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Friday, January 31, 2020
The Use of Polygraph Tests by Law Enforcement Essay Example for Free
The Use of Polygraph Tests by Law Enforcement Essay Research Question:            How Reliable are Lie Detectors? Thesis Statement:            Lie detectors are not completely reliable. 1st Source: White Jr., R. D. (2001). Ask me no questions, tell me no lies: examining the uses and misuses of the polygraph. Public Personnel Management, 30(4), 483+. This article discusses the different ways by which the polygraph is used and misused, and recommends certain guidelines for the proper use of polygraphs. It presents both sides of what appears to be a long standing debate on the reliability of lie-detector tests, integrating significant legal developments in the discussion.  This is a good article because it outlines the history of polygraph development and use, and contrasts the pros and the cons of using polygraphs in the public sector and in law enforcement. The article, however, may be considered a bit flawed in the sense that it seems to imply that there is nothing wrong with using polygraphs.  In this connection, it must be pointed out that the author only prescribes the use of the polygraph in narrowly-tailored, tightly circumscribed instances, which, upon a deeper analysis, means that the author is against the wholesale, indiscriminate use of polygraphs. In other words, the author seems to imply that as a general proposition, the use of polygraphs or the results taken therefrom are not completely reliable, and may only be considered as such in certain instances. Another strength of the article is that it discusses not only the technical aspects of polygraph use, i.e., its validity and reliability, but also its legal and ethical or moral implications. The article is relevant to the above topic because it discusses the use of polygraphs not only against criminals, but as against the individuals that compose the public sector. It lays down the premise that despite the controversy regarding the use of polygraphs in the past, at present, its use has become more widespread and is applied not only to criminals or suspected criminals, but also to government employees and in government agencies, who are on the right side of the law. With respect to the article’s relevance to the question on the reliability of lie detectors and the statement that lie detectors are not completely reliable, as mentioned, the article presents both sides of the argument, and the conclusion implies that, in fact, lie detectors are not completely reliable because if they were, they could be used at any given instance, at any given time, without having to prescribe specific parameters for its use. The main argument for the continued use of polygraphs is that in numerous cases, the physiological responses elicited by questioning indicate the guilt or innocence of a person, because of the way people are supposed to react when they are lying or telling the truth. The easiest criticism against the reliability of characterizing outcomes such as increase in pulse is that each person reacts differently to a particular situation. Hence, the person may be telling the truth, but he may feel nervous at being questioned and being strapped to a machine, so his pulse may be uneven. Studies conducted, particularly by the Office of Technology Assessment or OTA, show that there is a large variance in the cases where the individual who was tested via polygraph was held to have been telling the truth when he was actually lying, or when he was found to be lying when he was actually telling the truth. Also assailed is the lack of training of the people who operate polygraphs, and the lack of operational guidelines in the actual use of the machines, as well as the use of what are called countermeasures that enable certain individuals to â€Å"beat†the polygraph. In conclusion, the author concedes that reliable or not, polygraphs will still be used, and thus proposes several tests or criteria by which to determine whether or not a polygraph should be used, such as the existence of a compelling public interest, the presence of independently corroborating evidence, and the imposition of stricter controls with respect to actual testing. The use of such criteria could mitigate the inherent unreliability of polygraph testing. 2nd Source:            Dripps, D. A. (1996). Police, plus perjury, equals polygraphy. Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, 86(3), 693 to 716.            The article presents the author’s theory that making polygraph examination results admissible in evidence as a general proposition will ward off the evil of perjury committed by law enforcement agents. The arguments presented by the proponent are very structured and organized. The author paints a very convincing picture of the disadvantages and prejudice brought about by the current general rule on the inadmissibility of polygraph test results vis-à -vis police testimony with respect to suppression hearings. The only weakness of the article is that it concedes, even if merely for the sake of argument, that polygraph testing results are generally unreliable, but they should be used anyway to at least ensure that policemen do not commit perjury on the stand when they testify as to the factual milieu of the case and the seizure of evidence. It is a good article to contrast with the first because the arguments are similar but the conclusions and implications are different, and the details should be examined more closely to determine why, despite the similarities, there still exists a discrepancy or difference in opinion.            The article is relevant to the above-mentioned topic, because it relates to the use of polygraph tests by and against law enforcement officers. Like the first article, it presents the use of polygraphs not only as against suspected criminals, but even against those on the other side of the law. It is relevant to the question on the reliability of polygraph testing and on the thesis that polygraph tests are not completely reliable because it argues against the thesis by citing the rules on evidence.            In the case of Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, the Supreme Court held that the use of expert testimony based on valid science is admissible in evidence. Despite the controversy as to its reliability, several scientific agencies have attested to the valuable use of polygraphs and have provided for acceptable margins of error; after all, nothing is perfect, and to expect that polygraph results are a hundred percent reliable would be an exercise in futility. With the allowable margin of error, polygraph results are made more reliable.            The article points out the background behind the OTA study; it was undertaken at the behest of the legislature on a move to be more stringent in regulating the use of polygraphs. Many government institutions and agencies rely on polygraphs to help them ferret out the truth, such as the CIA, the FBI, and the Department of Defense. The article stresses that in general, polygraph test results can be relied upon, because it involves a science that has been empirically and objectively tested, and when the testing is done properly, the margin for error is acceptably low. In the specific context of suppression hearings, the admissibility of polygraph results as explained through expert testimony would better protect the rights of the accused, as many policemen are unfortunately wont to lie even under oath to ensure that crucial evidence does not get thrown out and the case against the accused does not fall apart. At the very least, the admission of polygraph results would make law enforcement officers, and criminals, think twice about lying on or off the stand, and would contribute in some way to the proper administration of justice.
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
Alzheimers Disease: What are we Forgetting? Essay -- Alzheimers Dise
Alzheimer's Disease: What are we Forgetting? Alzheimer's disease (pronounced Alz'-hi-merz) is a progressive, degenerative disease that affects the brain and results in impaired memory, thinking and behavior. It was first described by Dr. Alois Alzheimer in 1906 and has been diagnosed in millions of people to this day (1). This disease results, ultimately, in the destruction of the brain and brings new meaning and insights into just how much brain may equal behavior. Alzheimers is a degenerative disease that usually begins gradually, causing a person to have memory lapses in both basic knowledge and simple tasks (7). Alzheimers disease causes the formation of abnormal structures in the brain called plaques and tangles (particularly causatory are NFTs- neurofibrillary tangles) (5). As they accumulate in affected individuals, nerve cell connections are reduced. Some initial symptoms are loss of job skills, difficulty with familiar tasks, language problems, unawareness of time and place, lack of good judgment, problems with abstract thinking, misplacing things, and dramatic changes in personality (1). The speed with which the disease progresses can vary, but ultimately, as it destroys brain cells, causes confusion, personality and behavior changes and impaired judgment so severe that the patient may not seem to be the same person. Communication becomes difficult for the patient as they struggle to find words, finish thoughts or follow directions. So me experts classify the disease by stage (early, middle and late). But specific behaviors and how long they last vary greatly, even within each stage of the disease. Eventually, most people with Alzheimers become unable to care for themselves (1). The symptomology here is very dif... ...hem. The person is no longer "there", yet their body can be seen plainly. So who are we? Flesh? Brain? Something else that our brain and flesh create together? Probably. Those afflicted with Alzheimer's experience the ultimate brain shutdown. Their brains are destroyed by a currently unstoppable disease; connections are lost. And in the process of losing their minds, they lose themselves. WWW Sources 1)Alzheimer's Association http://www.alz.org/ 2)Alzheimers.com http://www.alzheimers.com/ 3)Alzheimer's Disease Review http://www.coa.uky.edu/ADReview/ 4)Alzheimer Research Forum http://ww.alzforum.org/ 5)Alzheimer starting point? http://www.uni-hohenheim.de/~rebhan/entorhinal.html 6)Alzheimer Web http://dsmallpc2.path.unimelb.edu.au/ad.html 7)The Health Connection http://thehealthconnection.com/Disease%20Center/diseases/alzheim.asp
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Identify three key characteristics of the marketing concpet Essay
The first characteristic is to target a certain part of the market in order to satisfy the majority of customers, by doing this Britvic had to figure out not only who had a need for their product, but also who was most likely to buy it, by finding out this type of information they would have to consider following factors such as, age, gender and other factors in order to determine how their products would fit into the customers lifestyle. The second characteristic would be identifying their customer’s needs and finding out what a customer would actually be looking for in Britvic’s products, by doing this Britvic would have to use customer focus groups, surveys/questionnaires and gather this information based on a common customers expectations of their products. Last but not least, according to marketing concept customers should be at the centre of all the organisations activities. Therefore all departments of Britvic are responsible for customer satisfaction and only in that way their goals can be achieved. Explain Britvic’s micro and macro environment Marco forces of marketing environment can affect all organisations operating in market. External marketing environment consists of six categories of forces: political, economical, social, technological, environmental and legal (Dibb, 2012:76). Those forces are uncontrollable and often called PEST or PESTEL. Generally, businesses can prepare for the unexpected by using PESTEL analysis. For example a new legislation of television advertising of food and drink to children has led to the use of non – television campaigns i.e. sponsorship and celebrity endorsement like Wimbledon or British pantomimes play an important role in Britvic’s marketing strategy. Micro environment factors are factors close to a business that have a direct impact on.
Monday, January 6, 2020
Frankenstein - Fear of the Power of Science - 787 Words
‘Some readers have seen the novel as an illustration of the fear of the power of science’ To what extent do you agree with this view of the novel? I agree to a certain extent with this view, because Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein during the scientific revolution and therefore was influenced by many ideas and experiences of what science can do to you and how it can represent fear and bring about a change. Victor Frankenstein grabs hold of science and tests it boundaries as much as he can. Yet there is an element that represents his inability to do this. He comes across as if he has no true idea of consequences or outcomes for what he is doing, bringing a true element of fear forward for the reader to deal with. He is our unreliable†¦show more content†¦One true Gothic element that is portrayed in this novel is the idea of the doppelganger, and although Victor Frankenstein and the Creature look nothing alike, the Creature truly is the evil side of Frankenstein. He brings out Victor’s irresponsibility and ugliness, just like Mr Hyde brings out Dr Jekyll ugly side. The creature takes away Frankenstein’s Supe r Ego and leaves him with his Id. Therefore it may be true that Frankenstein has a focus on the fear of the power of science but I do not believe it is a true illustration of only this. So many Gothic elements come into play that sometimes this idea of the power of science can beShow MoreRelatedSome Readers Have Seen Frankenstein as an Illustration of the Fear of the Power of Science. to What Extent Do You Agree with This View Based on Your Reading so Far?1734 Words  | 7 Pagesand ethical thought challenged science and its moral reasoning. Frankenstein could be seen as an illustration of the fear of the power of science due to these social changes; however there is evidence within the text to support other aspects such as society and religion being the focal point of fear. On a basic level, it could be argued that Victor’s search for knowledge ultimately leads him to his transgressions and eventual demise; through the medium of science he is able to create a creatureRead MoreEssay on Science, Technology, and Morality in Shelleys Frankenstein1098 Words  | 5 Pages Frankenstein and Sciencenbsp;nbsp; Science is the knowledge gained by a systematic study, knowledge which then becomes facts or principles. In the systematic study; the first step is observation, the second step hypothesis, the third step experimentation to test the hypothesis, and lastly the conclusion whether or not the hypothesis holds true. These steps have been ingrained into every student of science, as the basic pathway to scientific discovery. This pathway holds not decision as toRead MoreHumanity s Fault And Strength, Ambition For The Unknown1322 Words  | 6 PagesThe answer lies in the ambition to do what no one has accomplished, either in spite of upbringing, the will to pronounce uniqueness, or to accomplish something of importance in the hopes it provides advancement for humanity. For example, the book Frankenstein expels all the wrongs that can appear from tinkering with the idea of reanimation of what once died, but now walks among us once again. Reminding us of what could happen when the question o f could it be done becomes more important instead of shouldRead MoreFrankenstein : The Way Frankenstein, And His Creation1275 Words  | 6 Pagesprevalent in Shelly’s novel is the way Frankenstein, and his creation, are controlled by their emotions. Frankenstein is continually ruled by his feelings of fear, guilt, and love throughout the novel. 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What Victor Frankenstein, and Mary Shelley, created for the world was a story of how far a man dared go with the forbidden flame – greater natural knowledge – that was spreadingRead More The Dangers of Science in Mary Shelleys Frankenstein Essay example1019 Words  | 5 PagesThe Dangers of Science in Mary Shelleys Frankenstein Mary Shelleys novel Frankenstein cannot merely be read as a literary work of the early 19th century. It represents the workings of young Shelleys mind. Further, it represents the vast scientific discoveries of the time, combined with Mary Shelleys intuitive perception of science. She views science as a powerful entity, but also recognizes the dangers if uncontrolled. Shelley demonstrates this fear in the book as science drives Victor FrankensteinRead MoreFrankenstein: The Danger in Knowledge, Science and Playing God 1846 Words  | 7 Pagesrepresentation of the dangers of playing with science? Is he representative of the dangers of pursuing knowledge? 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However Blade Runner, although subjected by a different context, also portrays a similar idea to Frankenstein; the fear of science and technology coupledRead MoreThemes Of Love And Hate1443 Words  | 6 PagesLove and hate are both an occurring theme in both Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare and Frankenstein by Mary Shelly. In this essay I will be comparing the similarities and differences of the way that the two texts por tray the feeling of love and hate. The essay will be divided into different topics that I will be comparing, these following topics will be: death, passion, betrayal and one more. Romeo and Juliet was a play that was written by the famous English poet, playwright William Shakespeare whoseRead MoreThe Maternal And Fear Of The Womb960 Words  | 4 Pages In Frankenstein, the need to abnegate the maternal and fear of the womb seems to be an inherent, even subconscious, impetus behind the scientist’s choices. Matrophobia is evident throughout the Gothic where the maternal protector is usually absent; either deceased like Madame St. Aubert in The Mysteries of Udolpho or imprisoned like Louisa Bernini in A Sicilian Romance. The mothers that continue to be present in the narrative are usually oppressed, such as Hippolita in The Castle of Otranto, or
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