What Pilot Studies Are and Why They Matter

A pilot study is a preliminary small-scale study that researchers conduct in order to help them decide how best to conduct a large-scale research project. Using a pilot study, a researcher can identify or refine a research question, figure out what methods are best for pursuing it, and estimate how much time and resources will be necessary to complete the larger version, among other things. Key Takeaways: Pilot Studies Before running a larger study, researchers can conduct a pilot study: a small-scale study that helps them refine their research topic and study methods.Pilot studies can be useful for determining the best research methods to use, troubleshooting unforeseen issues in the project, and determining whether a research project is feasible.Pilot studies can be used in both quantitative and qualitative social science research. Overview Large-scale research projects tend to be complex, take a lot of time to design and execute, and typically require quite a bit of funding. Conducting a pilot study beforehand allows a researcher to design and execute a large-scale project in as methodologically rigorous a way as possible, and can save time and costs by reducing the risk of errors or problems. For these reasons, pilot studies are used by both quantitative and qualitative researchers in the social sciences. Advantages of Conducting a Pilot Study Pilot studies are useful for a number of reasons, including: Identifying or refining a research question or set of questionsIdentifying or refining a hypothesis or set of hypothesesIdentifying and evaluating a sample population, research field site, or data setTesting research instruments like survey questionnaires, interview, discussion guides, or statistical formulasEvaluating and deciding upon research methodsIdentifying and resolving as many potential problems or issues as possibleEstimating the time and costs required for the projectGauging whether the research goals and design are realisticProducing preliminary results that can help secure funding and other forms of institutional investment After conducting a pilot study and taking the steps listed above, a researcher will know what to do in order to proceed in a way that will make the study a success.   Example: Quantitative Survey Research Say you want to conduct a large-scale quantitative research project using survey data to study the relationship between race and political party affiliation. To best design and execute this research, you would first want to select a data set to use, such as the General Social Survey, for example, download one of their data sets, and then use a statistical analysis program to examine this relationship. In the process of analyzing the relationship, you are likely to realize the importance of other variables that may have an impact on political party affiliation. For example, place of residence, age, education level, socioeconomic status, and gender may impact party affiliation (either on their own or in interaction with race). You might also realize that the data set you chose does not offer you all the information that you need to best answer this question, so you might choose to use another data set, or combine another with the original that you selected. Going through this pilot stu dy process will allow you to work out the kinks in your research design and then execute high-quality research. Example: Qualitative Interview Studies Pilot studies can also be useful for qualitative research studies, such as interview-based studies. For example, imagine that a researcher is interested in studying the relationship that Apple consumers have to the companys brand and products. The researcher might choose to first do a pilot study consisting of a couple of focus groups in order to identify questions and thematic areas that would be useful to pursue in-depth, one-on-one interviews. A focus group can be useful to this kind of study because while a researcher will have a notion of what questions to ask and topics to raise, she may find that other topics and questions arise when members of the target group talk among themselves. After a focus group pilot study, the researcher will have a better idea of how to craft an effective interview guide for a larger research project.

A Report on Politics of the 1990s Persian Gulf War

News Event Persian Gulf War On August 2, 1990, Iraq leader Saddam Hussein ordered the invason of the neighboring country kuwait. The reason for this invasion was to steal the rich oil that was in the land. During this invasion President George H. W. Bush declared that the war in Kuwait will not stand. A day after the declaration, King Fahd of Saudi Arabia met with U.S. Defense Secretary Richard Cheney to request military assistance. Saudi Arabia, japan, and other wealthy allies would be funded $60 billion for there losses and damages. August 8, 1990 U.S. air force fighters were in Saudi Arabia. By 1991 the United States alone had 50,000 troops. On February 26, 1991 Saddam ordered the withdrawal from Kuwait. About 10,00 retreating troops were killed when Caoliton aircraft bombed their stolen military vehicles. Finally, George H. W. Bush announced to ceased fire and that Kuwait had been free from Iraq occupation. Famous People Bill Clinton Bill Clinton was born on August 19, 1946 in Hope, Arkansas. He graduated from Geargetown and got a degree in law. After getting his degree in law, Bill went back to Arkansas to teach law at the Unviversity of Arkansas. In 1974 he campaigned for congress but was not elected. 2 years later he was elected Arkansas Attorney General. In 1975 Bill married Hillary Rodham who he met during law school and 5 years later they had their only child Chelsea. Bill lost the reelection in 1980 but regained the governship two years later andShow MoreRelatedThe Connection between 9/11 and the Need for Foreign Oil Essay examples1227 Words   |  5 Pagesremembered. It was a day in history where time it seemed stood still, and one that became a moment of pronounced transformation. 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Death Of A Salesman Essay Help Example For Students

Death Of A Salesman Essay Help Analysis of Death of a SalesmanThe tragedy of a familyThe play Death of a Salesman was written by Arthur Miller in 1949. He was born on October 17, 1915 in New York City. Most of Millers works emphasizes the common man struggling through the misconceptions and false illusions that modern society imposes. In the case of Death of a Salesman, Miller uses social realism, which is the attempt to describe human behavior and surroundings or to represent figures and objects exactly as they act or appear in life (Encarta 1). The main themes of this play are the idea of the American dream and what it takes to success, the struggle to distinguish between reality and illusion, and the emotional problems of the family. Death of a Salesman is the story of the Loman family, especially Willy, trying to accomplish the American dream, but with no success. Willy Loman is married to Linda, and his two sons are Biff and Happy. Other characters as Ben, Charley, Bernard, and the women in the hotel play a major role in Willys downfall through the story. Willy has always wanted to be successful and well-liked among people, but he has not accomplished anything. Miller presents a common man, Willy, as the tragic character of the play. In an article Miller states, I think the tragic feeling is evoked in us when we are in the presence of a character who is ready to lay down his life, if need be, to secure one thing his sense of personal dignity (Miller, 1). In this article Miller clearly conveys that a person will sacrifice anything, even his or her own life, to protect his or her dignity. In Death of a Salesman Willy is willing to sacrifice anything to accomplish his dreams of being successful and known as a powe rful salesman. The play starts with Willy returning home from a sales trip. He is getting old and tired of traveling long distances. His two sons, Biff and Happy, are visiting the family. Willy tells Linda he does not know why Biff is lost, without a job, and no money. Willy expects his two sons, especially Biff, to become successful, but he has not realized that even his two sons are incapable of succeed. Willy has immersed himself into a world of illusions. He is always tormented with the hopes and dreams he had years ago. Throughout the play Willy has flashbacks of his life, which are somehow related to the present events. Biff and Happy discuss in their bedroom about how Willy is becoming senile in his old age. Willy is in the kitchen remembering how Biff used to be popular in high school and the superstar of the football team. Willy has the wrong ideas about life. He believes that all it takes to be successful in life is to be well liked. He tells his sons, Be liked and you will never want. You take me, for instance. I never have to wait in line to see a buyer. Willy Loman is here! Thats all they have to know, and I go through (DiYanni, 1142). In a sense, Willy is lying to his sons and to himself. He thinks he is well-liked, but in reality he is not. Another influence in Willys downfall through the play is the presence of his brother Ben in his dreams. Ben tells Willy that he became rich when he went to Africa and found a mine of diamonds. One might think Ben is not real, yet to Willy, Ben is very real. Ben is another driving force behind Willys idea of success. As the play continuous, Willy becomes more involved in his dreams. He also remembered when Biff caught him with another women in a hotel during a business trip. Although Biff does not like what his father did, he feels sorry for him. .ue5e26db11c3124e4e459b5027d2505d5 , .ue5e26db11c3124e4e459b5027d2505d5 .postImageUrl , .ue5e26db11c3124e4e459b5027d2505d5 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ue5e26db11c3124e4e459b5027d2505d5 , .ue5e26db11c3124e4e459b5027d2505d5:hover , .ue5e26db11c3124e4e459b5027d2505d5:visited , .ue5e26db11c3124e4e459b5027d2505d5:active { border:0!important; } .ue5e26db11c3124e4e459b5027d2505d5 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ue5e26db11c3124e4e459b5027d2505d5 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ue5e26db11c3124e4e459b5027d2505d5:active , .ue5e26db11c3124e4e459b5027d2505d5:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ue5e26db11c3124e4e459b5027d2505d5 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ue5e26db11c3124e4e459b5027d2505d5 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ue5e26db11c3124e4e459b5027d2505d5 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ue5e26db11c3124e4e459b5027d2505d5 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ue5e26db11c3124e4e459b5027d2505d5:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ue5e26db11c3124e4e459b5027d2505d5 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ue5e26db11c3124e4e459b5027d2505d5 .ue5e26db11c3124e4e459b5027d2505d5-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ue5e26db11c3124e4e459b5027d2505d5:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Born Of Different Cultrues EssayWilly lives a life filled with false hopes. Biff and Happy tell him that they are going to talk with Bill Oliver, Biffs previous employer, to start a sporting good business. The next day, the Loman Family goes to the Franks Chop House where Biff and Happy invited Willy and Linda. In the restaurant Willy finds out that his two sons did not talk to Bill about the new business and when Willy goes to the bathroom Biff and Happy leave the restaurant with a couple of women. After returning home, Willy is upset and ready to commit suicide. He wants to plan something in the garden before he dies. Willy also thinks that by committing suicide he will help Biff with the twenty thousand he will get. At the end, Willy eventually killed himself leaving behind a tragic life and a family immersed in a world of illusions with no hopes. English Essays

Quality Assurance in the Amazon Company

Introduction Amazon Company is a renowned corporation that was started with a mission to execute quality online distribution and selling books to customers. The company has executed this noble objective in an excellent manner. Currently, it remains the leading online book selling service provider that enjoys a large market share. Its high-tech warehouses and effective retail distribution centers have enabled it to serve its customers with limited complications.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Quality Assurance in the Amazon Company specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Notably, the company’s product portfolios are internet based and they are managed using relevant software setups that promote efficiency in service delivery. Key services that it offers include online book selling, content development, browsing options and shopping guidelines to customers (Evans and William 247). Indeed, the company has been able to record exemplary performance over the years since its inception. The company’s exemplary performance is attributable to the performance oriented operating strategies that its management has adopted. Firstly, the company is managed under quality assurance ideals that ensure that proper guidelines are followed in all aspects of operation. The management has always ensured that quality assurance guidelines are adhered to holistically with an aim of reducing potential risks that customers may face. This has contributed in safeguarding customers from incurring risks that are normally attached to online transactions. The company also has proper pricing strategy, order fulfillment guideline, effective retailing and product display policies. These strategies enable the company to provide customer oriented services at low prices and in good time. Thus, this paper explores essential strategic aspects that drive performance in Amazon Corporation. Contribution of Amazon.com†™s CRM software in enhancing its market share and competitive advantage As indicated by Evans and William (247), Amazon Corporation has been able to record good performance using various software setups. The software setups have been instrumental in facilitating operations in the institution that was formed with a core mission to provide quality services to customers in real time. In particular, CRM software has contributed immensely in the development of the company. Firstly, it has enabled the company to gain a huge market share due to its efficiency. The software has also enabled the company to gain competitive advantage over its rivals that has in turn made it the leading online book selling corporation. The gains have been possible since the software provides quality support incentives that foster holistic satisfaction of customer needs. Particularly, the software has enabled the company to execute effective personalization of customer details. This ensures that customer deta ils are only used for official purposes to avoid privacy risks. The software also provides requisite incentives that ensure good display of products and other related information such as price and features. This enables customers to make informed choices of products from the wide range of items that are listed (Evans and William 247). Variably, the software has enabled customers to make orders for books and various items online without unnecessary delays. It has also promoted filtering of information pertaining to certain products especially items that are complimentary in nature.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For instance, when a customer orders a product, he is likely to see other items that hold synonymous features as the one ordered appearing on the web page. The effectiveness with which the software has enabled delivery of services in the company explains why the company has been able to record exemplary performance over the years. How operating efficiencies are being realized in order fulfillment activities The operating efficiencies in order fulfillment activities are being realized through the use of technology and effective retail strategies. The strategies have ensured that customers’ orders that are placed on timely basis are processed adequately and a relevant feedback is given. They are tailor-made to enhance efficiency with which services and products are delivered to customers at the specified destinations without complications. In particular, technological advancements and software setups have enabled the company to develop a website that is and remains the leading edge trading platform. The platform has been developed to serve customers better (Evans and William 248). It is accessible and easy to use since it provides excellent display of information that aids choice making and ordering of products. This is evident since if one accesses the website, he is bound to see the products that are in supply, their prices and features. One can also see ordering procedure of a product, payment methods available and mode of delivery. The state of the company’s cost given the current position of its warehouses Notably, low product prices that the company is offering to customers are based on the low cost of stock management. This has been caused by high-tech warehousing strategy that has been instrumental in eliminating bureaucracies and other cost centers that are not necessary. This has enabled the company to operate a leaner stock management structure that requires limited resources. The effective management of resources is what has made the company to be able to set low product prices. This trend is likely to continue despite the evident changes that may occur depending on the state of the economy (Evans and William 248). This is because the company has put in place viable strategies to ensure that i t maintains its operating cost as low as possible with an aim of continuing to provide its services at low prices. To achieve this, the company seeks to enhance its retail strategy of operation, install more effective sorting software setups and eliminate bureaucratic service centers. The strategies are to ensure that the company is able to offer products at lower prices irrespective of changes in the economy.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Quality Assurance in the Amazon Company specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The evident customer privacy risks In reality, institutions are under obligation to manage information that customers provide with at most confidentiality and integrity. The information provided must also be used only for purpose with which it is given. This is essential since poor management of customer’s private information compromises their loyalty to the company. This is apparent since i t makes them to develop negative attitude about the company and eventually withdraw from being key stakeholders. Although Amazon Company has been managing information that appertains to its customers very well, it faces some privacy challenges that its management must address (Evans and William 249). The privacy issues or risks that it faces include customer confidentiality, data gathering process, record keeping and access to unprecedented levels of information. Firstly, customer confidentiality poses a risk since some customers may divulge key strategic information that helps the company to service its customers well compared to its competitors. This may make the company to loose out its competitiveness. Secondly, record keeping poses a privacy risk to the company due to the increasing number of customers. This is a risk since managing vast amount of information is always challenging. Other risk areas include access to unprecedented levels of information and data gathering procedu res that must be enhanced. Works Cited Evans, James and William, Lindsay.  The Management and Control of Quality. Mason, OH: Thomson South-Western, 2008. Print. This case study on Quality Assurance in the Amazon Company was written and submitted by user Danny Rand to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Stalins Purge The Greater Holocaust Essays - Old Bolsheviks

Stalin's Purge: The Greater Holocaust Joseph Stalin was ruler of the Soviet Union from 1929-1953. While he was in power the Great Depression devastated the world economy, the Nazis invaded the U.S.S.R., Berlin was cut off from the rest of the world, and the Cold War began. In many countries his philosophies were believed to be highly effective, but some of his actions are just being uncovered , and denounced, in ?Western? countries like the United States. One part of Soviet history, only now being recognized for what it really was, is the ?Great Purge? Stalin initiated to rid the Stalin(Groilers-Communism) country of all people who didn't support him as ?the supreme ruler of the Soviet Union?. Stalin was born on December 21, 1827 in Gori, Georgia, and given the name Joseph Vissarionovich Djugashvili. He adopted the name Joseph Stalin later in his lifetime. (World Book 825; Groilers-Stalin,Joseph) His father was an alcoholic, beat his wife, as well as, Stalin. Stalin's father died in a fight when his child was only eleven. His mother wanted Stalin to become a priest, so she sent him to seminary school when he was 14 years of age. (Groilers-Stalin,Joseph) At the school, Stalin learned about revolutionaries and became one himself. Eventually he quit school and became ?a full-time revolutionary? against the Czar and the Russian monarchy. He was arrested in 1904 and joined the Bolsheviks. Stalin was arrested and exiled four more times between 1906 and 1913. (World Book 825) When Stalin escaped from exile he met Lenin and joined the Bolsheviks. In 1912 he was appointed to the Bolshevik Central Committee. Arrested and exiled by the Czar in 1913, he returned in 1917 after the ?November Revolution?. (Groilers-Stalin, Joseph) Stalin was appointed secretary of the Central Committee in 1922 and became ?power hungry?. Before his death, in 1924, Lenin wrote a not saying that Stalin was reckless and needed to be removed from power. The leading Bolsheviks ignored the note and continued increasing the amount of power Stalin had. Between 1924 and 1928, Stalin used his position to remove his opposition from ?the Party?; he was the unchallenged leader of the Soviet Union by 1929. (Groilers-Stalin, Joseph) As leader of the Soviet Union he ordered the creation of the collective farms to aid in the rapid industrialization of the country. Poor management of the farms caused thousands of people to die in a famine; Stalin continued collectivization at an increased r! ate after the famine. (World Book 826) Stalin's purge began after the death of Sergei Kirov. It is believed that the ?murder was probably arranged by Stalin as a pretext for eliminating all opponents.? (Groilers-Great Purge) Stalin used Kirov's death as an excuse to charge Party members and Army generals with treason or conspiracy and sentence them to death. Almost all of the members of the Central Committee and the 17th Congress were killed or arrested; some were sent to labor camps known as Gulags. At first, the purge was secret; show trials in Moscow were evidence of the purge's existence, later on. The purge spread from high-ranking officials to people associated with Lenin and then to common workers and farmers. Anyone perceived as a threat to Stalin's power was killed. The ?officer-corps? were so Stalin would have total support in the lower ranks of the armed forces. (Groilers-Great Purge) Everyone was considered a suspect by the secret police. During this time Stalin began to produce his own personality ?cult?. Some people used this cult as a way to avoid being killed by the secret police. (Groilers-Stalin, Joseph) During the purge the secret police ordered spying on important industrialists. They also ordered neighbors to spy on each other, children to report on heir parents, children to watch their siblings, and adults to spy on their employers/employees. (World Book 826) With so may people being arrested or killed, or just disappearing, many began to lose faith in Stalin's leadership. Not many spoke openly spoke out against Stalin for fear of their lives and Western nations did not find out the true extent of the purge because it was not discussed in public. (Soviet Political System 28) One of the most adverse affects of the purge was that when World War

Memorable Martha Graham Quotes

Memorable Martha Graham Quotes Martha Graham  (1894-1991) was one of the best-known teachers and choreographers of modern dance. Selected Martha Graham Quotations All things I do are in every woman. Every woman is Medea. Every woman is Jocasta. There comes a time when a woman is a mother to her husband. Clytemnestra is every woman when she kills. You are unique, and if that is not fulfilled, then something has been lost. Some men have thousands of reasons why they cannot do what they want to, when all they need is one reason why they can. The body is a sacred garment. There is a vitality, a life-force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and be lost. The body says what words cannot. The body is your instrument in dance, but your art is outside that creature, the body. Our arms start from the back because they were once wings. No artist is ahead of his time. He is his time. It is just that the others are behind the time. Dance is the hidden language of the soul. Dancing is just discovery, discovery, discovery. Nobody cares if you cant dance well. Just get up and dance. Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion. Dance is a song of the body. Either of joy or pain. I did not want to be a tree, a flower or a wave. In a dancers body, we as audience must see ourselves, not the imitated behavior of everyday actions, not the phenomenon of nature, not exotic creatures from another planet, but something of the miracle that is a human being. I am absorbed in the magic of movement and light. Movement never lies. It is the magic of what I call the outer space of the imagination. There is a great deal of outer space, distant from our daily lives, where I feel our imagination wanders sometimes. It will find a planet or it will not find a planet, and that is what a dancer does. We look at the dance to impart the sensation of living in an affirmation of life, to energize the spectator into keener awareness of the vigor, the mystery, the humor, the variety, and the wonder of life. This is the function of the American dance. Think of the magic of that foot, comparatively small, upon which your whole weight rests. Its a miracle, and the dance is a celebration of that miracle. Dancing appears glamorous, easy, delightful. But the path to paradise of the achievement is not easier than any other. There is fatigue so great that the body cries, even in its sleep. There are times of complete frustration, there are daily small deaths. We learn by practice. Whether it means to learn to dance by practicing dancing or to learn to live by practicing living, the principles are the same. One becomes in some area an athlete of God. It takes ten years, usually, to make a dancer. It takes ten years of handling the instrument, handling the material with which you are dealing, for you to know it completely. Misery is a communicable disease. In 1980. a well-meaning fundraiser came to see me and said, Miss Graham, the most powerful thing you have going for you to raise money is your respectability. I wanted to spit. Respectable! Show me any artist who wants to be respectable. Im asked so often at ninety-six whether I believe in life after death. I do believe in the sanctity of life, the continuity of life and of energy. I know the anonymity of death has no appeal for me. It is the now that I must face and want to face.

Medieval mysticism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Medieval mysticism - Essay Example Christian mysticism had something to do with direct experience with the divine in form of a vision of, or sense of union with God. Meditation, prayer or ascetic discipline usually accompanies it. In general, mysticism is a direct and immediate experience of the sacred, or the knowledge derived from such an experience. The experience is immediate and overwhelming, detached from the common experience of reality and is self-validating, without need of further evidence or justification. Outside the experience itself, one is incapable of expressing or understanding its essence. It is important to note that mysticism is not the same as magic, clairvoyance, parapsychology or occultism. Mystics are people who practice or believe in mysticism. They usually see their mystical experience as part of a larger task meant to bring human transformation and not as the terminus of their efforts. In Europe, mysticism flourished especially in Germany, Italy, the Low Countries and England from mid 13th to mid 15th century. Such mysticisms of that time are the ones referred to as medieval mysticisms. However, there is variation in the dating of the edges of these periods depending on different scholars. One of the most important sources of medieval mysticism is Saint Augustine of Hippo. He was born in the city of Thagaste, Algeria, to a Catholic mother named Monica and he has contributed to the western philosophy by promoting argument by analogy. He is also the most important figure in the ancient western church that produced works of high spiritual quality. In Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion, he is a doctor of the church known for his Christian mystical sermons and the patron of the Augustinian religious order. His ideas also influenced philosophers like Immanuel Kant and Blaise Pascal, and the reformation leaders such as Martin