To What Extent are Single Mothers a Drag on Society Essay

To What Extent are Single Mothers a Drag on Society - Essay Example This has been mainly because of the fact that a large number of single mothers also have to work to earn a living for their children and despite having jobs, it has been found that it is still difficult for them to make ends meet. Â  Studies that have been conducted in recent years have shown that the presence of a father in a child’s life is extremely important in ensuring that they develop in a proper environment where they feel safe. However, the lack of paternal presence in the lives of children can be very difficult for these children and it has been found that a large number of children brought up by single mothers end up being delinquents. This is mainly because of the fact that many mothers are often out working in order to make ends meet and because they have no partner to spend time with the children and guide them when they are away, it creates a situation where children come into the influence of their peers (Son & Bauer, 2010). The result is that a large number of children end up getting involved in drug abuse and crime from an early age and this is because of the mental deficiency that comes about because of the lack of one parent. While it is highly commendable for single mothers to work hard to support their children, this is often also counterproductive because they spend too much time from their children, ensuring that there is a lack of communication between them (Christopher, England, Smeeding & Katherin, 2002). This is where the presence of a father is important because even though both parents may work, at least one of them will be able to spare time to spend with the children and this makes it possible for the children to appreciate their presence. In addition, the presence of two working parents ensures that there is more income for the family, resulting in less need to work long hours to make ends meet.

Opinions of Experts in the Search for Knowledge Research Paper

Opinions of Experts in the Search for Knowledge - Research Paper Example his is where the expert and the ordinary individuals diverge, in the way they form their opinion, then acquire and interpret knowledge. Who is an Expert? According to Christine Hogan (2000), â€Å"an expert is a person with a high level of intelligence, skills or knowledge in a particular sphere, reinforced by publicity and honors by others, by research and publications† (57). A more complicated definition was posited by Kurz-Milcke and Gigerenzer (2004), who stressed that an expert is a social figure in the distribution of knowledge – those who, in comparison to most, not only have more knowledge but also are able to manage knowledge transfers (42). The authors further explained that an expert can only become an expert by way of his or her performances wherein he or she translates and integrates knowledge into popular meaning systems (42). And so, a learned person who has merely acquired knowledge but has not displayed or demonstrated his learning cannot be considered one. Society will not accord him or her the status of an expert unless work or several works were published that would support his being so. No one can claim such title or role without the explicit consent of many individuals, institutions, and organizations. It is, hence, easy, based on the previous two definitions, to identify whether one is interacting with an expert. An expert is someone who has previous knowledge or expertise on the subject and also he or she is known to have demonstrated those characteristics, one who built his reputation, translating it into status and recognition from the society he belongs. An individual will know that he is talking with an expert if that person speaks authoritatively, especially basing from his specialized skills and experiences in addition to the credibility he has earned in the society. The society reinforces this with recognition since its institutions value performance and contributions to the continuing search for knowledge. The above definitions also reveal an important variable - why an expert’s opinion is valuable and this is demonstrated in several areas of knowledge.