Category: Sciences 2502

If I had an opportunity to be reborn as a person who lived in East Asia, I would choose China of the Qing Dynasty as the place of birth. Since boys have always been valued in traditional China, I would also choose the male sex for birth. This will allow you to live an easy and almost carefree life since there were much more opportunities for men at that time. This period was not chosen by chance. The arrival of a foreign dynasty in China naturally caused grumbling and rejection among noblemen, officials since, according to Confucian teaching, one should not serve different dynasties. However, it was again a foreign dynasty, not a Chinese, not a Han dynasty, which led to bloodshed and active and passive resistance. Many left the capital, leaving the active, court, or official life and preferring a career as a hermit or an independent aesthete and artist to a successful official career.

In addition, during this period of time, active transformations in art continued. In China, during the Qing Dynasty, there were interactions with foreign countries, which certainly reflected the transformations in culture. However, the tradition of honoring the values of Antiquity also continued. Therefore, in order to master any creative profession, it was necessary to study the samples of ancient writers, artists, and other artists. In my opinion, this period opened up many opportunities for becoming an artist. It was enough just to be born into a family that would have access to various benefits that would allow you to engage in this activity. Thus, for my rebirth, I would prefer to be born in a family of artists. This does not necessarily mean that they should have already had any merit. However, the availability of materials and tools for mastering this craft will be essential.

At the beginning of my career as an artist, I would have focused all my energy on mastering the dynamic composition and manner of calligraphic writing of a select group of scientists-artists of the 14th century, whose expressive interpretations of paintings of the 10th and 11th centuries once revolutionized traditional Chinese painting. Based on the aesthetic concept of the Song era and using the possibilities of calligraphic abstraction, I would turn to forms of expressive self-reflection, creating a simplified but simultaneously unique style. Like much Chinese art of that period, my landscape art was not based on a live observation of nature. Instead, I would strive to achieve spiritual harmony with the ancient line of masters succession while simultaneously carrying out creative transformations of their style.

In fact, all the pictorial art of China is built on copying the masterpieces of the old masters. Often, an artists whole life consists only in the fact that they copy paintings throughout their career. This is not considered shameful and plagiarism, but outstanding masters have always enlivened interpretations with their own writing style. For this reason, copies are sometimes valued almost as highly as the originals. Therefore, living the life of an artist in China of the 17th century, it was necessary to combine these two features to develop the career successfully.

Thus, developing as an artist, simultaneously learning to copy ancient masters, and creating my own unique style, I could achieve significant success, which would allow me to live a happy life filled with many opportunities. Having achieved some success, there would also be an opportunity to become a court artist of the emperor closer to the end of my life. This allowed me to open up many opportunities to live out my old age by traveling around the country and drawing pictures. Also, the era of the Qing Dynasty can be represented as a relatively quiet period in which there were many opportunities for the development of art. Consequently, becoming one of the representatives of art, it was possible to live a reasonably comfortable life. Having lived the life of an artist, it was possible to create many opportunities for future generations who will have a chance to work for the emperor. Thus, such a life is quite interesting and filled with events.

Works Cited

Holcombe, Charles. A History of East Asia: From the Origins of Civilization to the Twenty-First Century. Cambridge University Press, 2016.

Oh, Ingyu, and Wonho Jang. From Globalization to Glocalization: Configuring Korean Pop Culture to Meet Glocal Demands. Culture and Empathy: International Journal of Sociology, Psychology, and Cultural Studies, vol. 23, 2020, pp. 23-42. Web.

Rankin-Brown, Maria. From Samurai to Manga: The Function of Manga to Shape and Reflect Japanese Identity. Japanese Studies Review, vol. 16, 2017, pp. 75-92. Web.

Evaluation is a significant part of most aspects of peoples lives. Evaluation provides people with opportunities to assess past events along with their effectiveness and estimate possibilities of future events along with probabilities of their success. Evaluation is also crucial in doing research or conducting a study to assess various factors. Moreover, the terms Research Evaluation and Realistic Evaluation are directly related within the context of this paper in terms of ensuring evidence-based evaluation for more accurate results. Evaluation can be characterized by several types, its design, and the follow-up period, each of which are important in analyzing a set parameter.

Evaluation that is done during research consists of three types. The first type is impact evaluation which accounts for outcome measurements and their effects considering the appropriate design and sufficient sample size (Poverty Action Lab, n.d.). The second type, process evaluation, refers to performance management and is critical when the researcher cannot convey a rigorous impact evaluation (Poverty Action Lab, n.d.). The last type is the cost-benefit evaluation which estimates the balance between expenses and profits depending on data, location, labor force, and other factors that require spending (Poverty Action Lab, n.d.). The three types of research evaluation are vital in estimating research and its outcomes.

One of the important aspects of evaluation, especially during research, is the experimental design. Design can impact the types of conclusions that one can draw from their findings (Tartaro, 2021). Experimental design includes participants divided into experimental and control groups and will be effective if the control group is not exposed to experimental treatment stimulus (Tartaro, 2021). The goal of this design is to generate two similar groups, with only one difference of the experimental group being exposed to the independent variable and the control group not being exposed (Tartaro, 2021). Experimental design is important to evaluate the outcomes applying the independent variable.

Experimental design can impact a studys validity, reliability, and generalization. Validity refers to the accuracy of measurement, which depends on the correctness and range of measuring items, along with how the measure reflects the researchers theory (Tartaro, 2021). Reliability can be identified as the consistency and stability of certain measures and depends on time, different observers, and measuring items (Tartaro, 2021). Generalization refers to the findings of research being applicable to other studies or situations and depends on various factors such as framework, setting, context (Tartaro, 2021). Experimental design can impact the mentioned three parameters based on the independent variable, characteristics of participants and formed groups, settings, time period, hypotheses, theories, and other factors.

The follow-up period might impact an evaluation made in terms of tracing the measurements. For example, in relation to criminal justice, there is a study on how various types of offending and related behaviors change over time (McGee et al., 2020). The study examined persistent antisocial behavior at different intervals across the life course, analyzed the pros and cons of classifying behavior patterns, and proposed a simpler approach to identifying patterns (McGee et al., 2020). Data gathered at shorter and more regular follow-up periods was more accurate than data from longer periods (McGee et al., 2020). Some individuals were observed for a more prolonged time, changing the length of follow-up between different age groups (McGee et al., 2020). Overall, too short, or too long periods are more likely to result in less accurate data.

To summarize, types of research evaluations, appropriate design, and the follow-up period are essential in evaluation. The types of evaluations account for primal aspects of research and its results. Experimental design typically focuses on two groups of participants and can impact validity, reliability, and generalization. The follow-up period is important in tracing data during research and possibly sometime afterward, especially when done regularly with relatively short intervals for more accurate information.

References

McGee, T. R., Whitten, T., Williams, C., Jolliffe, D., & Farrington, D. P. (2020). Classification of patterns of offending in developmental and life-course criminology, with special reference to persistence. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 59, 1-45.

Poverty Action Lab. (n.d.). Deciding what, when, and where to invest in impact evaluation. Poverty Action Lab.

Tartaro, C. (2021). Research methods for Criminal Justice and Criminology: A text and reader. Routledge.

The human body is a complex and multilevel system whose components are combined into a coherent and balanced mechanism. The need for molecular oxygen defines the body as an open system, which needs the resources of the environment to maintain effective activity. More specifically, at the macro level, oxygen is consumed by the individual during breathing, when the individual takes in a large portion of air with their mouth. It has been shown that this air demand reaches the 8-liter-per-minute mark, with the air being 21% oxygen: consequently, each minute, a person consumes about 1.68 liters of gas (Dutta, 2021). Indeed, not all of this is absorbed by the lungs since most of it escapes with exhaled air. However, the portion of oxygen that is actively absorbed by the blood in the alveolar vesicles and transported through circuits to all tissues and cells is of increased research interest.

Once inside the cell, oxygen is involved in an extended network of cellular respiration, which is realized inside mitochondria. It should be emphasized that cellular respiration is an energy-generating function of all cells since it allows the energy in the form of ATP molecules by oxidation of complex carbohydrates and glucose in particular (Wakim & Grewal, 2021). It is clear that oxidation processes require the participation of oxygen, then mitochondrial cellular respiration cannot proceed without the participation of gas molecules. Moreover, cellular respiration cannot also be realized without the processes of the respiratory chain since it is the latter that makes it possible to increase the amount of ATP produced significantly.

The respiratory chain should be understood as a set of biochemical processes that result in the transfer of hydrogen atoms  more specifically, protons and electrons  from coenzymatic substrates to an oxygen molecule. The coenzymes of the respiratory chain are considered to be NADH, H, and FADH₂, which themselves are formed during the transfer of hydrogen protons. During this process, the reduction of oxygen is observed as the O₂ molecule is converted into the water during hydrogen transfer. It is noteworthy that this water is called metabolic or endogenous because it does not come from outside but is formed naturally by the reactions of the respiratory chain (Metabolic water, 2021). At the same time, the reduction of oxygen releases a certain amount of energy, which restores the bodys resources: this is what is known as oxidative phosphorylation. The energy obtained during this process is not entirely realized in the form of ATP  in fact, ATP is formed when the phosphate ion is attached to ADP  but most of it is dissipated in the form of primary heat.

The oxygen reduction reaction described was not chosen by chance because it is this step of cellular respiration that requires the most significant amount of oxygen. In general, the entire respiratory chain requires the participation of special enzymes that catalyze the processes of proton transfer to oxygen: such molecules are called oxidases or complexes. Four such complexes are distinguished in the respiratory chain, depending on the nature of the process and the stage of the whole respiration, but complex IV is of the most significant interest within the framework of the current analysis. The last phase enzyme, or cytochrome oxidase, carries out the described process of electron transfer to the oxygen molecule, as a result of which oxygen acquires a negative charge and is converted into water molecules. Notably, cytochrome oxidase needs not only iron ions  like the other complexes  but also copper ions to accomplish this transfer, and therefore a balanced concentration of these metals in the body is critical.

As a result, during the reading of the question for the current task, the student did consume oxygen, and this consumption was realized on the macro and micro levels. The macro-level was responsible for the penetration of gas molecules during inhalation into the lungs and the flow of gas exchange processes in the alveolar vesicles. However, the greatest amount of oxygen was involved on the microlevel, which is every second in the mitochondrial membrane. There the processes of cellular respiration and the electron-transport chain are realized, as a result of which oxygen is reduced to water molecules and energy in the form of ATP molecules is formed. This process requires enzymatic catalysts called complexes. The last of these, complex IV or cytochrome oxidase, carries out the final process of transferring four electrons to oxygen and is therefore responsible for the complete reduction of oxygen.

References

Dutta, P. K. (2021). How much oxygen a Covid-19 patient needs? Is oxygen concentrator enough? IT. Web.

Metabolic water. (2021). Biology online. Web.

Wakim, S. & Grewal, M. (2021). Cellular respiration. Libretexts. Web.

Introduction

The absorbance of a substance can be measured by determinig the absorption spectra of the substance. A spectrometer can be used to measure the energy transition from the ground state of a substance to an excited state of the substance which is usually above 300KJmol^-1(Bhowmik et al., 2018).The absorbance spectra of the two dyes which were 1,1-diethyl-2,2-carbocyanine iodide and 1,4-diphenyl-1,3-carbobutadiene were measured and recorded. The following experiment will focus on performing the spectroscopy of1,1-diethyl-2,2-carbocyanine iodide and1,4-diphenyl-1,3-carbobutadiene. The report will also analyze and discuss the results from the experiemnt.

Procedure

1. 10ml of methyl alcohol was first prepared as a solvent at a molarity of 10^-3M to deteremine the absorbance band of the standard soluton.
2. 10ml solution of the dyes were also prepared at a molarity of 10^-3M and their spectra were measured.
3. The results of absorbance of 1,1-diethyl-2,2-carbocyanine iodide and 1,4-diphenyl-1,3-carbobutadiene were later recorded

Results

The results of the absorbance of 1,1-diethyl-2,2-carbocyanine iodide and 1,4-diphenyl-1,3-carbobutadiene were taken and recorded in the table below.

The result of the following data shows that 1,1-diethyl-2,2-carbocyanine iodide had more absorbance spectra than 1,4-diphenyl-1,3-carbobutadiene.The absorbance of methyl alcohol is 184nm, hence the absorbance of the two dyes was relatively higher than that of the standard solution used in the spectrometry. The dyes in the following experiment showed a high absorbance, which means they can be used to form good coloring matter.

Analysis

The quality of a dye can be measured by determining its absorbance. The absorbance spectra of the following two dyes showed values of 614nm and 848nm for 1,1-diethyl-2,2-carbocyanine iodide and1,4-diphenyl-1,3-carbobutadiene respectively. The two dyes can therefore be used to develop a quality coloring matter. 1,4-diphenyl-1,3-carbobutadiene however, shows a higher absorbance hence is a prefferable dye than 1,1-diethyl-2,2-carbocyanine iodide. 1,4-diphenyl-1,3-carbobutadiene can easily penetrate on a surface more than 1,1-diethyl-2,2-carbocyanine iodide. The absorbance of methyl alcohol was relatively low, hence cannot be used as a dye.

Discussion

Spectroscopy is a method used to measure the absorbance of substances which also deteremines the spectra of the substances. The absorbance measures the ability of a substance to absorb and transmit energy when inserted in a spectrometer (Bhowmik et al., 2018). The transmission of energy from a substance or molecule begins from the ground state and is excited until it reaches the maximum energy level.

The differences in the energy used during the transmission of energy from the ground state to the maximum absorbance can be used to determine the spectra of the substance (Bhowmik et al., 2018). The following experiment was conducted to determine the absorbance of 1-diethyl-2,2-carbocyanine iodide and 1,4-diphenyl-1,3-carbobutadiene. The results show that 1,4-diphenyl-1,3-carbobutadiene has more absorbance than 1,1-diethyl-2,2-carbocyanine iodide, which means the substance has more energy to penetrate of surfaces. The dyes in the following experiment are suitable for use since they have an absorbance of more than 300nm.

Conclusion

Spectrometry can be used to measure the absorbance of substances such as dyes. The following experiment was used to measure the absorbance of 1,1-diethyl-2,2-carbocyanine iodide and 1,4-diphenyl-1,3-carbobutadiene. The results of the absorbance were tabulated for comparison. It was found that 1,4-diphenyl-1,3-carbobutadiene had more absorbance than 1,1-diethyl-2,2-carbocyanine iodide. The following experiment found that both dyes had an absorbance of more than 330nm which means dyes had more adequate absorbption energy. The following study was was conducted severally to find accurate measurements.The dyes used in the following experiment were found to posses good quality because of their high absorbance values of more than 330nm.

Reference

Bhowmik, K. L., Deb, K., Bera, A., Debnath, A., &Saha, B. (2018). Interaction of anionic dyes with polyaniline implanted cellulose: Oganic À-conjugated macromolecules in environmental applications. Journal of Molecular Liquids, 261, 189-198. Web.

A research title persuades readers to study the research paper. Titles in academic research must thoroughly inform the readers of the goal of the research to entice them to look at it (Brancati, 2018). For this reason, neatly encapsulate the fundamental subject that the research covers. Moreover, list important terms linked to the research and then experiment using different permutations of the important terms to find the perfect fit for your research title.

The purpose and contents of effective abstracts

An abstract is the second part of a readers interaction with a research paper, after the title. Abstracts are concise reviews of the most relevant aspects of research papers (Brancati, 2018). There is a likelihood that an abstract is the only thing a reader studies about the paper so it is critical to include the research findings. There are five key contents in a research abstract: The research question, rationale for the research paper, an argument to address the research question, the methodology employed in analyzing the research question, and the findings of the study. Notably, these elements should be addressed in one or two lines in the abstract. According to Brancati (2018), an average length of an abstract is around 150 words. With that in mind, a good abstract should be sure to address all the five elements mentioned and be brief enough to captivate the audience without sounding too long to bore them.

The content of the different sections of a written research project

A research project consists of six critical parts, including an introduction, a review of related literature, the argument, techniques employed, results findings, and a conclusion, respectively. It is important to note that this does not apply to all research projects, as there may exist disparities across and within fields, as well as variations in research techniques. For this reason, scholars should follow the guidelines given and if there are none, the aforementioned elements are best suitable for the application.

The body of a research project begins with an introduction. Just as in the abstract, the research riddle, the significance of the subject, the arguments, research contribution, the technique, as well as the results should all be addressed in the introduction. The literature review gathers and evaluates contributing sources on a research subject and states what the new research by the project is going to contribute to the existing literature. At the beginning of an argument section, the thesis statement from the introductory part should be repeated. Conversely, the rest of the segment should be structured around every element of the argument in the sequence that it had been presented in the thesis statement. every paragraph should convey a single notion even though a notion may span across several paragraphs.

In the techniques employed, is critical to clarify why the technique used is suitable for the research topic addressed, as well as any restrictions it may impose on the analysis. The rationale for the selection of the sample, the benefits and drawbacks it brings for the research, and how the technique utilized in the study varies from, and provides an edge over, previous studies must be addressed. The next section is the results findings segment and the research techniques that dictate its contents. Scholars should describe the empirical evidence employed by the study in enough clarity for other researchers to duplicate the results. Visuals such as pictures, tables, and charts should be used in this section. A conclusion summarizes the findings of the study and the implications of the findings for the research subject.

Helpful Hints Regarding Writing Academic Research

Because the goal of writing academic research is to enlighten rather than convince, it is formal. It is also objective, and analytical hence emphasis should be put on rewriting, as it is the cornerstone to successful scientific research papers. Scholars should also follow set guidelines as different fields vary in the format of the research papers. Conversely, researchers should present their study to people with varied backgrounds and experiences to improve quality and delivery.

Reference

Brancati, D. (2018). Social scientific research. Sage. Web.

In the academic setting, the ideal for any study is a reliable and high-quality procedure that produces results that effectively represent objective reality. In other words, scenarios in which a statistical experiment was initially based on an incorrect, unrepresentative approach to measuring the quantity sought should be eliminated. For this purpose, there is a wide range of well-known proven techniques and methods, among which special attention should be paid to the probability sampling method. The possibility of applying such a concept to the study of the teachers role in todays school community will be discussed in this writing.

Strictly speaking, sampling is a specific portion of the general population that is used in research to save resources and reduce the number of participants. No doubt it is impossible to conduct a sociological survey among five hundred thousand Maltese to find out their attitudes on critical issues, but instead, it is sufficient to generate a sample that is fully representative of the trends and sentiments of the entire nation. In this case, the sample is said to have the property of representativeness, which according to some authors, can be interpreted as the presence of every type of community member in the sample (EDC, 2018). In particular, while the focus  as inclusion criteria  should be based on the research question, other factors should also have weight in the sampling design.

It is no secret that there are several standard techniques for creating a representative sample, not the least of which is the probability type. In general, samples can be created by some sort of articulated rule, by inclusion criteria, or by chance (Barratt, 2018). Thus, Barratt notes that probability sampling is a group of random sampling techniques that can include simple, systematic, stratified, or clustered techniques. Choosing a particular form should be a critical step for conducting a study, as appealing only to the simplest version of probability sampling may ultimately yield unrepresentative data.

To investigate an established question, namely the teachers role and perception in todays school system compared to how it was a few decades ago, a working hypothesis must first be formed. Thus, it is expected that over time, attitudes toward the image of the teacher in the minds of schoolchildren have shifted from highly respectful to sassy and defiant behavior. Obviously, this assumption generates a legitimate solution: we need to gather a group of modern schoolchildren and students of past eras, survey their opinions, and process them statistically. A simple random sampling of every, for instance, the third student in the current class and a group of past-generation graduates might at first glance be an effective strategy. However, as Suter (2012) has repeatedly shown, an initially understandable sample can produce incorrect results, which would violate the studys logic. In other words, such sampling does not take into account students personal, educational achievements, academic performance, number of classes attended, and the teacher who had a direct influence. Therefore, in order to design a more robust study, it is reasonable to reduce the general population to students who attended the same school that has maintained the same academic culture over time. Specific influences of an individual teacher  such as instances of bias or outright disrespect  that may affect students perceptions of teacher image can be inhibited by not focusing on one professional but by discussing the teaching staff as a whole. Next, the population is not homogeneous, so stratified sampling is an appropriate solution. All students in both the current and past graduating classes need to be stratified by performance and class attendance. From each stratum, an equal number of participants can be randomly isolated to take the public opinion survey regarding the teachers role. In this way, central threats to representativeness will be addressed and eliminated, and the results will be most reliable.

References

Barratt, H. (2018). Methods of sampling from a population. Health Knowledge.

EDC. (2018). Evaluation tool  sample representativeness and nonresponse bias: Frequently asked question. Web.

Suter, N. (2012). Educators as critical thinkers. Web.

The Central Asian area is focused on a region of relatively flat terrain surrounded on the east and south by mountain ranges and on the west by the Caspian Sea. Weather patterns, animal and plant species, and populations have all engaged and intermingled for millennia inside these loosely confined natural limits. As a result, numerous commonalities have emerged among the five nations; for example, they are all predominantly Muslim, speak Turkic languages, and share several gastronomic staples.

Within the grouping, however, there is a lot of variation. Furthermore, virtually all mainstream definitions utilize contemporary political boundaries for convenience, but the notion of Central Asia is far more based on history, society, and geography  ideas whose borders tend to flow into each other rather than beginning in one place and finishing in another. Because of its location at the heart of the worlds biggest geographical mass, Central Asia has similar developmental problems as the rest of the world. It is completely landlocked, a long way from profitable and efficient maritime connections. As a result, even Central Asian governments with considerable agricultural or mineral resources have struggled to bring their products to market and compete with non-landlocked states. The development of transportation networks and other infrastructure is critical for these countries; in fact, most of the powers seeking influence there have actively contributed to local infrastructure in some form. This is particularly true in the case of Chinas enormous Silk Road Program.

Since it makes rational sense in the context of history, culture, and geography, the core of Central Asia has become an accepted norm. It also reflects the lives and identities of individuals who call the area home. At the same time, comprehending Central Asia requires a knowledge of how its history, society, and geography extend beyond its existing political borders. To comprehend Central Asia, it is necessary to comprehend the far broader forces that have influenced and continue to influence local economies, cultures, and geopolitics.

The use of either qualitative or quantitative methodology in a study constitutes several research determinants. The present exploration is used to explain the concept behind the two articles by Le et al. (2018) and Kuo, Hiler and Lutz (2017), but not to position one item as superior to the other. In addition, both journals aimed to inquire about how actions or subjects are done and the reason such activities are applied. In essence, both methodologies contain massive gains as both articles are involving the study of a concept that has limited study. In an attempt to critically appraise the methodology applied to these articles, the current study explores the extent to which the magnitude and scale of research play in a society, regardless of the qualitative or quantitative data.

Research Philosophies: Deductive and Inductive Approaches

Research philosophy plays a critical role in the appraisal of data. It is a belief concerning the manner of ways in which such information about a phenomenon should be collected, analyzed, and applied in real-life situations (Howitt, 2019). The term epistemology, which describes what is known to be true, encompasses the diverse forms of philosophies of research approaches. Without a philosophical basis, there is often the emergence of challenges during the analysis and interpretation of data (Wise and Shaffer, 2015; Gaaevi et al., 2016). In this regard, research philosophy is essential in the analysis, interpretation, and validation of data.

The deductive method to research philosophy uses a top-to-down method in piloting n investigation. For instance, in this approach, the procedure begins with a theoretical review, followed by hypothesis advancement, observation, and finally confirmation (Wardani and Kusuma, 2020). In other words, the model works from a more general approach to a specific one (Wardani and Kusuma, 2020). In this case, a conclusion based on findings usually logically accompanies available facts. However, the inductive approach is a research model that entails a bottom-to-up approach in directing an inquiry. For this model, the process comprises a theoretical framework followed by a tentative hypothesis, outline, and finally reflection (Wardani and Kusuma, 2020). Precisely, the design moves from a specific remark to a more general statement based on the final theory abstracted. The conclusion is based on the availability of facts established, though with some level of ambiguity.

The researchers use an inductive approach to analyze the participants open-ended responses, description of their association with video games, and their stand about the alteration or change of the phenomenon. Furthermore, the research by Kuo et al. (2017) seeks answers from the informants (video gamers) in their evidence and experience. Therefore, the established theory is influenced by the collected data. Various researchers use different study designs to explore a given occurrence. Kuo et al. (2017) applied the inductive method of rational reasoning which changes from a given principle to realize a valid conclusion. Kuo et al. (2017) assume that certain conflicts (experiences) cause a person to partake in doing a particular action (video gaming). Therefore, as described above, the inductive approach utilized a research design with a tentative hypothesis,

Conversely, a deductive research method applies a top-down approach of reason which swings from a piece of conventional evidence to accomplish a specific culmination. It is used to influence quantities, and the method inclines on proving that the existing theory is necessary (Wardani and Kusuma, 2020). For instance, in the research by Le et al. (2018), the investigators are concerned with the determination of proving how the forces affecting the perception of product comments on social media are based on the pre-existing theory, Social Information Processing Theory (SIPT). In this article, Le et al. (2018) review the existing literature works and cultivates pieces of evidence based on an empirically theoretical framework. Therefore, the deductive model advances assumptions based on the SIPT. Le et al. (2018) use information from Facebook participants to determine the differences concerning the perceptions of sWOM product. Hence, the assumptions are unoriginal as they are explicated from the theory.

Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods

To reflect on the possibility of using the first invention computer for a video game console is astonishing. Often, people relate video gamers to idlers who are busy clustering around device controllers feverishly directing a character on a screen. However, with the advancement of technology, such characters as depicted in videos have become more real and closer to the people than before. Therefore, using quantitative methodologies to investigate multi-billion dollar enterprises like the console is a sensational way to examine the evolution of this activity.

Quantitative research encompasses the use of numbers or figures to hypothesize about a given situation. The method examines research by performing multiple surveys from persons, in this case, video gamers. Therefore, the article by Kuo et al. (2017) provides objective arguments based on the collected data (interviews) to progress its agenda. Specifically, the approach centers on consumer studies while deliberating on the development of the intake of video games. For instance, it intensifies its quantitative approach by performing a face-to-face interview with such pro-gamers as Brady. Though Bradys words, the audience of the article can perceive the revolution the video game has undergone over the years.

One of the main approaches of the qualitative approach is asking questions in form of surveys or questionnaires. For instance, in the article by Kuo et al. (2018), the audience perceives how the industry has evolved through the years. Moreover, several statistical data are used to advance the dichotomy of quantitative research (Brunt, Horner and Semley, 2017). In essence, the removal of superficiality in different works is one of the major advantages of the approach. Hence, the delivery of facts eliminates any form of doubt that the audience may develop while reading the article. For instance, Kuo and colleagues, in their work, provides an approximation of the $100 million revenue venture video games have developed (Kuo et al., 2018). However, the research methodology was without weakness based on the number of participants, 23. The use of few research participants to hypothesize about a phenomenon reduces the studys reliability (McDonald, Schoenebeck and Forte, 2019). For instance, by using only 23 informants, the researchers explored general information using the concept or ideas of few responses, thus one cannot use the finding to conclude a large population.

Conversely, qualitative research uses words and connotations by allowing an individual to sightsee concepts and experiences in depth. Qualitative methods are used to deliver a formless degree of evidence about why the occurrences exist the way they do and, to some extent, challenge human behavior (McDonald, Schoenebeck and Forte, 2019). Mostly the approach circumnavigates around the inquiry rather than developing a hypothesis and exploring evidence to back it up. The article by Le et al. (2017) uses qualitative research to understand a phenomenon. The researchers utilized the method to evaluate the influence behind the ascendancy of products whose marketing is furnished through word of mouth (Le et al., 2018). The extraordinary rise of social media has seen dealers inch their way into their context to encourage their product (Lou and Yuan, 2019; Munnukka, Uusitalo and Toivonen, 2016; De Veirman, Cauberghe and Hudders, 2017). Social media is no longer an instrument for announcement only but also an influential scheme for producer-consumer relationships (Munnukka, Uusitalo and Toivonen, 2016). Qualitative research was favored in the article by Le et al. (2017) due to its ability to exceed boundaries, whether geographical or ethnic, much like social media. Therefore, it has the competence of captivating a research issue into a hitherto unknown without the need for discrete interviews.

Exploratory and Descriptive Research Designs

In exploratory research design, the main focus of the study is usually about establishing an inquiry about a given product, how the product involves demands that advance its advertising, and how the current services can be upgraded. The research question in this form of design is limited to finding an alternative way that can be used to provide another more integrated strategy. In the article by Kuo et al. (2017), video games are distinctive in their aptitude to offer immersion, agency, and transformation (IAT) throughout the consumptive experience, thus offering benefits to people. Kuo et al. (2017) also use exploratory research design to detail the use of surveys, case studies, qualitative analyses to underscore the nature of displeasure or satisfaction the customers may attain for using the product (video game) in the case of marketing research, and therefore, hypothesis for this research article is unknown.

In descriptive research design, data is used to designate a particular behavior or the experience of subjects in the study. In this method, the researcher is not mandated to examine for particular causal relationships that exist between variables or their correlation. However, it is encountered with numerous setbacks, which derail the effect of identifying the cause because the research environment is natural. For instance, in the case of Le et al. (2017), predictor factors on the perception of product comments on social media provide a lot of essential information, which can only be acquired through the description (Wu and Lin, 2017). Moreover, for the determination of the identification of such variables as social media community, intimacy, dominance, and informality alleviate, and hypothetical construct, the perception of environmental uncertainty, a descriptive research design is vital (Le at al., 2017). Therefore, the design is important because it can be used to indirectly test the theory, SIPT, which cannot be reconnoitered through other non-descriptive means. The study embraces the use of surveys and observational studies, where the 408 participants were subjected to questionnaires and interviews in a natural environment.

Ethical Issues and Limitations in the two Articles

Ethical issues in research methodologies are a rising issue of concern, which require close consideration. Authors should provide well-researched concepts which are braced by evidence. However, the concept of ethical issues on honesty, privacy, and provision of confrontational or thoughts of incendiary often get blurry (Acevedo Pérez, et al., 2017). Arguably, any investigative technique has its limitations that can deter the concluded facts. For example, Kuo et al. (2018) uses social interest as used in the video game, making the application seem a paradox, yet proves at the end of it otherwise. According to Avecedo Pérez et al. (2017), such a paradigm as providing statements could be used to underpin the experiences of the research participants. For instance, some of the accomplices in the research such as Roger narrates how he prefers beating the alien as depicted in the Mass Effect three (Avecedo Pérez et al., 2017). In this case, such controversial options need to be protected by either not disclosing the name of the interviewee or using hidden codes to name the research participants.

Methodical reliability is questionably the indispensable ethical authentications typical of any research. For instance, the justification of integrity of related past articles conducted on the same topic and the enhancement of ones current journal makes is contemptuous. For a valid article, marked consistency should be established if an ethical edit were to be carried out (Avecedo Pérez et al., 2017). Moreover, an inference based on conventional suggestions and theories should be discouraged. Le et al. (2017) rely heavily on the use of past literature as a basis for their arguments. All of its theories are verified in harmony with pre-existing research and do not lose focus from their original scripts. Le et al. (2017) also acknowledge its limitations with regards to their experiences while researching in Taiwan. Therefore, by using a convincing note, the researchers customize the maximum standard of conjuring pathos in ethics.

In conclusion, based on the above illustrations, the critical appraisal of the two research articles provides a current understanding of the various research methodologies as applied to both qualitative and quantitative research. The data from both researchers are used to underpin the research philosophies, thus helping to highlight the research as related to inductive and deductive research approaches. Moreover, the articles provide critical analysis of research designs descriptive and exploratory, though with a review of each ethical considerations and limitations, thus helping to note the credibility of each article.

Reference List

Acevedo Pérez, I. et al. (2017) Seven ethical requirements for quantitative and qualitative research in nursing: experiences of three research ethics committees from Santiago, Chile, International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 7(7), 1-6.

De Veirman, M., Cauberghe, V., & Hudders, L. (2017) Marketing through Instagram influencers: the impact of number of followers and product divergence on brand attitude, International journal of advertising, 36(5), 798-828.

Gaaevi, D., Dawson, S., Rogers, T., and Gasevic, D. (2016) Learning analytics should not promote one size fits all: the effects of instructional conditions in predicting academic success, The Internet and Higher Education, 28(1), 68-84.

Howitt, D. (2019). Introduction to qualitative research methods in Psychology: Putting Theory into practice, 4_th edition. London: Pearson Publishers.

Kuo, A., Hiler, J. and Lutz, R. (2017) From Super Mario to Skyrim: a framework for the evolution of video game consumption, Journal of Consumer Behaviour, 16(2), 101-120.

Le, A., Do, B., Azizah, N., Dang, R. and Cheng, J. (2018) Forces affecting perception of product comments on social-WOM: an interactive, relational communication perspective, Journal of Consumer Behaviour, 17(4), 393-406.

Lou, C. and Yuan, S. (2019) Influencer marketing: how message value and credibility affect consumer trust of branded content on social media, Journal of Interactive Advertising, 19(1), 58-73.

McDonald, N., Schoenebeck, S. and Forte, A. (2019) Reliability and inter-rater reliability in qualitative research: norms and guidelines for CSCW and HCI practice, Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 3(CSCW), 1-23.

Munnukka, J., Uusitalo, O. and Toivonen, H. (2016) Credibility of a peer endorser and advertising effectiveness, Journal of Consumer Marketing, 33(3), 182-192.

Wardani, S. and Kusuma, I. (2020) Comparison of learning in inductive and deductive approach to increase students conceptual understanding based on international standard curriculum, Jurnal Pendidikan IPA Indonesia, 9(1), 70-78.

Wise, A.F. and Shaffer, D.W. (2015) Why theory matters more than ever in the age of big data, Journal of Learning Analytics, 2(2), 5-13.

Wu, T. and Lin, C. (2017) Predicting the effects of eWOM and online brand messaging: source trust, bandwagon effect and innovation adoption factors, Telematics and Informatics, 34(2), 470-480.

The theory of four stages of Cognitive development was developed by Jean Piaget, a Swiss psychologist, in the 1920s. Through the process of observing childrens cognitive development, Piaget defined four significant stages of intellectual development. The stages included the sensorimotor stage from the childs birth to the development of language skills, the pre-operational stage, the concrete operational stage, and the formal operational stage. The aspects of the theory that relate to the biological perspective are that biological contexts influence cognitive development.

The biological perspective suggests that nature and genetics define life-span development. All children experience the biological perspective of the life-span development because, through the sensorimotor and pre-operational stage, children explore what activities suit their physical state and develop the skills that define their future interests. For example, during the pre-operational stage of development, I was not confident in games that involved physical activities. Still, with an increased level of motor skills, I developed logic skills and felt more confident in solving riddles during the formal operational stage.

John Watsons behaviorism theory was founded on an observation approach to psychology. Behaviorism implies that an individuals behavior is sourced from his interactions with the environment. Thus, according to behaviorism theory, an individuals learning process could be based on the process of conditioning or the system of rewards and punishments. The psychological perspective of behaviorism is related to the multidimensional aspect of life-span development theory that suggests that emotional factors contribute to the individuals development through ones life. Therefore, punishments such as prison sentences are used in adulthood to prevent individuals from further committing crimes.

System of punishments and rewards are widely used in organizational systems to provide control and order. Even though I was never punished in school, I have encountered other students being issued detention for lateness. The punishment system, in this case, works to promote punctuality and prevent the students from lateness in other cases, where lateness could result in negative consequences, such as firing from a job.

The theory of eight stages of psychosocial development conducted by Erik Erikson, a developmental psychologist, was established on Freuds theory of developmental stages. Unlike Freuds theory, Eriksons stages of development focused on the psychosocial aspect in which he explored how an individual interacts with other people through different stages of life. Moreover, Freuds theory was established on adults recollections of their childhood, while Erikson used observations of children and adolescents (Newman, B. & Newman, P., 2020). Eriksons theory suggests that individuals face conflicts that act as a push to further development during every stage. As the theory is based on human interactions and relationships, the theory closely relates to the social perspective of life-span development.

The social perspective of life-span development implies that the environment, interactions, and relationships with other people contribute to the individuals development through the course of his life. Thus, Eriksons theory stages are separated into the school period, adolescence, young adulthood, etc. In my understanding, the social perspective could explain how people could sometimes change during adulthood. Thus, in my experience, I met friends that introduced new perspectives to my understanding of the world and provided me an opportunity to continue developing my identity.

Analyzing the life span from a combined biological, psychological, and social perspective provides a complex understanding of human development. Moreover, it allows a broader perception of factors that contribute to the life span of human development, compared to theories that focus on the early stages of human development. Even though early development significantly influences the development process, it does not explain an individuals activities during adulthood, as human development is influenced by external factors other than nature and genetics. Analyzing the life span from several perspectives allows the perception of human development as continuous progress with an opportunity to feature several influential factors.

Reference

Newman, B. M., & Newman, P. R. (2020). Theories of adolescent development. Academic Press.

Plant invasions

Plant invasions are crucial and refer to exotic species invasion of a particular ecosystem with or without native plant species. Plant invasions slowly occurred in the past as the earth was minimally explored, and there werent enough vectors to carry out the migration of exotic species to new locations (Dimitrakopoulos et al., 2017). The last few centuries have seen an immense improvement in plant invasions. Many exotic species have now invaded new areas, and either thrived alongside the native species or failed altogether (Bellemare et al., 2017). The adaptation of exotic species to an environment is dependent on several factors. These factors include the invading species, the habitats invaded, and how the invasions are managed. The third alternative is the elimination of native species and the progress of the exotic species alone.

Generally, the factors determining species invasiveness can be broadly classified into organism-related factors or ecosystem-centered factors. Organism-related factors include the tens rule, residence time, taxonomic patterns, phenotypic plasticity, and rapid evolutionary change (Jeschke & Heger, 2018). Ecosystem-centered factors include invasion levels, biotic resistance, links between diversity and invisibility, mutualism, and invasion meltdowns. No single factor entirely determines the invasiveness of an exotic species, and therefore there is an interdependence of some of these factors to this phenomenon. The concepts of plant invasion are crucial for several biological processes, including conservation ecology (Jeschke & Heger, 2018). Invasiveness is crucial in helping scientists conserve plant species poised to become extinct by integrating them into a new ecosystem and ensuring their survival. Weed science is another field that is a major beneficiary of plant invasions. This is due to the need for advanced agricultural practices. Identification of species likely to thrive better than weeds in an area is crucial in ensuring the survival of desired plant species.

Biotic Resistance Hypothesis

The biotic resistance hypothesis is also called the diversity resistance hypothesis or the species richness hypothesis. This theory proposes a negative association between original species diversity and ecosystem invasibility. Experimental work shows this true when artificial collections of varying diversity are used in these experiments (Fridley et al., 2007). Contrastingly, observational studies over a huge area show a positive relationship between invasiveness and diversity. The negative findings from observational studies and experimental studies can be explained through several phenomena. On a large scale, the extrinsic conditions that enable the high diversity of native species also support different alien species. These conditions include climate, substrate, and habitat heterogeneity (Petruzzella et al., 2018). The overall positive relationship results from uniting data from many small negative relationships where the extrinsic conditions vary. In a highly diverse community, the utilization of resources is more effective, and productivity is enhanced. The low invisibility of highly diverse communities is due to the low availability of resources hence inadequate supplies for the invading species.

Biotic resistance affects different ecosystems in varying ways, with plants in mesic surroundings being more invasive than those in the terrestrial environment. Rejmánek et al. (2013) explain that the resources aspect of the biotic resistance hypothesis is a major determinant of this phenomenon. Terrestrial environments do not provide sufficient sunlight for the germination and seedling survival of many exotic species. The native plant species in such environments exhibit rapid growth and intense competition for available resources such as sunlight hence difficulty in the survival of exotic species. Functional group identity is a vital factor that has an immense impact on biotic resistance in aquatic environments as only one species survives in these environments, as shown in Figure 1 (Petruzzella et al., 2018).

Note. Adapted from Mechanisms of invasion resistance of aquatic plant communities by Petruzzella et al., 2018, Frontiers in Plant Science, 9(134).

Areas with highly diverse native species are likely to be invaded better by exotic species than areas with low species diversity. Fridley et al. (2007) outline the role of other species such as animals in developing biotic resistance as they impact the ecosystem. Some of these creatures, especially aquatic animals, serve as deliberate spreaders of the exotic invaders into an ecosystem.

Plant Communities and Invasions

Plant communities are crucial in influencing invasions into different ecosystems. The plant factors form one side of crucial factors for this phenomenon, with the other side representing ecosystem-centered factors. The invasive species must have features that give it the edge and ensure survival in the foreign ecosystem already occupied by other native species. Some of these factors include fast growth, rapid reproduction, high dispersal ability, phenotype plasticity, environmental tolerance (ecological competence), prior successful invasions, tolerance to a wide range of foods, and association with humans (Hiatt & Flory, 2019). Species that can grow quickly are better capable of invading an ecosystem and thriving as they escape elimination. Species with rapid reproduction ensure that their numbers are always high and favor their continued existence in an ecosystem, such that complete elimination is impossible. High dispersal ability means that a species can spread out over a large area, increasing its chances of survival within the ecosystem that it is invading.

Phenotype plasticity means that a species has the genetic ability to alter itself to suit environmental demands. This ensures that a species is not limited by the hardships that an environment may present (Smith et al., 2020). Aligning itself with environmental demands ensures that a species can invade an ecosystem and appropriately colonize it. Tolerance to varying environmental conditions such as scarce water and sunlight means that a species can survive until the conditions are favorable again (Wang et al., 2020). This encompassed entering a stage of latency and continued thriving when the conditions were appropriate. A plants ability to live off different types of food means that it is not dependent on only one food type; hence, it survives when the preferred type is limited. Prior successful invasions are vital for a species as they are crucial markers of their chances of survival in a new environment (Hulme et al., 2017). Association with humans is also vital as they regulate the growth and invasiveness of plants around them. These plants may have developed favorable mechanisms for adaptation.

Personal Opinion

Plant invasion is an important topic that determines many aspects of life, including food production. The presence of invasion and factors that affect this phenomenon is a reality. The control of these factors for end goals such as weed control is essential and prevents food inadequacy. Manipulation of plant-based factors is possible with advancements in technology and genetic studies. The manipulation of ecosystem-based factors is a possibility and can be done in controlled environments. Ecology has focused on controlling factors such as biotic resistance and finding mechanisms to ensure their interference is favorable. This field is poised to make greater advances in ensuring a better understanding of plant invasiveness and resistance.

References

Bellemare, J., Connolly, B., & Sax, D. F. (2017). Climate change, managed relocation, and the risk of intra-continental plant invasions: A theoretical and empirical exploration relative to the flora of New England. Rhodora, 119(978), 73109. Web.

Dimitrakopoulos, P. G., Koukoulas, S., Galanidis, A., Delipetrou, P., Gounaridis, D., Touloumi, K., & Arianoutsou, M. (2017). Factors shaping alien plant species richness spatial patterns across Natura 2000 Special Areas of Conservation of Greece. Science of the Total Environment, 601-602, 461468. Web.

Fridley, J. D., Stachowicz, J. J., Naeem, S., Sax, D. F., Seabloom, E. W., Smith, M. D., Stohlgren, T. J., Tilman, D., & Holle, B. V. (2007). The invasion paradox: Reconciling pattern and process in species invasions. Ecology, 88(1), 317. Web.

Hiatt, D., & Flory, S. L. (2019). Populations of a widespread invader and cooccurring native species vary in phenotypic plasticity. New Phytologist, 225(1), 584594. Web.

Hulme, P. E., Brundu, G., Carboni, M., Dehnen-Schmutz, K., Dullinger, S., Early, R., Essl, F., González-Moreno, P., Groom, Q. J., Kueffer, C., Kühn, I., Maurel, N., Novoa, A., Pergl, J., Pyaek, P., Seebens, H., Tanner, R., Touza, J. M., van Kleunen, M., & Verbrugge, L. N. H. (2017). Integrating invasive species policies across ornamental horticulture supply chains to prevent plant invasions. Journal of Applied Ecology, 55(1), 9298. Web.

Jeschke, J. M., & Heger, T. (2018). Invasion Biology: Hypotheses and Evidence. In Google Books. CABI. Web.

Petruzzella, A., Manschot, J., van Leeuwen, C. H. A., Grutters, B. M. C., & Bakker, E. S. (2018). Mechanisms of invasion resistance of aquatic plant communities. Frontiers in Plant Science, 9(134). Web.

Rejmánek, M., Richardson, D., & Py1ek, P. (2013). Plant invasions and invasibility of plant communities (2nd ed.). John Wiley & Sons. Web.

Smith, A. L., Hodkinson, T. R., Villellas, J., Catford, J. A., CsergQ, A. M., Blomberg, S. P., Crone, E. E., Ehrlén, J., Garcia, M. B., Laine, A.-L., Roach, D. A., Salguero-Gómez, R., Wardle, G. M., Childs, D. Z., Elderd, B. D., Finn, A., Munné-Bosch, S., Baudraz, M. E. A., Bódis, J., & Brearley, F. Q. (2020). Global gene flow releases invasive plants from environmental constraints on genetic diversity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117(8), 42184227. Web.

Wang, S., Wei, M., Cheng, H., Wu, B., Du, D., & Wang, C. (2020). Indigenous plant species and invasive alien species tend to diverge functionally under heavy metal pollution and drought stress. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 205, 111160. Web.