Concepts of Factor Analysis

Concepts of Factor Analysis Introduction Factor analysis is a useful exploratory tool which is helpful in determining the number of factors that should be extracted. The factors that are extracted are those that have a meaningful share of variance and the rest of the variables and their interrelationships are discarded.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Concepts of Factor Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Variables which exhibit maximal correlation are clustered together while variables with equivalent minimal correlations are also grouped together. In the end, it becomes possible to establish a relationship(s) or factors which display the data candidly leaving out the less significant factors out. An interpretation of the factor loadings is essential in correlating extracted factors with meaningful variables (Newcastle University, 2007). For this project, the aim is to find out commonalities that are likely to exist between four variable s i.e. rath (Rathus assertiveness Scale), crwone-marlowe (Crowne-Marlowe Social Desirability Scale), axin (â€Å"Anger in† scale) and axout (â€Å"Anger out† scale). Complete_mooney_bp.sav dataset based on the four variables was used to conduct Factor analysis. It is speculated that up to three factors are measured by the four instruments (scales). Descriptive statistics and correlations All the factors have the same sample size, N = 63. The mean for crowne-marlowe is.6829 and a standard deviation of.0762. Axin had a mean of 2.2560 with a standard deviation of.4543 while axout had a mean of 2.1071 with a standard deviation of.4277. Finally, the mean for rath was 3.3860 with a standard deviation of.4370. From the means, it is evident that rath i.e. assertiveness is the most important factor in determining anger in, anger out or even social desirability as it has the highest mean of 3.3860, followed by axin, axout and crowne-marlowe social desirability is the least influ ential variable. In summary, the Rathus assertiveness scale has the highest likelihood of being among the factors that should be retained. The â€Å"Anger Out† scale, the â€Å"Anger Out† scale and the Crowne-marlowe desirability scales then follow in that order.Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The Pearson correlation coefficients and their single-tailed significance values are presented in Table 2. There is a weak negative Pearson correlation between axin and crowne-marlowe and this is statistically significant, r = -.247, p =.026. A negative and weak Pearson correlation also exists between axout and crowne-marlowe but this is not statistically significant, r = -.197, p =.060. Rath and crowne-marlowe have a very weak positive correlation which is not statistically significant, r =.048, p =.353. There is a weak negative correlation between axout and axin which is not statistically significant, r = -.005, p =.486 whereas the correlation between rath and axin is negative but statistically significant, r = -.383, p=.001. There exists a weak positive correlation between rath and axout and the correlation is statistically significant, r =.286, p =.012. All correlations between variables and themselves are 1. Communalities Table 3 indicates the communalities prior to and after extraction. The extraction method utilized in this case is the principal component analysis whose assumption is that there is commonness in all variance. That is the reason why the communalities for all factors are 1 prior to extraction. The ‘’extraction† column provides the common variance exhibited in the data structure. It is therefore correct to say that 65.6 percent of variance associated with crowne-marlowe is common/shared variance or.656 of variance is explained by crowne-marlowe. A communality of.697 for axin after extraction indicates that 69 .7 percent of variance associated with axin is shared variance, which can also be stated that.697 is the amount of variance in axin that is explained by the two retained factors (factor 1 and factor 2). A communality of.703 for axout after extraction implies that 70.3 percent of variance associated with axout is shared variance or.703 is the amount of variance in axout that is explained by factor 1 and factor 2 as the retained factors. Finally, a communality of.733 for rath is an indication that 73.3 percent of variance associated with rath is common variance or.733 is the amount of variance in rath that is explained factor 1 and factor 2. Consideration for whether to use the Kaiser criterion (where factors with eigenvalues above 1 are retained) or the Scree Plot in determining the factors that should be retained is made depending on the sample size, number of variables and average communality.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Concepts of Factor Analysis spe cifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Field (2005) explains that the Kaiser’s criterion is used if average communality is at least 0.7 and the variables are not more than 30. In addition, the same criterion is considered if the sample size is more than 250 with an average communality of at least 0.6. Failure to meet any of the above conditions calls for the use of the Scree Plot bur the sample size has to be large enough i.e. at least a sample size of 300. In this project, the average communality was 2.789/4 =.69725, there were 4 variables and the sample size was less than 250. As such, the Kaiser’s criterion was applied since the communality is approximately 0.7 and the variables are less than 30 and hence the first condition was met. This led to the retention of all factors with an Eigen value above 1 (Factor 1 and Factor 2. Even going with the Scree Plot (Figure 1) which is suitable for sample sizes that are larger than 300, the fir st point of inflexion is after the second factor and it is clear that the Eigenvalue is greater than 1. It is therefore justifiable to retain two factors only i.e. the first and the second factor, since they lie above eigenvalue 1 and appear before the graph starts to flatten. Variance explained The Eigenvalues associated with every factor (linear component) prior to extraction and after extraction are provided in Table 4. Prior to extraction, it is evident that there were 4 linear components in the complete_mooney_bp.sav dataset. The variance explained by every factor is given by correspondent Eigenvalues and these are displayed in percentage form. In that case, factor 1 explains 37.636 percent variance whereas factor 2 explains 32.102 percent variance. Only two factors have Eigen values greater than 1 in this dataset and therefore only the two factors are extracted (factor 1 and factor 2) and the other two factors can be considered as non-significant. The Eigenvalues and percentag e variance for the two extracted factors are again displayed under the ‘Extraction Sums of Squared Loadings’ column.Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It is evident that the cumulative variance that is explained by both factor 1 and factor 2 (extracted factors) is 69.738 percent variance. From the ‘total variance explained’ output, it becomes clear that the largest variance is given by factor 1 and factor 2 and discarding the rest of the factors is justifiable. Component matrix Table 5 is a component matrix table prior to rotation and the loading of each variable onto the two extracted factors is provided. In this case, all loadings were produced where the loading of crwone-marlowe onto extracted factor 1 is.327 and -.741 onto factor 2. Axin has a loading of -.782 on factor 1 and a loading of.290 onto factor 2. The loading of axout onto factor 1 was.343 whereas the loading of axout for factor 2 is.766. Finally, the loading of rath onto factor 1 is.818 with the loading of rath onto factor 2 being.253. It is also possible to view Table 5 as correlations between variables and the various unrotated factors. In that case, the correlation between crowne-marlowe and factor 1 is.327 whereas the correlation between crowne-marlowe and factor 2 is -.741. The correlation between axin and factor 1 is -.782 while the correlation between the same variable and factor 2 is.290. The correlation between axout and factor 1 and factor 2 is.343 and.766 respectively. Finally, the correlation between rath and factor 1 is.818 and the correlation between rath and factor 2 is.253. It is evident that rath has and axin has the highest loading/strongest correlation with factor 1 while crowne-marlowe and axout have the highest loading on factor 2. Since the highest load on factor 1 is rath, it is arguable to label factor 1 as assertiveness (based on Rathus Assertiveness Scale). On the other hand, axout seems to have the highest loading on factor 2 and thus it is arguable that factor 2 can be labeled as tendency to let anger out. From the interpretations of the component matrix it appears that the researcher was mainly/or shou ld concentrate on finding out the relationship between assertiveness and tendency to express anger out. In other words, it is evident that at least two factors are measured by both the Rathus Assertiveness Scale and the â€Å"Anger Out† scale. Indeed, it can be said that the more an individual is assertive, the less likely the individual is to hold anger â€Å"in.† In other words, assertive individuals tend to express anger more openly. Increased assertiveness leads to decreased tendency to hold anger in. Summary Factor analysis is helpful in determining which variables should be retained by looking for variables with maximal relationships. From the above factor analysis, it has been demonstrated that among the four variables i.e. Rathus Assertiveness Scale, Crowne-Marlowe Desirability Scale, â€Å"Anger Out† scale and â€Å"Anger In† scale, there exists stronger correlations between factor 1 and Rathus Assertiveness Scale and factor 2 with â€Å"Anger O ut† scale. This is demonstrated by high means for these variables and the fact that they are the only factors that are extracted, or meeting criteria for extraction in the analysis. The variances explained by the two factors have a lion share in the total variance with a cumulative variance of 69.738 percent being registered for factor 1 and factor 2. The variance that is explained by factor 1 alone is large enough (37.636%) to qualify the factor for retention. This is the same with factor 2 which explains 32.102% of the variance. Moreover, both factor 1 and factor 2 have eigenvalues above 1. Finally, the loadings of the two factors on the variables are of significance with factor 1 having a loading of.818 onto rath (Rathus Assertivness Scale) while factor 2 had a loading of.766 onto factor 2. It is from these observations that it is concluded that factor 1 can be labeled as the Rathus Assertiveness Scale while factor 2 is labeled as â€Å"Anger Out† scale. These two va riables are therefore essentially important in the study and for sure, assertiveness and tendency to express â€Å"anger out† can be measured by these two instruments (scales). Appendix Table 1: Descriptive Statistics Descriptive Statistics Mean Std. Deviation Analysis N crowne-marlowe .6829 .07621 63 axin 2.2560 .45427 63 axout 2.1071 .42766 63 rath 3.3860 .43697 63 Table 2: Correlations of all Factors Correlation Matrix crowne-marlowe axin axout rath Correlation crowne-marlowe 1.000 -.247 -.197 .048 axin -.247 1.000 -.005 -.383 axout -.197 -.005 1.000 .286 rath .048 -.383 .286 1.000 Sig. (1-tailed) crowne-marlowe .026 .060 .353 axin .026 .486 .001 axout .060 .486 .012 rath .353 .001 .012 Table 3: Communalities-Before and after Extraction Communalities Initial Extraction crowne-marlowe 1.000 .656 axin 1.000 .697 axout 1.000 .703 rath 1.000 .733 Extraction Method: Principal Component Analysis. Table 4: Total Var iances (Variance and Cumulative Variance) Total Variance Explained Component Initial Eigenvalues Extraction Sums of Squared Loadings Total % of Variance Cumulative % Total % of Variance Cumulative % 1 1.505 37.636 37.636 1.505 37.636 37.636 2 1.284 32.102 69.738 1.284 32.102 69.738 3 .688 17.204 86.941 4 .522 13.059 100.000 Extraction Method: Principal Component Analysis. Table 5: Component Matrix Component Matrixa Component 1 2 crowne-marlowe .327 -.741 axin -.782 .290 axout .343 .766 rath .818 .253 Extraction Method: Principal Component Analysis. a. 2 components extracted. Figure 1: Scree plot of Eigen Value against Component Number Reference Field, A. P. (2005). Discovering statistics using SPSS (2nd edition). Sage: London. Newcastle University. (2007). How to perform and interpret Factor Analysis using SPSS. Retrieved from https://www.ncl.ac.uk/

Racism in America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Racism in America - Essay Example The quote from one of the characters named Hilly Holbrook in the book or movie ‘The Help’. His words show racism that is in Mississippi. In America, racism was once prominent but it is going down with time (Cozic and Dudley). After her return, Skeeter became uncomfortable with the way the house bits of help were treated by her friends. Her friend Hilly had a separate bathroom for the blacks her reason being that her family may get infected with the black’s diseases. Because of this, Skeeter decided to publish a book by the name ‘The Help’. At first, the maids were reluctant to share their problems with her, but they later felt that their problems could be solved. One of the maids named Aibileen shared with Skeeter after finding out that her friend had been fired because she used her bosses’ bathroom. Minny, the maid, who was sent away, also shared her story. She later finds a job in Celia’s mansion who is Johnny’s wife where she i s treated well compared to the other boss. One of the themes that are both in the book and the movie is racial injustice. This theme is more evident in the book than the movie because in the movie Skeeter takes a seat to talk to Aibileen about her idea of publishing a book. This could not have occurred in the book as there was an apparent difference between the whites and the blacks. This is manifested in the way that most blacks are the ones who are employed by the whites and they are being mistreated because of their color. Aibileen who was a dedicated house help has spent almost her life taking care of white children. Minny also is a maid and because of her outspokenness, she always gets fired. This shows that blacks are not allowed to give their views because their views are considered to be of no importance. Racism is also seen when Hilly, Minny’s boss fires her after finding out that she used their bathroom during a thunderstorm instead of using hers which is outside th e house. Hilly believes that blacks have diseases and therefore they have to use their own bathrooms. This is evident when he says, â€Å"All these houses they are building without maid’s quarters? It’s just plain dangerous. Everybody knows they carry different diseases than we do† (Stockett 8). Hilly spoils Minny’s reputation, making it difficult for her to find a job. Minny’s daughter, therefore, has to stop schooling and look for an occupation as a maid. Aibileen finds a job for Minny where she is treated better than where she was before. Skeeter later finds out that their maid Constantine was sent away because her mother did not want Constantine to be seen by other guests during a celebration. Her mother was guilty about it but they found out that Constantine died just after leaving Jackson. Aibileen was sent away after Hilly insisted that she had stolen silver from her boss Elizabeth. The second theme both in the movie and the book is class an d gender. However, it is more evident in the book than the movie because, in the book, the difference between the social classes is more intense. The whites do not share the bathroom with the blacks than in the movie where we see the maids sharing bathrooms with their bosses. This theme is prominent when we see that most ladies in the area went to the university to look for husbands.

Auditing and Accounting Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Auditing and Accounting Ethics - Essay Example In addition, in question 4 the responsibility in relation to external and internal audit toward the society has been discussed. Loebbecke A. (2000) stated that auditing has historically been concerned with the faithful and accurate accounting of economic resources. This concern arises from the imperative of maintaining accountability in the presence of agency conflicts between the management and owners of a firm. Over time, this notion of accountability has expanded as interest groups established new standards of performance. The underlying philosophy has, however been remained constant: essentially one of ensuring that accounting records have been kept and verifying compliance with generally accepted accounting principles.1 Hayes, R., Dassen R. , et al, (2005) addressed that the independence is one of the most pivotal traits of being an auditor. Hussy, R., (1999) has elucidated independence as the fundamental principle that the auditor must be, seen to be, independent to enable them to behave with integrity and make objective professional and business judgment. Independence could be of two forms as- According to Hayes, R., Dassen R., et al (2005), independence is potentially affected by self-interest, self-interview, advocacy, familiarity and intimidation threats. To approach of this comment, the threats have been clarified as followed: ‘Self-interest Threat’ occurs when a firm or a member of the assurance team could benefit from a financial interest in, or other self-interest conflict with, an assurance client. Examples of circumstances that may create this threat include: Teoh, H. Y. & Lim, C. C. (1996) mentioned that self-interest threat occurs when, (1) any product or judgment of a previous assurance engagement or non-assurance engagement needs to be re-evaluated in reaching conclusions on the assurance engagement, or (2) when a member of the assurance team was previously a director or

Summarize each article Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Summarize each article - Research Paper Example Moral distress affects all the healthcare providers across the board in different healthcare settings making it a serious issue in the healthcare sector. Although moral distress is defined differently depending on different fields it primarily acquaints itself with ethical perspective of health practice. Upholding professional values, responsibilities and duties remains vital and are strongly affected by moral distress. Some of the negative impacts of moral distress in healthcare include emotional distress, withdrawal of self from patients, inadequate patient care, and job dissatisfaction or may be attrition in nursing (Pauly, Varcoe & Storch, 2012). Moral distress is argued by some researchers that it can change the position of nurses regarding the particular situation or ethical requirements. At times the nurses’ demands of providing care may affect the healthcare providers by prompting them to cease their profession which is actually a serious concern. Research on moral dis tress in nursing faces various challenges such as lack of conceptual clarity and perpetuation or meta-narration regarding the identity of nursing as a profession. Generally there is insufficient conceptual and theoretical clarity of moral distress in the healthcare sector. ... These kinds of constraints are believed to be beyond nurses’ perspectives thus leading to reactive moral distress as Jameton explains. Nurses may be faced with challenges of doing as per the institutional requirement or following their conscious. Moral distress may therefore be caused by individuals’ failure to do things compromising their personal integrity. Resolution to moral distress may really boost performance of nurses (Pauly, Varcoe & Storch, 2012). Consequently, it is undeniable that empirical research tensions hindering moral distress are found to be the fact that most research involves nurses in acute care in North America and also repeated use of a specific tool developed in a particular context. Additionally, there is insufficient connection among moral distress, moral agency and ethical climate as well as minimal attention to interventions or actions addressing issues related to moral distress. Since moral distress cuts across all professions and disciplin es especially disciplines related to healthcare provision, research should be conducted based on interdisciplinary perspective (Pauly, Varcoe & Storch, 2012). Recommendations to cope with moral distress only concentrate individual perspective thus living behind structural concerns. Although there has been limited involvement of policy and politics in trying to solve or control the issue of moral distress, they still remain important factors in moral distress management. Reference Pauly, Varcoe & Storch. (2012), Nurses perceptions and responses to morally distressing situations.  Nursing

One Dimensional Motion Essay Example for Free

One Dimensional Motion Essay Motion is everywhere: friendly and threatening, horrible and beautiful. It is fundamental to our human existence; we need motion for learning, for thinking, for growing, and for enjoying life. Like all animals, we rely on motion to get food, to survive dangers, and to reproduce; like all living beings we need motion to breathe and to digest. Motion is the most fundamental observation about nature at large. It turns out that everything, which happens in the world, is some type of motion. This lab looks at one-dimensional motion namely kinematics. This is when an object moves in relation to something else. It is the most basic of motions and a great starting point in researching motion. In looking at motion in a more scientific manner rather than just observing this lab will be taking measurements to look at relationships of distance, velocity and time. These measurements should agree with the known Galilean theories of motion. Method Part A A CBL unit was used with a motion sensor that could determine distance. The apparatus was placed on top of a table facing a long hallway with no obstructions. The CBL unit was then attached to a Ti-83 plus calculator to gather the data from the experiments. The HIKER program on the calculator was performed, which took distance measurements every 0. 1 seconds for 6 seconds. Each test was collected then the results were inputted into the Graphical Analysis program for regression analysis. The first test was that of a person walking away as shown in figure 1. The second test was that of a person walking away at a faster pace as shown in figure 2. The third test was that of a person walking towards the detector as shown in figure 3. The fourth test was that of a person standing still with no movement, which is shown in figure 4 and the last test was that of someone walking away and coming back, which is shown in figure 5. Each graph has the corresponding regression curve of best fit that was calculated using Graphical Analysis. Next the same CBL motion detector was taken outside to allow for enough room for the test and placed on a table. Foam was packed around the sensor to ensure that the device wouldnt be damaged during the test. The sensor was placed facing up. Again, like before, the CBL unit was attached to the Ti-83 plus calculator for data collection and the BALLDROP program was executed. The program took readings of distance at 0. 02 seconds for approximately 1. 6 seconds. After the program executed a basketball was thrown in the air above the sensor and caught after 1. 6 seconds. The test was repeated many times because the testers hands would get in the way of the reading. When there was no unwanted obstruction influencing the results then the data was saved and imported in the Graphical Analysis software to ensure the accuracy of the results by minimizing the systematic error. Figure 6 is the resulting graph from the data and table 1 has the raw data collected.

A Study on Effects of Different Levels of Aloe Vera Gel as an Alternati

According to the results obtained on feed intake in different periods, it can be seen that the Aloe vera groups have the highest level of feed intake compared to the control group and this leads to increased body weight gain in these groups in comparison to the control group. Olupona et al. (2010) reported increased feed intake in groups which were treated by Aloe vera gel solved in water (15, 20, 25, and 30 cm3/dm3) as body weight gain rose. Similarly, the present study shows increased feed intake in the 2-percent Aloe vera gel with raised level of body weight gain. Increased feed intake in Aloe vera groups can be attributed to changes in feed taste and stimulated appetite since, as reported by Windisch et al. (2008), phylogenic substances (as additives to birds’ feed) can improve taste of diet. Furthermore, Wenk (2002) argued that herbs can stimulate appetite and endogenous secretions which, in turn, improve grower performance. on the other hand, our experiments showed that Aloe vera groups consumed more feed compared to the antibiotic groups both in the grower period (days 25 to 42) and during the total experiment period (days 0 to 42). Guo et al. (2004) observed that food consumption level in chickens treated by Chinese herbs added to their diet was higher than this level in chickens fed by viriginiamycin mixed with their food. In general, increased body weight in different periods show larger body weight gains in the antibiotic groups compared to other groups. Among the experimental groups, the 2-percent Aloe vera group had better body weight gain compared to other Aloe vera groups and the control group, showing no significant difference from the antibiotic group. On the other hand, findings obtained in studies on treatment... ...nd viral infections (Sohn et al., 2000). Other researchers reported properties in herbal medicine which are similar to those of prebiotics (Verstegen and Schaafsma, 1999; Cummings and Macfarlane, 2002; Guo et al., 2004). By definition, prebiotics are dietary supplements in the form of nondigestible carbohydrate that favor the grower of desirable microflora in the large bowel (Gibson and Roberfroid, 1995). Since the main polysaccharide contained in Aloe vera gel is acemannan, the enhanced body weight gain in groups treated by Aloe vera compared to the control group may be attributed to antibacterial properties of Aloe vera gel which can improve intestinal microflora. Furthermore, the acemannan contained in Aloe vera gel can stimulate immunosystem and improves body resistance against bacteria and viruses; and this, in turn, improves grower and body weight gain.

Do Video Games Cause Violence Essay

Do violent video games cause violent behavior? I believe that violent video games do not cause violent behavior. While I agree that violent video games may desensitize youth to violence, I don’t believe the games make the youth more violent than they already are. Its not fair to single handedly blame violent video games, when there are tons of other violent media sources out there. Karen Sternheimer is a sociologist from the University of Southern California and has been researching the topic since 1999 and she says â€Å"Placing the blame on video games exonerates the environment that a child lives in that might nurture violence: poverty, instability, family violence, unemployment, and mental illness, Sternheimer argues.† I agree with her that blaming the games is a cop out and an excuse for the parents and other violent media to not have to take responsibility. In Sternheimer article titled â€Å"Do Video Games Kill?† She says â€Å"If we want to understand wh y young people become homicidal, we need to look beyond the games they play,† I agree with Sternheimer here because I think that its safe to say a youth doesn’t just suddenly get the urge to go out and start killing people. If people were willing to look beyond face value and beyond how something appears to be. They would see that these kids who become violent might be being bullied, or depressed or have other life things going on that pushed them to the â€Å"breaking point† and they just might happen to play a violent video game. The research that show violent video games causing aggressive behavior are not accurate to how these games are played in real life. Andrew Przybylski and colleagues who wrote an article in the Review of General Psychology say that â€Å"most video game experiments only have players play for short periods of time, often for as little as 10 minutes, and violent games tend to be more difficult to learn and have more complex controls than non-violent games, it appears that many participants in these experiments may simply have been frustrated by being cut off so quickly before they even learned how to play, rather than by the violent content of the game.† (Review of General Psychology). To me this makes the research the people are using to discredit the violent video game unreliable. They are just taking the data and interpreting it to show their side as being right. I know that if I only had a short amount of time to learn a new video game it would make me pretty frustrated too. So the aggression that they are seeing is not necessarily aggression from the game as it is aggression from failing. Graduate student Jose Valadez found that both violent and nonviolent games tend to relax people over time, not anger them. People now days actually do use games to release stress and relax. Sometimes people who are feeling aggressive use the games to vent that aggression rather than have the game add to their aggression. Almost everyone will have a homicidal thought at one point or another in time. But for those thought to turn to action is a completely different problem that does not have any association with video games. When a youth acts out in violent manner instead of looking at what video games they are playing they need to be looking at the mental health and stability of the youth. Consistent and ever present homicidal thoughts are linked with severe mental health problems such as psychosis, depression, anxiety or paranoia. (Scientific American) Those mental illnesses are causing violent behavior not video games. Blaming the video games also allows for a cop out for parents. In the United States the ESRB or Entertainment Software Rating Board puts ratings on all games. Those rating range fro EC or early childhood to AO or Adult only. All of the games accused of causing violent behavior in youth such as Call Of Duty, Halo or Grand Theft Auto are all rated M for mature meaning the parents or someone of authority had to purchase these games for the youth. The ESRB rates these games with certain age requirements for a reason. Allowing anyone to blame the video game takes all accountability off of the parents because they don’t have to own the choice to ignore the advice of the rating company and allow their children to play these games. Being able to blame the video games also ignores the violence the youth is exposed to at home also allowing the parents to blame something else besides themselves. While the media says two boys went on a killing spree in the mall and they happened to play halo is a harsh generalization that shouldn’t be said or used, because while these kids may have played halo doesn’t mean that halo is the reason these kids went on a killing spree. These kids could have been being physically or emotionally abused at home. Abuse makes people feel helpless powerless and worthless. These kids could have finally just had enough and acted out in a violent manner just to finally feel like they had power in their lives. Abuse could be the answer but no one would know becaus e the parents will never admit to being abusive. If all other arguments fail the one that has to be considered is that videogames are not the only violent media out in the world. While violent video games are first person and put the player in the shoes of the shooter or killer it is no less desensitizing then it is to watch someone else on a screen kill somebody. Violent movies show some of the most realistic and grotesque violence around. When it comes to desensitizing someone to violence or glorifying violence movies are just as guilty if not more guilty than games. Movie like Act of Valor or Rambo glorify violence because they show the â€Å"hero† killing the â€Å"bad guys† in reality not on a animated picture. Violent music is also guilty but has been brought to more light in examples such as the Cassie Jo Stoddart case where the two boys who killed Cassie said they were inspired by the lyrics from a song by the band Insane Clown Posse who are known for their intensely violent lyrics. If people are wanting to blame video games a form of media they also need to look at all other forms of media involved in that youths life such as what music they have on their iPods or mP3 players to what movies they have at home and that they have watched recently. In conclusion while violent video games may contribute to the desensitization of violence they are not alone in the desensitization of violence. Also until there is a set scale and proven test to determine the aggression associated with video games they can not be blamed for the acts of anyone one else. Parents need to also be held more accountable for the actions and roles they play in these tragic events they need to stop hiding behind video games and take responsibility for what has happened.We as society also need to step up and look harder for the solution to why these teens go homicidal rather than blaming the first thing that we find.