relation to my research topic my aim objective is to find out the feelings and emotions of fear of crime among young men. With participant observation it will be difficult for me to understand the experiences of fear of crime among young men as the participants may not be able to express their experiences when conducting a participant observation study. Furthermore, when an individual is aware that they are being observed they may behave differently, hence this will lack validity (Bryman, 2004). There are two types of ethnography roles when gaining access to participants, they are known as overt and covert roles. Covert role is whereby an individual discloses the fact that they are a researcher observing the participants for a particular reason. On the other hand, the ethnographer who takes the overt role informs the participants that they are researches (Bryman, 2004). On the whole, covert roles may provide the researcher with more information which is highly valid due to the fact that the participants are not aware that they are being observed. However, by carrying out covert roles you will be breaking the ethical guidelines such as informed consent and deception (Bryman, 2004). I will now define, discuss and analyse the advantages and limitations of using a focus group. Focus groups are when a small group of people are brought together for an interview that share similar experiences and have particular interest. Focus groups have become a very popular method used by many researchers since the 1980s. Focus groups allow participants to ask questions, have discussions and arguments (Bryman, 2004). It also allows participants to justify and articulate their ideas with one another in a group context (Seale, 2004). There are many advantages to having focus groups, by conducting a focus group it will allow individuals to probe one another and challenge each other for holding certain views (Bryman, 2004). Another advantage of using a focus group is that large amount of date can be produced in a short amount of time, however a limitation to this is that it will be difficult for the researcher to record and analyse data from the focus group (Bryman, 2004). Focus groups allow participants to share stories, experiences and thoughts together; hence this provides rich, quality data for the researcher to analyses (Bryman, 2004). Another advantage of a focus group is that it is less time consuming compared to in depth interviews, you can easily get six to ten peoples views and opinions all at the same time rather than interviewing all ten of them (Seale, 2004). Focus groups also allow the participants to listen to other peoples views who have a similar position to them in the community (Sarantakos, 2005). According to Bryman, focus groups are regarded as more naturalistic compared to interviews in the sense that focus groups reflect the processes through which meaning is constructed in everyday life (Bryman, 2004, 348). During the focus group the researcher acts as a facilitator observing the discussion and encouraging participants to contribute (Sarantakos, 2005). Depending on the topic being discussed, focus groups can sometimes encourage the individual to open up and hence take part in the discussion. However, in other situations in-depth interviews are preferred; it all depends on the research topic (Seale, 2004). According to Wilkinson who reviewed more than 200 studies based on focus groups, she found that many researchers fail to analyse and take into account the interaction between the group members (Bryman, 2004). Another critic of a focus group is that some individuals may not express their fear of crime among other young men. By being in a group individuals may not express their true opinions (Sarantakos, 2005). Individuals may feel more comfortable to express their concerns of fear of crime in a one to one interview (Bryman, 2004). In focus groups, individuals may be influenced to follow the group norm and may not open as much compared to in depth interviews (Bryman, 2004). According to Barbour and Kitzinger, focus groups will enable researchers to examine peoples different perspective as they operate within a social network, (Barbour and Kitzinger in Seale, 2004, 181). Furthermore, focus groups may allow the researcher to explore issues which are not easily seen during participant observation (Seale, 2004). However, another concern of using a focus group is that some individuals may dominate the discussion and hence others may not be given the chance to explore their attitudes and feelings towards fear of crime, (Sarantakos, 2005). I will now discuss what sampling method I will use in order to carry out my research. In relation to my research topic and design I will use the purposive sampling method in order to carry out my study. Purposive sampling is when participants are selected due to them having a relation to the subject topic. Purposive sampling is whereby researchers use their expect judgment to find participants who are relevant to their study (Singleton and Straits, 1999). Purposive sampling is a very popular sampling method used by many researchers when conducting qualitative research (Seale, 2004). In relation to my research topic, purposive sampling is the best sampling method to use; it fits in very well with the aims of my research. However, according to Singleton and Straits, a limitation to purposive sampling is that making an informed selection of cases requires considerable knowledge of the population before the sample is drawn (Singleton and Straits, 1999, 159). I will now discuss how I will gain access to my participants. I will gain access to my participants through contacting local organizations who work with youths. I will also gain access by visiting two universities in inner London; I will visit the student union and ask for potential students who are willing to take part in my study. Before the interviews are carried out, I will ensure that I am fully prepared and organised, in order for me to do this I will make a check list of all the things I need to do before the interview and also after the interview. In my research, I will also audio record all the interviews; this will enable me to have a better one to one conversation with my respondents. However, an issue may be that that some respondents may refuse for their voice to be recorded. If this occurs, I will explain to the participants that the interview is only being audio recorded for my use only and that the recording will not be shared with any third party (Bryman, 2004). For the interview to be successful it is vital that the interviewee has an understanding of the subject topic (May, 2001). Before I start my interview, I will define the term fear of crime to my participants in order for them to have a better understanding of the subject topic. Before the interview process, I will make it clear to my participants what is expected of them, by doing this my participants will feel more comfortable and hence more relaxed for the interview to begin (May, 2001). It is important for all researchers to take into consideration ethical issues before conducting any research. The British Sociological Association has set out ethical guidelines for researchers to follow; breaking the guidelines may result in penalties. There are many ethical issues which need to be considered before carrying out a study; however the three main ethical issues are whether there is harm to participants, lack of informed consent, and whether deception is involved (Bryman, 2004). In relation to my study on fear of crime among young men I will ensure that all my participants are fully informed about the study. Before I conduct my research all participants involved will be asked to read and sign the consent forms, all participants will also have the right to withdrew from the study at any given time (Bryman, 2004). Furthermore, in regards to participant harm according to Diener and Crandall, participant harm can be physical harm or personal harm (Diener and Crandall, in Bryman, 2004). I will ensure that in my study none of my participants are physically or emotional harmed. Finally, in regards to deception, I will ensure that all my participants are fully aware of the study and that the results of the interviews will not be shared with anyone else without their consent. Deception usually occurs when the researcher provides false statements to their participants about the study (Bryman, 2004). In conclusion, in depth interview is the best data collection method for me to research the fear of crime among men aged 18-25 living in inner London. Despite its limitations, in relation to my research topic, in depth interview would be the best method to use as it will enable me to understand the attitudes and experiences of fear of crime among young men compared to focus groups and ethnography.

Maternal Behaviors and Their Effect on the Unborn Child Essay

Pregnancy can be one of the most magical times in a woman’s life. There is nothing quite like taking care of the little person that is growing in the womb, and knowing that everything you do is going to have some kind of effect on that little person. For a vast majority of women, pregnancy is a magical time, one filled with awe and wonder. Pregnant women tend to take better care of themselves, making sure that they are providing the best environment for their growing child. Some women, however, do just the opposite and do not take care of themselves and thus harm the unborn child in their womb. There are several things that can have an adverse effect on the growing child. One of them is the mother’s nutrition. This is an easily adjustable factor, but one that some women don’t actually think about. When a woman becomes pregnant, according to www.americanpregnancy.org, she needs to consume roughly 300 more calories than normal in order to have a healthy pregnancy (http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/pregnancynutrition.html). This will provide the extra nutrition that the fetus needs. If a mother does not consume enough calories, she is putting her child at risk of being malnourished. A poorly nourished infant is more likely to get sick, as they do not have the ability to fight off illness as well as a properly nourished child. There is also a possibility that undernourishment can have an impact on the mental development of a child (Feldman, 329). Proper nourishment is vital to proper development both in the womb and once the child is born. Another behavior that can have an adverse effect on the growing child is alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Alcohol is a teratogen, which is known to be harmful to human development (http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/alcohol.html). Consuming alcohol during pregnancy can cause the unborn child to have fetal alcohol syndrome, or FAS. This condition causes the child to be of below-average intelligence, have facial deformities, and growth delays (Feldman, 309). According to www.marchofdimes.com, alcohol can also cause the baby to have sucking and sleeping problems, behavior problems, and speech and language delays (http://www.marchofdimes.com/pregnancy/alcohol_indepth.html). Even if a mother doesn’t drink every day, even a small amount of alcohol can have adverse effects. Fetal alcohol effects is another condition that a child can develop. With FAE, the child may have some, but not all the symptoms of FAS (Feldman, 329). When my husband and I were foster parents, it was suspected that our foster son had FAE. He did not have growth delays, necessarily, as he was the average size of a child his age, but he did have some intellectual delays, speech problems, and some behavioral issues. Over all, he was a wonderful child, he just needed some extra care and attention in certain areas to compensate for the places he lacked. Drug use is also a behavior that can cause adverse effects on an unborn child. According to www.marchofdimes.com, about 4% of women use illegal drugs during their pregnancy. These include marijuana, ecstasy, heroin, and other amphetamines. To me, that is a staggering number of women. There are many problems that a child faces if the mother used drugs during pregnancy. Premature birth and withdrawal seem to be the most common. There is also the possibility of birth defects, such as heart defects and cleft palates. The symptoms and long term effects of drug use vary depending on the type of drug that the mother used. Some drugs are by far worse than others, but all of them carry a risk. All of the drugs tend to carry a risk of learning disabilities, behavioral issues, and attention problems. There are even some legal drugs, things that you can buy over the counter that can have an adverse effect on an unborn child (Feldman, 329). Aspirin is one such drug. Using aspirin, because of its blood thinning properties, can harm the child and cause excessive bleeding during childbirth (http://drugs.about.com/lw/Health-Medicine/Womens-Health/Medications-to-Avoid-During-Pregnancy.htm). It would be advisable to consult with your doctor before taking any kind of medication while pregnant because any of them can have an adverse effect on the baby during different stages of pregnancy. I know for me personally, I don’t like taking anything other than my prenatal vitamins during pregnancy, because I’m fearful of what effect it could have on my child. When I was pregnant with my daughter, I almost refused to take Tylenol when I had a headache, because I was afraid it would do some harm. I’ve not been quite that way with my son, but I still avoid most medicines because I don’t want to risk doing any harm. Pregnancy is nothing short of a miracle, and should be treated as such. Providing a healthy environment for the baby to grow is of utmost importance, especially for the well-being of that child. Anything and everything that a mother does during her pregnancy has an effect on her unborn child. Getting proper nutrition and not using or abusing drugs or alcohol will help the mother have a healthy pregnancy and thus a healthy child. References: Feldman, Robert S. (2011) Essentials of Understanding Psychology, 9th Edition http://drugs.about.com/lw/Health-Medicine/Womens-Health/Medications-to-Avoid-During-Pregnancy.htm http://www.marchofdimes.com/pregnancy/alcohol_illicitdrug.html http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/pregnancynutrition.html

Pornography Should Be Free from Government Control Essay

Whether one feels strongly about the viewing, making and distribution of pornography by consenting adults, one cannot argue that sex isn’t everywhere. Evident in videos, movies, pictures, and advertisements, it’s a fact that sex sells. Who is to say that because pornography can be viewed easily in many ways, that it’s not a bad thing? Yet in the discourse of pornography as a whole, where does morality and money come into play? To whatever extent pornography is considered immoral; everyone should be entitled their own intellectual freedom. The government has made some steps in order to limit the spread of pornography, yet it is apparent that little can be done to ultimately affect it. In 1968, the Supreme Court case of Ginsberg v. New York held that the government can legally prohibit children from accessing certain types of sexually explicit material, the same material that can’t be banned for adults. Even though the Supreme Court ruled that a minor does not have the constitutional right to the same content as an adult, the task of restricting content on the internet is shaky, due to the difficulty of distinguishing adults from children. In 1973, a following Supreme Court case, Miller v. California, established the phenomenon of â€Å"variable tolerance†. Leaving a variable tolerance existing for explicit material, the Supreme Court allowed communities to decide what was indecent or obscene. Different levels of tolerance of pornography from community to community could be a successful system if in fact, pornography distribution can be limited community by community. Because people are mobile and the internet is boundary-free, the government cannot effectively restrict its availability to everyone (and possibly to anyone). Another notable court case involved with pornography was the 1982 case, Ferber v. New York. This case basically addressed all material showing a ‘sexual performance’ by a child under the age of 16, as obscene. It defined a sexual performance as, â€Å"actual or simulated sexual intercourse, deviate sexual intercourse, sexual bestiality, masturbation, sado-masochistic abuse, or lewd exhibition of the genitals.† It’s a federal offense to knowingly receive child pornography. According to the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, â€Å"intellectual freedom is the right of every individual both to hold and express opinions and to seek and receive information.† The freedom of an adult to view pornography involving other adults is not really recognized as a recreational activity, mainly because it is scorned upon in many religions. Even the majority of parental figures in the world seem to demonize pornography when raising their youth. Yet no one really steps back and asks, why exactly is pornography immoral? One of the major arguments towards pornography being immoral is that in many pornographic depictions, people (usually women) seem to be victimized for a viewer’s pleasure. The only difference between an African American woman playing a role as a slave in the civil war era, an African American woman posing in shackle-like bracelets in a skinny jean advertisement, and an African American woman in a pornographic film, is that each different role requires certain talents and understandings that come together in order to entertain an audience. Immoral or not, pornographic material is nothing more than another way to make money. It’s seen or referenced to in many advertisements, and it’s difficult to find an â€Å"R† rated movie with out at least one nudity scene. Once again, sex sells. Wherever there is demand, there will be supply, and the statistics behind internet pornography are somewhat staggering. According to Information Science professor and researcher, Paul F Burton, â€Å"47% of the 11,000 most popular searches on the Internet are targeted towards pornography.† The money aspect of pornography is almost incomprehensible. There are over 1.5 million internet users viewing pornography every minute. From that audience, $3,075.64 is spent on pornography each second, and every 40 minutes, a new pornographic video is made in the United States alone. The market for pornography is huge.

Gender, Gender And Sexuality Essay - 1295 Words

Gender and Sexuality Gender and sexuality are problematically understood and represented in Australian classrooms because of the presence of gender bias and the marginalisation of sexually diverse students, which reflects the patriarchal society that we live in. It is important to acknowledge that issues related to gender and sexuality are not just issues for older children and teenagers. They are just as applicable to young children who are at a very impressionable and susceptible stage of their lives and are going through the process of forming their own notions of what is acceptable behaviour for males and females (Gobby, 2016b). Carolyn Hannan, Director of the Advancement of Women Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, describes the concept of ‘gender order’ in her opening keynote speech titled â€Å"Challenging the gender order†. She states that ‘gender order’ â€Å"could be very simplistically defined as the way society is organis ed around the roles, responsibilities, activities and contributions of women and men, in other words, what is expected, allowed and encouraged in relation to what women and men do in different contexts† (Hannan, 2006). This notion is linked to the binary perception of gender and sexuality where the ideals and beliefs surrounding masculinity oppose those of femininity (Gobby, 2016b). For example, males are aggressive, females are gentle; females are emotional, males are rational; and males are tough where as females areShow MoreRelatedGender, Gender And Sexuality Essay1748 Words   |  7 PagesIt has been discussed in the class lectures that Women and Gender Studies challenge the idea of whose knowledge is privileged or valued. 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An Investigation of the Importance of Standardized Tests - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 7 Words: 2001 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2019/06/24 Category Management Essay Level High school Tags: Standardized Testing Essay Did you like this example? Abstract This research will be about whether the standardized test is a fair system to be used to measure students success both academically and professionally. The researcher will explain that it is important because not all students are able to test at the same level. Some students have a learning disability, and some students get so stressed out about the test and fail because of the pressure being placed on the test. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "An Investigation of the Importance of Standardized Tests" essay for you Create order The problem the researcher will be addressing is that the standardized test is being used to measure students academic and professional success. The hypothesis the researcher will be examining is that, should the standardized test determine every students success. The researcher will be using the mixed method to address this topic. The researcher will be using graphs, charts, surveys, and also interviews. The researcher will conclude that standardized tests should not be a predictor of students success academically and professionally. Introduction Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts. (Churchill) For too long the success of students has been based on the standardized test, based on what the College Board believes every student should know. Your success should be based on you as an individual student, not the standardized test. Every students success should not be based on a test that is made for only a specific group of students who have the materials to pass the test, and the test is designed to help them pass. The standardized test should be made so every student has a chance to succeed. Some students have a learning disability, these students learn different ways and it is not fair that the amount of success will be measured by a test might not be mentally ready for. For some students, the test is just too stressful, and the thought of what failure can do bothers and evidentially will cause the student to fail. Nearly judging students based on tests scores is not fair. History The standardized test has been in existence for as long as the 19th Century. It was created to determine students past academic achievements and future potentials. (According to The Room 241 Team) It is supposed to determine achievements and potential but instead, it is measuring students success rate. That is one of the problems with the standardized testing. The importance has been so stressed in the past that standardized tests still presently exist, but exist for the wrong reasons. The standardized now is like a life or death test, but in this case, a fail or succeed test. The College Board should try to help students succeed more not measure the level of their future success rate. In the future, this might still be a problem due to the current situations going on. It could be more emphasized on success. More tests might be created even but hopefully, the tests are for the good of all students. Problem Statement The standardized test was created in the 19th Century. It was created to see what students were capable of based on the materials being learned in the classroom. The problem is that the materials on these tests are not the same thing being learned in the classrooms. Not only is it not fair to the students who do not have the proper materials to prepare for the test, it is also not fair for those students who have learning disabilities. Having different learning abilities so why is there not a different test for them to take according to their abilities. Some students suffer from testing anxiety. All these students success, academically or professionally should not be based on a test but the student as a whole. The students get too stressed because of how the importance of the test is stretched; like if do not do well on the test then just going to be a failure which can cause the student to lose confidence and end up failing the test. Not everyone can be great test takers. Some would prefer to think outside the box, but when limited to just a standardized test how can their true potential be known. The College Board can do better on improving the measurement of the standardized test. But the main problem is that the standardized test is a cultural bias test. It was created for different people who learn a certain way, and everyone does not learn the same way. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. (Einstein) The College Board keeps giving the same test and expecting a different result. Statistical Findings Figure 1. Shows the scoring rate due to family income, starting from $0-$20k up to $200k. This graph shows that the standardized test is economically biased. It is made so that only a select group of people will be able to perform well on it. It is visible above in figure 1 that higher family income correlates to preparedness for the test. The less the family income is the lower the scores are. Also, the higher income families are doing well especially in writing, and the lower income families are performing below the average national rate. Preparation is very important when taking standardized tests but when there is no money to prepare the results will be like the ones in the figure above. The familys income can affect a students future, that is the reality of it. Figure 2. Shows that the standardized test is culturally biased, due to scores of different races. The graph above shows the results of different ethnicities test scores and how some races excel over the others. As seen in the graph, there is a significantly low score range between the black race and the other races. The attention of the College Board needs to be called to these facts. The standardized test should not be the only determinate of students success, especially when the test is not designed for every students way of learning. Depending on the race the scores vary. There are other variables tied to the races, such as the type of environment the races live in. The environment is very important and comfortability, but most importantly preparedness. It seems that the White non-Hispanic race was the most prepared. The College Board should have requirements to help all the races preparedness. Case Studies This case study shows how standardized testing can affect a student mentally and have a breakdown due to the overt importance of the test. Dawn Neely-Randall has seen many things in her 24 years teaching in Ohio schools, but 2014 was different. With the advent of the Common Core State Standards in Ohio, students had to take a pilot version of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) test on top of the standard Ohio Achievement Tests. This amounted to almost eight hours of testing in a single week for Neely-Randalls fifth graders. One student couldnt handle the stress of all of these tests and broke down in the middle of one. She had a complete meltdown, Neely-Randall told the HPR. And I could do nothing to help her, I couldnt help her with the test. I could just let her take a little break then, but then she was going to run out of time, and she was watching the clock, she knew. This proves that at times the standardized test can be the cause of a s tudents failure.This case study shows how the standardized test can affect the learning and teaching environment. Standardized testing has facilitated an incredibly toxic environment in our schools and in our discourse about education, ultimately turning schools from learning centers to testing factories, according to a professor. That emphasis on standardized testing has corrupted the focus on learning, turning school-aged children into experimental pawns, he says. This emphasizes the burden teachers and students are being forced to carry because of the standardized test. It causes too much anxiety, mental breakdowns which evidently lead to a physical breakdown. Counter Argument There are a few good things when it comes to standardized testing. Some pros are that it gives students a chance to show the ability to go beyond the classroom. It allows the students to show strengths in different subjects, but it also exposes the students weakness. Some cons include the way the test is designed; the test is designed for only a few races to be able to succeed. A pro might be that it shows what students have learned in the classroom, but it does not show what students learn outside the classroom. It is simply an inefficient way to measure a students success. (Popham) The standardized test involves things like comprehending but different students comprehend differently. Resolution Standardized tests have played a role in students success academically and professionally for too long. It is time for other things about a student to be recognized; like the extra curriculum activities, the students participate. Another thing that can be looked at is student behavior; a student could have a very high score on a standardized test but be a bad student outside of testing. The College Board should consider the fact that there is more than one way to test a students ability to be successful. Some students can go above and beyond in classrooms but cannot apply the materials being learned in the classroom to the tests. Also, the College Board can finalize that depending on the type of student it is, there will be a test for that type of student. The student should have an opportunity to be the best possible and maybe the test is only allowing so little. Some students like to think outside the box, now those are the students that can be future test makers. These students ca n make the future standardized tests to Oladeru 6 fit every students learning abilities because these students will understand how it felt to be in that same position. Conclusion Standardized tests should not be a predictor of students success academically or professionally. For too long the standardized tests have been used as a determinate of students success, it is time for that to come to an end. The standardized test for one is a culturally bias test. Studies showed that more black students have the lowest score than any other race. The standardized test is a test that allows only a specific group of students to know the materials to pass. Some students are financially unable to materially prepare for the test. Other students get anxious due to the overtly stretched importance of the effects the test may have in your life whether you pass or fail. Although the test can show what a student has learned in the classroom, not all students are learning the same things or even the sa me way. The standardized test must not continue to be a determinate of students success academically or professionally. Works Cited (63), dmilash, and screenname (66). Insanity: Doing the Same Thing over and over Again and Expecting Different Results. Steemit. Steemit, Stemmit, 11 Aug. 2016, 5:59 am, steemit.com/psychology/@dmilash/insanity-doing-the-same-thing-over-and-over-again-and-expecting-different-results. Gillmore, Meagan. The Problem With Standardized Testing. Education for Today and Tomorrow | LEducation Aujourdhui Et Demain, www.teachmag.com/archives/9990. Mulholland, Quinn. The Case Against Standardized Testing. Harvard Political Review The Evolution of Rap Comments, Harvard Political Review, 14 May 2015, harvardpolitics.com/united-states/case-standardized-testing/. Popham, W. James. Why Standardized Tests Dont Measure Educational Quality.Manipulated Kids: Teens Tell How Ads Influence Them Educational Leadership, ASCD, www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/mar99/vol56/num06/Why-Standardized-Tests-Don%27t-Measure-Educational-Quality.aspx The Room 241 Team. Do Standardized Tests Accurately Show Students Abilities?Concordia University-Portland, Concordia University-Portland Room 241, 5 May 2018, education.cu-portland.edu/blog/news/do-standardized-test-show-an-accurate-view-of-students-abilities/. Southeastern Louisiana University. Standardized testing creates toxic environment in schools, professor says. ScienceDaily. 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