Analysing online consumer shopping motivations for luxury products Essay

Analysing online consumer shopping motivations for luxury products (Methodology) - Essay Example Research Methodology This part of the study discusses the methodology which has been adopted for addressing to the research topic (Perry, 1998). The research has been made related to the topic ‘whether online shopping motivates the customers towards purchasing luxury products’. This part of the study would be sub divided into various segments, each part displaying some specific portion of the research methodology which has been implemented. 2. Research Philosophy Ontology Ontology is the initial point that will lead to the own established theoretical framework. It refers to the study of assumptions related to the nature of the social reality, what are the units that constitute this reality and how they interact with each other (Easterby-Smith, Thorpe and Lowe, 2002). Epistemology It is the branch of research philosophy which mainly focuses on the scope and nature of the knowledge. It is also referred to as ‘the theory of knowledge’ (Easterby-Smith, Thorpe an d Lowe, 2002). 3. Research Approach There are mainly two types of research approaches. One is the deductive research approach and the other is the inductive research approach. Deductive Research Deductive research approach helps in testing the validity of the research study in waterfall manner (Shaheen, n.d). This model follows a series of procedure i.e. theory establishment, followed by hypothesis generation, observation of the behavior of variables and then reaching the conclusion. Inductive Research Inductive research approach is a useful tool for converting the observation into theoretical conclusion (Shaheen, n.d.). This model follows a series of procedures i.e. observation of the behavior and relationship between the variables, identification of the type of relationship, establishing a suitable hypothesis and then reaching to the conclusion. 4. Data Sources The study requires collecting primary as well as secondary data in order to satisfy the research objective. Primary Data The Primary data is collected by the researcher himself/herself for conducting the research work. The primary data is generally collected by gathering the responses of the customers participating in the close ended survey that have been conducted for carrying out the research work. There are many forms of primary sources such as responses of the participants in the surveys, interviews etc (Somekh and Lewin, 2005). Secondary Data The secondary data is collected by reviewing the literatures that have been made on the same topic earlier. Secondary data collection is the process of collecting data where someone other than the user gathers the entire set of data (Vaivio, 2008). The data collected from the secondary research has helped to reach to the research objective in an appropriate manner. The secondary data sources like newspapers, journals, books, and data obtained from company websites and different working and research papers published by various academic scholars are utilised w hile conducting any research work. The collection of these data helps in proceeding in the research process in an appropriate manner. 5. Data Collection Approaches Quantitative Methodology The quantitative research methodology is such a research methodology which involves various computation techniques or statistical calculations (J. Hussey and R. Hussey, 1997). The methodology takes into consideration various statistical data for carrying out

International Human Rights Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

International Human Rights - Essay Example The corrective conventions- these expedient tools focused on the mitigation of particular social problems which undermined the position of women in the society. It includes efforts to prohibit prostitution and sale of women for slavery or forced labor, child labor, and other forms of personal abuses. The elimination of discrimination conventions- these are the recent and the foremost form of tools used to provide protection to women against any sort of discrimination extended towards them due to their gender. The UN developed the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women 1979 in order to place non-discriminatory rules in place. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women 1979 (CEDAW) Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women is an internationally acceptable UN convention, which aims to demolish the practice of discriminating women in all sectors of life, be it employment, justice seeking, provision of public services, healthcare, education, domestic relations, political participation etc. By the 11th August 2006, the Convention had a massive following and support from around the globe, which was substantiated by the fact that 98 countries signed the convention and it was ratified or acceded to by 184 nations worldwide (Blanchfield, 2006). The United Nations claimed that this convention was an expedient tool of ensuring non-discrimination and that it was a valuable mechanism for the extension of human rights to woman who are subjected to tyranny and oppression around the globe and yet not provided with due rights before the law. Therefore, it forces the member states to implement certain measures which would ensure that women receive their due rights and freedom. Its popular acceptance is also substantiated by the fact that 90% of United Nations member states have ratified it. It cannot be denied that CEDAW is a move towards more equality between men and women, howev er the enactment of laws and policies does not ensure that the aim would be achieved, since it is the effectiveness based on the practicality of the convention and its acceptance in real life and not just on mere paper which determines its success or failure. The Effectiveness of CEDAW The effectiveness of the measures carried out under CEDAW vary in accordance with certain factors such as the development level of a nation, the political ideology in place, the commonly practiced religion and cultural relativism prevalent in the region etc. It has been observed by institutions such as Amnesty International Organization, which carry out surveys and research for social welfare, that this convention has worked for the betterment of women around the globe, but there still remain obstacles pertaining to the above mentioned factors which hinder the complete implementation of these measures, resulting in the continuous and ever increasing subordination of women in different spheres of the w orld (Amnesty Internatio

Young Goodman Brown Symbolism Essay

Young Goodman Brown Symbolism Essay Young Goodman Brown is a short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Written in 1835, the story deals with a late night meeting between a man and the Devil. On the surface this is all the story is, but if one looks closer one would find the story to be littered with symbolic images. Goodman Browns marriage to his wife, the aptly named Faith. At the beginning of the story, Goodman Brown, and Faith have only been married for three months. This symbolizes Goodman Brown as one who lacks a deep attachment to faith. This is further evidenced by his willingness to stray from his wife to embark on his evening journey. Although Goodman Brown knows that what lies ahead of him on his journey into the woods, is not good, he sees this momentary dabbling in the dark side as a one time affair. Hawthorne cements this in paragraph seven where Goodman Browns says to himself à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦after this one night, Ill cling to her skirts and follow her to heaven. (page 385) Another symbol is the setting of the story. The woods. In the story the woods is a dark foreboding place with Goodman Brown walking down a dreary road, darkened by all the gloomiest trees in the forest. (page 386) The bleak setting conveys the dark situation Goodman Brown is about to find himself in. Despite the obvious evil present in the woods, Goodman Brown presses on further into the darkness with Satan as his guide. This symbolizes mans inability to break the devils hold upon him, once he has allowed his sins to drag him to a certain point. A contrast to the dark, gloomy setting is the character Faith, Goodman Browns wife. Faith is one of the three principals that gives Goodman Brown the impression that he has an ideal life, in this case the good wife. But to Goodman Brown, Faith is much more than this. Faith as her name implies is seen by Goodman Brown to be a physical manifestation of his faith with Brown referring to her as My love and my Faith. (page 385) Faith also comes with a symbol of her own, in this case a pink ribbon. Throughout the story, Hawthorne makes numerous references to this, including referring to her as Faith with the pink ribbons (page 385) in the third paragraph. Faiths pink ribbon is the focus of a crucial, dramatic scene towards the end of the story. At this part of the story, Satan has broken Goodman Brown, and in the midst of everything Goodman Brown has come to know has turned out to be a fallacy. Despite this Goodman Brown makes one final attempt to hold onto his Faith, but in the midst of the chaos, a pink ribbon falls from the sky on catches on a tree branch. This symbolizes the end of the fight for Goodman Brown, now a broken, faithless man Goodman Brown cries out There is no good on earth, and sin is but a name. Come, devil, for thee is this world given. (page 389) Faith in general plays a prominent role in the story, particularly false faith. Before his meeting with Satan, Goodman Brown believes himself to be of good faith because those around him are of good faith. However once it is revealed that those around him are more akin to a satanic cult, than a holy congregation, Goodman Brown begins to lose himself only hanging on with the belief that his beloved wife is strong of faith. This turns out to be false as well, and with the revelation that the one seen by Goodman Brown to be faith personified, is full of sin, Goodman Brown is finally broken and surrenders himself to Satan. One of the biggest, if not the biggest symbol in the story, is that of Satan himself. Throughout the ages, Satan has been a cultural symbol of ultimate evil, and Young Goodman Brown continues that tradition. In the story Satan represents a number of things, of them being the evil that lies within us all. When first meeting up with Goodman Brown in the woods, Satan is described as resembling an older Goodman Brown , with Hawthorne describing him as being apparently in the same rank of life as Goodman Brown, and bearing a considerable resemblance to him, though more in expression than features. Still they might have been taken for father and son. (page 386) In his human form, Satan carries with him, a walking stick in the shape of a serpent. Since the story of Adam and Eve, the serpent has been used as a symbolic representation of Satan. Satan is often seen as a master manipulator, and one who can easily shatter ones view of the world around them. This is evident in paragraph eighteen, when Goodman Brown has discovered the true identity of his companion and is attempting to break away from him on the grounds that his family has never been he kind to fall in with the devil. To this Satan replies I helped your grandfather, the constable when he lashed the Quaker woman so smartly through the streets of Salem. (page 386) He also goes on to say It was I who brought your father a pitch-pine knot, to set fire to an Indian village, in King Phillips war. (page 387) This symbolizes a number of things at once. In the context of the story, it further symbolizes that the world Goodman Brown ahs found himself in, is much different from the world he perceived himself as living in. In Goodman Browns eyes, his father and Grandfather were shining examples of good Christian men. However Satan shatters this allusion and reveals that not only are Goodman Browns ancestors guilty of sin, but that they committed their sins in collaboration with the devil. This can also be applied to a broader sense of realization that evil does exist in the world, and that something or someone we perceive as good, may in fact be in league with the darkest of evil. An interesting point in the story occurs in the ninth paragraph, when Goodman Brown, now deep in the darkest reaches of the forest states There may be a devilish Indian behind every three, what if the devil himself should be at my very elbow! (page 386) This symbolizes the devils ability to enter a persons life and remain a part of it completely undetected until it is too late. The story of Young Goodman Brown, is one that works on two very different levels. On its surface, the story appears as nothing ,more than the tale of a man who experiences a quite literally hellish event. Upon further analysis however, the story is a much deeper allegoric tale of the importance of faith, and how easily a person can be made or broken by it.

Existentialism In The Early 19th Century :: essays research papers

Existentialism in the Early 19th Century Major Themes Because of the diversity of positions associated with existentialism, the term is impossible to define precisely. Certain themes common to virtually all existentialist writers can, however, be identified. The term itself suggests one major theme: the stress on concrete individual existence and, consequently, on subjectivity, individual freedom, and choice. Moral Individualism Most philosophers since Plato have held that the highest ethical good is the same for everyone; insofar as one approaches moral perfection, one resembles other morally perfect individuals. The 19th-century Danish philosopher Sà ¸ren Kierkegaard, who was the first writer to call himself existential, reacted against this tradition by insisting that the highest good for the individual is to find his or her own unique vocation. As he wrote in his journal, â€Å"I must find a truth that is true for me . . . the idea for which I can live or die.† Other existentialist writers have echoed Kierkegaard's belief that one must choose one's own way without the aid of universal, objective standards. Against the traditional view that moral choice involves an objective judgment of right and wrong, existentialists have argued that no objective, rational basis can be found for moral decisions. The 19th-century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche further contended that the individual must decide which situations are to count asmoral situations. Subjectivity All existentialists have followed Kierkegaard in stressing the importance of passionate individual action in deciding questions of both morality and truth. They have insisted, accordingly, that personal experience and acting on one's own convictions are essential in arriving at the truth. Thus, the understanding of a situation by someone involved in that situation is superior to that of a detached, objective observer. This emphasis on the perspective of the individual agent has also made existentialists suspicious of systematic reasoning. Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, and other existentialist writers have been deliberately unsystematic in the exposition of their philosophies, preferring to express themselves in aphorisms, dialogues, parables, and other literary forms. Despite their antirationalist position, however, most existentialists cannot be said to be irrationalists in the sense of denying all validity to rational thought. They have held that rational clarity is desirable wherever possible, but that the most important questions in life are not accessible to reason or science. Furthermore, they have argued that even science is not as rational as is commonly supposed. Nietzsche, for instance, asserted that the scientific assumption of an orderly universe is for the most part a useful fiction. Choice and Commitment Perhaps the most prominent theme in existentialist writing is that of choice. Humanity's primary distinction, in the view of most existentialists, is the freedom to choose.

Compromise of 1850

The Compromise of 1850 was a series of acts passed in 1850, by which the United States Congress hoped to settle the strife between the opponents of slavery in the North and slave owners in the South. There is much speculation about how our country would be without this Compromise. The Compromise is a major stepping stone in United States history because of its many forces and provisions. California's admission to the Union would tip the balance in favor of free states—sixteen free states to fifteen slave states. A balance had been achieved with the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which tried to settle the growing slavery issue at that time by admitting Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state. The proposed admission of California in 1850 was further complicated by unresolved slavery questions in the vast southwestern territory that had been ceded to the United States after the war with Mexico ended in 1848 with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. As he had done with the Missouri Compromise thirty years earlier, U. S. Senator Henry Clay of Kentucky attempted to find a solution in 1850. This time the stakes were higher—the real possibility that the Union would break apart. Now seventy-one years old and in ill health, Clay gave his last great speech to the Senate on February 5–6, 1850, outlining the many features of the compromise, which once again tried to give satisfaction to both sides, and staking his reputation upon its passage. It was Senator Stephen Douglas of Illinois, though, who successfully crafted the measures. The Compromise of 1850 called for the admission of California as a free state as well as the organization of the ceded southwestern land into the territories of New Mexico and Utah, without mention of slavery. It stated that, when the territories became states, voting citizens living in those territories could then decide on their slavery status, a solution known as popular sovereignty. The compromise also settled the boundary dispute between Texas and New Mexico and called for prohibition of slavery in the District of Columbia. But by far the most contentious part of the Compromise of 1850 was the Fugitive Slave Act. It was the second of such acts, the first having been passed in 1793. Southern states demanded it largely in response to the growing number of fugitive slaves who were escaping to freedom in the North or into Canada. The act not only called for the return of runaway slaves, as the previous law had done, but prohibited the fugitives a trial by jury or even to testify in their own behalf. In addition, marshals in the North who did not enforce the law were given heavy penalties, as were those who helped slaves to escape. The act was so severe and the outrage against it in the North so intense that it led to heavy abuses and therefore defeated its own purpose. Some Northern states passed personal liberty laws to defy the Fugitive Slave Act. The number of escapees increased, as did the number of abolitionists who took up the cause against slavery. Putting the law into effect only led to more animosity between North and South, and when South Carolina justified its secession from the Union in December 1860, it listed the personal liberty laws as one of its grievances. The Fugitive Slave Act was not repealed until June 28, 1864, well into the Civil War. The Compromise of 1850 accomplished what it set out to do — it kept the nation united — but the solution was only temporary. Over the following decade the country's citizens became further divided over the issue of slavery. The rift would continue to grow until the nation itself divided. Compromise of 1850 The Compromise of 1850 was a series of acts passed in 1850, by which the United States Congress hoped to settle the strife between the opponents of slavery in the North and slave owners in the South. There is much speculation about how our country would be without this Compromise. The Compromise is a major stepping stone in United States history because of its many forces and provisions. California's admission to the Union would tip the balance in favor of free states—sixteen free states to fifteen slave states. A balance had been achieved with the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which tried to settle the growing slavery issue at that time by admitting Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state. The proposed admission of California in 1850 was further complicated by unresolved slavery questions in the vast southwestern territory that had been ceded to the United States after the war with Mexico ended in 1848 with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. As he had done with the Missouri Compromise thirty years earlier, U. S. Senator Henry Clay of Kentucky attempted to find a solution in 1850. This time the stakes were higher—the real possibility that the Union would break apart. Now seventy-one years old and in ill health, Clay gave his last great speech to the Senate on February 5–6, 1850, outlining the many features of the compromise, which once again tried to give satisfaction to both sides, and staking his reputation upon its passage. It was Senator Stephen Douglas of Illinois, though, who successfully crafted the measures. The Compromise of 1850 called for the admission of California as a free state as well as the organization of the ceded southwestern land into the territories of New Mexico and Utah, without mention of slavery. It stated that, when the territories became states, voting citizens living in those territories could then decide on their slavery status, a solution known as popular sovereignty. The compromise also settled the boundary dispute between Texas and New Mexico and called for prohibition of slavery in the District of Columbia. But by far the most contentious part of the Compromise of 1850 was the Fugitive Slave Act. It was the second of such acts, the first having been passed in 1793. Southern states demanded it largely in response to the growing number of fugitive slaves who were escaping to freedom in the North or into Canada. The act not only called for the return of runaway slaves, as the previous law had done, but prohibited the fugitives a trial by jury or even to testify in their own behalf. In addition, marshals in the North who did not enforce the law were given heavy penalties, as were those who helped slaves to escape. The act was so severe and the outrage against it in the North so intense that it led to heavy abuses and therefore defeated its own purpose. Some Northern states passed personal liberty laws to defy the Fugitive Slave Act. The number of escapees increased, as did the number of abolitionists who took up the cause against slavery. Putting the law into effect only led to more animosity between North and South, and when South Carolina justified its secession from the Union in December 1860, it listed the personal liberty laws as one of its grievances. The Fugitive Slave Act was not repealed until June 28, 1864, well into the Civil War. The Compromise of 1850 accomplished what it set out to do — it kept the nation united — but the solution was only temporary. Over the following decade the country's citizens became further divided over the issue of slavery. The rift would continue to grow until the nation itself divided.

In part two of Silas Marner Essay

The readers are also told that that Godfrey is in fact, secretly married to Molly Farren, with whom he was a child. Dunstan is the only other person who is aware of this situation and blackmails Godfrey, threatening to inform the Squire, ‘how his handsome son is married to that nice, young women, Molly Farren, and was very unhappy that he couldn’t live with his drunken wife. ‘ (Chapter 3 pg 22) Godfrey fears the Squire finding out because he worries about losing his position of the upcoming squire, and also Nancy Lammeter, since he ‘must irrevocably lose her as well as his inheritance. ‘ (Chapter 3 pg 24) So although we are told that Godfrey is, ‘open-faced’ and ‘good natured’, he also could be considered as a very self – centered and self – serving character. He doesn’t face up to the consequences of his actions, and has secrets which he is not prepared to reveal incase they affect his current life style. Inside, he is very conniving and two faced. When Silas turns up at the Red House on New Years Eve, seeking a doctor, holding a little girl and revealing how a woman is injured in the snow outside, Godfrey knows straight away who it is and is shocked and afraid. He is worried that Molly will reveal his secret to the villagers. ‘There was a terror in his mind at that moment†¦ the women might not be dead. ‘ (Chapter 13 pg 99) He is more concerned with finding her dead than the possibility of saving her, because it will leave him free to marry Nancy, and his inheritance will be safe. Yet again to the villagers, Godfrey appears to have the best interest of the women in mind, by making sure she is not injured and to be assistance. However his inner thoughts betray his shallowness and his ultimate self – interest. ‘Deeper down†¦ there was a sense that he ought to except the miserable wife and fulfill the claims of the helpless child. But he had no moral courage enough to contemplate the active renunciation of Nancy as possible as him†¦ ‘ (Chapter 13 pg 101) Equally, his treatment of Eppie is also self – serving. Godfrey has the opportunity to claim her, but chooses not to. Silas says, ‘fill anybody shoes, they’ve got a right to take her from me,’ (Chapter 13 pg 102). His other opportunities include: Marrying Nancy (which he does); Starting a fresh, (which he does); having Eppie in the open, but still wedding Nancy, (Which he does not do) Godfrey is anxious but ultimately his attitude is that his life will be better in the future with Nancy if he leaves his secret behind, ‘if she is [dead]†¦ I shall be a good fellow in the future. ‘ (pg 101) Whereas Silas embraces Eppie, ‘It’s a lone thing†¦ and I’m a lone thing. ‘ (pg 102) This turns out to be a fundamental change in the lives of the two men. After 16 years, Silas’ life has changed enormously since taking on Eppie. He isn’t as shallow, and always worrying about money because he has a loving daughter who loves him. His work has slowed down, and he now socializes with the villagers, and has fashionably taken up smoking a pipe! More importantly, his faith has been restored, and is very content because he believes he has everything. Silas did not highly enjoy smoking†¦ but a humble sort of acquaintance in what was held to be good had become a strong habit of that new self which has been developed in him since he had found Eppie. ‘ (Chapter 16, pg 124) In comparison to Silas, Godfrey’s life hasn’t turned out so positively. He feels discontent that he hasn’t achieved anything in his life, because the use of ‘squire’ has stopped and he feels that he is less than his father. Unfortunately Nancy and he remain childless, and he has no heir. ‘I wanted to pass for childless once, Nancy – I shall pass for childless now against my wish’ (Chapter 20 pg 151) Godfrey finally admits to parentage because he wants to adopt Eppie, to be able to make her an heir, and continue the family name within the Red House. He wants his child to become a ‘lady’ and have a better life. Once more, even though this change may benefit Eppie, ultimately Godfrey’s reasons are self serving. Eppie’s response to Godfrey’s offer isn’t as he expected. She declines his offer, as she wants to remain with her ‘father’ that brought her up from a small child. She ‘doesn’t want to be a lady. ‘ Eppie wants to live in a way she is accustomed to, with different friends on the same social group as her own. Marrying Aaron would be forbidden if she was a lady, as he isn’t upper class. On the other hand, Eppie isn’t familiar with Godfrey, and doesn’t see him as a ‘father’. Eppie would be lost without Silas, as they do everything together they ‘drink from the same cup. ‘ Eppie fears of Silas going back to his old ways if she leaves him and wants to stay loyal to him, as he was the one who took her in as his own. ‘I cant feel as I’ve got any father but one†¦ I’ve always thought of a little home where he’d sit in the corner, and should fend and do everything for him: I cant think of no other home. ‘ (Chapter 19, pg 150) With the arrival of Eppie, both men’s lives have been changed in very different ways. Silas is content with his life, his faith has been restored and his social life is better than ever. Whereas, Godfrey is disappointed with the arrival of Eppie, as he had all he ever wanted until she arrived, and his secret had been kept safe until then. Silas’ life in Lantern Yard consisted of faith, love, trust and relationships. After being framed and removed from the church, he decides to move to Raveloe, where he isolated himself from the community. Then his gold was stolen from his home, by Godfrey’s younger brother Dunstan. While Silas is out, Eppie then appears on his doorstep on New Years Eve, after her mother left her while she was injured. Silas takes her in and cares for her as if she’s his own blood, believing she is a ‘gift from god’ to replace his gold. From the up bringing of Eppie, he manages to bring himself out of isolation and regain his faith, relationships, respect and love. Eppie was beneficial to Silas in more ways than one. In Godfrey’s life, though, his secrets are hidden from the beginning until Eppie arrives. When he realized it was Molly outside Silas’ house, he was more concerned with finding her dead than alive, to prevent his secrets from being published. The main opportunity was to claim Eppie, but at first, he thought that his life in the future would be better with Nancy if Eppie was remained unclaimed. Unfortunately Nancy is unable to have children and produce an heir for him. This is when Godfrey realizes, as her biological father, that she could be that upcoming heir he desperately needs, to prevent his name leaving the Red House as a ‘Squire’. Godfrey puts forward an opportunity to Eppie, for her to move in with himself and Nancy, as, ‘he would provide her with a better future. ‘ Eppie’s response isn’t as he expected – she says no! The reason is that Eppie doesn’t want to lead the life of a lady, and have to change the social group of which she is part. Eppie wants to remain with Silas and look after him until the end, just like he has cared for her. This choice of Eppie’s, has rewarded those who nurtured her – in this case, Silas. Overall, George Eliot wrote this book as a very moralistic novel. Silas deserved to be loved by Eppie as he provided her with a loving home, family and religion; all out of the goodness of his heart. So when Eppie decides she wants to stay with him, it rewards him and returns his gratitude. On the other hand, all of Godfrey’s choices were self – serving. In the beginning he had an opportunity to claim Eppie from Silas, but failed to, supposing that his life will be improved with Nancy, without the difficulties of Eppie. Later on in the novel, he recognizes he made the wrong decision, as Nancy is unable to produce any heirs to take his place. Once more his actions are convenient for him because, he now realizes that Eppie could take that that position. In spite of this when Eppie declines his offer, he deserves it, as in the past he has been a selfish coward. Therefore it proves that life can change, because of the path you choose to lead!!   Kate Martyn English Coursework! 1 Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Arthur Miller section.