Wednesday 16 October 2013

The salience of a dissertation

The role of a dissertation in the academic experience of a student is, by all means, not to be underestimated. Educators look at a dissertation as an all-encompassing effort. It stands for the totality of the learning experience. The brilliance of a dissertation is measured on a yard-stick which comprises of: format, linguistics, consistency, source of information and the eventual presentation. The littlest acts of indiscretion can amount to a thesis being rapidly, dismissed and not afforded another chance.

For years, students have been haunted by the research and format-oriented subtleties of a dissertation. The pupils have reached out to the preoccupied librarians, inaccessible educators and research assistants with little or no success. The most profound part of working on a dissertation includes the creation of telling bibliographies and conjugating the invaluable research work to support the hypothesis in an author’s preface.

There are a number of dissertations. Some of which are as follows:

Engineering
Law
Management
Nursing
Social Science

The pursuit of a PhD or preparing a thesis can be a daunting task. The people without a plethora of resources at their disposal can find the research taking weeks or months at the very least. Scholars have realised that the process of writing can come to the rescue of pupils. In order to do so, pragmatic examples to aid in the creation of subject matter are a concept to conjure with. Learning the hard way may just what an ambitious and zealous student needs. The main emphasis is laid on teaching one’s own self by the existing thesis. The usage of erstwhile dissertations is promoted by many an educator, for it assists in elaborating what is anticipated. 

A student should at this juncture ask himself questions such as:

How can I find assistance or guidance to write a telling dissertation?
How would learning by example afford me an astute approach to finesse the hypothesis?
In what way would the technology simplify the learning by example ideology?
What organisations give concrete research assistance and examples of dissertations on a myriad topic?

The Dissertation service provider plays an integral role: 

A credible firm follows a methodical and structured approach for its services. On one hand it makes the whole process basic; on the other hand, the cooperative modus operandi enhances the level of service. If given a prim and proper description, a consulting service provider can allocate the ingenious and enviable resources to achieve results that are both, inspiring and inspired.

Elk Consulting happens to be one such firm that embodies the attributes one would associate with a professional organisation.



Friday 11 October 2013

Research: A nonpareil way to gain intellect

Do you wish to attain excellence in knowledge?

Intensive research system is a perfect way to attain insight. The first thing is to define your field of interest that instills proficiency. It is mandatory to cast a right topic banking upon the field where your expertise lays. A comparably satisfying research can be produced if the topic is thought provoking. More you are attached emotionally with a topic; more you are likeable to produce intriguing research. An interesting topic can catch hold of a researcher; a dynamic researcher can conceive an interesting research. 

Envisage it as a challenge

The challenge is to bring out a broader perspective of your topic. To lay down the research innovatively and magnetizing the mass to your wonderfully premeditated research. You should possess skills to conduct good research. Scrutinize your topic broadly and lay a strong foundation of your research. At times the unworthy research has the tendency to bore someone stiff. Google has made research easier. The search engine allows you to type first few letters of your topic and opens several related links giving way to a wider research.

Exercise your brainpower

A contented mind aggrandizes cognition. More you are relaxed, better you do the research. Today, the successful companies have best researchers working for them as they chase the theory of tranquility work. A panicked researcher will turn the interesting research into a dull one; on the contrary, a calm minded researcher would creatively beautify the dull research material.

Elucidate your target market

Your research will be confined to a limited market. Try and analyze the topics that will interest the community. This will not only entice the mass to read your research but also boost confidence in you to produce similar kind of searches thereby awakening your interest in researching. The external factors have a significant role in defining a good research. The positive reviews for a research posted enables the researcher to research and conclusively express eloquently. 

Research provides greater insight experience. Besides tremendous knowledge you gain out of research, it is also characterized as a tool for killing boredom. Research work can turn out to be interesting for those working from home. A consortium of men and women can breakdown the research work amidst them, collect the research material, have a prolonged discussion and address it. Delegating work will ensure more accurate and efficient results.

Wednesday 9 October 2013

Probable resources for a literature review

Today, a thorough literature review is one of the most important aspects of any research initiative. Any research is incomplete without it. A thorough literature review would entail an in-depth investigation into the available resources and providing appropriate citations within any research.

Any research would definitively begin with a literature review. Most of the studies undertaken today have a precedent somewhere and a similar research would have been undertaken at some location across the world. An in-depth investigation into the available resources is the starting point for any effective literature review. Research involving ground-breaking topics or esoteric issues would provide an uphill battle in the literature review part of the study. However, most studies can follow a simple path for incorporating a comprehensive literature review in their research.


  • Library: A local library can be assumed as the first stop to research for the available literature on a particular topic. However, because of the voluminous data present in any library, this can be a time-consuming process. In several libraries, literature that is not available can be loaned from another library in the vicinity. However, such options depend on the library and the options available with it. A much faster and popular method of searching for resources is the World Wide Web.
  • Google Scholar: It is one of the largest online resources available for topic hunting. Most of the currently available literature is available at anyone’s fingertips. With myriad options to refine and categorize the searches, it provides a plethora of options for information retrieval in the shortest possible time. It also offers a very intuitive and fast-loading interface and links to all the related information. One of the most formidable advantages of Google Scholar is the option that it provides for importing citations in some popular formats, namely, BibTeX, EndNote, RefMan, and RefWorks. With the availability of expressing citations in popular formats (MLA, APA, and Chicago Manual of Style), Google Scholar ensures that the perfect literature review is only a few clicks away.

The literature review is also an integral part of any bibliography and reference sections. All the literature used in any research has to be cited in order to avoid claims of plagiarism from the reviewing and publishing authorities. The bibliography should be as detailed as the literature review section, and both these sections are inherently intertwined.

A comprehensive literature review can go a long way in ensuring the publication of the perfect paper.




How to use a yellow pages directory to find services

A yellow pages directory is a listing of businesses, services, and relevant organizations that provide a particular set of services. They are either organized alphabetically or as per their category in order to facilitate information retrieval. Before the advent of the Internet, yellow pages were available as a heavyset directory with comprehensive listings of local businesses. If a particular service is required, the categorized listings could be perused, and the corresponding contact information could be procured. Most yellow pages directories require constant updating in the form of new directories being sent as and when updates are available in the listings or at select intervals, which is a cumbersome process. Further, the supply and coordination required to ensure all the target customers receive the required information is a time-consuming process. 

With the advent of the Internet and various paraphernalia associated with it, it has become far simpler to advertise and procure information from a “yellow pages” directory. Online directories have retained the nomenclature “yellow pages.” Online versions of the yellow pages directory are available in two forms: on the World Wide Web or on discs. The former is more ubiquitous in nature, since the latter require a dedicated system with access to disc readers so that the stored directory information can be accessed. In the case of online directories, most of the popular ones have cross-platform versions that can provide seamless access to the voluminous information. With various versions available for computer and mobile platforms, customers can be kept updated with the latest information in the shortest possible time. Further, updating of the systems as well as the information contained therein can be done within a very short duration, facilitating the up-to-date dissemination of information.

One of the advantages of online access is the efficiency of information retrieval. Most directory services provide a gamut of search options. Searches can be categorized as per requirement: category, name, locality, price range, and so on. They also have various options for sharing the collated information. The search results can be shared via e-mail, sent as a text message to cellular devices, can be marked/tagged as favorites, shared on popular social networking Web sites, and so on. As per the latest statistics provided by Forbes, more than 80% consumers that are looking for a new product/service will first go to the Internet to search for the relevant information; a printed set of yellow pages comes second.

All these available options can be successfully used to facilitate information categorization and efficient retrieval.


Video marketing and its importance

The explosion in the number of video-hosting sites on the Internet can provide an indication about the popularity of video sharing among the masses. One of the most popular video-hosting sites, YouTube, provides the largest collection of videos in the world. As per the latest statistics, more than 1 billion unique users visit YouTube each month watching over 6 billion hours of video, which is almost an hour of video viewing for every living person on the planet. Almost 100 hours of videos are uploaded on the streaming site every minute. YouTube is just one of the many popular video-sharing Web sites available on the World Wide Web. Other popular examples include Vimeo, MetaCafe, DailyMotion, Veoh, Vevo, and so on. The latest study by comScore (“2013 India Digital Future in Focus”) has revealed that over 54 million Indians have watched online videos on their computers in 2013, an increase of 27 percent over the same period last year.

The above statistics reveal a stark reality: video marketing can serve as a potent tool in any marketing endeavor. Videos are better at telling a story than a set of pictures or photographs. It has to be kept in mind that videos need to be made exactly according to requirements. The marketing manager for any business has to realize one fact: the patience of a customer for watching videos is extremely fickle. The video has to be confidently made and the same should show in the video, too, in order to retain the targeted customer so that he/she views the entire video and all the information contained therein is transferred. Various metrics have revealed the trends of audience retention and attention span: a simple conclusion that has been attained from these metrics is that shorter videos have a larger audience retention time than longer videos. The following can provide a brief into how to make an effective video for marketing purposes:

  • Make a good start: Ensure that the video has a nice and compelling start. The first ten seconds is sufficient for the audience to ensure the likeability of the video.

  • Tell a story: Ensure that you tell a vivid story. Loop different areas of the video with good music to ensure audience retention.

  • Snapshots of the video content: Most Web sites provide the option to facilitate the placing of proper thumbnails of the videos. Ensure that these thumbnails are appropriate and properly placed to ensure no confusion in the minds of the viewer.

A good video can ensure effective and stress-free marketing and offer better accessibility to the masses.


Creating a perfect online profile for publicity

The latest study by comScore (“2013 India Digital Future in Focus”) has revealed some very encouraging statistics. The Internet-enabled population of India has increased by 31 percent for a year-on-year basis. The total connected population is almost 74 million people. The above revelation comes at the behest of the growing population wanting to connect with friends, family, and work colleagues in a more seamless manner. The prevalence of social networking sites (such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr, etc.) and their explosion onto the scene have given Internet users something to cheer about in the new millennium. 

Consider this: as of June 30, 2013, more than 82 million Indians have a Facebook profile. Moreover, an Indian user spends an average of 217 minutes (over three-and-a-half hours) on Facebook every month. Further, as of July 2013, almost 555 million people worldwide had a Twitter account with more than 135,000 users signing up every day. To put things into perspective, it only takes 5 days for the registered users to generate a billion “tweets.”

Going by the figures mentioned above, it has become vital to have the perfect online profile in order to achieve effective publicity. This online presence (sometimes known as an online avatar) has become popular as the first point of contact for any and every person. A simple search on any search engine would reveal various profiles associated with a particular name. Therefore, it has become imperative to ensure that such profiles are appropriately designed and structured to provide the best first impression. In the online world, the old adage “The first impression is the last impression” could not be more appropriate. In order to make a lasting impression, the necessary details as required by the domain should be appropriately highlighted. These can range from photos, educational and experiential qualifications, and so on. The online profile can be made as per the target audience. For example, in the case of a film celebrity or model, the online presence would involve a lot of photographs and details about their film-graphs, if any. In the case of a businessperson, the profile would have several links to associated business ventures, products and services offered, experience in executing various projects, and so on.

One of the most important things to take note of whilst using your online profile is setting up the “privacy” settings. Identity theft is a growing menace facing the online community. In order to ensure a safe and secure online avatar, you must make some efforts. Setting up the online privacy settings for restricting access to known profiles/people (inherent in all popular information sharing platforms) can facilitate your secure presence on the World Wide Web.


Advantages of listing business on online directory

The introduction of the World Wide Web has created an entirely new paradigm for the marketing of services and businesses that are available at the click of a button for anyone interested in finding a particular business, service, or product. With an ever-increasing customer base for the Internet and the plethora of means of accessing it, the Internet can provide the best marketplace to introduce and define businesses. The deeper penetration of the Internet into areas that have been previously inaccessible or untenable for business marketing has opened a new era for business listings. As an example, India is one of the biggest markets that offer a purely consumer-driven opportunity with a humongous middle-class with a veritable spending power. The latest study by comScore (“2013 India Digital Future in Focus”) has revealed that India’s “connected” populace has increased from 56.3 million to 73.9 million as on March 31, 2013. This is a massive year-on-year increase of 31 percent. India has become the third-largest “connected” population in the world. Furthermore, there has been a shift from the use of computers as a preferred means for Internet access: mobiles have been gaining increased preference for Internet access. 

The above provides some hints into how the Internet has become a formidable avenue for information dissemination. It also provides a comparatively easy, efficient, and cost-effective way for setting up directories. For creating an online directory, a few things should be kept in mind: (1) a Website that can be navigated easily (this is to ensure that the Web site can cater to customers of varied ages); (2) the name of the Web site should reflect the business in an appropriate manner; (3) the hierarchical structure of the Web site should follow a set structure (taking a look at other popular sites and take a leaf from some of their ideas can help, too); and (4) ensuring appropriate penetration and advertisement of the Web site in local information channels. (5) Online Stationery Store


The Website should provide a one-stop destination for any and all types of customers. Care must be taken to ensure the business is explained in as simple a language as possible: esoteric text/images can only confuse your customer, which can be detrimental to business development.

With the Internet taking the front seat in the developing future of online marketing, setting-up shop with an effective online directory can go a long way in creating effective and efficient means of promoting your business.



Use of picture directories for business promotion

Every business is unique, and marketing every business also requires myriad approaches. However, one of the most common ways to promote a business is using online directories. With the prevalence of the Internet and its acceptance as a ubiquitous means of the disbursement of information, setting up an online directory can be an effective means of targeting your customers. Within the Internet paradigm, the old adage “A picture speaks a thousand words” makes a lot of business sense. For example, if you want to describe the services that you provide, you can have a synopsis of the entire service broken down into several parts and written explicitly to ensure that your targeted customers can envision the service. However, if the services provided can be better expressed in the form of a series of snapshots or photographs, the customer will not have to read through the entire synopsis (which is more time-consuming and less aesthetic) and “imagine” the entire service; the customer will get to know the service first-hand, as well as get to understand the manner in which it is provided. 

With most online directories having an explicit option for searching for businesses with “pictures” provided within their directories, the number of hits received for a particular search can dramatically increase with embedded pictures. One of the advantages of providing pictures of your business is improving the aesthetics. If the pictures are shot by a professional or by using a good camera, the purpose of uploading pictures onto an online directory is met to a large extent. There is also the need to ensure that the pictures are properly shot: by using settings such as exposure, ISO adjustments, use of flash, ensuring appropriate lighting (using proper lighting setting in the case of low-lit areas), and so on can go a long way in reinstating the purpose of setting up the pictures. If your business cannot be expressed using photographs, handmade pictorials (such flow charts, hierarchies and corresponding structures, etc.) can be used in their place to ensure effective dissemination of information.

The popularity of micro blogging sites and social sites (such as Instagram, Flickr, Facebook, etc.) are testament to the fact that pictures can add a new dimension to any kind of promotional activity. Several business practices can owe their success to effective promotional campaigns, banking to a large extent (if not entirely) on efficient use of pictures and photographs at appropriate locations in their campaigns.