This module explored the importance of politics in the development of standards that govern human services practices. While many individuals might believe that politics and human services should not exist together, you cannot ignore the fact that political activities influence the way agencies are sustained. This became clearer when funding of human services programs moved from primarily private donations to largely public resource streams. To date, politics at all levels are expected in the everyday practices of human services administrators and service workers. In this assignment, you will further explore and reflect on this concept.

Tasks:

Using your textbook, the Argosy University online library resources, and the Internet, address the following:

• Discuss the concepts of advocacy, lobbying, and social movement organizations in terms of their effects on service delivery. Specifically, focus on who engages in advocacy, what types of lobbying directly results in public funding, and how social movement organizations function in their efforts to influence policy.

Instructions:

This is a 2 part assignment in which I have already completed part 1. You can view my part 1 in the attached file to help you complete part 2. The information I have provided in the attached assignement is factual in regards to my family heritage and culture so based on the information I have provided, you can basically make up a lot of the information to coincide with an Irish/Italian Roman Catholic family.

Assignment 4: Family Analysis – Part II

When planning a family celebration, there is much more to consider than the simple details of guest list, location, food, and activities. Family dynamics must also be considered in order to minimize potential tensions between relationship dissolutions of the family members who are attending. With this in mind, imagine you are planning an event to celebrate your family’s favorite holiday. Using your Genogram and Homogamy Analysis, or your 5 Paragraph Essay, from Part I, write a Five-Paragraph Essay (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwjmMtTVO1g) in which you describe the impact of identified tensions among your family members on your family celebration.

Discussions

1. School Leaders – Engage!

   Action research has long been the research method used in education and in many organizations for the purpose improving the art of teaching and leading. However, there are those that strongly criticize this research method. Proponents of traditional research methods argue that the data that is collected in action research is not reliable and does not yield valid results in part, because of possible research bias (Mckay & Marshall, 2001).

   Initial Post: Read the articles from Fitchman-Dana (n.d) and Eikeland (2003) and explain in your post how action research will benefit your setting/organization by granting teachers and other leaders the ability to identify and solve their own problems. Consider, too, the arguments opposing the use of action research as a validated research methodology. The second article is a controversial narrative where the author responds to a previous writing which has highlighted the reasons that action research is not a viable research method. Post your summary of the importance of action research as depicted in these articles and what points resonate during the implementation of your research.

   • Eikeland, O. (2003). Unmet challenges and unfulfilled promises in action research. Concepts & Transformation, 8(3), 265-273. Retrieved from EBSCOhost database.
   • Fitchman-Dana, N. (n.d.). Top 5 reasons for school leaders to engage in action research. Retrieved from http://www.aasa.org/content.aspx?id=12826

2. Data Analysis and Early Feedback

   School leaders have found many benefits from the implementation of action research methodology to initiate the change process (Buczynski & Hansen, 2014; Mills, 2014). It has been stated that action research “has been and continues to be a process of practical and grounded inquiry that reflects in its origins the empowerment of teacher to identify and solve their own problems” (Stringer, 2007, p. 32). Further, Buczynski and Hansen (2014 p. 365) explain that action research provides a clear path to understanding change because it is a “powerful tool” that guides our decisions and practices. As you have now finished implementing your intervention/innovation directly, this discussion provides the opportunity to prepare your data analysis as is expected for the final project, and to share it in the discussion forum for the purpose of providing and receiving feedback from your peers. This collaboration and preparation will further inform your analysis and revisions in preparation for the final project in Week Six.

   Initial Post: Post your data analysis as an attachment following the format outlined below:

• Data Collection Strategies: In one-to-two pages, describe the data obtained through the observations. Charts, diagrams, or other visual depictions of your data may be included.
• Outcome Analysis: In one-to-two pages, present your conclusions of your data analysis. Explain the specific strategies that were successful, which strategies did not work as well as was anticipated? Additionally, explain how the strategies support the research questions.

Required Resources

1. Read from your text, The change leader in education: Roles and strategies in the differentiated environment:
   • Chapter 7
   • Chapter 9
2. Eikeland, O. (2003). Unmet challenges and unfulfilled promises in action research. Concepts & Transformation, 8(3), 265-273. Retrieved from EBSCOhost database.
   • This article is a controversial narrative where the author responds to a previous writing which has highlighted the reasons that Action Research is not a viable research method.
3. Fitchman-Dana, N. (n.d.). Top 5 reasons for school leaders to engage in action research. Retrieved from http://www.aasa.org/content.aspx?id=12826
   • This article explains how action research can be a strategic and professional development strategy for teachers.
4. Mills, G. E. (2014). Action research: A guide for the teacher researcher (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
   • Chapter 6

Recommended Resource

1. Barbara Nesbitt. (2007, November 28). A Vision of K-12 Students Today [Video File]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A-ZVCjfWf8
   • This inspiring video demonstrates methods of engaging learning to help students develop higher level thinking skills.
2. Mckay, J., & Marshall, P. (2001). The dual imperatives of action research. It & People, 14(1), 46-59. Retrieved from http://www.cse.chalmers.se/~feldt/advice/mckay_2001_double_imperatives_in_action_research.pdf
   • This article explains the pros and cons of using action research as a valid research methodology.

Option 1: Environmental Pollution Scenario Review and Summary

You are an associate-level environmental scientist in a large urban city. The growing human population within the city increases pressure on the infrastructure and natural resources, affecting the environment. As cities expand, they cut deeper into surrounding rural areas, causing environmental problems, such as the loss of wetlands, loss of biological habitats, and air and water pollution. The high density of automobiles, factories, and commercial enterprises in urban areas adds to airborne emissions, including particulate matter, various types of oxides, and hazardous volatile compounds.

Your selected city is experiencing rapid growth in population. The City Council is worried that this pattern of population growth, combined with concerns over climate change, is beginning to create a number of negative environmental, economic, and social consequences. These include deteriorating infrastructure, increasing traffic congestion, declining air and water quality, and the loss of open space. The City Council has charged you with writing a report that will recommend measures to address the pollution issues and reduce carbon emissions.

Make decisions on the optimal measures for addressing the pollution management issue. Choose four of the following measures based on pollution reduction:

· Pollution control legislation for point sources

· Random emission testing

· Encouraging alternative transportation, walking, and bicycle use

· Promoting fuel-efficient cars

· Establishing green spaces or urban forestry

· Improving roads

· Encouraging carpooling

Write a 700- to 1,050-word summary briefly describing the background information and details. Include the following information:

· Describe your selected measures.

· From an environmental science and climate change perspective, describe the potential effectiveness of your selected measures.

· Trade-offs for the various pollution reduction measures, including potential improvements in human and ecosystem health: For example, bringing in legislation to install pollution control devices in factories may sound like an effective choice, but installation of such devices is a huge expense, and there is likelihood of strong opposition by business groups.

· Explain the following statement: “Decision-making about environmental issues necessitates the maintenance of a fine balance between the effectiveness of measures and the public reaction towards them.”

Includeat least two outside references. Format your summary consistent with APA guidelines.

Option 2: Environmental Pollution Argument

Select a physical item. Your selected item must represent some aspect concerning environmental pollution as a direct result of human activities. Write a 700- to 1,050-word argument discussing how your selected item contributes to environmental pollution. Include the following:

· Describe your selected item.

· What is the significance of this item?

· What relationship exists between your item and pollution? Identify the origin or causes of the pollution.

· What is your item’s relationship to people and the environment?

· What are the possible effects and consequences of this pollution to human and ecosystem health?

· What does your item and pollution issue mean to the present and future quality of life to you, your family, your community, your region, the nation, and the world?

· How does your object relate to climate change?

· How does your item connect some significant attitude or action that people might use toward changing how others think, react, or take actions in solving, eliminating, or reducing your selected pollution issue?

· Identify treatments and preventative measures for this pollution.

· Identify and discuss what caused you to reconsider your attitude, mindset, values, and actions to change regarding your selected issue.

· How or what might you do to suggest, influence, or be a role model who inspires individuals, your community, or region to improve the existing conditions of the environment in relationship to your item and your selected issue?

Additional Tips

· Your argument is not valid if it is only your opinion.

· In defending your stance, ask “So what?” and “Who cares?” to test potential challenges your audience may ask you to test if your argument is convincing or not. These are two questions to test if your argument is convincing or not.

· You may include a short personal story with a limited use of first-person pronouns.

· Your story must be relevant to your pollution issue.

· Use APA guidelines including citations and references.

· Include no less than one reference.

· Demonstrate that you were reflective, innovative, or creative in constructing your argument.

· Negative or resigned arguments are not valid.

Choose an individual in your life you are familiar with; for example, a parent, a sibling, a friend or classmate, a member of your extended family (cousin, uncle, etc.). Compare and/or contrast your development with the individual you have chosen using ONE of the theories discussed in class (e.g. Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development, Kohlberg’s or Gilligan’s theory of moral development, Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs, Bandura, Cooley or Bronfenbrenner.). Using the theory you have chosen, describe the similarities and differences between yourself and the individual you have chosen. Conclude with your understanding of how your chosen theory explains the similarities or differences you have just described.

ECON_Market Structure

Market Structure

You have been hired as a consultant by your local mayor to look at the various market structures. Your role is to provide analysis and answers to these important questions that will help the mayor understand the structures of many of the businesses in his city:

1  Describe each market structure discussed in the course (perfect competition, monopolistic competition, oligopoly, and monopoly) and discuss two of the market characteristics of each market structure.

2  Identify one real-life example of a market structure in your local city and relate your example to each of the characteristics of the market.

3  Describe how high entry barriers into a market will influence long-run profitability of the firms.

4  Explain the competitive pressures that are present in markets with high barriers to entry.

5  Explain the price elasticity of demand in each market structure and its effect on pricing of its products in each market.

6  Describe how the role of the government affects each market structure’s ability to price its products.

7  Discuss the effect of international trade on each market structure.

Your paper will need to include a title page, a reference page, and in-text citations properly formatted according to the APA style guide. Also, your content should be eight to ten pages, which does not include your reference or title page. You will need to include at least five scholarly sources from the Ash Library in your paper as part of your research to support your analysis.

Additional Guidelines:

As fair warning, I will admit now I am a stickler for the page requirements. This assignment needs to be 8-10 pages, excluding title and reference page, and I will look for appropriate APA formatting with correct spacing, font, and margins when evaluating your paper for length. If your paper is 7 and 3/4 pages, it will be marked down (fair warning!). If anyone needs an APA 6th Edition template, please let me know and I will be happy to provide. If you have any questions on this assignment, now is the time to ask.

Assume you are employed as a counselor at your local high school. You need to conduct a 30-minute interview with a student who has suddenly had a dramatic decline in her grades. Prior to conducting any interview, it is extremely important to plan its structure, the type of information you hope to acquire, the timing and sequencing of the interview, and the types of questions you might want to ask. To prepare for the interview, analyze the structure of the interview and present a summary including the following reasons for your choices:

• Purpose of your interview
• Discuss the topics you plan to cover and the sequence in which you will cover them
• Questions you will use to obtain the information
• Opening techniques to build rapport with the volunteer
• Types and examples of questions you want to avoid