The History of Voting Essay Example For Students

The History of Voting Essay Throughout the history of the U.S., voting has been a very important part of the way that our country is run, because voting has been very important so then has been public opinion. The founding fathers were afraid of the opinions of a misinformed or ignorant public. Due to this fear they set up checks on public opinion such as the Electoral College. In this way it shows that in the 1700s as in the present that public opinion is very important and confusing. The authors Walter Lippmann, V.O. Key, Jr., George Gallup, James Prothro, and Charles Grigg all believe that public opinion is very important for the effect it as on the government. In Walter Lippmanns article The Pseudo-Environment of Public Opinion Lippmann believes that public opinion is very important because it can negatively sway how the government acts. We will write a custom essay on The History of Voting specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now He believes that public opinion can be swayed all too easily by the passions. In addition to that, Lippmann also believes that the publics perception of the world is not accurate in relation to the way that the world really is. Lippmann believes that the general public is ignorant so that for public opinion to be valid the public would have to be better educated. This article indicates that even if public opinion is misinformed or swayed by the passions it is still very important because of the impact it has on government. V.O. Key, Jr. also wrote an article on public opinion called Leaders Mold and Influence Public Opinion. This article is about how the countrys leaders shape public opinion. Key agrees in general with Lippmann in that public opinion can negatively affect government because the public is generally misinformed, ignorant, and that there beliefs are based on a pseudo-environment. Key believes that the leaders of this country should not strictly follow the will of the masses, and that the leaders should be the ones doing the leading. Contrary to Lippmann, Key writes that the public is misinformed because the government has given the people the wrong or misleading information. Also that the public is in a pseudo-environment because the government has lead the public astray, or given them wrong information either on purpose or not. Based on this reading it is fair to say that Key believes that the leaders should not always follow public opinion, but public opinion is still very important because the leaders should be keeping the public well informed sot that the people can make better choices. George Gallup writes in Polling the Public that public opinion is very important and can be judged by a variety of ways. Gallup believes that to gauge public opinion you should poll them asking them a variety of questions in order to get the publics opinion on any given matter. Contrary to Lippmann and Key, Gallup does not believe that public opinion is bad, that they are misinformed or that they are ignorant. In fact Gallup writes that public opinion is very good. Gallup believes this because that while the majority of the American people are not geniuses, they are smart people and their views should be listened to. It is fair to say that from this essay Gallup believes that in a democratic society the will of the people should be heard in order to maintain the democracy in the republic. Gallup shows that he believes public opinion is very important for the leaders to listen to, and can be understood through polling. James Prothro and Charles Grigg co-wrote an article entitled What do Americans Really Believe?. This article goes along the same general lines of the article written by George Gallup in respect to how the leaders should listen to the public. Prothro and Grigg both believe, as does Gallup that public opinion is very important and that the leaders of this country should listen to the voice of the people. .u5c2502f0a1be499aa0cce532931373ed , .u5c2502f0a1be499aa0cce532931373ed .postImageUrl , .u5c2502f0a1be499aa0cce532931373ed .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u5c2502f0a1be499aa0cce532931373ed , .u5c2502f0a1be499aa0cce532931373ed:hover , .u5c2502f0a1be499aa0cce532931373ed:visited , .u5c2502f0a1be499aa0cce532931373ed:active { border:0!important; } .u5c2502f0a1be499aa0cce532931373ed .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u5c2502f0a1be499aa0cce532931373ed { 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; } .u5c2502f0a1be499aa0cce532931373ed:active , .u5c2502f0a1be499aa0cce532931373ed:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u5c2502f0a1be499aa0cce532931373ed .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u5c2502f0a1be499aa0cce532931373ed .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u5c2502f0a1be499aa0cce532931373ed .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u5c2502f0a1be499aa0cce532931373ed .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; } .u5c2502f0a1be499aa0cce532931373ed:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u5c2502f0a1be499aa0cce532931373ed .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u5c2502f0a1be499aa0cce532931373ed .u5c2502f0a1be499aa0cce532931373ed-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u5c2502f0a1be499aa0cce532931373ed:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Product Layouts Essay One very important way that Prothro and Griggs article differs from Gallups article is that they believe it is hard to gauge public opinion. This leads to Prothro and Griggs main point: the masses can agree with the general, or abstract statement, but when you get into the small details about the statement people .

Describe And Explain Christian Teachings About Human Rights Essays

Describe And Explain Christian Teachings About Human Rights Essays Describe And Explain Christian Teachings About Human Rights Essay Describe And Explain Christian Teachings About Human Rights Essay Essay Topic: Maus Human rights prevent any discrimination against minority groups in communities. They make sure people can speak and meet openly, ensure that people are not tortured or imprisoned without trial. Human rights allow anybody and everybody to live life without discrimination against who and what they are. Some say human rights are the right to: Basic guarantees of life To self-determination and cultural identity Participate in decision-making within the community Dissent Personal dignity Religious freedomThe term Human Rights is not mentioned in the Bible because it is a modern term. However, there are many teachings in the Bible that are related to human rights because they are about treating each other equally. Christians refer to sources of authority for further understanding of the term Human Rights. There tends to be an order of authority, which means that the teachings of some are more important than others.The order of importance, from most important to leas t, is God(through prayer), the Bible, the Church, the Pope and various other religious leaders. Christians believe that teachings from the Bible are important because they are Jesus words. The teachings of Jesus tell Christians to treat each other equally. This is because life is sacred and in the eyes of God everyone is equal. Christians should always remember the sanctity of life. The teaching that life is God given. (Genesis 1:27). As a result of this All life deserves respect. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). Not respecting a life would be similar to not respecting God.As God went to so much trouble to create life it would be wrong to destroy it, so Life should not be destroyed. (Exodus 20.13). It should also not be destroyed because Human life is precious. (Luke 12:6-7). As human life is so sacred, Jesus teaches to Love your neighbour as you love yourself. (Mathew 22:39). This means that Christians should treat others the way that they would want to be treated themselves. Christians sh ould try to love the unlovable, which is agape. Agape is Christian love and is when people should love one another and treat each other equally, no matter who they are. Help others to ensure that they are not being denied of their human rights so that one day if they themselves are put in a similar situation people will try to help them.This teaching is similar to Love your enemies. (Mathew 5:44). This again is teaching agape. Fromthis Christians should learn not to treat people differently because they do not like them. If people disobey this commandment then they are not treating people equally and are discriminating against them, therefore denying them of their human rights.Jesus says Do not judge and you will not be judged, because the judgements you give are the judgements you will get. (Mathew 7:1). This is related to the idea that it is important to help people in need. Do not show hatred towards certain people because of something they have done wrong. Do your best to help t hem and not judge because then if you yourself are put in the same situation others might help you.A well-known teaching in the Bible is I give you a new commandment. Love one another, as I have loved you. (John 13:34). This is an addition to the 10 commandments. Jesus loves everyone, treats them equally and does his best to show this love and help them. This quote teaches that Christians should love people in the same way, showing agape. This way people are not denied of their human rights.Jesus said I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of the brothers of mine, you did for me. (Mathew 25:31-46). By making them happy, showing them love and respect, Christians believe they are doing the same to God. In everyday life Christians try to help those less fortunate than themselves. They remember what Jesus said. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13).This shows genuine action for those in need. When someone is in need, Christians should help him or her without thinking about the costs to himself. Just like Jesus who lay down his life to forgive us of our sins. Jesus is a great example to everyone of how a Christians life should be lead. Jesus was a selfless person. On the walk to Emmaus he walked beside people to encourage them to keep going. They did not know who he was and he did not tell them.He did not feel that it would make any difference because he believed he was no more important than the person he was walking alongside. Christians learn from this to help those in need without selfish reasons. When Jesus fed the five thousand he only had five loaves of bread and two fish. When provided with this food he did not give it to those who he felt deserved it more than the others because to him everyone deserved it equally. He did his best to ensure that everyone was treated equally. It is clear that Christians cannot perform miracles like Jesus but should try their very best to not treat some people better than others. Christians follow Jesus example and help everyone.The parable of the Good Samaritan. (Luke 10:25-37). No matter who and what people are, learn to forgive them and help those in need. Help them in whatever way is possible because Faith without action is dead. (James 2:17). This means that it is good to be concerned with human rights and to believe it is wrong to deny people of them, but if nothing is done then that belief is not worth so much. Action needs to be taken to ensure people are given the right to dignity, freedom and respect. This does not mean acting in violent ways but simply telling people about what you think and what should be done to change what is happening.The Church gives teachings about Human rights, which should be followed. Pope John XXIII taught Each individual is truly a person with a nature that is endowed with intelligence and free will, and rights and dutiesthese rights and duties are universal and inviolable. Another teachi ng is that No rights are possible without the basis guarantees for life, including the right to adequate food, guaranteed healthcare, to decent housing.'(World Council of Churches). This was probably based upon the Bible teaching If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.Some Christians feel that it is necessary to go to extreme lengths to fight for human rights. May Christs sacrifice give us the courage to offer our own bodies for justice and peace. Oscar Romeo. As Jesus sacrificed his life for us, Christians should do the same. Not necessarily die but take action without selfish reasons. Mother Teresa agrees and says Make us worthy Lord, to serve those throughout the world who live and die poor and hungry.Christians are taught to not judge people and look down upon them. If they have what is needed to make a difference, then they should try their best to help. Camilo Torres adds his own views. Only by revolution, by changing the conc rete conditions of our country, can we enable men to practise love for each other. He teaches that action should be taken to ensure that people are not denied of their human rights. J. Robert Nelson follows on from that, saying that Christians should secure, extend and enhance human freedoms. He teaches that Christians should ensure that people have the right to freedom in everyway.All of these teachings mean that Christians are taught to be concerned with human rights. They can learn from Jesus, the Bible and many other people that by acting in the right ways they can give people the freedom of speech, the right to basic guarantees of life, to self-determination and cultural identity, to participate in decision-making within the community, to dissent, to personal dignity and to religious freedom.

Free Online Classes for West Virginia K-12 Students

Free Online Classes for West Virginia K-12 Students West Virginia offers resident students the opportunity to take online public school courses for free. Below is a list of no-cost online schools currently serving elementary and high school students in West Virginia. In order to qualify for the list, schools must meet the following qualifications: classes must be available completely online, they must offer services to state residents, and they must be funded by the government. Virtual schools listed may be charter schools, state-wide public programs, or private programs that receive government funding. List of West Virginia Online Charter Schools and Online Public Schools West Virginia Virtual School Online Charter Schools and Online Public Schools Many states now offer tuition-free online schools for resident students under a certain age (often 21). Most virtual schools are charter schools; they receive government funding and are run by a private organization. Online charter schools are subject to fewer restrictions than traditional schools. However, they are reviewed regularly and must continue to meet state standards. Some states also offer their own online public schools. These virtual programs generally operate from a state office or a school district. State-wide public school programs vary. Some online public schools offer a limited number of remedial or advanced courses not available in brick-and-mortar public school campuses. Others offer full online diploma programs. A few states choose to fund â€Å"seats† for students in private online schools. The number of available seats may be limited and students are usually asked to apply through their public school guidance counselor. Choosing a West Virginia Online Public School When choosing an online public school, look for an established program that is regionally accredited and has a track record of success. Be wary of new schools that are disorganized, are unaccredited, or have been the subject of public scrutiny. Evaluating virtual schools is important to ensure that it meets the students needs and fulfills educational requirements.

Categories of Crime Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Categories of Crime - Essay Example As stated previously, criminal law differs from civil law in that it requires an agent of the government, whether state or federal, to charge someone accused of a crime and prove that they are guilty of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Except in cases where the accused has foregone, or waived, his right to a trial by a jury, the decision of guilt or innocence must be determined by a jury of his or her peers, usually a twelve-person group of randomly selected citizens that have no knowledge of the crime that the defendant has committed (American Bar Association, 2011). This is to help protect the accused by forcing the jury to make a decision of guilt or innocence based on what they hear in the courtroom, not what they have read, heard, or seen somewhere else (American Bar Association, 2011). The two most common types of crimes prosecuted in state courts involve felonies and misdemeanors. Felonies are the more serious of the two, and usually come with a penalty of no less than 12 months in prison, and can be punishable by death in some states (Cornell University Law School, 2010). ... After the War for Independence, a push was made for less of a harsh legal system, and through the years certain crimes have undergone evolution. For example, murder was split into two categories, and a bill was duly passed by the 1794 Pennsylvania legislature to include felony murder in the category of first-degree murders (McClain, and Kahan, 2002). Other crimes as well, such as the actions that constitute a misdemeanor, have seen their own evolution through the legal system since colonial times (McClain, and Kahan, 2002). Espionage and treason differ from felonies and misdemeanor crimes in that they are most often considered federal crimes, and as such are usually tried in a federal court, not by state courts. As per the Federal Judiciary System, the federal courts are involved because the United States is quite often the party in the case. Even in cases of industrial espionage, or trade secrets, it is a federal crime made so by the Economic Espionage Act of 1996, in which two sect ions, according to the House of Representatives and Title 18 of the United States Code, criminalized the act of both foreign economic espionage, and commercial economic espionage. Espionage, according to the Miriam-Webster Dictionary, is defined as â€Å"the practice of spying or using spies to obtain information about the plans and activities especially of a foreign government or competing company†, while according to the Constitution, treason is an act of war against levied one’s own country (U.S. Government Printing). More specifically, it is defined in modern times by the U.S. Code, Title 18, which states, in part, that whoever has allegiance to the United

Research on Proliferation Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

On Proliferation - Research Paper Example According to the research findings it can therefore be said that despite the fact that every country agrees that zero tolerance on nuclear weapons is the way to keep international security, there has been a continued spread of the weapons. This leaves a question on how the terrorists groups still manage to get the weapons and what the role of the government has been in the failure of Non-Proliferation Treaty. It also leaves a question on the role of international community in regulating government-sharing weapons with the terrorist groups. Terrorists are a small number of people â€Å"who act outside the normal boundaries of morality, compassion and humanity†. With a continued nuclear technology growth, the highest possibility stands at there could be a high circulation of nuclear weapons internationally. This has lead to the government yielding to external pressures instilled by the desire to compete with other international states as far as state protection is concerned. As a means of protecting the states interests, nuclear proliferation becomes inevitable since no state like being uncertain of their security. They therefore end up involving the terrorist groups by issuing them with weapons to help in states survival. However, there are instances when terrorist groups get weapons illegally for their own reasons. They purchase them on the grounds of performing terrorist attacks to their rival groups that end up harming innocent people in the fight. Failures that have made it hard to end terrorism The issue of proliferation has remained a mystery for decades now. This has made a thorough approach more difficult to the countries seeking solutions. Its definition of it being a puzzle for many years has made a gap in the definition of its cause and effects hence making every theoretical debate not to arrive at a conclusion (Ogilvie-White 1996, 43). Having politicians at the forefront in perpetrating the phenomenon has contributed to making it difficult to determine how weapon proliferation can be without international processes. The way out is to do a thorough investigation to eliminate these perpetrators so that solutions could be arrived at. Lack of official documentation on the past nuclear proliferation has made it difficult to establish reliable sources of evidence to use against the crimes. This has led to abstractness in every debate that has been done on the same hence resulting to doubts on reliability of the information gathered (Ogilvie-White 1996, 43). Criticism has emerged making it hard to obtain valid information on causes and consequences of weapon proliferation in the international political circle. Some countries are feared to have signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty but may not follow the regulations. This has become one of the huddles facing Non-Proliferation Treaty since such countries cannot expose the terrorist groups existing within their borders. Such failures ensure that terrorism continues under the cover o f the individual government. What the role of the government has been in the failure of Non-Proliferation Treaty The government has contributed highly to having distorted evidence on proliferation through its failure to document any such occurrence as it happen. This has led to lack of reliable sources to serve as evidence in the cases against weapon proliferation. With a high foreign secrecy and small number of weapon proliferation cases, politics has proved to be more influential in the causes of proliferation. Nuclear technology funded by the government has been the force behind the production of the nuclear weapons (Ogilvie-White 1996, 44). The speculation as at now is there could be future spread in

Franklin Delano Roosevelt and His Leadership Essay -- American History

Franklin Delano Roosevelt and His Leadership On a rainy day in March 1933, a country watched eagerly as Franklin Delano Roosevelt swore in as the thirty-second president of the United States. At this time, the United States was hurting badly from a depression, soon called the Great Depression, and yearning out for a new leader who would help them. Roosevelt, also known as FDR, proved to the country that he was the right guy for the job with some of the most famous words ever said; "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself" (Franklin). Everyone in the U.S. stood behind Roosevelt through the Great Depression and even through World War II and until his death. Roosevelt proved to the nation that he was a courageous and brave leader that would help the country out, no matter what the consequence, even his own death. The rise of this great leader was not an easy one, despite being born into a wealthy family. Born on January 30th, 1882, FDR was the only child in his family, so his parents gave him tons of attention, making FDR's childhood very happy (Grapes 13). FDR was tutored through his early education from private tutors and even his parents, who traveled quit a bit. When Roosevelt was fourteen, his mother and father sent him to a boarding school for the wealthy called Groton School in Groton, Massachusetts (Schuman 16). After attending boarding school, Roosevelt went to Harvard where he became active in many school activities and charities, even becoming editor-in-chief of Crimson, Harvard's school newspaper (Grapes 14). After graduating from Harvard, FDR went on to hold many important political offices, including state senator of New York, assistant secretary of the Navy, governor of New York, and finally be... ...eassuring them, making them feel secure with his chats. Franklin D. Roosevelt was one of the greatest leaders the U.S. has ever had as the President because of the way he fulfilled everyone's universal needs. FDR had a sensitive leadership style which helped him talk with the people and let them know what was going on with the country, making them feel secure and giving them the clarity and certainty of the future. When the nation was attacked and chaos broke out, FDR was there with his courage and determination to not let anything hurt the U.S., fulfilling the need for authority. Roosevelt also united the nation through tough times with his weekly chats and his powerful speeches. Through it all, FDR is my favorite leader in the history of the U.S. because he overcame the impossible and comforted a nation through some of the toughest events in our history.

History of Psychological Profiling Essay

In the early 19th century, when astronomers timed the passage of stars overhead, they noticed that they all came up with different results. They chalked these individual differences up to differences in what they called the â€Å"personality† of the eye. Even as far back as the mid-1800’s, distinguished scholars were championing the whole person as a unit of study. From that point forward, individual psychologists began to conceptualize personality and behavior differently. Sir Fancis Galton (1822-1911) Sir Francis Galton (1822-1911) may properly be called the first practitioner of psychological testing. It has been said that he originated mental tests, and assumed that intelligence could be measured in terms of a person’s level of sensory capacity-the higher the intelligence, the higher the level of sensory discrimination. Galton also began a long line of research on mental imagery, much of which included the first extensive use of the psychological questionnaire. Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) For Sigmund Freud (1856-1939), founder of the psychoanalytic movement, personality consisted of; the ID, the Ego and the Superego, all of which he believed guide our behavior to an extent. During the 1920’s, psychoanalysis developed as a theoretical system for understanding all of human motivation and personality, not just a treatment for the mentally disturbed. William James (1842-1910) William James (1842-1910), often considered the greatest American psychologist, argued that human behavior was the result of hereditary, habits and/or instincts. Still considered a major contribution to psychology, The Principles of Psychology was published in 1890, to both acclaim and condemnation, yet remains one of the most widely read books in the field. James Mckeen Cattell (1860-1944) A contemporary of William James, James McKeen Cattell (1860-1944) is credited with influencing the movement in American psychology toward a more practical, test-oriented approach to the study of mental processes. The theme of all his research was the problem of individual difference. Alfred Binet (1857-1911) Although it was Cattell who coined the term â€Å"mental test,† it was Alfred Binet (1857-1911) who developed the first truly psychological test of mental ability in 1905 to predict school performance. That test is still in use today as the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale. John b. Watson (1878-1958) At the same time, John B. Watson (1878-1958) was founding a new trend in psychology-the behaviorist movement. Although he began his career with the study of animal behavior, he ended it by studying consumer-buying behavior. Watson exerted a major impact on advertising in the U.S. through the application of behaviorist principles, which can still be easily seen and heard in commercials and ads today. Carl Jung (1875-1961) Although once heralded by Freud as the heir apparent to the psychoanalytic movement, Carl Jung (1875-1961) came to differ with Freud on the direction of the forces that influence the human personality. Jung believed that our behavior was not exclusively shaped by our past childhood experiences, but by our future hopes, goals and aspirations as well. B.F. Skinner (1904-1990) Behaviorist B. F. Skinner (1904-1990) argued that all behavior, except verbal behavior, was merely the correlation between a stimulus and a response. He developed a program for behavioral control of societies, and more than anyone else is responsible for the large-scale use of teaching machines and techniques of behavior modification. Prior to World War I only limited attempts had been made to measure personality. For example, in the late 19th century, a German psychiatrist had used what he called a â€Å"free-association† test, in which patients responded to stimulus words with the first word that came to mind. During World War I, the U.S. army wanted to know which of its recruits were highly neurotic. Psychologist Robert Woodworth constructed the â€Å"Personal Data Sheet,† a self-report instrument that asked recruits to indicate the neurotic that traits applied to them. Although the Personal Data Sheet saw little use during the war, it was the prototype for much of the personality profiling currently in use. Raymond b. Cattell (1905-1998) Then in 1950, Raymond B. Cattell (1905-1998) suggested that the central problem in personality psychology was the prediction of behavior. Cattell argued that traits were the central variables in personality and could be divided into three general categories; dynamic traits-those that set an individual into action to accomplish a goal; ability traits-which concern the individual’s effectiveness in reaching a goal; and temperament traits-which were the stylistic aspects, like dispositions, moods, and emotions. Ground breaking work was done during the 1960’s by Dr. Robert Guion in the field of personality testing within the workplace, much of which is reflected in his book Personnel Testing (McGraw-Hill 1965). Dr. Guion focused on testing candidates for employment as a basis for predicting their probable â€Å"fit† in the workplace. During the 1970’s personality testing became increasingly accepted as an invaluable resource to many employers when selecting employees for hire or promotion. Unfortunately, due to the costs typically associated with these instruments and their administration, the use of personality testing instruments was limited to larger organizations and usually only for upper management or key positions. David p. Pearson 1927-present In 1978 Dr. David Pearson became one of the first in his field to produce a software program that could perform a behavioral evaluation of an individual, without requiring the administration by or assistance of a psychologist or behavioral scientist. Since their development, evaluations of this type have proven to be invaluable to thousands of organizations world wide when selecting employees for hire or promotion. Today, everyone from psychologists, counselors, teachers and human resource managers in government, education and industry, uses psychological or educational evaluations. There is scarcely a person over the age of ten who has not taken at least one such test in their lifetime, whether it was an achievement test, an IQ test, a personality evaluation, or a measure of aptitude in a particular field. The key reason for the increase in test use over the last 75 years is that ethically correct tests are more reliable and accurate than subjective judgments, which often function as filters when we assess and observe others. This very human habit was considered by William James back in 1860, in a frequently quoted passage from The Principles of Psychology. â€Å"You see the little lines of cleavage running through the character, the tricks of thought, the prejudices, the ways of the â€Å"shop,† in a word, from which the man can by-and-by no more escape than his coat-sleeve can suddenly fall into a new set of folds† (pg. 79). Even the best interviewer can fall prey to unconscious biases, personal beliefs, stereotypes and other distractions that leave objectivity subject to error. Well-developed tests can help even the most experienced and knowledgeable hiring professional construct a fairer and more accurate picture of an individual, increasing the likelihood that they will hire the right person for the job. But testing should never be used in a vacuum. As Robert Guion says, â€Å"Testing should not be the instrument of decision. It should be used as a flag that either agrees with or contradicts your impression about a person.† At MindData we agree that tests can never replace professional judgment entirely. Rather, they should serve as one source of information to assist in making accurate and fair decisions when hiring and promoting.