How to Construct an Index for Research

An index is a composite measure of variables, or a way of measuring a construct--like religiosity or racism--using more than one data item. An index is an accumulation of scores from a variety of individual items. To create one, you must select possible items, examine their empirical relationships, score the index, and validate it. Item Selection The first step in creating an index is selecting the items you wish to include in the index to measure the variable of interest. There are several things to consider when selecting the items. First, you should select items that have face validity. That is, the item should measure what it is intended to measure. If you are constructing an index of religiosity, items such as church attendance and frequency of prayer would have face validity because they appear to offer some indication of religiosity. A second criterion for choosing which items to include in your index is unidimensionality. That is, each item should represent only one dimension of the concept you are measuring. For example, items reflecting depression should not be included in items measuring anxiety, even though the two might be related to one another. Third, you need to decide how general or specific your variable will be. For example, if you only wish to measure a specific aspect of religiosity, such as ritual participation, then you would only want to include items that measure ritual participation, such as church attendance, confession, communion, etc. If you are measuring religiosity in a more general way, however, you would want to also include a more balanced set of items that touch on other areas of religion (such as beliefs, knowledge, etc.). Lastly, when choosing which items to include in your index, you should pay attention to the amount of variance that each item provides. For example, if an item is intended to measure religious conservatism, you need to pay attention to what proportion of respondents would be identified as religiously conservative by that measure. If the item identifies nobody as religiously conservative or everyone as a religiously conservative, then the item has no variance and it is not a useful item for your index. Examining Empirical Relationships The second step in index construction is to examine the empirical relationships among the items you wish to include in the index. An empirical relationship is when respondents’ answers to one question help us predict how they will answer other questions. If two items are empirically related to each other, we can argue that both items reflect the same concept and we can, therefore, include them in the same index. To determine if your items are empirically related, crosstabulations, correlation coefficients, or both may be used. Index Scoring The third step in index construction is scoring the index. After you have finalized the items you are including in your index, you then assign scores for particular responses, thereby making a composite variable out of your several items. For example, let’s say you are measuring religious ritual participation among Catholics and the items included in your index are church attendance, confession, communion, and daily prayer, each with a response choice of yes, I regularly participate or no, I do not regularly participate. You might assign a 0 for does not participate and a 1 for participates. Therefore, a respondent could receive a final composite score of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 with 0 being the least engaged in Catholic rituals and 4 being the most engaged. Index Validation The final step in constructing an index is validating it. Just like you need to validate each item that goes into the index, you also need to validate the index itself to make sure that it measures what it is intended to measure. There are several methods for doing this. One is called item analysis in which you examine the extent to which the index is related to the individual items that are included in it. Another important indicator of an index’s validity is how well it accurately predicts related measures. For example, if you are measuring political conservatism, those who score the most conservative in your index should also score conservative in other questions included in the survey.

The Impact Of Motivation On An Organization s Development

Motivation is what drives people to succeed and reach their goals. This plays an important role in enhancing an organisation’s development. An employee’s motivation can play a big part in organisational behaviour, as it is a fundamental part of how the employee performs in their role and how they assist the organisation in attaining their goals. Self-interest is defined as: â€Å"focus on actions or activities that are advantageous to an individual or organisation. For a business or individual to survive and grow, a degree of self-interest is necessary. When there is too much focus on self-interest the benefits of the group at large diminishes.† (www.businessdictionary.com). Motivation on the other hand is referred to as: â€Å"the forces within a person that affect the direction, intensity and persistence of voluntary behaviour. Motivated employees are willing to exert a particular level of effort (intensity), for a certain amount of time (persistence), towards a particular goal (direction). Motivation is one of the four essential drivers of individual behaviour and performance†. (McShane et.al, 2013, pg. 138). In other words, motivation is in the form of things that stimulates us, and further enhances our knowledge. People do things, not because they have to, but because they’re somewhat interested in the activity or the task that they have to do, and people often learn from these activities, get the results that they want, thus, making them strive to continue working. It is noShow MoreRelatedHow Performance And Employee Satisfaction?957 Words   |  4 Pagesunderstanding of work motivation utilizing confirmations from occasions which happened in Palm Troy Inc., a manufacturing company that focuses on one division of the organization where all the employees are women. Furthermore, it incorporates how motivation and organization behavior are associated, tossing the light on effect of supervision on organization environment coming about performance of the workers and organization all in all. This additionally incorporates how motivation -A mental processRead MoreCorrelation Between Employee Motivation And Job Performance Essay1098 Words   |  5 PagesHuman resource is vital for any organization. So it is important to manage organizational happiness, so that employees will do their best for the organization. An employee performance appraisal can act as motivation for an employee to improve his productivity. When an employee sees his goals clearly defined and is measured against the set goals and objectives, a need can be identified about the future strategies of employee motivation. In this review, I will look at and explore the multiple argumentsRead MoreHuman Resource Management And Its Importance1517 Words   |  7 Pagesindustrial economy to a knowledge economy era. Economic globalization and improve the level of global competition, organizations have had to make full use of all their resources to ensure its survival and development. As an important resource organization human resource organization also attracted more and more attention. Effective human resource management has become a key organizational development and success. In 1991, the United States, IBM and Tower Perrin consulting firm jointly nearly 3,000 seniorRead MoreRelationship Between Leadership And Motivational Theor ies Essay1297 Words   |  6 Pagesthey either ignore or unconsciously sideline the impact of motivation. It is not possible to measure motivation directly; it has to be derived from the reports or results of the performance outcomes. The difficulty in making these inferences is due in part to the complex and dynamic nature of the subject and in part to the presence of multiple causative factors. One has to first understand and define the concept of motivation - the concept of motivation in itself lacks a crystalline definition andRead MoreIntroduction. Sns Is A Marketing And Public Relations Company1544 Words   |  7 Pagescommitted to delivering industry savvy public relations services to clients globally. Our mission is to provide world leading strategies that will help create and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with individuals and organizations vital to their growth and development. It is therefore essential that the company provides an atmosphere of leadership, expertise and services that enhance the quality and effectiveness of client’s communications projects and programs. As such, an integral partRead MoreMotivation Theories Of A Diverse Workforce During Times Of Change Essay1696 Word s   |  7 PagesLeadership, Motivation, Change Introduction In this paper two motivation theories in a diverse workforce during times of change will be discuss. Differences, including theoretical premises, between two models will be explained. Details relates to challenges and opportunities in a diverse workforce will identified. Strategies to keep a workforce motivated during organizational change will be point out. Two Motivation Theories To begin this discuss a definition of motivation is presentedRead MoreThe Success Or Failure Of Any Firm Or Organization Depends Upon The Competency And Proficiency Of Its Workforce1584 Words   |  7 PagesAssignment Prof Terrell Aicha Diakite GB 540 The success or failure of any firm or organization depends upon the competency and proficiency of its workforce. 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In order for a company`s culture to blend well with its strategy, there mustRead MoreMotivator Theories Essay1108 Words   |  5 Pagesselected motivation techniques that will be used for creating Enron as a learning organization. The researcher will provide a description and definition of the motivation technique. Finally, the researcher will provide rationale for the using the selected motivation technique. Description and Definition of Motivation Technique Motivation is the act of getting individuals and/or group to do something that is goal oriented, has an incentive, or positive or negative outcome. Motivation techniqueRead MoreManagement Theories1287 Words   |  6 Pagesorder to satisfy what seemed the endless demands for new goods and services. As corporations and labor forces grew, there was a need to develop a more systematic study of organization and management, known as management theory, the significant being Frederick Taylor s Principles of Scientific Management which involved the development of training workers through special incentives and compensation (Boone p.33). In general, early management scientists tended to believe that there was a single way to organize

Procurement Plan for Algonquin College

Quetion: Discuss about the Procurement Plan for Algonquin College. Answer: Algonquin College one year strategic plan sets the institution's mission, value, and vision. Primarily, the procurement plan aims at ensuring that the required number of vehicles is supplied at the right time, place, cost, and quality. Algonquin College is a complex institution left with the responsibility for procurement endeavors devoted to departments or business units, schools, and faculties. The procurement manager and contract administrators in Algonquin College are responsible for supporting purchasing activities. Analysis of the market A select team has been identified to conduct a thorough market analysis. It is has been proposed that the team members to carry out the market analysis should undergo suitable training to perfect on their skills and aptitude. Undertaking training before the actual market analysis exercise will guarantee the college splendid marketing research results (Abramson, Harris, 2003). Objectives The procurement team aims at comprehending how the supply market functions as well as understanding the direction in which the market is heading. Besides, the institution wants to figure out the level of competition and the leading suppliers within the vehicle market. Furthermore, it is vital for Algonquin College to discover whether there are innovations of vehicles and how they are being sold. In the actual process of conducting the market analysis, the responsible team will also purpose to collect various intricacies regarding the vehicle market. Apart from studying on how supply markets works, they will as well consider comprehending how the goods are typically sold. In addition, the marketing specialists will attempt to figure out the best pricing model for this type of market and whether the dealers are selling or leasing out their goods or concentrating entirely on providing transportation services. Moreover, according to the procurement top executives in Algonquin College, it is critical for them to know whether there is a disparity between how the vehicles are purchased at the consumer level as opposed to the enterprise level. As a result, the market analysts will aim at realizing the existence of such a difference to help the managers in making their purchasing decisions. Another primary objective of the marketing specialists will be to acquire a rough estimate of who the leading suppliers are as well as the number of other key players in the vehicles market. Besides, they will purpose to comprehend the possibility of monopolistic behaviors taking place in the market of interest. A thorough market analysis will enable the procurement team to understand the most opportune time to procure goods and also figure out whether the market is susceptible to seasonality. Statement of Action The Procurement and contract administrator in conjunction with the market analysts will consult existing dealers of vehicles in the market to advise them on how supply market operates. Ideally, just like any other market, vehicle market adheres to the law of demand and supply. The interaction of the suppliers and the procurers in the market assist the former in determining the prevailing price, thus distributing limited goods efficiently. The sellers take the prices offered into consideration when deciding how many vehicles to manufacture. The law of demand provides that the higher the price of a given commodity, the higher the quantity supplied. Besides, market forecasters will be identified to explain to the team members on the direction in which the vehicle market is going. Based on the prevailing economic conditions in this locality, it appears that there might be no significant changes in the future of the vehicle market, substantial enough to affect the purchasing operations of Algonquin College. In the attempt to understand the competitiveness and the primary suppliers found within the market of interest, the responsible procurement personnel will identify the competitors, competition levels, their strengths, and weaknesses. Understanding competitiveness in the supply market assists procurement planning and continuing management of supply preparations. For instance, in a classic vehicle market, there is a high degree of competition which will certainly create more options for Algonquin College. Identification of competitors is critical to the institution since it reduces risk, expenses, and other unnecessary resources which might be required (McCue, Johnson, 2010). Further, the contract managers will examine the history of the market to figure out whether there are vehicle brands innovations or not and if there how they being sold. Recently, public procurement is being viewed as having significant ability to drive innovation in the market. In spite of this interest, various hindrances hinder the public sector from bringing in new brands in the market. The primary barrier to innovation in this type of a market is poor interactions between the buyers and the suppliers. As a result, in this vehicle market the analysts will realize that there are few or no innovations and if there, their prices will be higher comparatively due to their scarcity. Ordinarily, goods in a vehicle market are sold on cash on delivery basis. The term cash in this case is replaceable with the word collect to include other modes of payments such as smart cards or checks. Various motives might incentivize Algonquin College to use Comparison of Competitive Bids as their price analysis technique. This is achieved by asking at least three suppliers of the same product of their prices hence enabling the institution to determine the validity of the prices for vehicles. Moreover, understanding the terms of service of the vehicle dealers in the market is critical. For example, the chances are that Algonquin College is need of vehicles to provide transportation services within the institution and not for sale. As a result, the managers might consider leasing out instead of buying in case the former decision is cost-effective. In connection to this, comprehending the disparity in prices between enterprise and customer purchases is important since it helps the procurement executives in making further decisions. However, it is a common trend for purchases at a consumer level to be relatively higher than in the enterprise level. A vehicle market is composed of several players such as the manufacturers, suppliers, buyers, legislators among others. It is important for Algonquin College procurement team to figure out the number of players in the targeted market to act as an enabler in knowing other intricacies such as levels of competition, the possibility of monopolistic behaviors, the best time to place bids and whether the market is subject to seasonality. Thorough knowledge of such critical details will enable the procurement team to make well-informed acquisition decisions Engagement strategy It is necessary for the procurement managers and contract administrators to engage the targeted industry on the procurement plan of Algonquin College. Market engagement allows the procurement team to communicate their requirements to the suppliers as well as discussing the best course of action (Mosey Wiley InterScience (Online service), 2009). Moreover, the engagement will help the management to change and improve the procurement strategy. Objectives In the pre-procurement engagement process, the team will focus on implementing a suitable method to engage the suppliers in their plan successfully. Besides, the engagement strategy is meant to take into consideration the industry dynamics and factors spotted in the first stage of market analysis. Algonquin College needs to acquire a sound knowledge of the composition, size and nature of the vehicle market they are aiming at depending on for supplies. Statement of Action Algonquin College procurement team will design an engagement plan suitable for this exercise. The acquisition team members will meet with the vehicle industry bodies to engage them on its annual procurement strategy. During this process, the team will seek for solutions to the dynamics identified in the marketing analysis phase. The institution representatives will issue a Request for Information intending the dealers to provide information on market trends such as levels of competition, a presence of innovations and the perceived direction of the vehicle market (In Edquist, In Vonortas, In Zabala-Iturriagagoitia In Edler, 2016). Procurement plan The procurement and contract managers in Algonquin College have the sole responsibility of initiating an administration approach to ensure sustainability of the acquisition program for one year period. Besides, proper methods of procurement and methodologies are vital for the success of this exercise (In Cruz-Cunha, In Moreira, In Varajao, 2014). At this juncture also the procurement team is supposed to discuss on how re-occurring findings, continuing deliveries, and new vehicle requests will be managed. Objectives Algonquin College procurement team purposes to establish a suitable management approach to manage the procurement process of vehicles for a period of one year. In addition, the contractors and managers focus on coming up with splendid acquisition techniques as well as evaluation methodology to track the progress of the exercise. At this point also procurement administrators in the institution are obliged to establish the most suitable criteria to be used in procuring vehicles in the industry. Moreover, Algonquin College intends to propose how re-occurring procurements, continuous supplies and new entreaties for more vehicles will be managed. Statement of Action The procurement administrators and contractors will issue a procurement management framework that will act as an enabler allowing the select team and the managers to manage their dealings in the market in a consistent manner. Besides, the responsible personnel will implement the framework and launch it in a supported system through a workshop. Further, in conjunction with the business units in Algonquin College, the managers and procurement contractors will establish online procurement strategies to monitor the progress of the exercise with ease (Dominick, Lunney, 2012). The criteria for acquisition of vehicles will follow two fundamentals. First, a select team will do research, budget and describe the kind and quality of vehicles that best suit their demand. After defining the most suitable vehicle needed, the institution will take a look at the available goods in the market before the actual purchase. Moreover, the procurement managers will establish a training and improvement pro gramme that will enable the stakeholders to manage re-occurring findings, ongoing supplies and new requests for vehicles. Procurement Risk Assessment Procurement process just like any other typical business activity is vulnerable to risks. There exist some perils in defining requirement and planning supplies as well as deciding on the proper procurement methodologies (Russill, 2010). Procurement administration is therefore obliged to implement proper methodologies towards solving problems and mitigating risks. Objectives Algonquin College is focusing on identifying the potential hazards bound to deter the procurement progression as well as the administration procedure. Besides, the institution intends to determine the subsections of the process more prone to risks and which once the peril occurs can lead to substantial losses. The other objective of the college is to establish effective approaches to curbing risks occurrences and reducing their impact if they happen to take place. Statement of Action The procurement management team in conjunction with the contract administrators will select a risk management team and train the associates to equip them with the necessary aptitudes to identify risks, their sources either internal or external and initiate procedures to mitigate them. The selected team will be left with the responsibility to estimate the prospective impact of the risk in case it occurs. In collaboration with the risk assessment and mitigation team, the procurement managers will apply risk assessment matrix tool which will allow them to view the probable risks evaluation in terms of probability of its occurrence and severity of the repercussions (Olson, Wu, 2010). Value Proposition Currently, incorporation of social and environmental concerns in the procurement plan has become a legal requirement (Arrowsmith, Linarelli, Wallace, 2000).The inclusion of such issues in the acquisition agenda in an appropriate manner is important since they can be legitimately be integrated into contracts and as a result assist in furthering an institutions procurement policies. Therefore it is vital for Algonquin College to incorporate social and environmental concerns in their procurement strategy. Objectives The institution seeks to enhance the value proposition by the incorporation of social-economic and environmental considerations into the procurement strategy. Besides, the procurement administrators intend to mention social-economic issues they want to incorporate in the agenda in the contract notice and tender documents. Statement of Action Algonquin College will place the inclusion of social-economic and environmental factors at the forefront of the procurement strategy. This practice will aid a lot in improving the value proportion of the institution since it will directly benefit the local economy in a substantial sense upon the implementation of the procurement strategy. Some of the factors the supply management team will include in the contract notice and tender documents include economic climate, government policy among other environmental outlines (Great Britain Great Britain, 2009). References Abramson, M. A., Harris, R. S. (2003). The procurement revolution. Lanham [md.: Rowman Littlefield. Arrowsmith, S. L., Linarelli, J., Wallace, D. (2000). Regulating public procurement: National and international perspectives. The Hague [u.a: Kluwer Law International. Dominick, C., Lunney, S. (2012). The procurement game plan. Boca Raton, Fla: J. Ross. Great Britain., Great Britain. (2009). Greening government: Sixth report of session 2008-09 : report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence. London: Stationery Office. In Cruz-Cunha, M. M., In Moreira, F., In Varajao, J. (2014). Handbook of research on enterprise 2.0: Technological, social, and organizational dimensions. In Edquist, C., In Vonortas, N. S., In Zabala-Iturriagagoitia, J. M., In Edler, J. (2016). Public procurement for innovation. McCue, C. P., Johnson, B. R. (2010). Strategic procurement planning in the public sector. Herndon, Va: National Institute of Government Purchasing. Mosey, D., Wiley InterScience (Online service). (2009). Early contractor involvement in building procurement: Contracts, partnering and project management. Chichester, West Sussex: Ames, Iowa. Olson, D. L., Wu, D. D. (2010). Enterprise risk management models. Heidelberg: Springer. Russill, R. (2010). A short guide to procurement risk. Farnham: Gower.

Females And Their Animal Counterparts In Anime Analysis Essay Example For Students

Females And Their Animal Counterparts In Anime Analysis Essay The surreal ability of animals to communicate allows the protagonist to have a delightful and unique eloping hand in his/her adventures. Animal friend(s) get to provide comic relief, join the protagonists as they conquer, and help him them when they are in trouble. This is generally received well by the audience, Who are dazzled by the fantastic world painted for them on the screen. But, does the audience ever consider the emotional impact upon the animals themselves? In western animations, especially those produced by the magical world of Disney, there is an overwhelming sense of inequality between the animal sidekicks to their human counterparts. Films such as Pocahontas, (Walt Disney Studios, 995) Manual, (Walt Disney Studios, 1998) and Aladdin (Walt Disney Studios, 1 992) all feature animals or spirits that reflect the natural world. At first glance these animals are treated affectionately, but upon closer inspection, it is clear that despite their prominence in the films, they are still treated as second-class citizens, They are given no respect and barely ever taken seriously. Japanese Cinemas Hay Mistake strongly juxtaposes this relationship in his work. Two of his films, My Neighbor Torso (Studio Chablis, 1988) and Skis Delivery Service (Studio Gibbs, 1989), show a greater respect for animals and nature. This respect for animals reflects an overall greater appreciation for nature, and also helps to develop a closer bond between the humans and their animal counterparts. In Disney Manual, the character of Mush serves as Mullahs counterpart. He is a dragon, a majestic spiritual being, yet he is still mocked and ordered around from the very beginning of the movie. We see this during his introduction in the film, his over eager attitude is lambasted, and by the end Of the film, he has still not outgrown his comic appearance. The three main characters in Disney Aladdin all live a life Of slavery. One that would put current animal rights activists in an uproar. The beautiful princess Jasmines tiger, Rajah. Is mostly subservient. The evil Safaris talking Parrot, Logo, is at his mercy, and the protagonist Aladdin, though kind and protective, is still very much the boss of his pet (not friend) monkey, ABA. Again, by films end, it is difficult to argue that the characters have developed or become more serious In Pocahontas, the animals of the forest are not given much respect by the main character. Though they are aloud to eat and live With her, the film paints a picture Of the setting as her forest, and not heirs. When she dances, the wind follows her. Rather than the forest showing Pocahontas that it is in charge, she shows the audience that it is undoubtedly a setting that belongs to her. The animals in the film follow this line of thinking as well. Initially, Tit the hummingbird begins the film reflecting independent emotional thought, showing the audience that he distrusts John Smith while expressing a preference for Comma, Pocahontas other love-interest. However, by films end, any real rebellious independent thought is quashed. Oakums death, combined with Pocahontas attitude, sway the naive hummingbirds favor over to John Smith, thus playing a very small role in the Wests domination over native American hummingbirds ever since. (Nice one, bird. In the three aforementioned Disney films, the humans and animals (or spirits) interact like friends, but the audience always knows who is in charge. It is clearly shown that humans make the choices regarding the management of nature, the paths of civilizations, and most importantly, the acquisition of material wealth. Contrary to this, in Hay Mistakes animations, there is a stronger connection between humans and animals: Rather than using and becoming masters of their animal underpants , the characters develop relationships that evolve and exemplify mutual respect. .uec856c65c4c87e148342b944cb558bcd , .uec856c65c4c87e148342b944cb558bcd .postImageUrl , .uec856c65c4c87e148342b944cb558bcd .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uec856c65c4c87e148342b944cb558bcd , .uec856c65c4c87e148342b944cb558bcd:hover , .uec856c65c4c87e148342b944cb558bcd:visited , .uec856c65c4c87e148342b944cb558bcd:active { border:0!important; } .uec856c65c4c87e148342b944cb558bcd .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uec856c65c4c87e148342b944cb558bcd { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uec856c65c4c87e148342b944cb558bcd:active , .uec856c65c4c87e148342b944cb558bcd:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uec856c65c4c87e148342b944cb558bcd .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uec856c65c4c87e148342b944cb558bcd .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uec856c65c4c87e148342b944cb558bcd .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uec856c65c4c87e148342b944cb558bcd .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uec856c65c4c87e148342b944cb558bcd:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uec856c65c4c87e148342b944cb558bcd .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uec856c65c4c87e148342b944cb558bcd .uec856c65c4c87e148342b944cb558bcd-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uec856c65c4c87e148342b944cb558bcd:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Speak EssaySkis Delivery Service is a film which features a thirteen year old girl who is off to complete her witch training alone in a big new city. Without her family, the only other being that she has to rely upon is her black cat, Shoji. Though Shoji represents 3 sidekick type character to Kaki, he is still very much in charge Of his own life. He clearly chooses to be with her. More than once, when Kaki goes on a delivery job, ]xii decides to Stay behind by his own free Will. There is never a scene where Kaki ivies orders to Shoji. Though he is often swayed by persuasion to do something, such as pretend to be a toy cat while Kaki looks for the original, he is never under duress from anyone. Shoji, like any cat in real life, operates on his own schedule. Shoji shows this freedom when he has his own relationships, such as the one with the posh white cat that lives next door. His cat girlfriend is not the only animal he befriends. He makes friends with a dog, and he is also able to warn Kaki of incoming harsh winds after a flock of geese warn him, Compared to Kaki, Shoji possesses a power that is unique to him. While it seems that Shoji can communicate with any other animal, Kaki cannot, and she is lucky to speak with him, not the other way around. What is most representative of the importance of Skis relationship with Shoji occurs halfway through the film. When Kaki loses her confidence and her ability to be a witch (which can be linked to her closeness with nature), it is her lack of ability to communicate with Shoji that gives her the first sign of trouble In this instance, Skis whole life is represented by her ability to speak with her animal friend. When she loses this ability, she also realizes she cannot fly. She is devastated. Contrarily, Shoji seems unperturbed, continuing his life as if nothing has changed, thus perfectly representing an animals relationship with humanity. If humans disappeared, it could be argued that animals and nature would have no trouble continuing on within their own circle Of life. In Mistakes My Neighbor Torso, there are again female protagonists Who are going through their own coming of age. Unlike Kaki, they do not possess animal sidekicks. What they do have is each Other. In this film, the animal counterparts they encounter are even more representative of natures free will. The big Torso, the cat bus, and all of his friends are of, and belong to, the forest. The first links to nature witnessed in the film are the dust-like spirits that have inhabited the house that Me and Satsuma have moved in to. The sisters are at first fearful, but their father helps them and shows them that laughter and happiness is the number one thing that they can do to chase away other spirits. Laughter with nature helps the girls to learn about respect for the spiritual world, which is very much related to the natural world in My Neighbor Torso. Instead of the just-bunnies disappearing, they fly out into the sky, In the world of the Torsos, Nothing dies, it just moves around. The next animals we encounter are the small Torsos. Me, spotting them carrying acorns, is the first one to notice them. She then stumbles upon a giant Torso, in his slumber. We see him slumbering, his large teeth bared, but entertaining. The child grabs him, plays with him, and eventually wakes him up. For a second, suspense builds. The audience is playfully tricked into being frightened by Torso. .ube987018ad18a9fdfc02b9ec23423dbf , .ube987018ad18a9fdfc02b9ec23423dbf .postImageUrl , .ube987018ad18a9fdfc02b9ec23423dbf .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ube987018ad18a9fdfc02b9ec23423dbf , .ube987018ad18a9fdfc02b9ec23423dbf:hover , .ube987018ad18a9fdfc02b9ec23423dbf:visited , .ube987018ad18a9fdfc02b9ec23423dbf:active { border:0!important; } .ube987018ad18a9fdfc02b9ec23423dbf .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ube987018ad18a9fdfc02b9ec23423dbf { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ube987018ad18a9fdfc02b9ec23423dbf:active , .ube987018ad18a9fdfc02b9ec23423dbf:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ube987018ad18a9fdfc02b9ec23423dbf .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ube987018ad18a9fdfc02b9ec23423dbf .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ube987018ad18a9fdfc02b9ec23423dbf .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ube987018ad18a9fdfc02b9ec23423dbf .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ube987018ad18a9fdfc02b9ec23423dbf:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ube987018ad18a9fdfc02b9ec23423dbf .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ube987018ad18a9fdfc02b9ec23423dbf .ube987018ad18a9fdfc02b9ec23423dbf-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ube987018ad18a9fdfc02b9ec23423dbf:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: THOMAS JEFFERSON Argumentative EssayHe roars loudly at Me, perhaps indicating his displeasure t being woken up, however, she immediately communicates back to him, with 3 surprisingly loud shout Of her own. Me and Torsos first meeting is one that advertises love for nature. The child finds something amazing in the forest, and though it could be scary, the film allows her to show a happy enthusiasm. In the first meeting. It feels as though the Torso chooses to wake up. We see this often in the film; the spirits of the forest making the decision to be found or spotted by their child counterparts. There is never a moment of service; it is all a product of friendship. This works both ways, as the children also want to help the Torsos with whatever they do, In a very agricultural-friendly scene of the film, we see the girls wake up and help the Torsos make the forest grow. They march around the trees because they love their friends, and they also love the forest. There is no message trot the film that one must help the environment or animals because it is necessary or sustainable or environmentally friendly. The relationship is quite simply a demonstration of love between animals and people. This politeness and kindness is also shown at the bus stop when Satsuma is waiting. She gives her umbrella to Torso_ Though confused, he receives the hospitality with grace. He then offers a ride on the cat bus. This whole sequence shows a young girl waiting on a dark night being accompanied by the spirits of the forest who are there to comfort and protect her. It is a touching thought. Finally, When Me is lost, running through the farm towns With corn for her mother hugged tightly against her chest, the sisters get help from Torso. It is his good deed to do, one out Of kindness and love, and not out Of being forced.