Managing Human Resources-Phase 2 DB Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Managing Human Resources-Phase 2 DB - Essay Example For the individual, we should not make the assumption that everyone’s motivation is the same. While someone just starting out in his/her career may have long-term goals, a professional with 20 years under his/her belt will bring a different set of needs and desires to the position. It is helpful to understand each team member’s background when determining what motivates them. For the team, we should consider what kind of a sales and support structure we would like to create. At NL&S, we already have an exciting message of growth. We can supplement that message with customer service and follow-through. We have had some issues at NL&S related to customer service. It may make sense to tie the customer service people to our sales team—there will be more on this in the recommendations (Levine, 2004). Finally, we need to motivate not just the top performers, but the mid-level performers as well. It’s easy to give the top sellers great bonuses, but they were motivated to sell (or talented enough) anyway. By reaching to the middle level of our organization, we can pull them up with the proper motivation to exceed our expectations (Clive, 2007). The first thing we should do is interview the salespeople one-on-one. I would suggest that I sit in on each interview, in order to provide additional input and to listen from a different perspective. The primary reasons for this interview will be To determine what motivates the individual sales reps: talk about their top three items. I would expect, from a survey of literature, that they want to belong to a winning team, look good to their friends, family and fellow workers, and be well-compensated for good performance. To determine if there are any barriers to their better performance. We will concentrate on product and sales knowledge, problems that they may be encountering with our organization, our products, or our customer service. Since sales reps are

Creating Cross-Functional Teams Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Creating Cross-Functional Teams - Essay Example Hence in most of the cases, it is better to have customer oriented teams design such products. Customer oriented teams have the advantage of understanding more clearly the specific requirements of the customer due to their â€Å"customer first† approach; responding adequately to varying needs on account of their flexibility, and giving a better and more customized solution to the customer based on their combined set of skills. 2. Anyone who has worked in team situations has discovered that some members of the team work harder than others; nonetheless, the whole team is often rewarded based on the overall results, not an individual effort. How could team evaluations be made so that individual efforts could be recognized and rewarded? Ans Team evaluations can be made to focus more on individual contributions in many different ways. Firstly, one can evaluate the performance of each member against the tasks he was assigned, thus in this manner, the performance of each member can b e compared with the other members of the team. Secondly, we can judge how much effort each member is putting into teamwork by observing his performance and inputs during team discussions, and his willingness when the group task is divided among the members.  This case can be a model for such an organization n that it effectively describes the steps that can be undertaken by the company management to become more customer oriented. This case accurately describes the essential requirements for a private organization to become more customer-aware, such as user-friendly systems, team-oriented approach etc. also it effectively describes the firewalls against activities such as pleasing bosses, by creating cross-functional teams and diluting a strict hierarchal structure. 4. What are some major impediments to implementing customer-oriented teams in service organizations? Ans One major impediment towards the implementation of customer-oriented teams in service organizations is the system of processes and procedures in the organization, particularly the inflexibility attached to those processes. This can be crucial as for an organization to become truly customer oriented; a certain level of flexibility in operations is required so as to respond to each customer in the most optimal manner. Another impediment is the hierarchal structure in the organizations, as it causes difficulty in formation of teams within the organization. Lastly, employees’ attitude and personalities also become an impediment towards the development of an effective team, especially one that is cross-functional (Webber, 2002). Employees may not feel comfortable working with one another and may not prefer equal status. This creates issues in the effective operation of a team, even after teams are created.

A History Of Feminism English Language Essay

A History Of Feminism English Language Essay Feminism is a historically recurring phenomenon, being a potent form of cultural identity to take on linguistic and social expression (Simon, 1996; 7). The concept of gender in an era of feminism, a period powerfully influenced by feminist thought, has been the focus of research in the field of translation studies. Issues of gendered identity within translation was first introduced by feminist thinkers in the 1960s and 1970s to question the cultural and political powerlessness of women (von Flotow, 1997: 5). The emergence of Canadian feminist translations (Godard, 1990, Lotbinià ¨re-Harwood 1991; von Flotow 1991), established a school of work, modelling a theory from incorporating feminist ideology into translation, which resultantly has influenced international translation studies. The pre-established notion that language was not only a man-made artefact but an expressive tool to reflect on male ideology impelled discussions of gender and translation. Contemporary theorists viewed this patriarchal language, traditionally used in largely male-run institutions such as universities, as an instrument of womens oppression (Lotbinià ¨re-Harwood 1991; von Flotow 1991). Needing to radically change these conventions, feminist translating during the 1970s sought to undermine and subvert patriarchal language, to introduce new, experimental ways of writing so that language could be used as a cultural intervention; an endeavour to alter expressions of dominance whether at the level of syntax or semantics (Simon, 1996: 9). Feminist theories have also initiated a revision of the terms central to translation studies and feminism, such as traditional hierarchies and gendered roles, and rules defining fidelity. Under the influence of the cultural turn, contemporary translation was not only an operation of linguistic transfer, but also one that created new textual forms and introduced new paradigms of knowledge. Translation is considered as a way of engaging with literature; where the feminist thought creates new lines of cultural communication, where translators are involved in a politics of transmission (Simon1996:viii). In addition, feminist theorisers saw a parallel between womens oppression in language and culture and its association to the devaluation of translation (Chamberlain, 1992). Translations themselves, given that they are secondary pieces of work, have negatively been linked with implications of discursive inferiority. The authority of the original over the reproduction is linked with imagery of masculinity and femininity; the original is considered the strong generative male, the translation the weaker and derivative female. (Simon, 1996: 1)  [1]  From this, the art of translating has been envisioned as a feminine activity (Simon 1996; Flotow 1997). Nonetheless, despite its historical status as a weak and passive composition, translating has offered a means of expression for women; allowing them to contribute to the intellectual and political aspects of society. In precedent years, scholarly authorship was primarily regarded as a male activity in European culture, and published literary work by women was susceptible to accusations of presumption (Krontiris 1992: 17-18).  [2]  Adversely, translation offered an opportunity for women to become involved in literary culture in a way that did not openly challenge social or literary power arrangements. Another theoretical view challenges the belief that the status of translation is analogous to that of women. Simon (1996) distinguishes a language of sexism in translation studies, noting connotations with dominance, fidelity and betrayal. Representative of this is the seventeenth century adage of les belles infidà ¨les, a term coined by Gilles Mà ©nage to describe the French practice of translation.  [3]  4The idea it encapsulates is that translations, like women, can be either beautiful or faithful, but not both; thus, being viewed as mutually exclusive. The term has hence come to signify a type of translation that diverges from its original to an extent that it betrays the source text. Such disparaging comparisons lead to objections and strong criticism on behalf of the feminist thinkers. According to Chamberlain (1992), terms such as les belles infidà ¨les express the traditional depreciation of both women and translation, resulting in the basis of feminist translation the ory: to identify and critique the tangle of concepts which relegates both women and translation to the bottom of the social and literary ladder (Simon, 1996: 1). From the revioson of such theories, it is discernible that taking a feminist approach on translation seeks to challenges the conventional hierarchies in society. Issues of language and gender have become intertwined, where gender can be seen as an element of identity and in some ways, takes form through social consciousness (Spivak, 1990). Applying a feminist voice to translation projects allows a translator to assert her identity and ideological stance. The feminist translator shows her critical judgement and her interminable re-reading and re-writing, flaunts the signs of her manipulation of the text highlighting her role on determining meaning to her work (Godard 1990: 91). What feminist theory highlights is this renewed sense of agency in translation, allowing the reader to make cultural sense of the difference between original and translation. Feminist translation endeavours to extend and develop the intention of the source text. Sherry Simon (cited in Arrojo, 1994) argues that the remarkable aspect of translation is that represents equivalence in difference. Taking into account the feminist perspective, provides an alternative voice to the original text, aiming to make the feminine visible in language (De Lotbiniere-Harwood, 1996: 15). Von Flotow (1997: 10) also expresses this intent by stating, if we continue to speak the same language, we will reproduce the same (his)story, therefore showing the need to create new lines of transmission. Exemplary of this approach is the Bible where revised versions provide a fresh vantage point for the reader. The eventual production of The Womens Bible (Stanton, 1895) was an attempt to draw attention to the sexist nature of current translations.  [5]  It was seen as a way to develop a language in an effort to alter expressions of domination and de-construct patriarchal language. political motive De Lotbinià ¨re-Harwood defined translation as a political activity making language speak for women. (Santaemilla, 2005: 36) but needs a limitation. Duly, feminist translation opens up the question of fidelity, which has been an established quandary throughout the history of translation.  [6]  The meaning of the original and the message intended for the reader can be uncertain and constantly subject to interpretation and distortion. A translation significantly altered will result in the work being an adaptation rather than a reproduction of the source text. Determinately, an excessive amount of manipulation will result in a loss of originality, where Brazilian critic Rosemary Arrojo (1994), states that it is contradictory to claim fidelity to a text one deliberately subverts.  [7]   However, for feminist translations, fidelity is to be directed toward the writing project itself, rather than to the authors original or the reader (Simon, 1996). Though there is recognition that the translator arbitrates the role of interventionist, as she reproduces faithfully but has scope for intervention, albeit this does not mean that the translation can be free in her reproduction but that her work should be shaped and focused by its final aims.  [8]   Another constraint is that translations themselves are made for a target audience, usually dependent on the receptor language. Likewise, a radically feminist text will only target one specific readership Equally, certain problems can arise from attempting to translate a highly masculine text With the prevalence of machismo in Spain and Latin America, the work of translating cultural gender differences has repeatedly raised issues of sexism. Suzanne Levine (1983: 83), experiences difficulties when translating metaphors and images referring negatively to women, questioning whether to repeat the same archetype in her translation.  [9]  Not only will it possess a question of fidelity but also a loss of originality. The presence of a system of sexist thinking in an authors work can make it very difficult to translate with a feminist approach. Obviously, the substance of the work represents a certain meaning that the author aspires to express, a meaning behind the choice of words, and through feminist thinking, this message could be lost through translation. Another obstacle when appropriating a feminist translation may stem from cultural problems rather than linguistic. Trying to re-work a text that is reflective of a specific time period it is written manifests difficulties. Translations of various books from the Bible have incorporated the use of neutral pronouns in an attempt to eliminate male-bias language (Haugerud, 1977).  [10]  Feminist revisions of the Bible do not seek to change the content of the text but are rather concerned with the language in which this content is expressed.  [11]  In riposte, Nida (cited in von Flotow, 1997: 55) asserts that the Bible needs to be read in the context of the male-dominated society in which it originated. Bearing these factors in mind, revising the language from a radically feminist perspective can considerably change the tone and meaning. Gender neutrality can be a way to explicitly avoid a Karen Nà ¶lle-Fischer (1995) translation has shown her the immense benefits of a language in which gender need not be immediately revealed in the nouns, adjectives or participles an author uses. In English, it is easy to postpone revealing the sex of any character, thus heightening the effect of gender when this mysterious person turns out to be contrary to what is believed.. It is thus possible to maintain ambiguities leave things up to the readers imagination and not impose one particular reading. It is difficult to maintain this ambiguity in gender marked languages. Given the characteristics inherent in languages with grammatical gender, where it explicitly references the sex of the noun, translators providing an English version of the source text will face uncertainties when translating. Canadian feminist translators innovated to find new formulas of expression that did not erase the gender marks of the original (Lotbinià ¨re-Harwood 1991; von Flotow 1991).  [12]   When looking at the contents page of the text, various language manipulations occur, in the titles of the short stories. The majority of them reflect on the translators position to remain neutral when re-working the gender-marked Spanish: Regalo para una novia, where sweetheart has been chosen instead of the more obvious girlfriend. This again can be seen with El huà ©sped de la maestra, without making explicit references to the sex ot the subjects in English.  [13]   Another difference can be seen with the translation of a word, as is explicit in Marà ­a la boba. Boba which refers to silly or naÃÆ' ¯ve gives off a negative connotation, but the English simple is quite neutral, reflecting that the author wished not to attribute a negative connotation to Marà ­a, Peden presenting her own feminist perspective. Yet probably the most striking alteration is with Nià ±a perversa, where not only does the English opt out of referencing the sex of the child, but translates perversa as wicked. Although accurately, wicked is a true rendering of the word perversa, the two do not share the same connotation even after having read the story.  [14]   However, if perversa was translated as perverted in the English, it would have a rather stronger connotation than the Spanish, and thus ascertaining the issues behind a cultural sense of the difference between original and translation. The alteration in the translation is not of a significant difference, demonstrating Simons belief of equivalence in difference. Another example where meaning is sometimes lost through translation is during the opening paragraph of the story. The young girl, Elena, is described as skinny and unattractive, as una cachorra desnutrida where the English translates as a scrawny whelp. A few lines on, with regards to Elenas solitary character she is referred to as una gata, where Peden writes a waif. Does mean wicked but dependent on the context, and I dont think it applies here. In the Spanish the metaphors plants a specific image in the readers mind, which is therefore lost in the English translation, as there is no build up of metaphors.  [15]   Interestingly, the translation does not take a strong feminist approach, showing that all translations need not be radically feminine. Pedens English translation remains faithful to the original text, rendering the meaning of Allendes stories within her new reproductions.

The Relationship Between Katherine and Bianca in The Taming of the Shre

The Relationship Between Katherine and Bianca in The Taming of the Shrew   Ã‚   William Shakespeare is considered the greatest playwright of all time.   His gift for developing characters is one major aspect that accounts for this lofty acknowledgement.   Shakespeare created various characters from drunks and fools to kings and generals.   The characters are so human and so real that the audience can see aspects of their own personalities represented on stage for better or worse.   Inadvertently, Shakespeare's ability to characterize any type of person demonstrates his holistic education and knowledge of everything from military strategy and open sea sailing to music and religion.   As a result of Shakespeare's true-to-life characters, the relationship between Katherine and Bianca in The Taming of the Shrew is completely realistic, reflective of every aspect of the ever-present phenomenon of sibling rivalry.      Some people believe that sibling rivalry is nothing more than a series of petty disputes between hyperactive adolescents, a childhood trauma that most people outgrow. However, sibling rivalry also encompasses much more serious cases, like the permanent enmity between adult siblings. This phenomenon was studied extensively in the nineteenth century, when Charles Darwin presented his theory of evolution.   At that time, he said that one of the major causes of sibling rivalry is natural, and it occurs in nature when the competition is usually for food.   Specifically, whenever two individuals that consume the same type of food co-exist in the same area, they fight with each other until one of them manages to kill or drive the other out, leaving the winner with the exclusive use of the food resources a... ...es and further contributing to Shakespeare's reputation as the greatest dramatist and finest poet that the world has ever known.    Works cited:    Barton, Ann.   "The Taming of the Shrew." The Riverside Shakespeare 2nd ed. Ed. Dean Johnson et al. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1997.   138-141.    Daniel, David. "Shakespeare and the Role of Women." The Cambridge Companion to Shakespeare Studies.   Ed. Stanley Wells. Cambridge:   Cambridge UP, 1987.    Darwin, Charles.   Descent of Man.   New York: Prometheus Books, December 1997.    Fox, Levi, ed.   The Shakespeare Handbook. Boston:   G.K. Hall & Co., 1987.    Newman, Joan.   "Conflict and Friendship in Sibling Relationships: A Review."   Child Study Journal, 1994: 119-143.    Shakespeare, William.   The Taming of the Shrew.   New York: Simon and Schuster Trade, April 1991.

The Caucasus, Madagascar and Caribbean Islands: Biodiversity Hotspots

Biodiversity Hotspots The Caucasus: The Caucasus hotspot, historically interpreted as the area of land between the Black and Caspian seas, covers a total area of 580,000 km. Located at a biological crossroads, species from Central and Northern Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa mingles here with endemics found nowhere else. One of the most biologically rich regions on Earth, the Caucasus is among the planet’s 25 most diverse and endangered hotspots. The Caucasus is one of WWF’s Global 200 ‘ecoregions’ identified as globally outstanding for biodiversity.The Caucasus has also been named a large herbivore hotspot by WWF’s Large Herbivore Initiative. Eleven species of large herbivores, as well as five large carnivores, are found over a relatively small area to be endemic. The 2002 IUCN Red List identifies 50 species of globally threatened animals and one plant in the Caucasus. Among the IUCN species, 18 have restricted ranges or are e ndemics. The Caucasus Mountains harbor a wealth of highly sought after medical and decorative plants, as well as a vast endemism of plant communities. [pic]Spanning the borders of six countries, the Caucasus hotspot is a globally significant center of cultural diversity, where a multitude of ethnic groups, languages and religions intermingle over a relatively small area. Close cooperation across borders will be required for conservation of unique and threatened ecosystems, while helping to foster peace and understanding in an ethnically diverse region with a history of contrasting political and religious views. The Caucasus is a hotspot of plant and animal species diversity and endemism important for the conservation of biodiversity on a global scale.High levels of landscape diversity in the Caucasus are largely the result of altitude variability in the region. The unique geology and terrain, consisting of three major mountain chains separated by valleys and plains, permit a variety of different microclimate, soil and vegetative conditions. Climatic conditions are very diverse, with precipitation ranging from more than 4,000 mm per year in the southwestern Caucasus to less than 200 mm a year in deserts in the eastern Caucasus. These wide ranges of climatic conditions are a key factor that makes this area such a biologically important area.The Caribbean islands: [pic] The Caribbean Islands Biodiversity Hotspot is exceptionally important for global biodiversity conservation, due to high levels of species endemism and threat. The Caribbean is home to approximately 11,000 plants species, of which 72% are endemic to the region. The vertebrates are also characterized by extremely high levels of endemism: 100% of 189 amphibian species, 95% of 520 reptile species, 74% of 69 mammal species and 26% of 564 species birds are unique to the Caribbean Islands.In terms of endemism at the genus (biological classification of living organisms) ranking level, it ranks third among the world’s 34 Biodiversity Hotspots with 205 plants and 65 vertebrate genera endemic to the islands. Species restricted to the Caribbean Islands Biodiversity Hotspot represent 2. 6% of the world’s 300,000 plants species and 3. 5% of the world’s 27,298 vertebrate species). The high level of biological diversity in the Caribbean is due to several factors. During the early Cretaceous (120 to 140 million years b. ), a chain of volcanic islands (called Proto-Antilles) began to emerge along the eastern edge of the Caribbean Plate in the Pacific Ocean. The plate drifted eastward serving as a stepping-stone route exchange of terrestrial organisms between two previously separated regions. By the Eocene era (58 million years a. c), the core of the Greater Antilles achieved their present positions. The Lesser Antilles are the active remnants of an ancient volcanic chain, and are younger than the Greater Antilles.Several islands have particularly rugged and mountainous la ndscapes separated by large stretches of sea, which resulted in the isolation of populations. The Caribbean has suffered from high levels of habitat loss since the arrival of Europeans in the 1490s. This destruction has reduced the hotspot’s original estimated 229,549km2 of natural vegetation to just 22,955km2(or just 10%). The loss of native habitat combined with other threat factors, such as introduced (alien invasive) species, has resulted in severe and widespread degradation of the Caribbean’s unique biodiversity.Currently, 755 plants and vertebrate species are at risk of extinction, making the region one of the biodiversity hotspots holding the most globally threatened species. Madagascar: [pic] Madagascar is an island off the coast of Africa which is known to have some of the world's most interesting animals. It has a land area of 600,461 km?. About 80 percent of the species found in Madagascar live nowhere else on the planet. Madagascar is the forth largest isla nd in the world and broke away from the mainland about 160 million years ago. Therefore, the hotspot is a living example of species evolution in isolation.Despite close proximity to Africa, the islands do not share any of the typical animal groups of nearby Africa, making Madagascar home to a vast variety of endemic species. The island contains 5% of animal and plant species on Earth, with 80% endemic to the island. Madagascar is thought to have 11,600 endemic species of plant, 57 threatened endemic birds and 51 threatened endemic mammals. 18,482km of the island is protected land. Western areas of the island consist of dry savannah with deserts found in central regions. The eastern side of Madagascar facing the Indian Ocean is tropical rainforest with a high level of rainfall.The island is also host to several high mountain ecosystems. These biomes each support contrasting species, portraying the contrasting ecoregions in Madagascar. Madagascar and the surrounding islands have a tot al of eight plant families, four bird families, and five primate families that live nowhere else on Earth. Madagascar has more than 50 lemur species which are commonly associated with the island and are the focal point for conservation. The carnivorous fossa is another example of an endemic species as well as six Baobab species (huge trees with wide stumps).There are so many species endemic to Madagascar that some ecologists have called it â€Å"the eighth continent†. Many of these species, such as the fossa, are now considered to be an endangered species, with only about 2,500 mature fossa individuals in existence. Tenrecs, a family of small omnivorous mammals, primarily find their home on Madagascar, with 30 species found only there, and just 3 on the African mainland. There are numerous other species endemic to Madagascar, including 14 unique rodents, 15 species of bat, various chameleons and geckos, over a hundred birds, and hundreds of beetles and other insects.Conservat ion efforts must proceed aggressively to preserve this unique Madagascar fauna. Specific locations in Madagascar which are renowned for high biodiversity are situated on the eastern coast which is mainly tropical rainforest. These areas have year-round warmth and receive a lot of rainfall. Interestingly, the soils in the rainforest are poor because most of the biomes nutrients are locked up in the vegetation. In terms of flagship species in Madagascar, Baobabs are considered to be flagship trees for landscape conservation in western Madagascar, unique and individual features to the island landscape.Madagascar has seven of the world's eight Baobab tree species, six of them endemic to the island. Another endemic flagship plant to the island is the traveler's tree or palm, pollinated by the island's flagship vertebrate species, the lemurs. The tomato frog is a flagship amphibian of Madagascar, found only in a small corner of northeastern Madagascar. Threats to biodiversity Of the 10,00 0 plants native to Madagascar, 90% are found nowhere else in the world. Madagascar's varied fauna and flora are endangered by human activity, as a third of its native vegetation has disappeared since the 1970s, and only 18% remains intact.However, there are several national parks which have been established to help protect many of the endemic species. Extensive deforestation has taken place in parts of the country, reducing certain forest habitat and applying pressure to some endangered species. Madagascar has a population growth rate of approximately 3%, therefore, with a growing population, more of the islands endemic species become at risk due to the increase in human activity and development.

Discuss evolutionary explanations of gender Essay

According to the evolutionary explanations of gender, the reasons behind gender roles and characteristics seen today is due to the passing down of genes through natural selection from our ancestors who were able to successfully survive and reproduce over 500,000 years ago. Natural selection is the process of physical and psychological traits being passed down from one generation to another due to it being advantageous to survival and reproduction. For example humans with a wider hand shape were able to toss spears better when hunting and therefore were able to successfully survive and reproduce resulting in humans today particularly men having larger and wider hands. A stem of natural selection is known as sexual selection. Sexual selection is the process of passing down traits both physical and psychological that are an advantage for attracting mates for reproduction. The evolutionary theory for gender believes that due to sexual selection gender behaviours, such as females being child-rearing and males being workers occur. From these processes, evolutionary psychologists developed the hunting hypothesis. The hunting hypothesis states that the men who were hunters during the evolutionary stages and were successful due to their strength, aggression and spatial skills were able to survive and pass on their genes. The weaker men who were less aggressive and had less spatial skills were unable to survive and reproduce meaning these genes died off thus resulting in men today being more aggressive, strong and having good spatial skills. As woman did not hunt and we more likely to be raising the children and caring for others, they were less aggressive, strong, and had less spatial skills. Instead woman during these days had better communicational skills and according to this theory, it is due to this that woman today are better at communicating than men and are usually also weaker and less aggressive. Another theory supported by evolutionary psychologists as an explanation for gender is known as the parental investment theory devised by Trivers (1972) which states that the differences in the investment in a child and future reproduction are due to evolutionary differences. For example, during the evolutionary ages men were likely to have sex with numerous women in order to successfully pass on their genes. Therefore these characteristics were passed down in natural selection and can be used to explain why men today tend to be far more promiscuous than women. In females, during the evolutionary ages woman searched and preferred men with good resources and genes for themselves and their offspring. Evolutionary psychologists and Trivers believe that this is the reason for woman today being less promiscuous and being more careful when selecting a mate. (AO2): Support for Trivers Parental Investment comes from research carried out by Buss (1989) who sampled 10,000 males and females from 33 different countries and asked what they looked for in a partner for marriage. Buss found that women said they look for ‘good financial reports’ in men and men said they look for ‘physical attractiveness’ and ‘younger females’. This supports Trivers theory as it provides evidence of woman placing an important on resources and men on physical attractiveness and young woman which may be in order for successful reproduction. Buss’s research was highly reliable due to the large sample used and various countries participating. This made the study generalizable to a wide population. Buss also used questionnaires in his study which was a good experimental method as it allowed the possibility of a large sample, however the use of questionnaires exposes the research to social desirability bias as the participants may have answered the questions falsely in order to appear acceptable. This matters because this could mean the results found many not be valid. Although the results provide a strong support for Trivers theory in explaining gender, the results given may not be a valid support, suggesting for research must be carried out in order to fully support Trivers theory of parental investment in explaining gender. Another supporting study comes from research carried out by psychologists in Lancaster University. They repeated the research carried out on Buss on a smaller sample using an online questionnaire with undergraduates and found that women chose wealth as the most important in a mate and men chose attractiveness. This supports the parental investment theory as it shows the evidence of the gender difference in men and women in terms of reproduction and commitment. This study is also highly reliable as the study can be easily repeated and provide the same results. However due to the study being carried on only undergraduates the results cannot be generalised to a wider population of older adults and elderly. This matters because although it provides evidence of the evolutionary approach of gender being seen today, we cannot be sure that the results given in this study was purely down to genetics rather than other factors such as individual differences. This suggests that more research must be carried out focusing on genetics in order to support Trivers theory as an explanation for gender. The evolutionary explanation of gender provides a valid approach to gender behaviours and characteristics which can be clearly seen today and supported in research. However this approach fails to consider other factors in gender such as psychological factors. For example women desiring men with wealth due to economic reasons such as less jobs, rather than the successful rearing of children. Also the evolutionary approach fails to provide an explanation for the promiscuity of women today or the men that do not want to have children. These situations are best explained by social approaches suggesting that a theory considering both genetics and social factors would be best in explaining gender.