The Relationship between Head Circumference and Recall of a List Words Essay Example for Free

The Relationship between Head Circumference and Recall of a List Words Essay ABSTRACT This laboratory experiment and report aims on identifying whether head circumference has a significant relationship with the recall of list of words. In this experiment, the researcher has asked 80 (68 females and 12 males) students to participate in the experiment and each were given a chance to memorise the 30 words provided by the researcher. Because of the incomplete response of some participants and extreme values, the researcher opted to use only 61 females and 7 males (68 participants) in the data analysis. Through the use of the SPSS, the study has found that there is a weak positive correlation between the two given variables. This means that the recalling skills of the participants are significantly relevant with their head circumference or head size. INTRODUCTION Cognitive psychology is the study of how the brain processes information. In more everyday terms, it is about the mental processes involved in acquiring and making use of knowledge and experience gained from our senses (Esgate, 2004). The main processes involved in cognition are perception, learning, memory storage, retrieval and thinking, all of which are terms that are used in everyday speech and therefore already familiar to most people. In some research studies, there has been evidence among elderly people with larger head size function better on tests of cognitive function (Reynolds et al, 1999).   As noted by psychologists, an adult head size or circumference is considered to give an appropriate estimate for maximal attained brain circumference (Wickett et al., 2000), such findings have been inferred as a supporting evidence of the theory which optimal neurological development in early phases of life can provide barrier against pathological activities that can influence cognitive performance as they reached their old age (Stern, 2002). However, as the size of the head is relevant to intelligence test scores among young adults, psychologists have noted some possible relations which have been found between head circumference and the cognitive function in elderly people (Deary et al., 2000). In psychological process, some psychologists are trying to determine the relationship between head circumference and recall of a list words.   Ã‚  In a study conducted by Gale, Walton and Matyn (2003) which investigated the cognitive function of elderly people and head circumferences, they have concluded that there is no relationship between cognitive function (memory recall) and head circumference. However, the study have also shown that people with larger head circumference as an adult gained relatively higher scores n the intelligence test on both testing events and were less likely to develop a decline in memory performance over the follow-up period in the study. One other hand, in a cross-sectional study conducted among 818 health older individuals, the researchers have found out that the head circumference is related to performance on global cognitive functioning, tests measuring intelligence and speed of information processing. However, this study has revealed that head circumference or size has not been significantly related with memory functions (Tisserand et al, 2001). In this regard, the main goal of this paper is to conduct an analysis on the relationship of head circumference and recall of a list words.   Thus, this study will work on the following hypothesis:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"There is a significant relationship between the head circumference and recall of a list words†. METHOD This study was conducted in order to assess the relationship of head circumference and recall of list words among students. In order to achieve the objective of the study and to the hypothesis, the descriptive method of research was utilized. The purpose of employing the descriptive method is to describe the nature of a condition, as it takes place during the time of the study and to explore the cause or causes of a particular condition. The researcher opted to use this kind of research considering the desire to acquire first hand data from the respondents so as to formulate rational and sound conclusions and recommendations for the study. According to Creswell (1994), the descriptive method of research is to gather information about the present existing condition.     In terms of approach, the study employed both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The quantitative approach focused on obtaining numerical findings was used with the laboratory experiments. The correlation research refers to studies in which the purpose is to discover relationships between variables through the use of correlation statistics (r). The square of a correlation coefficient yields the explained variance (r-squared). A correlational relationship between two variables is occasionally the result of an outside source, so we have to be careful and remember that correlation does not necessarily tell us about cause and effect. If a strong relationship is found between two variables, using an experimental approach can test causality. To assess the strength of relationship between variables, it is important to get the correlation coefficient, which can take on any value between -1 and +1, since this will tell the strength of the relationship between two ranked or quantifiable variables (Saunders et al, 2003, p. 363). Accordingly, a value of +1 represents a perfect positive correlation, which means that the two variables are exactly related, where, as the values of one variable increase, values of the other variable will increase. Conversely, a value of -1 shows a perfect negative correlation, which also means that the two variables are exactly related, only this time, as the values of one variable increase, that of the other decreases. Finally, correlation coefficients between +1 and -1 stand for weaker positive and negative correlations, and a value of 0 means that the variables are completely independent from each other. Table 1: Values of Correlation To assist the researcher in the statistical analysis of the gathered data, the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used. SPSS is one of the most widely available and powerful statistical software packages that covers a broad range of statistical procedures, which allows a researcher to summarise data (e.g., compute means and standard deviations), determine whether there are significant differences between groups (e.g., t-tests, analysis of variance), examine relationships among variables (e.g., correlation, multiple regression), and graph results (e.g., bar charts, line graphs) (Einstein and Abernethy, 2000). PARTICIPANTS To gather pertinent information, the students were chosen as the respondents or participants for this laboratory study. The participants of this study composed of 68 females and 12 males. However, only 61 female students and seven males were considered to be analysed due to incomplete responses and extreme values. MATERIALS For this study, the experiment has used 30 words which has been shown among the chosen students. Note that the words used ranges from 3-letter words to 4-letter words and have one and two syllables. The data gathered using these words, will determine whether there is a significant relationship between head size or circumference and recall of list words.    PROCEDURE To achieve the objective of the study, the head circumference or size of the students were measured. The measurement of head circumference ranges from 53-62. In this study, the students/participants were asked to read or memorize 30 words which have been given above.   After which the students have asked to mention what words did they recall and the researcher lists the number of words mentioned by the respondents. The scores of the students and the measure of their circumference were used for the analysis of the correlation. RESULT Significant Relations of Head Circumference and Recall   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Using SPSS, the descriptive statistics and correlation of the variables were analysed. The result of the analysis were shown in tables and diagrams below.    Descriptive Statistics Table 2 Mean Std. Deviation N Head Circumference 57.015 2.06 68 Recalled List of Words 16.87 3.54    Correlations Table 3 Head Circumference Recalled List of Words Head Circumference Pearson Correlation Sign (2-Tailed ) N 1    .    68 **.315 000. 68 Recalled List of Words Pearson Correlation Sign (2-Tailed ) N 315.** 000. 68 1    . 68 **Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed)    Figure 1 Scattered Diagram Figure 2 DISCUSSION Given the data gathered from the laboratory experiment, analysis shows that the average of the head size of the students is 57.015 and the recalled words mean average is 16.87 out of 30 words. The correlations table displays Pearson correlation coefficients, significance values, and the number of cases with non-missing values. Pearson correlation coefficients assume the data are normally distributed. The Pearson correlation coefficient is a measure of linear association between two variables. Basically, the values of the correlation coefficient range from -1 to 1. The sign of the correlation coefficient indicates the direction of the relationship (positive or negative). The absolute value of the coefficient of correlation signifies the strength, with larger absolute values showing stronger relationships. The correlation coefficients on the main diagonal are always 1.0, because each variable has a perfect positive linear relationship with itself. Correlations above the main diagonal are a mirror image of those below. In our data, the correlation coefficient for head circumference (independent) and recall from lists of words (dependent) is 0.315. Since 0.315 is relatively close to 1 or -1 this indicates that head circumference (independent) is weak positive correlated with the recall of list of words (dependent). The significance of each correlation coefficient is also displayed in the correlation table. The significance level (or p-value) is the probability of obtaining results as extreme as the one observed. If the significance level is very small (less than 0.05) then the correlation is significant and the two variables are linearly related. If the significance level is relatively large, for example, 0.50, then the correlation is not significant and the two variables are not linearly related. In this result, since the p-value is less than 0.05, then the two variables are not significant Based on the given data, it has been found out that head circumference has a weak positive relation with the recall of lists words. In this regard, the research accepts the hypothesis that there is a significant relationship between head circumference and recall of lists of words among students. In the scattered diagram, it can be said that there is a vague relationship between the two variables. In this regard, it can be said that head size of the students may affect the number of words recalled by the students. CONCLUSION Based on the findings of the data analysis, it can be concluded that the instrument used in this study as well as the method used to achieve its primary objective has been efficient and effective. The findings have shown that the head size or circumference of the students who took part of the study have a weak positive relation with the number of words they recalled out of 30 words provided by the researcher. This study further concluded that the memory function of an individual can be measured through the head circumference or head size of such individual.    Reference Creswell, J.W. (1994). Research design. Qualitative and quantitative approaches. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage. Deary IJ, Whalley LJ, Lemmon H, Crawford JR, Starr JM (2000). The stability of individual differences in mental ability from childhood to old age: follow-up of the 1932 Scottish Mental Survey. Intelligence 28: 49–55 Esgate, A. et al (2004). An introduction to applied cognitive psychology. Psychology Press. Hove, England. Gale, CR, Walton, S and Martyn, CN (2003). Foetal and postnatal head growth and risk of cognitive decline in old age. Brain, Vol. 126, No. 10, 2273-2278, Reynolds MD, Johnston JM, Dodge HH, DeKosky ST, Ganguli M. (1999).   Small head size is related to low Mini-Mental State Examination scores in a community sample of nondemented older adults. Neurology 53: 228–9. Stern Y. (2000). What is cognitive reserve? Theory and research application of the reserve concept. J Int Neuropsychol Soc; 8: 448–60 Tisserand, DJ, Bosma, H, Van Boxtel, MPJ and Jolles, J. (2001). Head size and cognitive ability in nondemented older adults are related. Neurology 56:969-971 Wickett JC, Vernon PA, Lee DH. Relationships between factors of intelligence and brain volume. Personality Individual Difference 29: 1095–122.

Against the War On Drugs in America Essay -- Legalize Narcotics Drug

The Case Against America’s War on Drugs The legal prohibition on most psychoactive drugs has been in place in this country for the better part of a century. This policy of prohibition, however, has never been based on reason or careful consideration, but on the paranoia of a small segment of society and the indifferent willingness of the majority to accept this vocal minority’s claims without question. Outlawing any use of a particular drug is a violation of the basic freedom of individuals to act as they please in their private lives. However, even if one does not accept this belief, an objective analysis of the United States’ history of prohibition clearly shows that attempts to enforce this policy have done far more harm than good, and have utterly failed to control behavior in the intended manner. These are the two lines of reasoning I will take to argue against drug prohibition in this paper. After giving a brief history of prohibition, I will show that it is wrong in principal and that there is no moral basis for this policy. I will then show that, regardless of moral considerations, prohibition has not and probably cannot work, and more specifically that the "war on drugs" has been a disaster which should be ended immediately. I will then conclude by discussing possible consequences of legalization. A Brief History of Prohibition Government has not always seen fit to outlaw psychoactive drugs in the Western world. In fact, there was no prohibition in this country until 1914. Cocaine and Marijuana were both used in the late 19th century both for medicinal and recreational purposes. During this time there was considerable pressure for a ban on alcohol, but narcotics were simply not viewed as a threat to society. N... ...ave been taken as self-evident, but it should be clear by now that they are not. It is time that we stop wasting our economic and legal resources on this hopeless crusade to shape everyone into a few people’s idea of perfection and put these resources toward helping those who truly need it. Works Cited Ackerman, Elise. "The Latest Buzz on Hemp." U.S. News & World Report, March 15, 2008. 50. ACLU. "ACLU Briefing Paper: Against Drug Prohibition." (Online) Lazare, Daniel. "The Drug War is Killing Us." The Village Voice, January 23, 2008. London, William. "Will Legalizing Drugs Benefit Public Health?--Yes." Priorities Volume 7 Number 2. 1995. (Online) Ostrowski, James. "Thinking About Drug Legalization." Policy Analysis No. 121. May 25, 1989. Rosenfield, Jim. "The War on Drugs is a Great Success." The Ostrich File. Volume 6, March 20, 1996. (Online). Against the War On Drugs in America Essay -- Legalize Narcotics Drug The Case Against America’s War on Drugs The legal prohibition on most psychoactive drugs has been in place in this country for the better part of a century. This policy of prohibition, however, has never been based on reason or careful consideration, but on the paranoia of a small segment of society and the indifferent willingness of the majority to accept this vocal minority’s claims without question. Outlawing any use of a particular drug is a violation of the basic freedom of individuals to act as they please in their private lives. However, even if one does not accept this belief, an objective analysis of the United States’ history of prohibition clearly shows that attempts to enforce this policy have done far more harm than good, and have utterly failed to control behavior in the intended manner. These are the two lines of reasoning I will take to argue against drug prohibition in this paper. After giving a brief history of prohibition, I will show that it is wrong in principal and that there is no moral basis for this policy. I will then show that, regardless of moral considerations, prohibition has not and probably cannot work, and more specifically that the "war on drugs" has been a disaster which should be ended immediately. I will then conclude by discussing possible consequences of legalization. A Brief History of Prohibition Government has not always seen fit to outlaw psychoactive drugs in the Western world. In fact, there was no prohibition in this country until 1914. Cocaine and Marijuana were both used in the late 19th century both for medicinal and recreational purposes. During this time there was considerable pressure for a ban on alcohol, but narcotics were simply not viewed as a threat to society. N... ...ave been taken as self-evident, but it should be clear by now that they are not. It is time that we stop wasting our economic and legal resources on this hopeless crusade to shape everyone into a few people’s idea of perfection and put these resources toward helping those who truly need it. Works Cited Ackerman, Elise. "The Latest Buzz on Hemp." U.S. News & World Report, March 15, 2008. 50. ACLU. "ACLU Briefing Paper: Against Drug Prohibition." (Online) Lazare, Daniel. "The Drug War is Killing Us." The Village Voice, January 23, 2008. London, William. "Will Legalizing Drugs Benefit Public Health?--Yes." Priorities Volume 7 Number 2. 1995. (Online) Ostrowski, James. "Thinking About Drug Legalization." Policy Analysis No. 121. May 25, 1989. Rosenfield, Jim. "The War on Drugs is a Great Success." The Ostrich File. Volume 6, March 20, 1996. (Online).

Wordsworth v Browning

The Power of Happiness As Christopher Morley once said ,†there Is only one success – to spend your life In your own way†. Similarly, Elizabeth Barrett Browning and William Wordsmith both have successfully happy lives, although they are consoled in different ways.In both â€Å"How Do I Love Thee† by Elizabeth Browning and â€Å"l Wandered Lonely As A Cloud† by William Wordsmith, there is a common theme of happiness depicted through the use of diction, however, Browning presents reasons as to why she achieves happiness from a physical human companion, whereas in Wordsmiths, he cuisses how his happiness comes from the Inanimate prospects of nature, both using similes and personification to relay this to the reader. In â€Å"How Do Love Thee†, Browning lists the multitude of ways she loves her husband.A theme of happiness pervades through the entirety of the poem as she describes this love she has with her husband. Browning states â€Å"my soul ca n reach, when feeling out of sight, for the ends of Being and ideal Grace† (3-4). Through the personification of her soul, Browning reveals her dependence on her husband for her happiness, not that this is necessarily a bad thing. She simply cannot fathom living without him, therefore making him the source of her happiness. Along with the use of personification, Browning depicts her love for her husband through multiple similes.She â€Å"love[s] thee freely, as men strive for Right† (Browning 7), indicating her natural and free love for her husband. While other people and things in life take work and persistence, loving him comes easily and naturally to her. Similarly, she â€Å"love[s] thee with the breath, Smiles, tears of all [her] life† (Browning 12-13), continuing to show her presents and constant love for him with the use of enjambment. One could grasp the love and devotion she has for her husband in this one line where she essentially says he is everything to her.Browning also states â€Å". And, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death†, relaying also the theme of happiness In accordance with her constant dependence on her husband (14). Along with expressing her undying love for her husband, Browning shows that this love brings her pure happiness. Using words such as â€Å"sun†, â€Å"smiles†, and â€Å"childhood†, Borrowing's diction helps to relay the theme of happiness to the reader. Because Browning uses these words to portray a joyful tone, the reader can infer the happiness that her husband Robert brings to her.Wordsmith's poem, while still having a theme of happiness, shows how Wordsmith relies solely on the beauty of nature to bring him happiness, as opposed to a person. Though Browning needs a human companion, as many people do, to make her happy, Wordsmith finds conclusive happiness in the inanimate things of nature. Thinking back to a time of complete content, Wordsmith describes daffodils â€Å"tossing their heads in sprightly dance† (12). In this particular line of the poem, Wordsmith uses personification to describe the daffodils in an upbeat demeanor.He knows that the daffodils and things of nature will stay with him constantly through his life. Therefore, through the sleep â€Å"continuous as the stars that careful selection of figurative language. As he describes the beauty and grace of the daffodils, Wordsmith â€Å"could not but be gay In such a Jocund company', using enjambment to show that the daffodils bring him a happiness he cannot help nor deny (15-16). Although Browning needs the aid and presence off human being, Wordsmith relishes in â€Å"the bliss of solitude† (22), using only the things of nature to brighten his mood and devote his life.In addition, when in â€Å"vacant or pensive mood†(20) he thinks about the daffodils and is immediately consoled Just by the memory of their beauty, thus reiterating his infatuation with nature. In addition to using figurative language, Wordsmith uses diction to also encompass the intended theme of happiness. The words â€Å"fluttering†, â€Å"glee†, and â€Å"pleasure† give off a tone of Joy, therefore continuing the theme of happiness throughout the poem. One could infer from his usage of these words that the fiddles and nature bring him the happiness he references throughout the poem.Just like Wordsmith and Browning, we all have different things in life that make us happy, whether it be dancing, drawing, swimming, or baking. We all have that one thing to depend on when all else in the world seems wrong or against us. Wordsmith and Browning depict this in their poems, therefore continually relating to the common man and the literary era of romanticism. These poems they have shared with the world help readers to do what they are passionate about and happiness will come.

Defining Identity Essays - 926 Words

There are millions of words across the globe that are used to describe people and uncover their identity, but what is identity? How can you begin to describe something that varies so greatly from one human being to another? Can you create a universal meaning for a word describing human concepts that people often fail to define for themselves? Of course there isnt one definition to define such a word. It is an intricate aspect of human nature, and it has a definition just as complex. Websters dictionary describes identity as sameness of essential character, individuality, or the fact of being the same person as one claims to be. So your identity can include your name, your age, your job title, or simply characteristics of your†¦show more content†¦Everyone has heard that it is who you are on the inside that counts. This part of your identity is what makes a person truly unique. It is true that someone can have the same name, be the same age, or have the same job as you. So your identities would seem very similar. It is possible for two people from the same place that share such numerous interests to believe that they are one and the same. That is until you take a closer look and examine the person?s thought and feelings. No two people are exactly alike. Our identities spawn individuality. Therefore, your identity also shows what kind of person you are beneath the skin. It is a picture of how your view your self and your purpose in the world. Since identity is so often built from fads, it is a reflection of culture. People want to be like what they see on television and hear on the radio. So people mold themselves to be like the idols they are so infatuated with. It?s always about what?s popular, and by looking at a large group you can tell what that is at any given time, because people like to connect their identities with one another. It creates a sense of belonging and acceptance that humans need in order to feel like they fit into society. 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