Effects of and Solutions for Human Overpopulation

Effects of and Solutions for Human Overpopulation Human overpopulation is an animal rights issue as well as an environmental issue and a human rights issue. Human activities, including mining, transportation, pollution, agriculture, development, and logging, take habitat away from wild animals as well as kill animals directly. These activities also contribute to climate change, which threatens even the most remote wild habitats on this planet and our own survival. According to a survey of the faculty at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in April of 2009, overpopulation is the worlds worst environmental problem. Dr. Charles A. Hall went so far as to say, â€Å"Overpopulation is the only problem.† Definition Overpopulation occurs when a population has exceeded its carrying capacity. Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals of a species that can exist in a habitat indefinitely without threatening other species in that habitat. It would be difficult to argue that humans are not threatening other species. Current Estimates and Projections According to the U.S. Census, there were six billion people in the world in 1999. On October 31, 2011, we hit seven billion. Although growth is slowing, our population continues to grow and will reach nine billion by 2048. Paul Ehrlich and Anne Ehrlich, authors of â€Å"The Population Explosion,† explain: The entire planet and virtually every nation is already vastly overpopulated. Africa is overpopulated now because, among other indications, its soils and forests are rapidly being depleted- and that implies that its carrying capacity for human beings will be lower in the future than it is now. The United States is overpopulated because it is depleting its soil and water resources and contributing mightily to the destruction of global environmental systems. Europe, Japan, the Soviet Union, and other rich nations are overpopulated because of their massive contributions to the carbon dioxide buildup in the atmosphere, among many other reasons. More than 80% of the world’s old growth forests have been destroyed, wetlands are being drained for real estate development, and demands for biofuels take much-needed arable land away from crop production. Life on earth is currently experiencing its sixth major extinction, and we are losing an estimated 30,000 species per year. The most famous major extinction was the fifth one, which occurred about 65 million years ago and wiped out the dinosaurs. The major extinction that we are now facing is the first that is caused not by an asteroid collision or other natural causes, but by a single species- humans. Effects of Conservation Consuming less may be a way for us to live within the carrying capacity of the planet, but as Paul Ehrlich and Anne Ehrlich explain, â€Å"Overpopulation is defined by the animals that occupy the turf, behaving as they naturally behave, not by a hypothetical group that might be substituted for them.† We should not use the hope or the plan to reduce our consumption as an argument that humans are not overpopulated. While reducing our consumption is important, worldwide, per capita energy consumption increased from 1990 to 2005, so the trend does not look good. Lesson from Easter Island The effects of human overpopulation have been documented in the history of Easter Island, where a human population with finite resources was nearly wiped out when their consumption increased beyond what the island could sustain. An island once lush with diverse plant and animal species and fertile volcanic soil became nearly uninhabitable 1,300 years later. The population peak on the island has been estimated between 7,000 and 20,000 people. Trees were cut down for firewood, canoes, and wooden sleds for transporting the carved stone heads for which the island is known. Because of deforestation, the islanders lacked the resources necessary to make ropes and seaworthy canoes. Fishing from shore was not as effective as fishing out on the ocean. Also, without canoes, the Islanders had nowhere to go. They wiped out sea birds, land birds, lizards, and snails. Deforestation also led to erosion, which made it difficult to grow crops. Without adequate food, the population crashed. A rich and complex society that erected now-iconic stone monuments was reduced to living in caves and resorted to cannibalism. How did they let this happen? Author Jared Diamond speculates The forest the islanders depended on for rollers and rope didnt simply disappear one day-it vanished slowly, over decades... In the meantime, any islander who tried to warn about the dangers of progressive deforestation would have been overridden by vested interests of carvers, bureaucrats, and chiefs, whose jobs depended on continued deforestation. Our Pacific Northwest loggers are only the latest in a long line of loggers to cry, Jobs over trees! Potential Solutions The situation is urgent. Lester Brown, President of Worldwatch,  stated in 1998, The question is not whether population growth will slow in the developing countries, but whether it will slow because societies quickly shift to smaller families or because ecological collapse and social disintegration caused death rates to rise. The most important thing we as individuals can do is choose to have fewer children. While cutting back on your personal consumption of resources is laudable and may reduce your environmental footprint by 5%, 25%, or maybe even 50%, having a child will double your footprint, and having two children will triple your footprint. It is virtually impossible to compensate for reproducing by consuming less yourself. Although most of the population growth over the next few decades  will take place in Asia and Africa, global overpopulation is as much a problem for â€Å"developed† countries as it is for third world countries. Americans constitute only five percent of the world’s population, but consume 26% of the world’s energy. Because we consume so much more than most people around the world, we can have the most impact when we choose to have fewer children or no children. Internationally, the United Nations Population Fund works for gender equality, access to birth control, and the education of women. According to the  UNFPA, â€Å"Some 200 million women who would like to use contraceptives lack access to them.† Women should be educated not only about family  planning but also generally. World Watch has found, â€Å"In every society where data are available, the more education women have the fewer children they bear.† Similarly, the Center for Biological  Diversity  campaigns for the empowerment of women, education of all people, universal access to birth control and a societal commitment to ensuring that all species are given a chance to live and thrive. Additionally, raising public awareness is essential. While many environmental organizations focus on small steps with which few can disagree, the topic of human overpopulation is much more controversial. Some claim that there is no problem, while others might see it as solely a third world problem. As with any other animal rights issue, raising public awareness will empower individuals to make informed choices. Potential Human Rights Violations The solution to human overpopulation cannot include human rights violations.  China’s  one-child  policy, though arguably successful in curbing population growth, has led to  human rights violations  ranging from forced sterilizations to forced abortions and infanticide. Some population control proponents advocate offering financial incentives for people not to reproduce, but this incentive would target the poorest segment of society, resulting in racially and economically disproportionate population control. These unjust results cannot be part of a viable solution to human overpopulation.

Critique a professional journal article Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Critique a professional journal article - Essay Example It is even essential for educational institutes who are dealing with students suffering from the disorder of autism. It is even useful for parents who want to ensure that their children are free from this widely spread disorder (Konkel, 2014). The article cites a study which proves a correlation between autism experienced by children who live near the fields that are being treated by pesticides. There have been no previous studies that focus on these two variables together (Konkel, 2014). This article can be a starting point for researchers to identify whether there is a causal relationship between children experiencing autism and living near field that are being treated with pesticides. The article can even be quite useful for parents who live near such fields. If mothers who live near such fields read this article, they may chose to relocate in order to ensure that their children do not end up suffering from this disorder. The article can be an eye opener for the government to take notice and implement necessary actions to decrease the number of children suffering from this disorder. Every day various teachers come across students who are suffering from the disorder of autism. These children need special consideration from their teachers. Teachers need to actively take part in ensuring that these children are safe from risk factors that can further make the conditions worse for such children. As a special education teacher a teacher needs to ensure that the children who have already developed the disorder remain away from the environment that poses a threat to children suffering from this disorder. Teachers can even educate parents of such children regarding steps they can take to ensure the wellbeing of their child. Teachers can inform the parents about the threat and can advise relocation. They can even inform pregnant women to relocate for the health of their unborn child. Since this is a very first study conducted on the variables, it is quite

An Organizational Failure Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

An Organizational Failure - Case Study Example The development and triumph of Circuit City was discriminated by the downfall of Silo Stores in the period of 1980s and 1990s. But the organization had failed to adjust with the changing environment (Hamilton, â€Å"Why Circuit City Busted, While Best Buy Boomed†). Role of Organizational Culture for Failure of Circuit City In the year of 2005, Circuit City had experienced profit of almost 61 million USD where in the first quarter of 2011, the organization had reported a loss of 239.17 million USD. One of the main reasons for the failure of Circuit City can be identified as its mismanagement of the organizational culture. The company did not respond quite swiftly to the external business challenges which hampered its competency. Organizations which are able to minimize the financial and commercial challenges through effective organizational management strategies can survive and ultimately prosper in the competitive market. The managers of Circuit City had desolated the opportun ity of development by their weak administration of company’s assets. ... â€Å"The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization†). In Circuit City the managers and administrators were particularly concerned with their position in the organization lacking in the sense of accountability and belongingness towards the organization. Notably, the CEO of Circuit City had accused the weak microeconomic circumstances for the collapse of the company. However, the market of electronic goods was observed to be strong even in the worst economic conditions (Spolsky, â€Å"Why Circuit City Failed, and Why B&H Thrives†). It was further observed that the executives had no sense of obligation for the consequences of their actions. They had dismissed the honest and talented employees who had but weak performances. In the year 2007, Circuit City had suspended its highly paid employees which comprised of experienced sales persons. The company replaced those employees with some low-priced staffs. It might have been more effective to shift t hem from one job position to other sectors with the intention to gain the virtues of their individual productivity. On the other hand, the CEO of Circuit City gained 7 million USD as reimbursement in that year which could support the financial propensity of the organization. Thus, terminating the valuable and productive employees would have been avoided (Hamilton, â€Å"Why Circuit City Busted, While Best Buy Boomed†). Another major reason for the organizational failure of Circuit City was the deficiency to present an accurate financial statement that would be effective in revealing the financial stance of the company. However, the financial statement of the company possessed miscalculation of stockholders’

Philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 14

Philosophy - Essay Example apitalism in essence can be neither egalitarian nor authoritative, while Rawls felt that capitalism could afford basic rights and liberties to all while still allowing people to pursue their own desires. As these are contradictory viewpoint, they both cannot be correct. It is my position that Rawls’ theory is idealistic and doesn’t have much in common with the society in which we actually live, and that Kristol’s theory stands as the stronger of the two. Rawls’ basic conception of social justice is dependent upon two claims: 1) that people should have the most amount of personal liberty possible that is compatible with others’ and 2) that it is possible to arrange inequalities in regards to social and economic status so that can be to the advantages of all. Rawls’ position is an extrapolation of the idea of the social contract; the social contract is the idea that people enter into an agreement with each other and form a system by which they all agree to be governed. How Rawls’ idea differs is that he views justice as the that which is the product of the agreement, as opposed to a particular form of government. To differentiate his conception with previous ideas, he refers to his idea as ‘justice as fairness.’ Rawls feels that his two basic principles would be agreed upon by rational people. He feels that people, in order for his conception of social justice to work, must not be aware of their own individual assets, as far as natural abilities, dispositions, place in society, etc. This is where his idea of the ‘veil of ignorance’ comes in; the veil of ignorance makes everybody fair and equal, as there would be no way for a person to create an advantage over another through their own personal abilities. This would be most desirable because it would be the most fair, and any rational person would agree to enter into this sort of arrangement. In theory, this plan might sound ideal, but the problem is that there is no real life way to

Eating Disorders Essay Example for Free

Eating Disorders Essay Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the three main types of eating disorders. Central Idea: To inform my audience about anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating. Introduction: Two years ago, I was hit with the news that my mentor was leaving to go to Remuda Ranch, which I learned was a rehabilitation center for women struggling with eating or anxiety disorders. This was extremely hard for me to hear because she is like my big sister and I care a lot about her and hated that she had to go through something like this. After she left, I did a lot of research on eating disorders. I did this just so I would have a better understanding on what she was going through, and also to find out how I could help her, things I could say or do. So today I am going to share with you about three different types of eating disorders. Body: (Transition: First, I am going to talk about Anorexia Nervosa.) I. According to the National Eating Disorder Association, they define anorexia by self-starvation and excessive weight loss. A. Anorexia is a mental health condition and is rated one of the highest death rates. 1. Anorexia is one of the more frequent psychiatric diagnoses in young women. 2. Around 90-95% of individuals who suffer from anorexia are female. 3. Anywhere from 5-20% of people who suffer from anorexia will die. B. Although those who fight anorexia have a list of different symptoms, there are four key ones to look for. 1. They refuse to maintain body weight at a minimal normal weight that is healthy for their body shape, age, and height. 2. The second one is that they have a deep fear of weight gain. 3. Also, they have a severe concern with their body weight and shape. 4. Finally, in women, a loss of menstrual periods will occur. (Transition:  Next, I am going to talk about Bulimia.) II. Based off of the website, nationaleatingdisorder.com, Bulimia is a disorder where a person indulges in habitual binges and then tries to avert any sort of weight gain by vomiting, taking pills, fasting, laxatives, or excessive exercising. A. Bulimia is extremely dangerous because it is one of the harder eating disorders to detect in individuals. 1. More commonly, it is preceded by dieting behavior. 2. Those who are bulimic are usually at an average or normal weight. B. Sufferers of bulimia compare their self-worth too heavily on their size and weight. 1. This mindset usually leads to constant feelings of isolation, harmful thoughts, and extreme low self-esteem. 2. Another thing is that more often than not, they recognize that their behaviors and actions are not normal, which sets in an extra feeling of guilt and loneliness. C. Again, there are a ton of symptoms that follow up with having bulimia, but there are four main ones that usually reside in most bulimics. 1. Bulimics repeatedly go through the cycle of bingeing and purging. 2. When they binge, they eat way beyond the feeling of being comfortably full. 3. Most times, bingeing will cause them to feel guilty which points them in the direction of dieting. 4. Last thing is again, they have extreme concern with their body and weight, in other words really low self-esteem and insecurity issues. (Transition: Finally, I am going to end with Binge eating.) III. Binge eating, also known as compulsive eating, a lot of the time gets confused with Bulimia. Although they are a lot alike, they have one major difference that sets them apart. People who endure binge eating do not purge. A. Binge eating is defined by uncontrollable, excessive eating. 1. Binge eaters often use food to replace a void, in other words, they use it as a way to block out feelings, emotions, and daily stresses. 2. After a binge, the person feels a enormous amount of guilt and shame. 3. Following the feelings of guilt and shame often leads to fasts and dieting. B. A binge eating disorder isn’t caused by just one factor, but many. A couple examples of these factors could be a person’s genetics, life experiences, and emotions. 1. Recent research has shown that binge eating, along with other eating disorders, is dealing with  biological abnormalities. The website www.mirror-mirro.com, says that one cause of binge eating is related to the hypothalamus, which is a part of the brain that controls the appetite. It is said that the hypothalamus sends false signals to the brain in regards to hunger. 2. A lot of the time, emotional feelings of depression, is connected to binge eating. Statistics show that half of those struggling with binge eating are depressed or have been, usually dealing with a monumental moment which changed their life. 3. Life changing experiences, like being sexually or emotionally abused, are a huge factor in anyone’s life who suffers from any kind of an eating disorder. Family plays a huge role, whether being extremely critical, especially regarding the body, can lead to being a victim of an eating disorder later in life. IV. Conclusion Whether it be anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating, eight million people in the United States alone, battle with an eating disorder. This number is disturbingly high and continues to increase each year. Although all different: anorexics fight starvation, bulimics wrestle with bingeing and purging, and binge eaters battle with bingeing and fasting. It is important to realize that eating disorders aren’t all about poor self-images and low self esteem, but dealing with many other factors like genetic make-up and the need for control. Works Cited Eating Disorder Information; Bulimia, Anorexia, Binge/Purge Compulsive Overeating. Web. 01 Oct. 2010. http://www.myeatingdisorder.com/myeatingdisorder/index.asp. National Eating Disorders Association. Web. 01 Oct. 2010. http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/. National Eating Disorders Association. Web. 01 Oct. 2010. http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/information-resources/general-information.php#causes-eating-disorders.

Sacrifice of Values to Please Authority in Shakespeares Hamlet Essay

Sacrifice of Values to Please Authority in Shakespeare's Hamlet It seems that it is human nature to want to please others, but compromising ones values in order to do so can result in people getting hurt emotionally or physically. In William Shakespeare's Hamlet, the desire to please those in authority overweighs the judgment of many characters. These characters are more interested in pleasing those in power than doing what is in their best interest. This is seen in Polonious' eager attempt to use Ophelia, in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern's being coerced into spying on a good friend, and finally in Laertes' all too easy manipulation by Claudius to take revenge on his fathers' death. In all these instances, the characters put their better judgment aside in order to do something to please a monarch. The bond between father and daughter is something that some consider sacred. Polonious uses this bond with Ophelia to please Claudius and Gertrude in finding our what is wrong with Hamlet. The King and Queen were very upset at Hamlet's seeming insanity. They tell Rosencrantz and Guildenstern that finding out what is wrong with Hamlet would be "the supply and profit of [their] hope (P.34)." They are obviously disenchanted at his behavior, and Polonious knows this, and tries to use his daughter to prove his theory. When Ophelia came and described to him her meeting with Hamlet in Act I, Polonious immediately took her to the King. Polonious, acting on his duty to "both [his] God and to [his] gracious king (P. 34)" took Ophelia to Claudius to see if he could be any help in trying to find out what is wrong with Hamlet. He quickly tells the king that he will ".loose [his] daughter to [Hamlet] (p. 38)" and concocts an elaborate plan t... ...how others perceived them, especially those in power, than doing what was really in the best interest for everyone. These characters were manipulated by brutal puppet-masters that toyed with their strings to get the response that they wanted, knowing full well that all would agree to anything in order to please them. This urge to do what was wanted by those in ascendancy was so great a weight, that values were pushed aside for a chance to glimmer in the light of attention from important figures in society. Works Cited and Consulted Long, Michael. A Study of Values in Shakespearean Tragedy. London: Methuen and Company, 1976. Mirrior, Ivor. "Hamlet." The Role of Authority in the Tragedies. London: George Allen and Unwin, 1972. 369-430. Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Ed. Susanne L. Wofford. Case Studies in Contemporary Criticism. Boston: St. Martin's, 1994.

Evaluating Published Research Problems

Individual Assignment: Evaluating Published Research Problems Locate two research studies in your discipline or your field of study—one study must use a qualitative method and one study must use a quantitative method. Each study must have been published in a peer-reviewed journal. Perform the following with each study: Review of Contemporary Curriculum Research Qualitative Research Study Identify the research problem.Smith’s (2007) research study on â€Å"Support Services for Students with Asperger’s Syndrome in Higher Education† problem focus is on type of services or accommodations that are being provided for students who have been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) and if these services are addressing the needs of the students. The study was conducted to inform Disability Support offices of what services are necessary for the population of AS higher education students to support them in their educational journey in higher education.Summarize the basis for the problem. Smith (2007) states that there has been an increase in diagnosis of AS. The Americans with (Powell, Higgins, & Aram, 2009)Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) provides that individuals with AS cannot be discriminated against in obtaining higher education and that services and accomodations need to be offered to those students diagnoses with AS to have assistance in achieving their education both inside and outside the classroom.Smith (2007) further states that AS was only recognized about 20 years ago and in that short period of time there has not been any significant studies done concerning the impact of student achievement in the post secondary educational field. Evaluate the clarity and completeness of how the problem was described. Smith (2007) addresses the problem by explaining in detail the behaviors displayed by students who have been diagnoses with AS.Smith further explains how the behaviors of AS students affect their ability to be successful in a nor mal educational environment if the educators are not trained on providing accommodations that would assist with their learning process. Smith (2007) also addresses the issue of a growing number of AS students entering higher education and the need for the Office of Access and Learning Accommodations (OALA) to provide services that will address the needs of all types of disabilities. Smith is specific and direct regarding the services that would be specifically needed by AS students.Explain how the problem was addressed through designing and conducting a research study. Smith (2007) states the methodology used was an exploratory study evaluating and determining what type of accommodations, services and programs assistance were offered to AS post-secondary students. Surveys were emailed to staff members of the institutions Disabled Student Services offices. There was a letter sent with the survey explaining the purpose of the research and consent statements for the individuals acknowl edging the information was being used as a study.Smith gathered qualitative data regarding programs, support groups and counseling that was currently being provided to AS students. The surveys also gathered data regarding the types of accommodations provided to students to assess if the services provided were addressing the specific needs of AS students Smith (2007) concluded from the research that although accommodations were being provided for AS students, the accommodations provided were not taking into consideration some of the individual students needs. Quantitative Research ProblemIdentify the research problem. Powell, Higgins and Aram’s (2009) research study, â€Å"Impact of No Child Left Behind on Curriculum and Instuction in Rural Schools† examines the decisions made by rural principals and teachers regarding curriculum and instruction and the impact No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) had. Powell, Higgins and Aram focus was if there was significate impact on the instructional time, non-instructional time and if student motivation expereinced any negative effect resulting from the demands of NCLB. Summarize the basis for the problem.Powell, Higgins and Aram (2009) reported that twenty-five percent of the schools in the U. S. are rural schools. The retention of qualified teachers and students achieving the Average Yearly Progress (AYP) set by NCLB had a greater impact due to the lower percentages within the schools, than compared to the schools in larger cities and suburbs. Powell, Higgins and Aram further state that the rural schools in Missouri they used for their study, had an increase of minority students over a ten year period of over 120% compared to the average increase nationwide of only 54%.Powell, Higgins and Aram wanted to exam the overall impact of NCLB on the two rural schools in two completely different areas of the U. S. and exam the correlation between the NCLB and how curriculum and instruction were influenced. Evaluate the c larity and completeness of how the problem was described. Powell, Higgins and Aram (2009) study of the influence NCLB had on the decision making process of the principals regarding curriculum and instruction in rural schools described the problems associated with the AYP expectations set by NCLB.The study surveyed the teachers and principals on specific areas of the curriculum and if there was an increase in the test scores of the students on both math and reading scores. Powell, Higgins and Aram (2009) further stated that NCLB created additional problems such as teachers leaving the teaching profession and others not entering the teaching profession due to the change in climate within the teaching environment. Explain how the problem was addressed through designing and conducting a research study.Powell, Higgins and Aram (2009) research consisted of a survey that was sent to 571 principals in Missouri, of which 101 responded. They also gathered data from 76 certified teachers in Ma ine. 14 of 16 rural counties in Maine were represented in the research. About 76% of the principals surveyed were from Free and Reduced Lunch (FRL) and Title 1 schools, supporting the sampling of high minority student demographics. Powell, Higgins and Aram (2009) further surveyed the principals on how NCLB impacted their decision making process regarding curriculum and instruction both before and after NCLB. Evaluating Published Research Problems ?Individual Assignment: Evaluating Published Research Problems Locate two research studies in your discipline or your field of study—one study must use a qualitative method and one study must use a quantitative method. Each study must have been published in a peer-reviewed journal. Perform the following with each study: Review of Contemporary Curriculum Research Qualitative Research Study Identify the research problem.Smith’s (2007) research study on â€Å"Support Services for Students with Asperger’s Syndrome in Higher Education† problem focus is on type of services or accommodations that are being provided for students who have been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) and if these services are addressing the needs of the students. The study was conducted to inform Disability Support offices of what services are necessary for the population of AS higher education students to support them in their educational journey in higher education.Summariz e the basis for the problem. Smith (2007) states that there has been an increase in diagnosis of AS. The Americans with (Powell, Higgins, & Aram, 2009)Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) provides that individuals with AS cannot be discriminated against in obtaining higher education and that services and accomodations need to be offered to those students diagnoses with AS to have assistance in achieving their education both inside and outside the classroom.Smith (2007) further states that AS was only recognized about 20 years ago and in that short period of time there has not been any significant studies done concerning the impact of student achievement in the post secondary educational field. Evaluate the clarity and completeness of how the problem was described. Smith (2007) addresses the problem by explaining in detail the behaviors displayed by students who have been diagnoses with AS.Smith further explains how the behaviors of AS students affect their ability to be successful in a no rmal educational environment if the educators are not trained on providing accommodations that would assist with their learning process. Smith (2007) also addresses the issue of a growing number of AS students entering higher education and the need for the Office of Access and Learning Accommodations (OALA) to provide services that will address the needs of all types of disabilities. Smith is specific and direct regarding the services that would be specifically needed by AS students.Explain how the problem was addressed through designing and conducting a research study. Smith (2007) states the methodology used was an exploratory study evaluating and determining what type of accommodations, services and programs assistance were offered to AS post-secondary students. Surveys were emailed to staff members of the institutions Disabled Student Services offices. There was a letter sent with the survey explaining the purpose of the research and consent statements for the individuals acknow ledging the information was being used as a study.Smith gathered qualitative data regarding programs, support groups and counseling that was currently being provided to AS students. The surveys also gathered data regarding the types of accommodations provided to students to assess if the services provided were addressing the specific needs of AS students Smith (2007) concluded from the research that although accommodations were being provided for AS students, the accommodations provided were not taking into consideration some of the individual students needs. Quantitative Research ProblemIdentify the research problem. Powell, Higgins and Aram’s (2009) research study, â€Å"Impact of No Child Left Behind on Curriculum and Instuction in Rural Schools† examines the decisions made by rural principals and teachers regarding curriculum and instruction and the impact No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) had. Powell, Higgins and Aram focus was if there was significate impact on the instructional time, non-instructional time and if student motivation expereinced any negative effect resulting from the demands of NCLB. Summarize the basis for the problem.Powell, Higgins and Aram (2009) reported that twenty-five percent of the schools in the U. S. are rural schools. The retention of qualified teachers and students achieving the Average Yearly Progress (AYP) set by NCLB had a greater impact due to the lower percentages within the schools, than compared to the schools in larger cities and suburbs. Powell, Higgins and Aram further state that the rural schools in Missouri they used for their study, had an increase of minority students over a ten year period of over 120% compared to the average increase nationwide of only 54%.Powell, Higgins and Aram wanted to exam the overall impact of NCLB on the two rural schools in two completely different areas of the U. S. and exam the correlation between the NCLB and how curriculum and instruction were influenced. Evaluate the clarity and completeness of how the problem was described. Powell, Higgins and Aram (2009) study of the influence NCLB had on the decision making process of the principals regarding curriculum and instruction in rural schools described the problems associated with the AYP expectations set by NCLB.The study surveyed the teachers and principals on specific areas of the curriculum and if there was an increase in the test scores of the students on both math and reading scores. Powell, Higgins and Aram (2009) further stated that NCLB created additional problems such as teachers leaving the teaching profession and others not entering the teaching profession due to the change in climate within the teaching environment. Explain how the problem was addressed through designing and conducting a research study.Powell, Higgins and Aram (2009) research consisted of a survey that was sent to 571 principals in Missouri, of which 101 responded. They also gathered data from 76 certified teachers in M aine. 14 of 16 rural counties in Maine were represented in the research. About 76% of the principals surveyed were from Free and Reduced Lunch (FRL) and Title 1 schools, supporting the sampling of high minority student demographics. Powell, Higgins and Aram (2009) further surveyed the principals on how NCLB impacted their decision making process regarding curriculum and instruction both before and after NCLB.