Compare and Contrast Between the Socs and Greasers

Compare and Contrast Essay Have you ever thought once that the Greasers and Socs (from â€Å"The Outsiders†) could ever have similarities? These rich kids and deprived kids will ever have something in common. Well, you’re going to find out each ones life style, personality and society treatment. How each of them lives, how they are treated by the society and how they both feel. The Socs are filthy rich kids in the west side, making them very spoiled and all their orders are brought and done. To give an example to that is Bob Sheldon, and his gang ride with a mustang, for teenage kid this is very expensive.While, the Greasers are a group of underprivileged children who have some that work for their living, but still don’t get half of what the Socs get. Most of them have very long and greasy hair because they couldn’t afford to shave. Which shows huge difference in lifestyle. Secondly, here comes their general personality, starting with Socs. To keep up in t heir life they have to lock their emotions up inside until they are numb to their effects. They remember the feeling of anger the hit the weak ones in the society; the Greasers.They jump on the Greasers and just start hitting them and terrorizing them. Unlike the Socs, the Greasers are too emotional, they take everything serious. And when they try express it they get into serious trouble, it is why dally got arrested a over half a dozen times. Have in consideration that they both are starting to get sick of their lives and how each lives it. For example Cherry is bored of pretending not being how she is for her friends and so is Ponyboy, he pretends to be not in love with literature and music in front of his family and friends not feel weird our his friends.Here will be discussed how society treats both crews of characters. The Greasers were always known as vicious thugs in the neighborhood while they are just misunderstood kids in the wrong place and also with know one to tell them what to do. On the other hand the Socs. have to live up to a perfect vision people see of them, they have to stand up others people high expectations, Which really kills them in the inside. It reminds me when Cherry was in the movie theatre talking with Ponyboy, she didn’t hide loving bizarre music nor reading literature.She told her friends that at all, as she is a cheerleader. Finally, after comparing and contrasting Greasers and the Socs we conclude that both the Socs and the Greasers have completely different lifestyles. Surprisingly, they have something in common; not being who they are with their closest friends and also are not penchant to be judged. It shows us no mater how wealthy or poor you are you still are a normal person like everyone else, no difference in having feelings.

Cultural and Ethical Issue of Globalization

Cross-Cultural Perspective: The Cultural and Ethical Issue of Globalization Many American companies that are outsourcing jobs to other countries create a problem in the economy of the Unites States and also creates a cultural effect in a global scale. To this day, The United States had lost millions of manufacturing jobs compared to two decades ago (Heffner, 2012). Americans can no longer compete to international manufacturers, which put the United States economy in doom.There are many factors involved as to why American companies’ decides to do its manufacturing business outside of the United States. The most obvious reason is the cost of labor. International wages from third world countries cost way less than wages in the United States. For example, manufacturers in China get paid 33 cents an hour (Heffner, 2012). As a company, the cost of doing business outside of the Unites States is way cheaper than hiring workers in the United States, which would cost more than 20 folds. In addition to wages, outsourcing jobs outside of the United States would also save companies cost for payroll taxes, benefits, and dealing with unions that are common in The United States. Moreover, doing business outside the United States increases a company’s capital because the cost of labor wages and manufacturing are less, yet the sales remain the same. The cost of real estate and plant cost is less than in the United States. Companies don’t have to worry about maintenance, property taxes, insurance, and cost for operations (Samuels, 2013).Although there are standards created by the International Labor Organizations when it comes to doing business in other countries, there are still fewer regulations set forth in other countries compared to regulations that are mandatory in doing business in the United States (Samuels, 2013). Companies will need to follow set rules and regulations in the United States, which means more paperwork, more taxes, worrying about worker s rights, providing benefits to workers, paid time offs, vacations, etc.More regulations means more cost and companies will definitely outsource jobs outside of the United States if it means saving them millions of dollars in cost. Another effects of outsourcing jobs outside of the United States are the cultural changes that are accompanied by doing business in other countries. It is no doubt that economy of third world countries are growing due to international trade that most foreign company brings in. But global business can change the way people live in a country. The ways of living are affected and so as the native language of the country.For example, The Philippines is considered one of the poorest countries in the world (The Poorest Countries in the World, 2013) and just a decade ago there were very few foreign countries that do businesses in the Philippines. Now, there are so many American companies like, IBM, Cisco, TeleTech, and Sprint that outsourced jobs to the Philippin es. Again, it is good for the growing economy of the Philippines, but at the same time it creates a culture shock in the country. It is now mandatory to take English courses in the Philippines, and most people are now speaking English language.Long-term effect could be a decline in the native cultures in the Philippines. One example of ethical problems that arises in global business can be seen in the case of the company Nike. More than a decade ago Nike was involved in a scandal that the company allegedly hired children in its workforce in Pakistan, but later it was concluded that it was indeed the truth. Children made the soccer balls that were manufactured in Pakistan by Nike Corporation. It was known that the children were paid 66 cents to spend all day stitching the soccer balls.Although there were laws in Pakistan about child labor, it was not fully enforced in the country (Azam, 1999). The problem was that records of birth were nearly impossible to obtain in countries like Pa kistan. Therefore, there are now records keeping of how old the workers were. The country is not like the United States was every born child is listed in a database. Nike Corporation admitted the allegations and apologized for employing workers that in the United States would be considered under aged workers (Boggan, 2001) .The company pledged not to hire under aged workers, â€Å"Nike said it would raise the minimum age for hiring workers at shoe factories to 18 and the minimum age for hiring workers at other plants to 16, in countries where it is common for 14-year-olds to hold such jobs. It will not require the dismissal of underage workers already in place† (Cushman, 1998). The company also â€Å"pledging to allow outsiders from labor and human rights groups to join the independent auditors who inspect the factories in Asia, nterviewing workers and assessing working conditions† (Cushman, 1998). Companies like Nike needs to consider the ethical responsibilities that is part of doing business in other countries. Not just because the country, like Pakistan, has laws that were not enforced properly in the country, it does not give any company the right to stray from the ethical responsibilities of companies to their employees. They should treat workers of other countries the same way that they would do if they were to employ workers in the United States.When companies do business with other countries they must be aware of the cultural and ethical perspective that can arise in doing such businesses. There are many factors that influence the companies’ decision on outsourcing jobs, but the social responsibility of a company must be equal across the board. It doesn’t mean that wages, benefits, or other factors will be the same for worker in the United States and in other countries, but the level of commitment to workers, respect, and treatment must be adherence to the ethical responsibilities of companies to their worker. References Az am, F. (1999, June). NIKE: Nike Shoes and Child Labor in Pakistan. Retrieved from http://www1. american. edu/ted/nike. htm Boggan, S. (2001, October 20). ‘We Blew It' Nike Admits to Mistakes Over Child Labor. Retrieved from http://www. commondreams. org/headlines01/1020-01. htm Cushman, J. (1998, May 13). INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS; Nike Pledges to End Child Labor And Apply U. S. Rules Abroad. Retrieved from http://www. nytimes. om/1998/05/13/business/international-business-nike-pledges-to-end-child-labor-and-apply-us-rules-abroad. html Heffner, T. (2012, May 15). American Manufacturing Can No Longer Compete. Retrieved from httphttp://economyincrisis. org/content/american-manufacturing-can-no-longer-compete Samuels, D. (2013). Pros & Cons of Outsourcing Manufacturing Jobs. Retrieved from http://smallbusiness. chron. com/pros-amp-cons-outsourcing-manufacturing-jobs-40320. html The Poorest Countries in the World. (2013). Retrieved from

Abuse in the Novel Beloved

Many of the characters from the novel Beloved suffered extreme abuse. Sethe, an independent mother, was no exception to the abuse. Sethe survived through many different accounts of mistreatment. The school teacher’s nephews made Sethe suffer the cruelest oppression. They held her down against her will, while she was pregnant, and brutally stole the milk that her body was producing for her child. This is the worst pain for Sethe because, besides the obvious obtrusions, she feared she would not be able to provide for her baby after it was born. A mother’s worst fear is being unable to provide for her children and this is the fear they instilled in her. This was not the end of the violence toward Sethe from these[insert a word that means a group of abusers here]. When the school teacher founds out that Sethe tells of the mistreatment she suffered because of his nephews he orders them to whip her. Sethe is brutally beaten by this group of young men. The result of the merciless beaten is a form of large scars that shape a tree on Sethe’s back. The tree may be a symbol of a family tree, and in Sethe’s case an incomplete family tree. Sethe’s family tree is incomplete because she killed her daughter, Beloved. The ghost of Sethe’s murdered daughter, Beloved, haunts the house where Sethe and the rest of her family live. The ghost torments them enough to drives away Sethe’s two sons, Howard and Buglar. Sethe undergoes torment from almost every possible angle but she refuses to run away any more.

How World War II Transformed the United States Society and Economy Essay

How World War II Transformed the United States Society and Economy - Essay Example The nation’s survival to one of the most dreadful events in world history made America a powerful nation ever to influence the rest of the world up to this day. WWII is indeed a defining moment for a nation suffering from the â€Å"agonies of the Great Depression† (Kennedy xi). After the Second World War, the U.S. became the standard of power and economic prosperity. Until now, many nations want to establish diplomatic relations with the country in order to keep that connection with the world’s most influential nation. How the U.S. transformed itself to gaining this coveted position is being traced to its significant participation in the Second World War. In the beginning, the U.S. did not want to compromise anything just to prove something to the world. The American government was seriously dealing with the dilemmas of the Great Depression (Kennedy xi) and its own national problems. There was no intention to engage in an all out battle against Germany, Japan, or Italy if not due to the attacks made by the Japanese Military on the US Naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Therefore, the country was provoked to defend itself because it had a valid reason to resort to such a courageous action. However, instead of plotting revenge against Japan, the U.S. wanted to begin with defeating the cause of the problem, which is the then Nazi-dominated Europe (â€Å"Wartime Strategy†). Uncle Sam was more worried in regard to the possibility of the German scientists inventing weapons of mass destruction than the possible attacks of the Japanese Military (â€Å"Wartime Strategy†). Hence, it was a decision the U.S. had to make for the sake of its future and people. World War II ended after six years leaving the world with trauma. However, this ending marked the start of a renewed America, perhaps the momentum of monumental change for the once isolationist nation. Americans have realized the value of life, probably for the reason that they have s een the vast impact of the war on their country. Women began to realize how they may help the society by being part of the country's workforce. This past event is one reason why the U.S is open minded in terms of sharing responsibilities between the male and female members of the household. Freedom is apparent because the Americans themselves recognize its importance by allowing the members of society to taking part in making their communities a better place to live. WWII has, therefore, changed the perception of the American Society regarding the equal roles of men and women. Thus, this change fueled the American society to becoming liberal in making crucial decisions that are necessary for their survival. Slavery in the United States was also one crucial part of its history. African Americans were then forced to become slaves to the White Americans, and were not given equal rights by the government. The ending of slavery was something that the African Americans had yearned many ye ars ago alongside with the ending of extreme discrimination. African American longed for freedom, which was later on granted by the American government at the onset of WWII. Many Blacks were given the chance to serve in the army, which had in some ways lifted their status in society during the Second World War. In addition, WWII had, in some ways, diminished racial inequality in a place that is inhabited by varying ethnicities, like America. Even if they suffered from discrimination after their return from the war, opportunities for the African-Americans increased as legislations, such as the 1965 Civil Rights Act, as well as the Fair Housing Act of 1968, were enacted (Frazier and Tettey-Fio 85). Eventually, the enforcement of these Legislations enhanced the economic status of the Blacks, which led to

Communication Etiquette in the workplace PowerPoint Presentation

Communication Etiquette in the workplace - PowerPoint Presentation Example With all methods of statistics being invented day and night, none is able to sufficiently estimate the value of courtesy. Words like; thank you, you are welcome, feel at home, it is my pleasure, I am humbled, that is kind of you, please, may I, you are amazing, how about if we consider this other method, and so on are forms of etiquette that ensure that people relate well with others. Keywords: communication etiquette, working environment; courtesy Introduction With new advents in technology, human beings may end up adopting machine-like responses that do not bring out the real person behind the words spoken. This growing trend in etiquette depreciation in the society has prompted some organizations to address the issues of concern by conductive training seminars on the art of good communication. The challenge that faces most organizations is the fact that organizations accommodate all generations of workers, bringing creative enthusiasm and positive energy along with creative ideas. Suffice it to say that even with all these, a conducive work environment in which everyone mind about the other person in thought word and deed is of utmost importance. Communication Etiquette at Work Places Moral courage is the most important ingredient of communication etiquette. ... Words are better emphasized in the style in which we say them; therefore, sometimes it is not always what we say alone that matters, but, how we say it (Cox and Hall, 2004). In other words, cultivating right tones helps to put across even the harshest words in a manner that recipients can take understandably without diluting the core message itself. Word like; excuse me, thank you, have a good day, how may I help you, thank you for calling, good luck, etc. do not cost much. They should be used to express your appreciation of someone, something, or a commendable job. In addition to this, being courteous does not limit one to only positive expressions. As human beings, we occasionally do not agree with our friends or partners. Using words like I am sorry, I beg to differ, can we considered these options, I am sorry but, may I kindly oppose that idea on the ground that, would you please elaborate your point on that matter, have we considered this and that, and so on are just but example s. As observed, words and phrases like may, would, please, kindly, pardon me, my apologies, could you, if you please, do you mind, and others, go a long way to help us establish interpersonal relationships healthy for a vibrant work place. Communication etiquette prevents workplace conflicts. Conflict can easily arise in a work place given that, most workplaces are characterized by pressure, either from within the working environment or from a different environment. Whichever way, there is need to manage conflicts arising in workplace due to lack of workplace etiquette or courtesy. It is important to take a personal initiative to learn to always think before speaking. This helps a great deal.

Just In Time In Operation Management Research Paper

Just In Time In Operation Management - Research Paper Example The system is not efficient and thus, JIT proposed the use of the demand-pull system. The demand-pull system is based on the notion that work should flow â€Å"to a work center only if that work center needs more work. If a work center is already occupied with work activity, the upstream work center should stop production until the downstream work center communicates a need for more material† (Burnett and Pesch 2). Within the JIT environment, emphasis on maintaining high usage is eliminated. The JIT environment focus is on dealing with the challenges that face the overall success of the factory; these challenges include quality improvement, waste elimination, and setup time reduction (Burnett and Pesch 2). Uniform Plant Loading The effective practice of JIT indicates possessing the correct quantities of the right products at the right time and the right place. Reducing the setup times permits the company to manufacture product mix and quantities demanded at the current time (B urnett and Pesch 2). Cellular Flow Layouts Repetitive process layouts are important in eliminating activities that add no value and thus, switching to a JIT environment. Intermittent layouts are not effective since they are filled with low visibility, uncertainty, and complexity. On the other hand, cell layouts enhance JIT goals through featuring high visibility, fast throughout times, and unidirectional product flows. Multifunctional workers are assigned individual cells and the responsibility and organization of the product produced. Workers in the cell environment tend to possess a huge sense of pride and ownership in the work environment. The thorough understanding of the production process enhances the chances for the workers to give ideas on improving the production process (Burnett and...Repetitive process layouts are important in eliminating activities that add no value and thus, switching to a JIT environment. Intermittent layouts are not effective since they are filled wit h low visibility, uncertainty, and complexity. On the other hand, cell layouts enhance JIT goals through featuring high visibility, fast throughout times, and unidirectional product flows. Multifunctional workers are assigned individual cells and the responsibility and organization of the product produced. Workers in the cell environment tend to possess a huge sense of pride and ownership in the work environment. The thorough understanding of the production process enhances the chances for the workers to give ideas on improving the production process (Burnett and Pesch 3). Inventory Decrease to Expose Waste Inventory entails numerous waste practices such as long setup times, weak vendors, bad quality, and poor equipment. By steadily reducing the inventory, the production system weaknesses are revealed and solved one by one. The machines can be better maintained or replaced, delivery and vendor quality can be enhanced, quality practices can be adopted, equipment and labor can be laid out in an efficient manner, and the machine set up methods can be streamlined. The improvements permit the company to operate with less costs, quicker response times in order to meet consumer needs, and less inventory (Burnett and Pesch 2). Rapid Steps to Decrease Lot Sizes

Emerging Technologies Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Emerging Technologies - Case Study Example Consequently, this case study highlights the use of intelligent building capabilities, discuss its risks, and recommend how providers can secure this technology. Inclusion of intelligent building capabilities in medical premises In a journal article, Hlousek (2008) contend that intelligent buildings have the capability of responding to the needs of its occupants along with saving on cost and reducing ecological impact. This is one of the motivators that seen people install sensory devices into everyday objects they can place in offices to monitor and provide data about users. The use of such technology has transformed how engineers design intelligent buildings, as pervasive technology continue to evolve over time. Currently, engineers can install various pervasive technologies in buildings such as CCTV cameras and wearable tags. These technologies help gather data about people in intelligent building, which can provide intelligence that can help providers deliver services to users (M oran & Nakata, 2010). The suitability of pervasive technology in proving gathering and transmitting data from users to receiving gadgets has paved way for the use of these technologies in various places. For instance, some parents use these wearable tags to track their children while some buildings have CCTV cameras to monitor people entering and exiting a building. Risks associated with the technologies Pervasive technologies have proved essential in enabling intelligent building users with services. However, there are various risks associated with this emerging technology. The risks associated with pervasive technologies in intelligent building include user perception, privacy concerns, and accuracy, ownership and accessibility. a) Perception: The use of pervasive technologies raises risk on how people perceive these technologies. In a medical environment, the installation of gadgets such as CCTV cameras can alter the behavior of physicians, as well as that of patients. Stress amo ng users is one of the effects of surveillance technologies when users feel they are under observation (Moran & Nakata, 2010). This can affect the performance and behaviors of subjects. b) Privacy concerns: Monitoring technologies such as GPS products and wearable tags have privacy risks. In a work environment, users have concerns on what kind of information employers can gather about their employees (Michael, McNamee & Michael, 2006). In addition, users question what kind of information a provider can view from subjects under surveillance. As a result, such technologies can infringe the privacy of the subjects they are observing. c) Accuracy of data: Increasing reliance of monitoring technologies bears a risk of inaccurate data, which can lead to negative outcomes. Given that, pervasive technologies have become essential in providing critical services; their accuracy is a subject of debate as erroneous data can lead to severe impact (Michael, McNamee & Michael, 2006). For example, accidental data processing for GPS services can lead to negative outcomes because providers can make wrong decisions that have far-reaching effects on patients. d) Ownership of user data: Owners of pervasive tech

The Ethical Behavior and Decision Making Within An Organization Essay

The Ethical Behavior and Decision Making Within An Organization - Essay Example In my earlier submission, I evinced allegiance to the utilitarian ethics as per which those actions are decisions are considered to be ethical that accrue maximal benefit to the maximum number of people, while allowing for the optimal and efficient utilization of resources. However, over this semester I realized that as my innate understanding of ethics evolved and matured, I concluded that no ethical dogma or principle happens to be a one size fit all dictums. The utilitarian ethics which profess to be sacrosanct in one particular situation may turn out to be problematic in some another mass situation. For instance, during Nazi Germany, the Jews were persecuted and killed because the regime of the time strongly believed that such actions intended to bring happiness to the majority of the Germans. However, in retrospect, nobody harbors the doubt that such actions were not only evil but a viable source of shame for the entire humanity. Such examples forced me to think as to what does it mean by being ethical? Is there a single ethical dogma that fits and suits all the situations? After much brain raking, I came to the conclusion that my idea of ethics stood to be more in consonance with the theory of situational ethics. Eventually what is right and what is wrong, what is ethical and what is unethical depends upon the nature of a particular situation. There exists nothing as universal ethics and each situation has its own ethical norms imminent to it. What is considered to be ethically right may be totally incongruent and inapplicable in a particular situation? Hence, while taking ethical decisions, a leader needs to be amply flexible and open-minded. This does not mean that such an approach must be pliable and open to manipulation. Yet, the ultimate ethical credentials of a leader ought to be dependent on one’s ability to opt for the nobler hypothesis amongst the available choices. For instance, if as a manager I fire an employee because one’s serv ices are not in tandem with the organizational expectations, it would be ethical. However, if I fire an employee because he has not been able to muster his best, as he has a wife suffering from cancer and he needs to take care of his two kids at home, it would be unethical. The nobler choice in this situation will be to extend the options and possibilities to that employee, which allows him to serve the organization while taking care of his domestic responsibilities. I also need to mention that the ethical values to which I owed allegiance to earlier, which are integrity, honesty, charity, and responsibility still stand to be more or less the same. However, the way I perceive and understand these values have indeed achieved much maturity and human consideration. For instance, the value of integrity requires an employee to safeguard organizational information and secrets. Yet, if the imperative of integrity makes a person to safeguard such organizational information, the withholding of which amounts to cheating the customers and shareholders, then safeguarding such information will be totally contrary to the value of integrity. The same stands to be true for the other three values.

The problem of realism in Animation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The problem of realism in Animation - Essay Example The essay "The problem of realism in Animation" analyzes he issue with Realism in the context of animation. Contemporary film production has and currently, is undergoing a rapid makeover ever since the onset of digital revolution. Film makers today, storyboard, shoot and edit their films with the assistance of computer manipulation of images commonly referred to as digital imagery. With respect to the ordinary audience, the most evident relevance of these technologies is the new wave of computer generated and computer enhanced special effects which are capable of generating outstanding graphic images – which have conquered new heights and reached the epitome of visual excellence. Examples include: the watery creature in The Alyss (1989) or the glistening, irregular shaped Terminator 2 (1991). The images viewed in these movies were unlike any of those witnessed previously. However, such swift transformations and the resultant changes is creating grave setbacks for film theory f or the reason that the digital manipulation of ordinary images is so original and the artistic potential it presents are so unparalleled, that its impact on cinematic depiction as well as on the viewer's reaction are inadequately understood. This paper seeks to analyze, explore and discuss the various aspects involved in animation with respect to its relativity to realism. Realism in visual arts and literature refers to the representation of themes, premises and characters as they appear in everyday life, devoid of exaggeration.

Critical Evaluation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Critical Evaluation - Essay Example McCullin, Don, "Don McCullin in Syria, December 2012" Don McCullin, internationally known British photojournalist, is majorly renowned and known for his war photography and post-war coverage especially for his visit to Syria at the age of 77. His work features 134 exceptionally taken photographs that cover world's most dangerous and conflicted images. For the first time, the work of a British photojournalist is being exhibited in the National Gallery of Canada (NGC) till April 14, 2013. Major newspapers and magazines including The Sunday Times, The Daily Telegraph and The Observer have also printed his works. McCullin has always depicted the unemployed, the impoverished and the downtrodden. NGC director and CEO Marc Mayer reported to have said, "McCullin's photographs belong in an art gallery because they consistently bring clarity and compositional grace to their compelling subject matter. These pictures are both hard to look at and hard not to" (Mallet, 2013). However, his recent e ncounter of Syria has not been displayed in the gallery, as Sobey Curatorial Assistant Katherine Stauble writes, "Likely (these images) were not meant to hang on a gallery wall, but rather, to communicate information, to reveal truths and to mobilize action. Now that McCullin has escaped the battlefield and for the past twenty years has been focusing his lens on landscape and still life, one might expect the artist moniker to sit more comfortably with him" (as cited in Mallet, 2013). The following attached files are few of pictures of his last war with Anthony Loyd: Figure 1: Anthony Loyd  and Don McCullin  Atmeh, on the Syria-Turkey border. According to McCullin, "Photography for me is not looking, it’s feeling. If you can’t feel what you’re looking at, then you’re never going to get others to feel anything when they look at your pictures" (Mallet, 2013). This is what has been the most predominant feature of McCullin's photography as shown in Figure. 1. There has been embedded in his pictures "the feelings of people" rather than focusing on the other artistic values (figure 1). He, through his images, has tried to get the sympathetic feelings for the affected people. By capturing a child's picture, he is making use of emotions and feelings of people to get attention. As Susan Sontag writes in her book, Regarding the Pain of Others (2003), that sufferings and emotions sell more than any other factors (Sontag, 2003). Figure 2: Don McCullin for The Times. The most effective and credible advantage of McCullin's work (as shown in Figure. 2) would be his unbiased reporting. He not only showed images of the public dying and their sorrows, but he also showed the sorrows of the free Syrian army (Figure 2). "I'm just a carrier pigeon that brings the message back home" (Archer, 2013), says McCullin. Thus, effectively, his images do not downplay the role of one opposing army to another nor do they cast blame on any side. His images can nev er prove to be the barriers against peace-making between the conflicted armies (Greenslade, 2013). The images represent war in a way that they do not exploit people nor do they express problematic ideas that would exacerbate the situation and/or the relationship between photographer and his subject (figure 2). Figure 3: McCullin in Syria McCullin's photography explicitly points out at the major weakness of his images which was the portrayal of sufferings of the evicted people as shown in

Transmission media Essay Example for Free

Transmission media Essay 1. What kind of transmission media would you recommend for each different building and department of the medical instrument company and why; I would use Cat 6 and the required appropriate connectors, using full-duplex transmission, for each building . It has a much higher throughput than Cat 5 and is more flexible than Cat 7 and less expensive than Fiber. 2. What type of media would you recommend using to connect the two buildings and why, and  I would recommend Multimode Fiber (MMF) to connect the two buildings because the distance is within the MMF limitation (due to attenuation) of a few miles and is cheaper than Single-mode Fiber (SMF). Also, fiber is capable of very high throughput and is very resistant to noise. 3. What kind of media should the company request from the its ISP for connecting the corporate WAN to the Internet? UTP is fine from the ISP. The company will just need to have the appropriate modems and connectors to ensure compatibility with the company’s network. If the connection to the ISP is analog we will need to convert it to digital for our network and back to analog when we reach outside the network. I would have the network configured as a MAN with each building having being a LAN. The sales departments desire to conduct video training sessions requires much greater throughput than the access of servrers in another department and the use of fiber will assist in this. The Fulfillment department will be setup with a WLAN (wireless local area network) to facilitate the use of scanners on forklifts interacting with inventory databases.

System Architectures Essay Example for Free

System Architectures Essay It is true that most companies now are looking at how to be competitive in their business, whether they improved their internal processes through improving manpower skills or improving customer service. But those improvements does not end there, most companies would also look into improving their systems through their computer systems and that is the main focus of this research as to how this will take on the future challenges of most organization. One of the most very prevalent these days when it comes to computer systems is the utmost availability of it to almost everybody, like most people these days can access their emails and systems through their mobile phone and can make orders at the comfort of their homes and could even provide them alarms and updates even without them asking for it. These are just some of the trends that continue to affect the business and how it brings business to end users. One of the future of computer systems includes the providing online data and information to everybody, which can be provided by systems that specializes for data sharing with high end technology for instant querying and report for any information that people needs. This kind of systems continues to be the demand and will be more very in demand in the future as most organization would need much information to help them prepared for bigger challenges. Some of these systems include these great features: (1) tailored data grids, (2) supports tailored fir RDBMS, and (3) adopts hybrid architecture of other systems, meaning it can constantly be adoptable and interconnected to other wide systems around the world. This will grow more on more in the future and it will be the information need of anybody that drives a lot to this kind of system. But, the implementation of this kind of system would take a lot of research and understanding to all the different challenges of any organization for it to be adoptable and be appreciative to the growing information public who would need it. (Comito, C. , Gournaris, A. , Sakellario, R. , Talia, D, 2008). Another future of computer systems will be more on the scientific and engineering side; this is because there are continuing focus on improvement on the research and development where it has been the vital part of the economic stability of any business. This continues to provide high efficiency and quality to any product it develops; due to its accuracy bound systems that help stabilize production in most scientific research organization. This also becomes a major need for most organization these days as they already identified the weakness of most products in the market that did not applied high end computerized systems which in result affects the appreciation of the greater meticulous market. The main emphasis here is that it provides high quality and originality to any product and that already is one major attraction and enticement to many end users and buyers around the world, because nowadays technology for them is important and it really matters the most. In line with this the future will also be going into web based scientific and engineering computing system that would also helps scientist and engineers in coming up with better upgrade and fix of their systems online and would not anymore be implemented within offices. This not only helps them to be more flexible but more importantly gives them productivity and efficiency since their systems can be access at their own convenience. This also attracts more business owners to also do business off shore and in return also gives them lesser cost in labor and other expense. (Future Generation of Computer Systems, n. d.). Work Cited Comito, C. , Gournaris, A. , Sakellario, R. , Talia, D. (2008). A service-oriented system for distributed data querying and integration on Grids. Science Direct. Retrieved 16 February 2009 from http://journalseek.net/

Endocrine System Communication

Endocrine System Communication Explain the importance of intercellular communication and describe the mechanism involved. Intercellular communication is important because it assist the nervous system to elongate the long-term process of growth, development, or reproduction. The endocrine system uses chemical messengers to relay information and instructions between cells. One of the mechanisms involved in intercellular communication is know as direct communication this communication is rare but is important when it occurs. This is when two cells of the same type and the cells must be in extensive physical contact. The cells are so close they function as one. The majority of the communication is known as paracrine communication which is where the cell continuously exchanges chemical messages between each other so they are in sink with one another. Compare and contrast the modes of intercellular communication used by the endocrine and nervous systems and discuss the functional significance of the differences between the two systems. The nervous system performs short term â€Å"crisis management† and the endocrine system regulates long-term, ongoing metabolic processes. The endocrine system uses endocrine communication which helps regulate hormones through the circulatory system and the nervous system dose not have the capability to do this. Another significant difference is synaptic communication, the nervous system uses this form of communication of neurons to release neurotransmitter at a synapse very close to a target cell that bears the right receptors. This form of communication allows the body to react quickly to situations to escape from harm. Explain the general mechanisms of hormonal action and identify which hormone types work through each mechanisms. A hormone receptor is a protein molecule to which a particular molecule binds strongly. Each cell has receptors for responding to several different hormones, but cells in different tissues have different combinations of receptors. For every cell, the presence or absence of a specific receptor determines the cells hormonal sensitivities. Hormone receptors are located either on the cell membrane or inside the cell. The mechanisms of hormonal action are that receptors for catecholamines, peptide hormones and eicosanoids are in the cell membrane of target cells. Thyroid and steroid hormones cross the cell membrane and bind to receptors in the cytoplasm or nucleus, activating or inactivating specific genes. Describe the control of endocrine organs. The endocrine organs are controlled by three mechanisms of the hypothalamic control. One is the secretion of regulatory hormones to control activity of anterior lobe of pituitary gland. Two the production of ADH and oxytocin. And finally is the control of sympathetic output to adrenal medullae. Explain the structural and functional relationship between the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus. The pituitary gland releases nine important peptide hormones that all bind to the membrane receptors and use cyclic-AMP as a second messenger. The pituitary gland hangs inferior to the hypothalamus which all the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland to help in the function of the hypophyseal portal system. By the hypothalamus secreting specific regulatory hormones it controls the production of hormones in the anterior lobe. This whole system works to secret hormones from the hypothalamus through the pituitary gland in a network of capillaries that are connected. All this ensures that all the hypothalamic hormones entering the portal vessels will reach the target cells in the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland before entering general circulation. Predict how alternations in hormone production, delivery, or reception by target tissues would affect its action and blood concentration levels. Describe the factors that could determine a cells hormonal sensitivity. Cells sensitivity is determined by two factors down-regulation and up-regulation. Down regulation is a process in which the presence of a hormone triggers a decrease in the number of hormone receptors. This process is when levels of particular hormones are high, cells become less sensitive to it. Up-regulation is a process in which the absence of a hormone triggers an increase in the number of hormone receptors. In this process the levels of a particular hormone are low, cells become more sensitive to it. Identify the hormones produced by the anterior and posterior lobes of the pituitary gland and specify the functions of those hormones. The anterior lobe produces seven hormones: Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) targets the thyroid gland and triggers the release of thyroid hormones. As circulation concentrations of thyroid hormones rise, the rate of TRH and TSH production decline. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulates the release of steroid hormones by the adrenal cortex and targets cells that produce glucocorticoids. Gonadotropins regulate the activities of the gonads. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) promotes follicle development in females and, in combination with luteinizing hormone, stimulates the secretion if estrogen by ovarian cells. In males, FSH stimulates sustentacular cells, specialized cells in the tubules where sperm differentiate. Luteinizing hormone (LH) induces ovulation, the production of reproductive cell in females. Also promotes the secretion, by the ovaries, of estrogen and the progestin, which prepare the body for pregnancy. In male hormone is sometimes called interstitial cell- stimulating hormone (ICSH), because it stimulates the production of sex hormones by the interstitial cells of the testes. Prolactin (PRL) works with other hormones to stimulate mammary gland development. Growth hormone (GH) stimulates cell growth and replication by accelerating the rate of protein synthesis. The posterior lobe produces two hormones: Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) is released in response to a variety of stimuli, most notably a rise in the solute concentration in the blood or a fall in blood volume or blood pressure. A rise in the solute concentration stimulates specialized hypothalamic neurons. Oxytocin (OT) stimulates smooth muscles contraction in the wall of the uterus, promoting labor and delivery. After delivery this hormones stimulates the contraction of myoepithelial cells around the secretory alveoli and the ducts of the mammary gland, promoting the ejection of milk. Discussion the results of abnormal levels of pituitary hormones Abnormal levels of pituitary hormones can have a cast and complex impact on the growth, fertility, and function on the human body via the effect of the hormones on their target organs. Diseases anywhere from asthma to growth problems can occur. Identify the hormones produced by the thyroid gland, specify the functions of those hormones, and discuss the causes and results of abnormal levels of thyroid hormones. The thyroid gland produces thyroglobulin, tyrosine, and thyroxine. The functions of these hormones are: Thyroid hormones enter target cells by means of an energy dependent transport system and they affect almost every cell in the body. Thyroid hormones bound to cytoplasmic receptors are held in storage until intracellular levels of thyroid hormone decline. Thyroid hormones bound to mitochondria increase ATP production. Thyroid hormones bound to receptors in the nucleus activates genes that control energy utilization. The calorigenic effect: the cell consumes more energy resulting in increased heat generation. In growing children, thyroid hormones are essential to normal development of the skeletal, muscular, and nervous systems. The thyroid gland is primarily responsible for a strong, immediate, and short-lived increase in the rate of cellular metabolism. The major factor controlling the rate of thyroid hormone release is the concentration of TSH in the circulating blood. The causes of abnormal levels of thyroid hormones can create an iodide deficiency because in the U.S. we consume more than they daily amount needed. Thyroid hormone production declines, regardless of the circulating levels of TSH. Describe the functions of the parathyroid hormones, and the effects of abnormal functions of each hormone. Parathyroid hormone has four major effects: 1. It stimulates osteoclasts, accelerating mineral turnover and the release of Ca2+ from bone. 2. It inhibits osteoblasts, reducing the rate of calcium deposition in bone. 3. It enhances the reabsorption of Ca2+ at the kidneys, reducing urinary losses. 4. It stimulates the formation and secretion of calcitriol at the kidneys. The effects of calcitriol complement or enhance those of PTH, but one major effect of calcitriol is the enhancement of Ca2+ and PO43- absorption by the digestive tract. The parathyroid glands, aided by calcitriol, are the primary regulators of blood calcium I levels in healthy adults. When the parathyroid calcium levels become abnormal there are two disorders that can occur. Hypoparathyroidism the gland secretes low calcium concentrations in body fluid. Hyperparathyroidism is when calcium concentrations become abnormally high. Identify the hormones produced by the adrenal cortex and medulla and specify the functions of each hormone The adrenal cortex secrets the hormones adrenocortical, mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids and androgens. The adrenocortical steroids or corticosteroids are vital: if the adrenal glands are destroyed or removed, the individual will die unless corticosteroids are administered. Mineralocorticoids increase renal reabsorption of Na+ and water which accelerates urinary loss of potassium. Glucocorticoids release amino acids from skeletal muscles and lipids from adipose tissue; promote liver formation of glucose and glycogen; promotes peripheral utilization of lipids; anti-inflammatory effects. Androgens are not important in men; encourages bone growth, muscle growth, and blood formation in children and women. The adrenal medulla secrets epinephrine and norepinephrine. These hormones increase cardiac activity, blood pressure, glycogen breakdown, blood glucose levels; releases lipids by adipose tissue. Also this is where the fight or flight syndrome is sparked. Discuss the results of abnormal levels of adrenal hormone production When the adrenal hormone becomes abnormal it produces several different disorders. The first is hypoaldosteronism; the zona glomerulosa fails to produce enough aldosterone, generally either as an early sign of adrenal insufficiency or because the kidneys are not releasing adequate amounts of rein. A rare but serious disorder can occur called Addisons disease which results from inadequate stimulations of the zona fasciculata by the pituitary hormone ACTH or, more commonly, from the inability of the adrenal cells to synthesize the necessary hormones, generally from adrenal cell loss caused by autoimmune problems. Another disease is Cushings disease which results from overproduction of glucocorticoids. There is another aspect of abnormal production of adrenal hormones that affects men and womens sexual characteristics called adrenogenital syndrome. In women, this condition leads to the gradual development of male secondary sex characteristics, including body and facial hair patters. In male to causes an increase of estrogen resulting in larger breast tissue or other female secondary sex characteristics. Last but not least there is a disorder of the adrenal medulla called pheochromocytoma which is an overproduction of epinephrine that causes a tumor that produces catecholamines in massive quantities. Describe the functions of the hormones produced by the pineal gland. It contains pinealocytes, which synthesize the hormone melatonin. The suggested functions of the pineal gland is that it inhibits reproductive functions, protects against damage by free radicals, and sets circadian rhythms. Identify the hormones produced by the pancreas and specify the functions of those hormones. The pancreas contains both exocrine and endocrine cells. Cells of the endocrine pancreas form clusters called pancreatic islets (islets of Langerhans). The pancreatic islets release insulin and glucagons. Insulin is released when blood glucose levels rise, and it stimulates glucose transport into and utilization by, peripheral tissues. Glucagon is released when blood glucose levels decline, and it stimulates glycogen breakdown, glucose synthesis and fatty acid release. Discuss the results of abnormal levels of pancreatic hormone production. When the pancreatic hormones produce abnormal levels of insulin and glucose it causes an individual to be diabetic. Diabetes mellitus is characterized by glucose concentration that is high enough to overwhelm the reabsorption capabilities of the kidneys. Glucose appears in the urine, and urine production generally becomes excessive. Describe the functions of the hormones produced by the kidneys, heart, thymus, testes, ovaries, and adipose tissue. Control of the heart, kidneys, thymus, gonads, and adipose tissue. The kidneys release erythropoietin and calcitriol into the red bone marrow, intestinal lining, bone and kidneys. All of the hormones releases are to stimulate red blood cell production and calcium and phosphate absorption and it also stimulates calcium ions from bone; inhibits PTH secretion. The heart controls the hormones natriuretic that targets the kidneys, hypothalamus and adrenal gland. These hormones increase water and salt loss at kidneys; decrease thirst; and suppress secretion of ADH and aldosterone. The adipose tissue contain two hormones that support to different functions, first is leptin which targets the hypothalamus for suppression of appetite; permissive effects on GnRH and gonadotropin synthesis. Second is resistin that targets cell throughout the body that suppresses insulin response. Last but not least are the gonads with the hormones androgens, inhibin, estrogen and progestin. All these hormones are targeted by the pituitary glands to support the reproductive organs in males and females. In males the interstitial cells of the testes produce androgens. Testosterone is the most important sex hormone in males. Sustentacular cells in the testes support the differentiation and physical maturation of sperm. Under FSH stimulation, these cells secrete the hormone inhibin, which inhibits the secretion of FSH at the anterior lobe. The female body develops oocytes in the follicles; follicle cells produce estrogens, especially estradiol. After ovulation, the remaining follicle cells reorganize into a corpus luteum. Those cells release a mixture of estrogens and progestins, especially progesterone. Explain how hormones interact to produce coordinated physiological responses. Hormones interact to produce coordinated physiological responses in four ways: 1. antagonistic (opposing) effects 2. synergistic (additive) effects 3. permissive effects, in which one hormone is necessary for another to produce its effect 4. integrative effects, in which hormones produce different, but complementary, results Identify the hormones that are especially important to normal growth, and discuss their roles. There are several hormones that are important for normal growth: GH, insulin, PTH, calcitriol, reproductive and thyroid hormones. The circulation concentrations of these hormones are regulated independently. Changes produce unique individual growth patterns. Growth Hormone (GH): effects are most apparent in children where GH supports muscular and skeletal development. In adults GH assists in the maintenance of normal blood glucose concentrations and in the mobilization of lipid reserves. Thyroid hormones: if these hormones are absent during fetal development or for the first year after birth, the nervous system will fail to develop normally and mental retardation will result. If T4 concentrations decline before puberty, normal skeletal development will not continue. Insulin: without insulin the passage of glucose and amino acids across cell membranes will be drastically reduced or eliminated. Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) and Calcitriol: promote the absorption of calcium salts for subsequent deposition in bone. Without adequate levels of both hormones, bones will be weak and flexible. Reproductive Hormones: the sex hormones (androgens in males, estrogens in females) stimulate cell growth and differentiation in their target tissues. Differential growth induced by each hormone accounts for gender-related differences in skeletal proportions and secondary sex characteristics. Define the general adaptation syndrome. Any condition that threatens homeostasis is a stress. Our bodies respond to a variety of stress-causing factors through the general adaptation syndrome (GAS), or stress response. The GAS can be divided into three phases: the alarm phase the resistance phase the exhaustion phase Reference page: S.Schaffer. Chapter 18. The endocrine system. Retrieved January 20, 2008 from http://www.harford.edu/faculty/SSchaeffer/Endocrine%20Outline.doc Martini. Chapter 18. The endocrine system. Retrieved January 20, 2008 from http://www.miramar.sdccd.cc.ca.us/faculty/kpetti/Bio160/Martini7DetailLectOutlines/18-Detailed_Lect_Out_LO.pdf.pdf

Tension in The Red Room, The Cone and The Superstitious Mans Story Ess

Tension in The Red Room, The Cone and The Superstitious Man's Story 'The Red Room', The Cone' and 'The Superstitious Man's Story' are all short stories which were written before 1914. 'The Red Room' and 'The Cone' were both written by H.G. Wells and 'The Superstitious Man's Story' was written by Thomas Hardy. All three of these stories were written in Victorian Times (1837-1901). These were years of great scientific and technological developments. The authors of the three stories show us a diminishing belief in superstition and supernatural. The authors of 'The Red Room' and 'The Superstitious Man's Story' have written the stories in the style of a gothic one, although they don’t end up being supernatural. However, 'The Cone' has been written with no gothic features, but it shows technological development as the title itself contains the word 'Cone' which is part of industrial terminology. Also, the setting is industrial and shows the development. 'The Red Room' is about a man who goes to a house and in particular a room which is seen to have ghosts in it and, therefore, no one goes in that room. However, this man goes in to prove there is no existence of a ghost. We find out that no ghost is present in the room and there never has been and it's just that fear has overcome the person. 'The Cone' is about a man and woman who are having an affair. Tension is created as the man and woman who are having an affair are not sure whether the woman's husband has found out about what is going on. At the end the woman's husband kills the other man and then after throwing him off a bridge on top of the hot, melting iron at the bottom, he realises he has done something terribly wrong. In contrast 'The Superstit... ...nd creates more tension, whereas if it was daytime people wouldn't be as scared, although it may influence the readers as creating tension. Feelings of characters creates tension in all stories, as it puts us in the place of the character and the description makes us feel, how the character is feeling. This creates tension and also maintains it, as we don’t know what will happen next. Imagery such as metaphors, similes and personification maintains the tension during the stories. It makes us create a flamboyant picture, of what is going on. Sentence structure also gives us a sense of tension as the build up of sentences tells us an important part is coming up, which creates anticipation for the readers. The work of H.G. Wells and Thomas Hardy has been successful and the way in which all three pre 1914 stories create tension and the way it is maintained.

Johnson and Dubois :: Comparative, Literary Analysis, African American L

Johnson and Dubois Many parallels can be drawn between the works of W.E.B. DuBois and those of James Weldon Johnson. Johnson was greatly influenced by many concepts created by DuBois, especially those presented in DuBois's classic work The Souls of Black Folk. Johnson was so impressed with DuBois and his ideas that he sought him out in 1904 at Atlanta University. The two men developed a strong friendship and later worked for years together in the NAACP, Johnson's diplomatic temperment often balancing DuBois's more volitile one.* As Johnson developed his ideas about literature, he adopted the use of "double consciousness" the theme presented by DuBois in Souls of Black Folk. This theme was used significantly in Johnson's Autobiography. Along with this theme he came to embrace the idea of "racial distinctiveness" theorized by DuBois. DuBois argues in his book that spiritual contributions are what African-Americans bring to white American culture. Johnson's ideas about black distinctiveness within the frame of spirituality and creativity was strongly expressed in his poem "O Black and Unknown Bards." This poems plays on the themes of protest with a celebration of black distinctiveness and creativity in regards to slave spirituals. Johnson argues in the poem that the slave spirituals provide proof of the legitimacy of black literary independence, another theme Johnson adopted from DuBois. Another poem by Johnson which reflects ideas from DuBois is "The White Witch" In this poem, Johnson warns of the seductive charms of "the white witch" and is a militant call for African- Americans to preserve their heritage and distinctiveness. The images of white society brought forth by Johnson was very similar to those presented in DuBois's Souls, where he also calls out to African-Americans not to be tempted and corrupted by white materialism. Johnson and Dubois :: Comparative, Literary Analysis, African American L Johnson and Dubois Many parallels can be drawn between the works of W.E.B. DuBois and those of James Weldon Johnson. Johnson was greatly influenced by many concepts created by DuBois, especially those presented in DuBois's classic work The Souls of Black Folk. Johnson was so impressed with DuBois and his ideas that he sought him out in 1904 at Atlanta University. The two men developed a strong friendship and later worked for years together in the NAACP, Johnson's diplomatic temperment often balancing DuBois's more volitile one.* As Johnson developed his ideas about literature, he adopted the use of "double consciousness" the theme presented by DuBois in Souls of Black Folk. This theme was used significantly in Johnson's Autobiography. Along with this theme he came to embrace the idea of "racial distinctiveness" theorized by DuBois. DuBois argues in his book that spiritual contributions are what African-Americans bring to white American culture. Johnson's ideas about black distinctiveness within the frame of spirituality and creativity was strongly expressed in his poem "O Black and Unknown Bards." This poems plays on the themes of protest with a celebration of black distinctiveness and creativity in regards to slave spirituals. Johnson argues in the poem that the slave spirituals provide proof of the legitimacy of black literary independence, another theme Johnson adopted from DuBois. Another poem by Johnson which reflects ideas from DuBois is "The White Witch" In this poem, Johnson warns of the seductive charms of "the white witch" and is a militant call for African- Americans to preserve their heritage and distinctiveness. The images of white society brought forth by Johnson was very similar to those presented in DuBois's Souls, where he also calls out to African-Americans not to be tempted and corrupted by white materialism.

Existence of Reality in Christopher Durangs Beyond Therapy and Edward

Existence of Reality in Christopher Durang's Beyond Therapy and Edward Albee's Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf? Growing up, I always assumed that my parents would grow old together. I fantasized about introducing my future children to their still-married grandparents and attending, if not personally planning, my parent’s fiftieth anniversary celebration. Although my parents fought and struggled with areas of perpetual disagreement, somehow things always worked out and in my naivety, I believed they always would. However, as time progressed, the unresolved, and in some cases unspoken, issues that had plagued my parent’s marriage since its conception festered and ultimately reached intractable proportions. As a messy divorce loomed, each parent explained his version of the events and â€Å"irreconcilable differences† engendering a separation. Although the facts presented in each account matched, my parent’s respective interpretations of the facts differed greatly. As I listened to my parent’s rationalize their inability to get along, I realized that although my parent’s stories did not match, neither party was actually lying. Each parent simply presented to me his or her version of the reasons for divorce. I knew that somewhere hidden in the subtext of my parent’s explanations laid the truth. As I sifted through the slightly convoluted information, I began to wonder, â€Å"Is reality a relative concept?† After reviewing my personal experience, Christopher Durang’s play Beyond Therapy, and Edward Albee’s Who’s afraid of Virginia Woolf?, I reached the conclusion that, as inherently paradoxical as it seems, reality exists as a relative concept. Ostensibly, in the complexities of a divorce, the true reasons necessitating a permanent... ...xtremes of denial and testifies to the true relativity of reality depending upon mindset. After overcoming her denial and admitting that no son exists, Martha lies prostrate as George asks her, â€Å"Who’s afraid of Virginia Woolf?†(242). Martha wearily replies, â€Å"I†¦am†¦George†¦.I†¦am†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (242). In other words, â€Å"Who’s afraid of the truth?† My parents, Stuart of Christopher Durang’s Beyond Therapy, and Martha and George from Thomas Albee’s â€Å"Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?†. Ceasing to rationalize reality to suit one’s needs entails dealing with the truth and experiencing pain. Therefore, it stands to reason that many smart, reasonable people fall victim to the allure of denial. However, as Martha demonstrates, the walls crumble eventually, and one feels the pain as acutely as ever. So, who’s afraid of the truth? The more appropriate question is who’s not afraid of the truth?

How Social Media Communities Impact Consumer Behavior Essay

Social media has increasingly become a constant in our lives. Many people reach out to friends or family through social media, sometimes on a daily basis. Through Facebook, people can view pictures and read status updates. Twitter allows others to read status updates that are limited to 140 characters. Each of these social media tools has its advantages and disadvantages but each opens up the doors to creating an online community with others that may not be possible offline. George Herbert Mead’s theory of symbolic interactionism states that our interactions with individuals and communities shape our identities and influence our actions. Is it possible that his theory could apply to the ways in which a persons’ social media community influences his or her purchase decisions? This paper will seek to find the answer. The following thesis will include an analysis of Mead’s theory of symbolic interactionism, a literature review about communities in social media, the method used to collect data, an analysis of the data, and implications from the study. Importance of the Study As a professional marketer, I have always been fascinated with social media. At the very essence of human nature is a desire to be social. Social media has provided humans an outlet to create online communities making it easier to network with others, which satisfies some of our deepest social wants and needs. Additionally, social media has allowed users to increase the amount of people included in their personal communities, as social media is both viral, which is to say that information travels rapidly between social media users, and transparent. Social media can be considered transparent as users of sites such as Facebook and Twitter post their thoughts, pictures, and locations to their followers, which often consist of people who are not close friends or family. Social media tools have become superb channels for marketers to reach consumers. The article titled, â€Å"Expand your Brand Community Online† states that social media is important for marketers because it allows them to dialogue directly with consumers, which in turn engages consumers directly with company brands (Hanlon, Patrick, Hawkins, & Josh, 2008). Many companies, such as Audi and Dunkin’ Donuts have used social media very effectively to reach consumers. According to Wasserman (2011), out of all other brands on Facebook, Audi’s fans are the most engaged of all major corporate brands on Facebook. That consumers can reach out to companies and their personal communities via social media has created a power shift between companies and consumers. Lee (2010) contends that social media has become vastly popular for â€Å"normal people† because it allows anyone to interact with content or deliver it (p. 112). This model of communication is vastly superior to the traditional format of one-way communication between major media and its intended audience (Lee, p. 112). A company that uses social media is more likely to create relationships with members of its target demographic rather than traditional media where conversations between the medium and the audience are unlikely. Now, social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter have made it easy for consumers to post product reviews and reach out to other like-minded individuals in their communities. As social media infiltrates our lives as consumers, before people make purchases, they are increasingly reaching out to their social media communities for opinions (Drell, 2011). Goal Consumers often want others’ opinions about items before they make a commitment to purchase. For example, they may ask about the color of a shirt, or if they should purchase a large or small purse. Social media communities provide an outlet for consumers to seek opinions, but how often and at what point in the purchase process do consumers reach out to their online communities for advice? Do the opinions provided by social media communities actually impact consumers’ purchases? These are among the key questions I will seek to answer in this thesis, including the overarching question of whether social media communities impact consumers’ purchase behavior. An exploration of Mead’s concept of the â€Å"self† reveals how it can help a company realize its brand identity and ensure the â€Å"self† portrayed on Facebook remains consistent with its understanding, and the public’s understanding of the brand. In Mead’s theory of symbolic interaction he suggested we create our â€Å"self† by figuratively peering through a looking glass to see ourselves as others do, which leads to the creation of an identity (Griffin, 2009, p. 63). As we interact with others, the â€Å"self† is constantly changing and adapting to further shape our identities, which, Mead contends, are ultimately based on how others view our â€Å"self† (Griffin, p. 63). Mead’s concept of the â€Å"self† is an apt metaphor for the process in which a Facebook profile is created and refined through communicative engagement with consumers in a digital marketplace. Using Mead’s theory of symbolic interactionism, this thesis will attempt to identify how social media communities affect consumers’ online purchasing behavior. To help answer the question of how people’s social media communities affect their online purchases, I will use numerous research methods to gather data relevant to my thesis topic. For the collection of literary sources, I will use two primary sources. First is the online databases offered through the Foley Center Library at Gonzaga. There, I will discover and collect academic peer-reviewed journal articles about the history of social media, the psychology behind the creation of personal communities and how people interact with them, and current trends in consumer purchase behavior. Another resource I will use is the online magazine Advertising Age, a primary resource for marketing professionals that includes articles about trends in digital marketing. From Advertising Age, I will search for articles about new technologies that help consumers more efficiently reach out to their social network communities. ProQuest will be my main literature database source as it contains a wide variety of academic journals suited for a thesis. Advertising Age will be a complementary source while the databases Business Source Complete and Communication & Mass Media Complete will likely serve as complementary sources. I will employ survey research to help collect data. I will create a survey instrument with a list of questions that pertain to people social media communities and how these communities affect their purchases. The survey will include a Likert-like scale of 1-3, and will allow for collection of data regarding people’s rankings of the influence their social media communities have over their purchases. Additionally, the survey will include situational questions, i.e., â€Å"If you were to buy a large purchase, would opinions from your Facebook friends impact your purchase?† Lastly, the survey also will gather information that could have an impact on the thesis question, including respondents’ age, other demographic data, and item amounts purchased online vs. offline. Organization of Remaining Chapters The following thesis will be organized into the following chapters. The second chapter will be the literature review. This chapter will cover Mead’s theory of symbolic interactionism and its relation to the creation of online communities. The literature review will also review the theory of hyper-symbolic interactionism as well as the benefits to online communities, how social media has transformed the power dynamic between companies and consumers, the differences in millennials’ and non-millennials’ use of the Internet, and gender differences in relation to Facebook. The third chapter of this thesis will introduce the scope and the methodology used to gather data. The scope of the project will be limited to people who live in Western Washington, use social media, and purchase products online. The methodology will be a Likert-like survey distributed through the survey tool Surveymonkey.com. The fourth chapter will analyze the data gathered from the survey. Lastly, the fifth chapter will conclude the thesis. It will contain method limitations as well as future studies that should be considered. How Social Media Communities Impact Consumer Behavior, 10 REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE Introduction Symbolic interactionism theory was created by Mead to describe how humans form their identity and construct a reality of social norms through interactions with others. Although human interaction methods have changed over time, most recently with the digital age, Mead’s theory remains relevant in today’s world. Applying the theory of symbolic interactionism to online networks, it can be hypothesized that online communities shape individuals’ identity and reality, and provide a vast network with which to create relationships. This literature review will further explore Mead’s theory of symbolic interactionism and its application to online communities within social networks. It will also explore how social network users create relationships that can influence their online purchasing decisions. Overview of Symbolic Interactionism Theory The theory of symbolic interactionism includes three core principles that describe how humans interact with each other through meaning, language, and thought to create our â€Å"self† (Griffin, 2009, p. 60). Mead believed that interactions are â€Å"central to the development of one’s social identity and functioning according to shared norms and values† (Tormey, 2007). Meaning is found in how a person constructs a social reality (Griffin, p. 60). The way one interacts with others, verbally or nonverbally, derives from the meaning one assigns to various interactions (Griffin, p. 60) For example, a person may see a protestor on the street picketing very loudly. This person may view the protestor as obnoxious and intrusive, whereas another person may view this person as progressive and inspirational. Each of these people has assigned a meaning to the protestor, which in return constructs a reality. The protestor’s true meaning, however, cannot be concretely defined, for each person will assign a different meaning to the protestor and interact based on the meaning he or she has constructed. The meanings one assigns to another is created through the use of language (Griffin, 2009, p. 60). When the first person sees the protestor, he or she uses language to assign a certain meaning to the protestor. Calling the protestor obnoxious assigns a negative meaning to the protestor through language. To Mead, â€Å"naming is the basis for human society† (Griffin, p. 61). Lastly, thought occurs when we refer to our inner dialogue to interpret symbols and their meaning (Griffin, p. 62). According to Mead, a person needs language to create this inner dialogue (Griffin, p. 62). Without symbolically interacting, one cannot think and create this inner dialogue, which in turn allows a person to assign meaning to others (Griffin, p. 62). When the three principles of meaning, language, and thought occur, the idea of a â€Å"self† begins to emerge (Griffin, p. 63). Mead believed we had to look outwardly to truly understand our inner selves (Griffin, 2009, p. 63). This occurred when the concept of the looking glass self was used (Griffin, p. 63). When the looking glass self is applied, people construct their identity based on how others view them (Griffin, p. 63). One’s â€Å"self† is created through interactions with others involving the use of language (Griffin, p. 63). Thus with each new interaction, a person’s self can change, which is how we evolve and create our identities. When we interact on a one-to-one basis with another we create a self based on how another views us, but when people interact within an entire community, their self is created based on the expectations and responses of the community (Griffin, p. 65). When interacting with a community, a person creates a â€Å"generalized other† based on what expectations and responses the community is perceived to have, Mead noted (Griffin, 2009, p. 65). This generalized other is our guide to behavior when interacting with community members (Griffin, p. 65). It helps a person assign meaning to actions, and to act based on the meaning one wants to assume within the community (Griffin, p. 65). As interactions become more frequent within communities, norms and boundaries are created (Lynch & McConatha, 2006, p. 89). To Mead, a community consists of, â€Å"individual actors who make their own choices. Yet they align their actions with what others are doing to form healthcare systems, legal systems, and economic systems† (Griffin, p. 65). Although Mead formed this theory long before the Internet was created, it also applies to online social network interactions. Using Mead’s concept of the lookingglass, one can see how a Facebook page is actually a creation of our â€Å"self.† Symbolic interactionism theory plays an important role in the creation of Facebook profiles and how individuals identify themselves through engaging in online communication. â€Å"When Facebook users communicate ‘what’s on their mind’ or update their status, they are offering a representation of the ‘self,’ which is based on their social interactions with others† (Ellis, 2010, p. 39). According to Ellis, there is a three-step process in which a Facebook profile reflects one’s identity in light of Mead’s theory of symbolic interactionism (p. 39). First, a Facebook user, through actions, allows other Facebook users to become aware of his or her intentions. These intentions are made clear in a person’s Facebook profile picture and profile name (Ellis, p. 39). Secondly, communication occurs, as the profile picture becomes the user’s â€Å"self.† This image is what they would like others to perceive to be their identity (Ellis, p. 39). For example, if a How Socil Media Communities Impact Consumer Behavior, 13 veterinarian laboratory chose a picture of a smiling veterinarian and a happy dog, this lab is portraying to the world via Facebook that the company is not only a veterinarian laboratory with happy veterinarians, but one that caters to dogs, and in return, the dogs will be happy. Lastly, in the three-step process the profile picture means something to Facebook users who use it to decide what their identity will be (Ellis, p. 39). The user has created a â€Å"self† through this profile picture as it brings about an identity utilizing the symbolic act of communication (Ellis, p. 39). Hyper-symbolic Interactionism Theory Hyper-symbolic interactionism is a revised theory of symbolic interactionism for online networks (Lynch & McConatha, 2006). Theorists like Mead who used symbolic interactionism to describe socially constructed worlds did so before the invention of the Internet. The classic application of symbolic interactionism theory needs to adapt and evolve to fit today’s digital society (Lynch & McConatha, p. 88). Additionally, advancements in sciences require symbolic interactionism theory to be re-analyzed (Lynch and McConatha, p. 88). Advancements in such subjects as neuroscience and psychology have allowed us to learn more about the human mind than Mead knew when he created symbolic interactionism theory (p. 88). The generalized other, as Mead explained, forms when one creates his or her â€Å"self† based on a community’s expectations and responses (Griffin, 2009, p. 65). Thus, the â€Å"self† one creates is constantly changing and evolving based on interactions with others (Griffin, p. 65). One can assume that the creation of online communities, which use different means of interaction, allows one’s â€Å"self† to evolve even more than Mead ever thought one could (Lynch & McConatha, 2006, p. 89). Lynch and McConatha propose that the creation of a generalized other still exists, but exists differently online vs. offline (p. 89). While the generalized other still helps one form a â€Å"self,† the generalized other in the digital space is different than the one Mead described (Lynch and McConatha, p. 89). Lynch and McContha (2006) claim that the generalized other humans perceive today is different than Mead’s because of technology (p. 90). Due to the decrease in varying methods of human interaction, such as phone calls and verbal communication, and an increase in similar digital interactions, we are creating our self based on a different generalized other than Mead described (Lynch & McConatha, p. 90). The generalized other that impacts one’s self in the digital age is based more on consumerism than the generalized other described in the classic theory of symbolic interactionism (Lynch &McConatha, 2006, p. 90). Hyper-symbolic interaction is Lynch and McConatha’s (2006) solution to the immediacy of the Internet (p. 91). Hyper-symbolic interaction theory explains the creation of a new type of reality based on symbols found digitally. The theory â€Å"comprises the smallest symbols such as the l’s and O’s of computer language and the tiny pixels of digital imagery, as well as the complex contemporary imagery of advertisements and commercials produced daily† (Lynch & McConatha, p. 91). The larger symbols and imagery that these details create lead to new values and norms different than other nondigital communities (Lynch & McConatha, p. 91). This digital community is filled with marketers and advertisers, which in turn affect the reality humans’ construct, including the norms and values we abide by, as well as the meaning we give to symbols. We socialize very differently in digital reality than we do in real life (Lynch & McConatha, p. 91). Additionally, the increase in digital advertising causes us to perceive marketers and ads as reality (Lynch & McConatha, p. 92). Neuromarketing is a new term to describe marketing that has emerged from this shift in reality. Neuromarketing involves the study of how consumers react to marketing messages and is based on the idea that we have three brains, the new brain, the middle brain, and the old brain (Lynch & McConatha, 2006, p. 93). There are claims that neuromarketing actually drives consumers to purchase more products through a process of discovering consumers’ needs and then integrating them within their reality (Lynch & McConatha, p. 94). Neuromarketing also taps into what is believed to be a human’s old brain, the decision-maker that makes choices based on what will help one survive (Lynch & McConatha, p. 94). A human’s reaction to the decisions made by the old brain creates a constructed reality of what we essentially need and should react to (Lynch & McConatha, p. 94). Recently, Delta Airlines used neuroscience marketing to create a budget airline called â€Å"song.† The word â€Å"song† had no meaning to the airlines, but they used neuroscience marketing to discover the word â€Å"song† produces a pleasant feeling for consumers (Lynch & McConatha, p. 94). Delta Airlines is tapping into meaning consumers associate with symbols. Do consumers realize this or is it so engrained within our newly digitally created realities? Social Network Communities The article â€Å"Consumer Behaviour in Social Networking Sites: Implications for Marketers†(2011) identifies how humans use social media and how marketers should approach users of social media (Diffley, Kearns, Bennett, & Kawalek, p. 47). Its authors assert there are two methods marketers can use to reach consumers via social media: push THE STUDY Introduction For a week, I collected survey results through Surveymonkey.com. After asking co-workers in Seattle, people on Facebook and Twitter, and others in the Gonzaga community to take the survey, I amassed 154 responses. The survey responses came from Western Washington residents who use social media, and purchase items online. Survey questions asked were specific to Facebook and/or Twitter to gain more insight into how the two social media tools affect consumer behavior online (Appendix A). Data Analysis Of the 154 total individuals who answered the survey, the majority of people were 30-39 years of age (34%), 64% were female, 57% used both Facebook and Twitter, 55% used Facebook daily and 53% never used Twitter. The majority of individuals had 200299 Facebook friends (24%) and 52% of individuals had met all of their Facebook friends. In comparison, 40% had 1-99 Twitter followers and 40% had never met their followers in person. From these data it can be deduced that those who use Facebook typically â€Å"friend† others (meaning they are added as friends in their Facebook profiles) they also know offline while those who use Twitter tend to follow or be followed by strangers. Of all Facebook and Twitter respondents, 60% responded they purchase items online and offline at the same rate. These respondents noted they typically purchased clothing and accessories online (70%). Additionally, 68% of respondents bought travel accommodations online, 50% bought housewares, 32% buy electronics, and 10% buy insurance online. When asked if they would be more likely to listen to a stranger’s online review over that of a friend, 65% said they would be somewhat more likely while 30% said they would not be likely. To determine whether a person’s Facebook or Twitter community impacts their likelihood of online purchases, I asked a series of questions in the survey regarding Facebook and Twitter. From the results of these questions, I was able to gather enough data to indicate that Facebook communities have a higher impact on how consumers purchase products online than Twitter users. These results vary slightly from my hypothesis, which posited both social media tools would influence consumer behavior. Fifty-four percent of Facebook users said that they sometimes reach out to their Facebook communities before purchasing a product. This is a large percentage of Facebook users who view their Facebook communities as a trusted source for product opinions. Overall, How Social Media Communities Impact Consumer Behavior, based on the survey results, the majority of Facebook users sampled in this study said they are open at times to the influence and opinions of their Facebook communities, while Twitter users say their communities rarely influence their purchase decisions. When asked how often they reach out to members in their social media communities for opinions about products before they purchase them, 47% of respondents said they never reach out to Facebook friends before purchasing an item. Ninety percent said that they never reach out to Twitter followers before purchasing an item. Two sets of questions asked in the survey reveal the point in the purchase funnel in which people reach out to others on Facebook or Twitter. Fifty-two percent of individuals never gather opinions from Facebook friends at any point during the purchase funnel. However, 20% reach out to Facebook friends before researching products to buy, 26% while they are comparing products after the initial research phase, and 2% directly before purchasing a product. How Social Media Communities Impact Consumer Behavior, 30 Ninety-two percent of Twitter users never reach out to followers during the purchase process. Only 2% of Twitter users reach out to followers before researching products to buy, 5% before comparing products after the initial phase and 0% directly before making a purchase. When asked how likely it was that Facebook friends would influence one’s online purchases, 48% said that it is not likely, while 51% said that it is sometimes likely. Only 1% said that it is always likely. How Social Media Communities Impact Consumer Behavior, 31 Twitter appears to have significantly less of an effect on one’s online purchasing behavior as 92% said that Twitter is not likely to affect their purchase decisions. Six percent of Twitter users said that other Twitter followers will sometimes influence their purchase decisions and 1% said that other Twitter followers almost always have an influence. How Social Media Communities Impact Consumer Behavior, 32 Fifty-seven percent of Facebook users said that they have later purchased an item they heard about on Facebook, while only 17% of Twitter users said the same. The majority of Facebook users (54%) believe that Facebook is sometimes useful when looking for opinions about what products to purchase while 41% said it is not useful. Twitter is even less useful according to respondents as 79% said Twitter was never useful when looking for opinions about what products to purchase and only 19% said it is sometimes useful. When filtering the data to discern the difference in millennials (younger than 30 years of age) and non- millennials (30 years of age and older) it appeared that millennials were more open to influence from Facebook communities than non-millennials. The majority of non-millennial respondents used Facebook everyday but never used Twitter. Sixty-four percent of millennials used Facebook every day and 27% also used Twitter on a daily basis. Millennials were more likely than non-millennials to have both a Facebook and Twitter account (61% of millennials have both compared to 53% of nonmillennial). Sixty-one percent of non-millennials purchase about the same amount of products online as they do offline and 73% of their purchases are for travel accommodations. In comparison, 57% of millennials purchase about the same amount of products online as they do offline and the majority of their purchases (77%) are for clothing and accessories. Fifty-four percent of non-millennials say that they never reach out to Facebook friends for opinions before they purchase products online, while 51% of millennials said they sometimes reach out to Facebook friends for opinions. A large majority of both millennials and non-millennials said that they never reach out to Twitter followers for How Social Media Communities Impact Consumer Behavior, opinions before purchasing a product. Millennials were more likely than non-millennials to reach out to Facebook friends before researching products to buy. Additionally, 24% of non-millennials stated that they reach out to Facebook friends to compare products after the initial research phase, and this was around the same amount for millennials (29%). Seventy-eight percent of millennials said they hear about products on Facebook that they later buy 51% of non-millennials said the same. Forty-eight percent of nonmillennials believe that Facebook is not useful when looking for opinions about products to purchase online while only 35% of millennials believed that it is not useful. The majority of millennials (61%) believe that Facebook is sometimes useful when looking for opinions about what products to purchase. Both millennials and non- millennials agreed that Twitter is not useful when looking for opinions about what products to purchase. The majority of male and female respondents who took the survey were 30-39 years of age. Sixty percent of males used both Facebook and Twitter while 36% only used Facebook. In comparison, 54% of women used both Facebook and Twitter while 43% used only Facebook. Forty-seven percent of males used Facebook daily while a large percentage (50%) never use Twitter. Women tend to use Facebook and Twitter more often. Sixty-two percent of women use Facebook daily while, like males, a large majority never use Twitter. When asked the question, â€Å"About how many of your â€Å"friends† on Facebook have you met in person?† Forty-four percent of men responded that they knew all of them, whereas 53% of females stated that they knew all of their Facebook friends offline. How Social Media Communities Impact Consumer Behavior, Sixty-four percent of men said that they typically purchase the same amount of items in store and offline with 65% of purchases being travel accommodations. On the other hand, 59% of women typically purchase the same amount of items in store and offline with 73% of purchases being clothes and accessories. When asked how often they reach out to Facebook friends to provide opinions about products they may purchase online, 57% of men and 51% of women said they never do. Fifty percent of men also said that it is sometimes likely their Facebook friends will influence their purchases and 53% said that they often hear about products that they later purchase on Facebook.. Whereas, only 47% of women said that it is sometimes likely their Facebook friends will influence their purchase decisions but 59% said that they hear about products on Facebook that they later purchase. Both genders saw Twitter followers as having only a small influence on their purchase decisions if any at all. Results of the Study Mead’s theory of symbolic interactionism states humans are influenced by community members (Griffin, 2009, p. 65). Using Mead’s idea that communities impact our perception of what is a norm, I hypothesized that social media communities would impact consumer online behavior. My belief was, that if Mead believed that communities impact our perception of reality and what is normal, then by default social media communities should influence what one purchases online. One would purchase based on what the community believes to be the best purchase. The survey results showed that Twitter communities tend to not significantly impact social media users’ online purchase behavior, but Facebook communities typically do and have the potential to become even more of influencers for consumers. How Social Media Communities Impact Consumer Behavior, Facebook results seem to fall right in line with Mead’s idea of communities as influencers. While for Twitter, the survey results indicate that Twitter communities behave differently than offline communities and Facebook communities. As the majority of Twitter users stated that their followers are strangers, they may not feel the same type of intimacy and companionship as those who use Facebook feel. This is something Lynch and McConatha (2006) touch on when introducing the theory of hyper-symbolic interactionism. Lynch and McConatha believe that due to the marketing-based reality constructed on the Internet, we no longer have the same type of community interactions as we do offline (2006). If this is so, then it is plausible that one’s Twitter community has less of an influence, especially for those who are avid Twitter users. For marketers, this study can be interpreted in two ways. First, it implies that marketers who focus on the sharing of products among social media communities to boost sales should rethink their strategy, especially if they use Twitter more than Facebook. Second, the results of the survey should inspire marketers to find a marketing method that will increase the influence online communities have on other social media users. My study showed that Facebook communities typically influence some users and have the potential to influence even more in the future. Many Facebook users surveyed seemed to value their Facebook friends’ opinions when it came to purchasing items online, and sometimes these opinions impacted their purchases. Marketers should use community influence on Facebook users as a way to increase sales and/or brand awareness. Another takeaway for marketers is the difference between Facebook and Twitter. Most of the respondents use Facebook on a daily basis and Twitter was not used nearly as How Social Media Communities Impact Consumer Behavior,   much, if at all. Out of the two social media platforms, Facebook communities are more of a community than Twitter. More people on Facebook know their Facebook friends offline, while many Twitter users did not know most of their Twitter followers offline. When comparing all of the questions pertaining to Facebook and those pertaining to Twitter, it is apparent that those who use Facebook have more of a relationship with their friends than Twitter users do with their followers. For marketers, this information is beneficial when deciding what channel would be the best to focus their attention on. CÄÆ'rtÄÆ'rescu (2010) stated that online communities create places for members to â€Å"share a sense of belonging, have a specific culture, a specific set of norms (‘netiquette’), affective ties that bind them together and a sense of shared history† (p. 82). These elements appear to be lacking in Twitter as most respondents to the survey answered that their Twitter communities were typically comprised of strangers who did not impact their purchasing decisions. Based on CÄÆ'rtÄÆ'rescu’s definition of an online community, and the lack of survey participants that use Twitter, it is questionable if Twitter constitutes a community, especially one that influences. Rather, it can be identified as a communication tool to reach out and converse with strangers but probably is not able to build relationships like Facebook does. In my opinion, Facebook feels more like a community than Twitter. Answers from the survey support this notion, as many of the respondents stated that they knew Facebook friends offline, while Twitter followers are comprised mostly of strangers. Based on Mead’s concept of a community as an influencer, I assumed that people would reach out to their Facebook communities to help shape their opinions, more than they would on Twitter. What my survey discovered was a good portion of Facebook users felt How Social Media Communities Impact Consumer Behavior, like Facebook was a good method of gathering opinions before purchasing a product, as 50% of survey respondents used Facebook communities this way. Respondents seemed to regard Facebook as a community full of influences, which could help shape not only the Facebook users’ identities, but their purchasing opinions. Greenleigh (2010) found that 84% of millennials turn to online communities before purchasing an item. The survey results from my study found the opposite. On average, 50% of millennials who responded to my survey said that Facebook influenced their purchasing decisions. In particular, when asked how often they turn to Facebook communities before purchasing an item, only 51% of millennials said that they sometimes do and 47% said that they never do. Greenleigh also found that millennials were 51% more likely to trust strangers when purchasing products, over family and friends. Again, my study contradicts Greenleigh’s notion. Sixty-five percent of millennials said that they would sometimes listen to a stranger’s online review of products over their friends. While 29% said they would not be likely to and a small margin of 6% said they would always listen to a stranger’s online review. According to Thompson and Lougheed (2012), women are on Facebook more often than men and due to this have increased anxiety. While my study did not measure the amount of anxiety one feels from social media, it did find that women tend to spend more time on Facebook than men much like Thompson and Lougheed stated. Forty-seven percent of males used Facebook daily while 62% of women use Facebook on a daily basis. What is surprising about the results when comparing men and women’s Facebook tendencies, is the smaller influence Facebook communities have on women than men. Although women said that they used Facebook more often than men on a daily basis, they How Social Media Communities Impact Consumer Behavior, were less likely to be influenced by Facebook communities when purchasing a product online than their male counterparts. However, women tend to contradict this statement when they are later asked how often they purchase items after hearing about it on Facebook and 59% say that they sometimes do. In comparison, a smaller percentage of men say the same. How Social Media Communities Impact Consumer Behavior, SUMMARIES AND CONCLUSIONS Limitations of the Study While my study produced interesting results, I believe there is room for my improvement within my study that would have produced better results and more reliable data. One such issue that I would have changed was my desire to limit the location of participants in the survey. My study focused solely on Western Washington individuals with the belief that they would believe an adequate sample size to study. While my sample size provided reliable data and provocative insights, I am curious whether a larger sample size would have impacted the results I received. Would people in Eastern states view Facebook and Twitter differently than people in Western Washington? I think my sample size was drawn too narrowly to make a conclusive statement. A second problem with my study is due to time constraints. I was only able to gather data using one method. With more time, I would have implemented an additional method. Another data source would have provided more insights on how social media communities impact consumer behavior online. While my survey, provided adequate enough data to analyze and make a prediction, a method, such as an in-person user research study, would have provided additional results to analyze. Further Studies or Recommendations For further evaluation of how social media impacts consumer behavior online, other studies should be explored. While my thesis only looked at the impact of social media communities on consumer behavior online, another avenue I would have liked to pursue would have been the impact of a company’s Facebook page on consumer behavior How Social Media Communities Impact Consumer Behavior, online. For instance, if an online consumer likes or interacts with the Nordstrom Facebook page, are they then more likely to purchase from Nordstrom online? Additionally, another study that could provide interesting results would be how Facebook advertisements impact consumer behavior online. Many companies purchase these ads hoping that they will entice Facebook users to visit their company page, purchase their product, or recommend the product to others. While data are available on these advertisements to the companies that purchase them, such as number of clicks on ads, a study could help indicate if they actually influence Facebook users to perform the wanted action. The data only show numbers, but a study could help identify the psychology behind the numbers and why a person may click on one company’s Facebook ad over another. Conclusions Social media continues to play a role in many people’s lives. From finding information about friends to perusing a company’s Facebook page to gain insight into their products, many of us use social media constantly. While our purposes for using social media may vary, we all have created communities we interact with within our social networks. According to Mead’s theory of symbolic interactionism, the way we interact with individuals shapes our identity. Thus, it can be thought that how we interact with others on social media also can shape our identity. Mead also described the importance of a community’s influence. My thesis seeks to understand if a social media user valued their social media communities’ influence when it came to purchasing products online. I hypothesized, based on Mead’s rationale, that if offline communities How Social Media Communities Impact Consumer Behavior, 41 impact our identities and actions, then social media communities should perform the same way. To obtain this information I distributed a survey to respondents in Western Washington who use Facebook and Twitter as well as purchase items online. When analyzing the results, many interesting insights were noticed. The respondents of the survey interacted more with friends and family on Facebook than they did on Twitter. The majority of Twitter followers one had were strangers. Thus it can be deduced that Facebook is more like an offline community that Mead describes than Twitter. When it came to answering my overall thesis question of whether or not social media affected consumer online behavior the survey showed surprising results. It was found that Twitter had very little influence on consumers and more than likely they never reached out to Twitter followers at any point during the purchase process for opinions. Facebook friends, on the other hand, had more of an influence on Facebook users. Around 50% of Facebook users reach out to their Facebook communities before purchasing an item. Thus, results for Facebook align with Mead’s theory of symbolic interactionism. In conclusion, the survey I distributed found that social media communities in general, do have an influence on what products social media users purchase online, with Twitter having a very minimal amount of influence and Facebook communities having a relatively high level of influence. How Social Media Communities Impact Consumer Behavior, 42 References Budzanowska-Drzewiecka, M. (2011). Social conditioning of purchasing decisions of 9-11 year-old consumers. Journal Of Customer Behaviour, 10(2), 143-160. doi:10.1362/147539211X589555 CÄÆ'rtÄÆ'rescu, I. (2010). Utility of online communities — ways one can benefit from one’s online life. Journal Of Comparative Research In Anthropology & Sociology, 1(2), 79-91. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy.foley.gonzaga.edu/ehost/detail?vid=54&hid=110 &sid=9a83f789-ffbb-4d09-ad3369f906fba08e%40sessionmgr14&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d# db=sih&AN=55558221 Dellarocas, C., Gao, G., & Narayan, R. (2010). 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