Mobile Phones: Resource or Distraction in Studies

Mobile phones: a resource or distraction in education Mobile phones are one of the greatest inventions of mankind. Through his invention he has created his own world at his fingertips. He has removed the hindrance of distance between him and the world. But the important question which needs to be answered now is what should be the role of mobile devices in the learning process? It has been a key factor contributing to bad grades, also several health related disorders among students, but on the other hand, mobile devices can help students with quick research and provide a vital communication link to their, classmates, and even teachers.Students who do subjects which require field work research will need cell phones while in the field. All modern cell phones can be used to take pictures in the field, create reports using simple word processing applications, save and submit data back to their schools. If their school has a remote storage facility, students can easily back up their field work notes, videos and picture on that server while in the field. Most mobile phone service providers offer cheap internet subscription packages, so students will find it easy to transfer data or make more extensive research online using their cell phone.Both parents and teachers will need to stay in touch with their children and students, so cell phones will make this communication simple. Also students use cell phones to join peer to peer discussions which can help them ask any thing educational during this discussion. This discussion can be hosted on online educational social networks like Piazza. com, this network has mobile phones apps which a student can install and join any academic discussion using their mobile phones. It is very important for students to be in position to learn from anywhere at any time.The education world is changing and many scholars are attending virtual classrooms. Online education is now becoming so popular than before, mobile phones have also helped in the growth of Mobile-Learning. Since today’s cell phones have more than one application, students will always get distracted in the quest of trying to discover and try out new cell phone applications. Female students are more likely to get distracted by mobile applications like Pinterest, Facebook or twitter, then for the male students, they can get distracted by cell phone game applications or video streaming applications.This continuous distraction will affect a student’s concentration in the classroom, and it can also distract other students around them. When it comes to exam time, they will resort to cheating. So they can decide to scan their notes on their cell phones or use text messaging service to cheat exams. Then some students can Google exam questions and copy whatever they find online, and in most cases this data published online is not correct which results into exam failure.This trend will only increase, and it's up to parents and teachers to balance t he pros and cons of using cell phones as part of the learning process. While there is no single solution, perhaps there are lessons to be learned from the early internet era. The internet was at first seen as a new frontier with dangers lurking behind each click, whereas today schools and parents have universally embraced the web as a medium for research, education and efficient communication. With appropriate safeguards and reasonable policies, perhaps cell phones and web-enabled smart phones can run a similar course.

What Is a Good GPA Whats a Bad GPA for College

What Is a Good GPA What's a Bad GPA for College SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you’re starting to think about your plans for college, you might be wondering what is considered a good high school GPA or a bad high school GPA in the eyes of admissions officers. This is a complicated question, and it depends on several factors that colleges will take into consideration. In this article, I’ll give you some perspective on what a good GPA and a bad GPA are based on national statistics and your individual circumstances. I’ll also provide advice on the best ways to improve your GPA. Your coursework and GPA are one of the most important pieces to your college application - some colleges consider it your MOST important factor - so make sure you do your research and know where you fit in. What’s a Good GPA Compared to the National Average? Nationally, the average unweighted high school GPA isabout a 3.0, which is a B average. If your GPA is above a 3.0, you’re most likely doing pretty well, but it all depends on how your school calculates GPA and what your ultimate goals are. Keep in mind that this is the average for all students in the country, which includes the 34% of high school students who don't go on to college. The average high school GPA for college-bound students is likely higher than a 3.0. Typically a 3.5-4.0 GPA, which means an A- or A average, is expected for admission to top colleges.However, you may be able to gain acceptance to a less selective school with a GPA that’s as low as a 2.0 or C- average.The concrete numbers are less important than your individual experience and the details of how you earned your GPA, which I’ll discuss in the next section. What’s a Good GPA for YOU? This is a much more important question to ask yourself becauseevery high school is different, and so is every student.Remember that colleges will take into account all the information they have about your high school when assessing your GPA. They don’t look at it out of context in comparison to the national average.Admissions officers realize that two students from different high schools may have different GPAs but relatively equal academic potential. Determining what a good GPA and a bad GPA mean for you mainly means considering three different factors. #1: Your School Does your school give you a weighted or unweighted GPA?At some high schools, two students might both have 4.0s that each mean something different because one student is in advanced classes, and the other is in lower-level classes.If they are unweighted GPAs, colleges will consider the student who takes higher-level classes to be more qualified. Even though both students are earning As, one is earning them with more challenging material. If these are weighted GPAs, it might mean the student in high-level classes is earning Bs, and the student in lower-level classes is earning As. In this situation, colleges will still look more favorably on the student in high-level classes who was willing to take on more intellectual challenges.The point is that a better GPA doesn’t necessarily mean a higher one; you should challenge yourself with your coursework first and foremost. Don't drop down a level in a course so you can get an A - this won't fool colleges into thinking you're a more qualified applicant. If your GPA isn’t perfect but you’re at the top of your class, this might just mean that your school is tough, and it would be nearly impossible to get a flawless GPA (even if students at other less rigorous schools manage it).Once again, colleges will understand these circumstances and take them into account.A 3.7 GPA at your school could potentially look better to admissions officers than a 4.0 GPA at another school. #2: Your Classes So you have all As in your classes and a 4.0 GPA - you’re doing awesome, right?Maybe, maybe not.If you’re getting all As in the highest-level classes your school offers, yes, your GPA is amazing, and colleges will be extremely impressed.However, if you’re taking easy classes just because you know you can get As, the 4.0 on your transcript will not blind admissions officers to the fact that you’re not really challenging yourself. This isn’t to say that everyone should try to take the highest-level classes in every subject.You don’t want to kill yourself with stress, and it’s good for most people to have one or two less rigorous classes. Butif there's a subject you’re really interested in or think you might want to pursue as a course of study in college, try and push yourself to take high-level classes.Even if it brings down your GPA a bit, it will demonstrate that you're a driven student who is willing to take risks to gain a better understanding of the subject.Taking progressively more challenging classes throughout high school, even if it doesn’t raise your GPA, makes your GPA â€Å"better† in the eyes of admissions officers because it’s hard-earned. Climb to the peak of your academic potential! Man, I should write copy for motivational posters. #3: Your Goals for College Do you have your heart set on an Ivy League? Are you planning on attending your state school for a lower tuition price tag? What’s important to you in a college?At Harvard, for example, almost 90% of incoming freshmen have a GPA that’s above a 3.75 (the average GPA is a 3.93), meaning a solid A average. Considering the standards of top schools, it’s likely that most of those GPAs were earned in the highest-level classes in high school. When you have this level of selectivity, students' coursework will be scrutinized just as closely as the numerical values of their GPAs; schools like Harvard are only looking for the top performing students in the highest-level classes. To give a slightly less selective example, at the University of Oregon the average GPA was a 3.6, meaning most students earned around a B+/A- average in high school. It's likely that the courseload of these students was also less challenging, so they may have taken a fair amount of mid-level or lower-level classes in the process of earning their GPAs. These are students that have solid grades but are not at the very top of their classes. You'll need to take a look at the average GPA for incoming freshmen at your colleges of choice to get a sense of where you need to be.Of course, this statistic isn’t the be-all and end-all. Some students with lower than average GPAs will be accepted, and some students with higher than average GPAs will be rejected.It’s important to make sure you’re also looking at the other factors in conjunction with these statistics to figure out what the best GPA range is for you. In the next section, I'll go over how to find and make sense of this information. Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. Step by Step: Figuring Out a Good GPA for Your Situation So how do you actually decide whether your GPA is good in the context of your plans for college? Follow these steps to get a more solid idea of where you are and where you need to be. 1. Make a list of colleges you think you're interested in. I would recommend Cappex for conducting a low stress college search and making a quick list of possibilities. 2. Research the average GPAs and admission rates for the colleges on your list. Make notes on these statistics so you can refer to them later. To find the admission rate and average GPA at any school, Google "college name" + "admission requirements" + "PrepScholar". We've compiled all the information in a database to make it simpler for you! 3. Compare your GPA to the average GPAs that you find at your schools.A good way to do this is with a chart, such as the blank one we've included below that you can fill in. Once you've found average GPAs, compare them to your own.Are you above or below average?Most schools will give you unweighted GPA statistics, so if your GPA is weighted make sure to take this into consideration. School Name Average GPA (Unweighted) Average GPA (Unweighted) 4. If you're above the average, that's great news! It most likely means that you have a good chance of admission. If you're below the average, you may still have a chance depending on how far off you are. This just means the school will probably be a reach for you. 5. As a last step, you should look at the admissions rates for your chosen colleges. Two schools may have very different admission rates but the same average GPAs. This means that the more selective school expects the same GPA but with more challenging coursework. If a school has an admissions rate of less than 20%, you can assume that you're expected to have a record of very challenging coursework in addition to meeting the average GPA standards. If the admissions rate is between 20 and 40% the school will expect somewhat challenging coursework. If the admissions rate is between 40 and 60%, the school will expect mid-level coursework, and if it's higher than 60% you will probably be able to get away with taking a fair amount of lower level classes as long as your GPA is still relatively high. But I got an A+ in gym! I aced the rainbow parachute unit! HOW COULD THEY NOT WANT ME What Can You Do to Improve Your GPA? I won’t sugarcoat this: It’s not easy to improve your GPA, and it only gets more difficult as high school goes on.If you’re a freshman or sophomore, you still have time to make significant changes.If you’re a junior, you should probably focus more on improving your test scores.Relative to time spent studying, test scores are the easiest way to improve your chances at college admission.They will be given about as much weight in the admissions decision as your GPA for most schools. If you can manage really good scores, you will have a much better chance of getting in even if your GPA is below average for admitted students. I would say there are three main things that you can do if you want to make your GPA better in the eyes of colleges: #1: Take Increasingly Harder Classes This may seem paradoxical. Won’t your GPA go down if you take harder classes?Well, yes, the numbers might go down, but your GPA will be more impressive to colleges if it was earned in challenging classes.Try to level up as you progress through high school to show that you're willing to work hard for your grades.You should only follow this advice if your GPA is already good by the numbers but you aren’t taking difficult classes.If you’re struggling with your current course load, don’t risk moving up and failing a class!It’s your job to understand and respect your limits in terms of stress and time spent on schoolwork. #2: Ask for Extra Help A mistake that many struggling students make is that they don’t ask for help from their teachers.I understand that asking for help isn’t always easy - I know that I myself avoided it for years, and it only hurt me.Asking for help is the SMART thing to do, and it’s going to allow you to get the individual attention you might need in order to understand concepts better.Your teachers will appreciate that you’re making an effort, and you will most likely come away feeling more optimistic about your ability to grasp the material.This is going to be one of the best ways to see a significant positive effect on your grades. #3: Stick to a Schedule and Stay Focused Easier said than done, right?But if you’re serious about improving your grades, this is the bottom line.Procrastination and lack of studying may be hurting your grades more than your academic ability.If you always do everything the night before for "long-term" projects or just glance over your notes briefly before tests, you may need to reassess your habits. Casually reading over the stuff you need to know doesn’t count as legitimate studying unless you go back and verify that you've absorbed it.Think critically about your study habits, and see if there are any areas where you can improve. If you need to create a schedule for yourself in order to keep up with your goals, go for it. All you need is a calendar and some glue. That's how this works, right? Final Assessment What’s a good GPA? What’s a bad GPA? The real answer, as frustrating as this may be, is that it depends!Though the national average high school GPA is around a 3.0, that might actually be a very good GPA or a not so good GPA for you depending on your circumstances and goals.It’s important to consider how your school calculates GPA, the level of your coursework, and the selectivity of the schools you hope to attend in deciding whether your GPA is good. Though GPA is very difficult to improve, you may be able to make significant changes if you’re a dedicated freshman or sophomore by challenging yourself with your coursework, asking for extra help, and revising your study habits.If it’s too late to significantly improve your GPA and you don’t feel that it’s quite as good as it should be, focus instead on improving your standardized test scores.This will give you a better return on investment for the hours you spend studying. Remember that the actual number value of your GPA doesn’t matter nearly as much as the effort you put in to get there. Just keep working hard, and don’t get discouraged! // // What's Next? Another important aspect of your college application will be letters of recommendation from teachers. Read this guide on the best way to ask for recommendations. If you're planning on applying to the top schools in the country, a great GPA isn't the only thing you should focus on. Learn more about how to get into the most selective colleges. Looking into attending state schools and need some advice on how to pay your way? Here's how to get accepted to honors programs and earn merit scholarships at state schools. Want to improve your GPA?Check out our in-depth guide to raising your grades, from a writer who got a perfect 4.0 GPA. Read it for free now:

The Impact of ICT on Productivity within the Nigerian Banking Sector The WritePass Journal

The Impact of ICT on Productivity within the Nigerian Banking Sector Chapter 1 – Introduction The Impact of ICT on Productivity within the Nigerian Banking Sector Chapter 1 – Introduction1.1 Background1.2 Reason for Research Topic1.3 Study Aim and Objectives1.4 Project Constraints1.5 Study Methodology 1.5.1 Literature Review1.5.2 Primary Research1.5.3 Case study approach1.6 Dissertation Overview1.6.1 Abstract1.6.2 Chapter 1: Introduction: 1.6.3 Chapter 2: Literature Review1.6.4 Chapter 3: Case Study (Development of Survey)1.6.5 Chapter 4: Evaluation Discussion1.6.6 Chapter 5: Conclusion CHAPTER 3: SURVEY RESEARCH3.1 Introduction3.2 Method of Research   3.3 Qualities of a Good Research Question3.4 Structure of Survey3.5 Design of Questionnaire 3.6 Terminologies used in Questionnaire3.7 Method of Distribution3.8 Pretesting the Questionnaire3.9 Changes Made as a result of Pretesting3.10 Intended Participants of Survey 3.11 Ethics of a Questionnaire  3.12 Final VersionRelated Chapter 1 – Introduction 1.1 Background The Banking industry is considerably one of the largest industries in Nigeria providing employment for an estimated twenty two thousand people nationwide and generating 9% of the annual GDP of the country. Nigeria is considered to be one of the fastest growing telecommunications nations in Africa, investing heavily in ICT and related information technology Chiemeke et al (2006). One of its major investors has been the banks, however with their major investments the use of ICT has arguably had an effect on efficiency and has made operations faster nevertheless there has been no major evidence that indicates that they have increased productivity, productivity been an important factor for banks and other organizations as it can help drive economic and organizational growth and most importantly help organization increase their profit. This study delves into the realms of the banking industry in Nigeria in an attempt to discover the impact of the use of ICT has had on productivity. This study will incorporate primary and secondary research in an attempt to determine if the use of ICT has improves productivity in the banking industry and also to get a better understanding of the industry or not and their ICT practices. The outcome will be a set of recommendations aimed at suggesting possible ways to use ICT to improve productivity. This study aims at informing and advising the people in the Nigerian Banking industry considering the how use of ICT can be further used to improve productivity as well as academics who seek to broaden their insight of the industry in such light. The research and discussion will be condensed to a set of recommendations. 1.2 Reason for Research Topic The motivation behind conducting this research into the impact the use of ICT has on productivity in the Nigerian banking industry comes from the lack of such research in the region as a series of similar studies have been carried out in other developed countries. Nigerian is often regarded as the giant of Africa more so they are said to be highest investors in the use of Information communication technology in Africa, the use of ICT has no doubt contributed to the growth of the various industries in the country however there is no direct knowledge as to if the use of ICT has increased productivity in the banking industry, thus the purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of the use of ICT in the Nigerian banking industry on productivity. 1.3 Study Aim and Objectives The aim of this study project is to answer the question â€Å"does the use of ICT improve productivity in banking in Nigeria†. In order to meet this aim, this study seeks accomplish the following objectives, identify If the use of I.C.T improved productivity in Nigerian banking industry? How can ICT be used effectively to impact productivity. The benefits of ICT in banking. The problems of ICT in banking. 1.4 Project Constraints    In the course of writing this dissertation a few constraints where met as predicted in the project initiation document, this constraints include: Access to information: facts and information where needed and they couldn’t be gotten off the internet as such they had to be physically collected from the office of the central bank of Nigeria and relayed back via email. Falling ill: in the process of writing this project the author fell ill two times living the project unattended to for a total of three weeks Lack of prior knowledge: the author had no prior adept knowledge of the points that will be discussed in this study as such the author had to carry out extensive research and reading so as to broaden the gap of knowledge.       1.5 Study Methodology 1.5.1 Literature Review A full review of literature will be given, which will set the scene gives a general overview of the banking industry, the use of ICT and productivity, however it later goes on to give a more information of the Nigerian banking industry which is the subject of this study and its challenges in regards of the use of ICT and how they in turn affect productivity. 1.5.2 Primary Research A survey will be carried out to help determine the impact ICT has on productivity in Nigeria. A survey is a popular strategy used in business and management research. Surveys are often carried out through the use of a questionnaire as the data is standardised and allows for easy comparison and they allow the collection of a large amount of data from a sizeable population in a highly economical way (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2003). All the data acquired in this survey was through the use of a questionnaire issued to certain employees in a number of banks. Having completed the primary research a number of analysis tools and techniques were used to analyse the information, an overview of the tools and techniques used is in chapter 4. The banks that were involved in this study are based in Nigeria. In the course of research for this study the author discovered there has been little or no study on the research in this topic in this region of the world compared to the UK and other European countries as such the author decided to use the Nigerian banking industry as the centre of research. The survey questions are to be spread to as many banks as possible with the hope of getting responses from 15 of the 25 banks in the country; however the survey questions will be spread amongst a minimum of two branches per bank including the headquarters of those banks; however there is no certainty that it will be spread in that order as the survey is online, and also there is no assurance that there be a 100% response rate. The survey should take about 2weeks considering the various factors that may pose challenge and an 80% response rate are expected. 1.5.3 Case study approach A case study is defined as â€Å"a strategy for carrying out research which involves an empirical investigation of a particular contemporary phenomenon within its real life context using multiple sources of evidence†, (Robson, 2002). In summary the case study strategy will help guide and gain knowledge and rich understanding of the primary research carried out in this study. Case study strategy has the ability to generate answers to the various questions such as ‘why’, ‘what’ and ‘how’; however a good case study can enable the challenge of an existing theory and provide a good source for new hypothesis (Saunders, Lewis Thornhill, 2003). 1.6 Dissertation Overview Now the scene has been set and an idea of what the study will revolve around has been given as such a brief layout of the writing structure will be given which will include a brief summary of what the various chapters will be about. 1.6.1 Abstract 1.6.2 Chapter 1: Introduction: 1.6.3 Chapter 2: Literature Review This chapter consists of secondary research gathered from books, journals providing knowledge, understanding and insight as to what’s been done in this line of research. 1.6.4 Chapter 3: Case Study (Development of Survey) This chapter focuses on the development of the survey used for primary research in an attempt to gain proper knowledge and understanding and also answer the question the topic of the study possess. 1.6.5 Chapter 4: Evaluation Discussion This chapter contains a step by step analysis of the data gotten from the survey and also a discussion as to what the answers of the survey imply. 1.6.6 Chapter 5: Conclusion This final chapter is a conclusion of the whole project as it summaries the previous chapters and gives a critical reflection of the process involved in the process of writing this study and finally it suggests methods for further improvement. CHAPTER 3: SURVEY RESEARCH    3.1 Introduction This study is based on an investigation into the impact of ICT on productivity in the banking industry. For the purpose of this study no particular bank was the sole focus of the research as information from one source will not be enough to assess the extent as such for this study the survey will be carried out using a number of different banks with the aid of a questionnaire which includes both qualitative and quantitative data. 3.2 Method of Research In conducting primary research a number of activities can be used such as questionnaires, interviews, tests and documentary analysis, but for the purpose of this research the questionnaire method was the only method chosen as it is cheaper, faster, has a larger response base and can cover a lot of ground compared to other methods.   3.3 Qualities of a Good Research Question In carrying out a survey it is important that the questions asked are the right questions and the survey is well structured else it provides inaccurate information which will affect the credibility of the result of the survey. Punch (1998) gives a number of criteria that will help in creating good research questions, these criteria’s include: Clear: The questions should be easy to understand and unambiguous. Specific: The concept should be clear enough to connect the data to the indicators. Answerable: There should be a clear view of what data is required to answer the question and how such data will be obtained. Interconnected: The questions must be related to each other in some meaningful way, rather than be unconnected. Substantively relevant: The questions should be interesting and worthwhile questions for investment of research effort. Punch (1998) further states that questions that do not possess this qualities are generally bad research questions, as they are unclear and not specific enough, Punch (1998) also states two problems that often occur in building questionnaires, they include value judgement and causation, as such in building the questionnaires such characteristics and problems will be avoided. 3.4 Structure of Survey The survey is divided into two sets one for each set of people. The first questionnaire seeks information on the benefits, problems, impact of ICT products on productivity and the impact of ICT measures on productivity, however the questionnaire itself is structured into 6 major sections which seek a particular kind of information which include Demographic information Information on current level of ICT investment. Information on ICT benefits in general to the bank, Information on the negative effect of ICT on productivity to the bank. Information on the impact of IT measures on productivity. Information on the impact of a number of specific ICT tools and their impact on productivity. The second section of the questionnaire seeks information on ICT input and output measures and the impact of ICT measures on productivity, it is divided into 5 sections which include: Demographic information, Information on the impact of ICT on bank outputs. Information on the impact of ICT on bank input. Information on the impact of IT measures. Information on the impact of ICT on financial services. See Appendix 4 for more details 3.5 Design of Questionnaire In designing this questionnaire, a number of questions where adopted and adapted from other questionnaires and articles found in the course of research, a few questions were also developed in completing the questionnaire. The questionnaire is an online based and in designing these questionnaires two types of questions where adopted; open and rating questions, Saunders et al. (2003) describes these questions as: Open Question: These questions are used in questionnaires when the author is uncertain of the participant’s response, such as in explanatory research. Rating Questions: This type of question is used to collect opinion data, a common example is the Likert scale in which it gets the participants opinion how strongly they agree or disagree with a statement. The Likert scale uses a 5 point rating scale which ranges from strongly agree to strongly disagree, Saunders et al (2003). 3.6 Terminologies used in Questionnaire A number of terminologies were used in this questionnaire such as Productivity, IT inputs, IP outputs and IT measures. In order not to confuse the participants or make them fill inaccurate information due to the lack of understanding of the terms, the terminologies mentioned above were well defined and explained in the portion which acts as the introduction to the survey. 3.7 Method of Distribution The method for distribution used in this study is via email as the survey itself is online. This was chosen over paper distribution as it saved the cost of transportation and also the time it will take to get back the forms, scan them analyse and go through the various scanned document, and finally as bank employees constantly have easy access to the internet, it will be easy to access and complete. A message will be written in the email sent; the message will essentially act as a cover letter that describes the purpose of the survey. 3.8 Pretesting the Questionnaire Having completed the design of the questionnaire was tested out on a small group to see if the questions are clear and understandable. Robson (2002) states that pretesting a questionnaire is good as it helps check if the questions are clear, simple, unambiguous and if they do not meet those criteria’s the participants involved in the test should give their thoughts and opinions as to what questions aren’t clear and how they could be made clear. The amount of time taken to complete the questionnaire, this feedback will be used to further improve the structure of the questionnaire 3.9 Changes Made as a result of Pretesting Pre-testing feedback was mostly positive. The people involved in the pre testing where satisfied with the length of the questionnaire based on its purpose, however most people where of the impression that the questionnaire can be completed by the general public, as such at the top of the questionnaire a change was made where it was stated who was qualified to answer the questionnaire. The only major negative comment was on the last set of questions in the second questionnaire, the comment was that the question was not clear and easy to understand enough and as a result of that the questions where rephrased. 3.10 Intended Participants of Survey This survey, compared to most others, does not seek information from the general public, it seeks information from certain employees of the bank as they will be the most capable in answering questions accurately as information is made readily available to them. These employees include: IT Manager Finance Manager The first aspect of the questionnaire seeks information on the benefits, problems, impact of ICT products on productivity and the impact of ICT measures on productivity as such the IT manager or any other person at that capacity will be the most suitable to answer such question. The second section of the questionnaire seeks information on ICT input and output measures and the impact of ICT measures on productivity, as such this portion of the questionnaire can only be completed by the Finance manager or any other person at in such capacity as the information will be made readily available to them. In completing the questionnaire the participants will have to state their roles or positions in the organisation to make sure the information is gotten form the person most adequate to answer it. 3.11 Ethics of a Questionnaire A major concern of people who are involved in surveys is giving their information to a third party as such information can be gathered and misused. The questionnaires will therefore be carried out in anonymity as participant’s identity will not be revealed and the questionnaire will adhere to the data protection act and several other ethical standards that might be put in place.   3.12 Final Version Having completed and made changes to the questionnaire the links where distributed by emails.

How and When to Apply for Social Security Benefits

How and When to Apply for Social Security Benefits Applying for Social Security benefits is the easy part. You can apply online, by telephone or by walking into your local Social Security office. The hard part is deciding when to apply for your Social Security retirement benefits and rounding up all the documents youll need when you do. Are You Eligible? Becoming eligible to get Social Security retirement requires both reaching a certain age and earning enough Social Security credits. You earn credits by working and paying Social Security taxes. If you were born in 1929 or later, you need 40 credits (10 years of work) to qualify. If you stop working, you stop earning credits until you return to work. No matter what your age is, you cannot get Social Security retirement benefits until you have earned 40 credits.​ How Much Can You Expect to Get? Your Social Security retirement benefit payment is based on how much you made during your working years. The more you earned, the more youll get when you retire. Your Social Security retirement benefit payment is also affected by the age at which you decide to retire. You can retire as early as age 62, but if you retire before your full retirement age, your benefits will be permanently reduced, based on your age. For example, if you retire at age 62, your benefit would be about 25 percent lower than what it would be if you waited until you reach full retirement age. You also need to remember that monthly premiums for ​Medicare Part B are usually deducted from monthly Social Security benefits. Retirement is a great time to look into the pros and cons of a private Medicare Advantage plan.   According to the Social Security Administration, the average monthly benefit paid to retired workers in May 2017 was $1,367.58.   When Should You Retire? Deciding when to retire is totally up to you and your family. Just keep in mind that Social Security replaces only about 40 percent of the average workers pre-retirement income. If you can live comfortably on 40 percent of what youre making at work, problem solved, but financial experts estimate that most people will need 70-80 percent of their pre-retirement income to have a comfortable retirement. To draw full retirement benefits, the following Social Security Administration age rules apply: Born in 1937 or earlier - Full retirement can be drawn at age 65Born in 1938 - Full retirement can be drawn at age 65 years and 2 monthsBorn in 1939 Full retirement can be drawn at age 65 years and 4 monthsBorn in 1940 Full retirement can be drawn at age 65 years and 6 monthsBorn in 1941 Full retirement can be drawn at age 65 years and 8 monthsBorn in 1942 Full retirement can be drawn at age 65 years and 10 monthsBorn in 1943-1954 Full retirement can be drawn at age 66Born in 1955 - Full retirement can be drawn at age 66 and 2 monthsBorn in 1956 Full retirement can be drawn at age 66 and 4 monthsBorn in 1957 Full retirement can be drawn at age 66 and 6 monthsBorn in 1958 Full retirement can be drawn at age 66 and 8 monthsBorn in 1959 Full retirement can be drawn at age 66 and 10 monthsBorn in 1960 or later Full retirement can be drawn at age 67 Remember that while you can begin drawing Social Security retirement benefits at age 62, your benefits will be 25 percent less than what they will be if you wait until your full retirement age as shown above. Also keep in mind that no matter when you start drawing Social Security benefits, you must be 65 to be eligible for Medicare. For example, people who retired at their full retirement age of 67 in 2017 could get a maximum monthly benefit of $2,687, depending on their work and income history. However, the maximum benefit for persons retiring at age 62 in 2017 was only $2,153.   Delayed Retirement: On the other hand, if you wait to retire beyond your full retirement age, your Social Security benefit will automatically increase by a percentage based on your year of birth. For example, if you were born in 1943 or later, Social Security will add 8 percent per year to your benefit for each year that you delay signing up for Social Security beyond your full retirement age. For example, people who waited until age 70 to retire in 2017 could get a maximum benefit of $3,538. Despite getting smaller monthly benefit payments, people who start claiming Social Security retirement benefits at age 62 often have good reasons for doing. Be sure to consider the pros and cons of applying for Social Security benefits at age 62 before doing so. If You Work While Getting Social Security Yes, you can work full or part-time while also getting Social Security retirement benefits. However, if you have not yet reached your full retirement age, and if your net income from working is higher than the annual earnings limit, your annual benefits will be reduced. Beginning in the month you reach full retirement age, Social Security will stop reducing your benefits no matter how much you earn. During any full calendar year in which you are under full retirement age, Social Security deducts $1 from your benefit payments for every $2 you earn above the annual net income limit. The income limit changes every year. In 2017, the income limit was $16,920.   If Health Problems Force You to Retire Early Sometimes health problems force people to retire early. If you cannot work because of health problems, you should consider applying for Social Security disability benefits. The amount of the disability benefit is the same as a full, unreduced retirement benefit. If you are receiving Social Security disability benefits when you reach full retirement age, those benefits will be converted to retirement benefits. Documents You Will Need Whether you apply online or in person, you will need the following information when you apply for your Social Security benefits: Your Social Security numberYour birth certificate, or proof of U.S. citizenshipYour W-2 forms or self-employment tax return (or both) for the last year you workedYour military discharge papers if you served in any branch of the military If you choose to have your benefits paid through direct deposit, you will also need your banks name, your account number and your banks routing number as shown on the bottom of your checks.​ Working While Collecting Social Security Retirement Many people choose or need, to keep working after claiming Social Security retirement benefits. However, if you continue work after claiming early retirement benefits your Social Security benefits may be reduced until you reach your full retirement age. If you retire at age 62, Social Security will deduct money from your retirement check if you exceed a certain amount of earned income for the calendar year. For example, the income limit in 2018 was $17,040 or $1,420 per month. The income limit increases annually. Until you reach your full retirement age, Security will reduce your benefit by $1 for every $2 you earn over the income limit. Once you reach your full retirement age, you will receive your full Social Security retirement benefit with no limitation on how much income you earn from working. The worse news is that Social Security does not apply the early retirement work penalty by simply deducting a small amount from each monthly benefit check. Instead, the agency may withhold several months’ entire checks until the total reduction is paid off. This means your annual budget will have to account for a certain number of months without a benefit check. Complete details on this decidedly complicated process can be found in Social Security’s pamphlet on â€Å"How Work Affects Your Benefits.† You can also use Social Security’s earnings test calculator to see how much your reduction will be and when your checks will be withheld. Also note that if lose your job, you may still qualify for unemployment benefits even though you are also collecting Social Security retirement benefits.

Research Proposal with annotated bibliography Paper

Proposal with annotated bibliography - Research Paper Example (17)† With the statement expressed, another question comes into mind. Does the society helps individuals find their worth and happiness? Or does the society destroy the individuals because of a number of reasons? Luck is often associated to things or events that bring out happiness or success to an individual. If success is based purely on luck, there is no place in a lifetime for intelligence, skills and capabilities. There is no such thing as luck or its presumed opposite, bad luck. Every person has his own will to decide and act on where he would want to go and explore. In de Botton’s Status Anxiety, the author expressed that: Our status also depends on a range of favorable conditions that could be loosely defined by the word luck. It may be merely good luck that places us in the right occupation, with the right skills, at the right time, and little more than bad luck that denies us the selfsame advantages. (88-9)† When an individual says success often this is being misinterpreted as happiness. Others may refer to happiness as possessing things like realties, automobiles and gadgets. However, this is not real happiness. These are worldly happiness which a person can lose at any given time. Happiness is also at times being perceived as contentment. When a person is not contented with the way his life is going, the person concludes or states that he is not happy with the way life is happiness. However, happiness is not truly attached to any possession or material things which are gained via financial or social status. It is not the money, the social status, or political power that can bring the person his true happiness. The man who is only interested in himself is not admirable, and is not felt to be so. Consequently the man whose sole concern with the world is that it shall admire him is not likely to achieve his object. But even if he does, he will not be completely happy, since human instinct is never completely self-centered,

Profile without interviewing the person Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Profile without interviewing the person - Essay Example His television career also did not remain devoid of exceptional success owing to the fact that the globally acclaimed television project he starred in ran successfully for about six years. Later, Smith experimented with movies as well and conquered that show business area also as was expected from him considering the sheer devotion and dedication which he is naturally bound to show no matter whatsoever he pursues in life. Smith’s movie career was all set considering myriad mega blockbuster hits he starred in and he is also engrossed in acting in movies currently. He married twice and shares his second marriage with fellow celebrity Jada Smith. Smith’s â€Å"20-year career that just keeps getting hotter, all combined to put the actor in that celebrity sweet spot that all stars crave, but few ever attain† (Fox News) and owing to such unique career, he got able to crown himself with the title of â€Å"The Most Famous, Famous Guy of 2008† (Fox

Is marihuana beneficial or destructive to society Essay

Is marihuana beneficial or destructive to society - Essay Example The rate of substance abuse among youths was higher compared to the number of adults aged 26 years old and older who have5% rate of marijuana usage. What could have possibly provoked them to use marihuana? We know that children decide to try marihuana because of pressure from other individuals, problems related to school and family, depression, and self-esteem. According to Dr. Bruce Beckum, child psychologist and noted authority on young adult drug use, â€Å"Seventy percent of young people who use drugs report difficulties at home and at school†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The alarming rates of increase marihuana among youths might be attributed to these intrapersonal and interpersonal factors and partnerships among government, parents, and youths themselves must be worked on in order to address these issues and completely eliminate marihuana use among youths. Marihuana puts children in danger. It is not the only drug that is most commonly used, but is also known to cause many other problems. An article from the Journal of the American Medical Association states that teens who use marijuana are 77 % more likely to try harder drugs (Smith, 64). How can people say that our society would benefit from the legalization of marihuana when this is only hurting and influencing children in a negative way? Are we only thinking in adults when we speak about marihuana? Probably, adults had thought of legalizing marihuana because of the medical benefits that can be derived from using it such as alleviation of undesirable effects of certain medications, treatments, and diseases. If just in case marihuana would have been legalized, patients will no longer experience extreme discomforts. However, legalizing marihuana would cause a lot of consequences even if it is for medical benefits. Well, let me tell you something that is not the case. Usually, the mos t affected by our