Commentary on The Book A Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger

The Catcher in the Rye has been prevalent in some of the most traumatic and earth-shattering moments in contemporary history, and may have even contributed to them. Before the police arrived and after the gun was fired, Mark David Chapman (John Lennon’s assassin) started reading lines from Salinger’s work. He recited the passage: â€Å" I keep picturing all these little kids...I’d just be the catcher in the rye and all† (Salinger 224-25). Author Daniel M. Stashower poses the message of Catcher in the Rye is the motive of John Lennons assassination; to preserve the innocence of the Beatles early work(Whitefield 174). Chapman found the notion of becoming the catcher in the rye enticing and took it into his own hands to protect the integrity of their work. The only way he could fathom to do so was by committing murder. A year later, there was an assassination attempt on President Reagan. During the investigation into the attempted assassin, John Hinkley Jr, police â€Å"found a half dozen paperbacks of Salinger’s novel† (174). Needless to say, Hinkley had a fascination with Holden Caulfield and what he stands for. One could presume Hinkley had similar motives to Chapman: protection of innocence. Some conspiracy theorists believe certain copies of The Catcher in the Rye have certain trigger words that set-off people to commit murder, but it is more likely these men latched onto the ideas presented in the novel. Holden’s purpose is to keep the innocence in the world. When he went toShow MoreRelatedThe Catcher In The Rye: Why It Is An American Classic?2178 Words   |  9 Pagesor 10/10. 2000 words. *********************The Catcher In The Rye has been renowned as a classic due to a wide range of factors which have been able to garner appeal to the audience throughout the ages. JD Salinger has created a character- Holden Caulfield, which the audience can easily identify and relate to, demonstrated via his wandering style of thought and retelling of events in the book. Similarly, Holdens popular culture and social commentary reveals much of the human condition, which the

My Educational Autobiography Essay Example For Students

My Educational Autobiography Essay My name is J. E. and I was born in FL on August 25, 1985. I was adopted and became a baby sister to Jay who was 7 years old. We lived in the same house throughout my school years. As we grew up, my parents allowed my brother and me to make our own choices and never made us do anything we didnt want to. My parents had a successful marriage and both worked in the medical field. Their careers included being a trauma nurse, instructor, teacher, paramedic, firefighter and more. They worked hard to provide my brother and me a stable environment, making sure we were always learning. From a very young age, my parents taught the growth mindset, which is discussed in Mindset by C. S. Dweck’s. Dweck (2006) explains, â€Å"growth mindset is based on the belief that your basic qualities are things you can cultivate through your efforts† (page 6). With a growth mindset, Dweck (2006) writes, â€Å"value what you are doing regardless of the outcome† (page 48). Throughout school, I always had an ambition to learn and do my best and I did value what I was doing. My parents taught Jay and me the importance of finishing school and doing your best. You can be anything you want to be, was a phrase I heard a lot growing up and I believed it to its core. Although I strived to get all A’s, I did not succeed; it made me more determined to do better. I maintained an A-B, average while also participating in school activities. I was a member of the art club, Rotary club, volleyball, softball, marching band and orchestra. In my junior year, I made a poor decision: I became pregnant. I gave the baby up for adoption to a loving family. While I had a huge support system at home, I also had one at school, in a chemistry teacher, Mrs. Reek, who was a unique teacher that inspired her students to do their best and work hard. She was successful at motivating those in her class to learn and made it fun. Mrs. Reek truly cared about the well-being of her students and was the only teacher I had who took time from her life to call and check on me after my pregnancy. She taught me â€Å"it is normal and ok to make mistakes in life. You have to pick up the pieces and continue where you left off. I decided I was not going to allow my emotions of that traumatic experience to ruin my life. I had to learn the chemistry lessons and theories on my own at home during that time. I spent hours teaching myself chemistry and made a commitment that I was going to work my hardest to get an A in the class. I wanted to prove to everyone that one bad decision didn’t make me a bad person or ruin my chance to become successful. I ended that year with an A in chemistry. While I was happy with my grade, I was more grateful for the support and encouragement i received from my parents but, especially Mrs. Reek. She taught me that through life there will be struggles and you have to make your own decision to continue on your path of greatness. Mrs. Reek opened the door for me in that subject and made it so interesting and fun to learn. The only problem I had was I wanted to learn more about chemistry. As I entered college, I decided to get a Bachelors of Science, majoring in Chemistry. After I graduated, I was unsuccessful at obtaining a career in this field. A year later I met Aaron whom I loved and was to be married to. Two weeks before my wedding, my dad passed away unexpectedly. .ubfcc3e4a0719e21dcc7a16e1f9c97494 , .ubfcc3e4a0719e21dcc7a16e1f9c97494 .postImageUrl , .ubfcc3e4a0719e21dcc7a16e1f9c97494 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ubfcc3e4a0719e21dcc7a16e1f9c97494 , .ubfcc3e4a0719e21dcc7a16e1f9c97494:hover , .ubfcc3e4a0719e21dcc7a16e1f9c97494:visited , .ubfcc3e4a0719e21dcc7a16e1f9c97494:active { border:0!important; } .ubfcc3e4a0719e21dcc7a16e1f9c97494 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ubfcc3e4a0719e21dcc7a16e1f9c97494 { 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; } .ubfcc3e4a0719e21dcc7a16e1f9c97494:active , .ubfcc3e4a0719e21dcc7a16e1f9c97494:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ubfcc3e4a0719e21dcc7a16e1f9c97494 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ubfcc3e4a0719e21dcc7a16e1f9c97494 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ubfcc3e4a0719e21dcc7a16e1f9c97494 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ubfcc3e4a0719e21dcc7a16e1f9c97494 .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; } .ubfcc3e4a0719e21dcc7a16e1f9c97494:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ubfcc3e4a0719e21dcc7a16e1f9c97494 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ubfcc3e4a0719e21dcc7a16e1f9c97494 .ubfcc3e4a0719e21dcc7a16e1f9c97494-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ubfcc3e4a0719e21dcc7a16e1f9c97494:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Hobbit Essay SummaryMy fiancà ©e and I decided to continue with the wedding as planned and have the memorial service the day after. We wanted everyone who had to travel a long distance to have the opportunity to attend the wedding and memorial service. In the days leading up to the wedding and days after, I received a lot of emails, phone calls and letters; which was to be expected for someone who had just lost someone so special. What I did not expect was the kind words everyone had to say about my dad. While everyone’s memories and stories were different they all agreed on the same things, â€Å"Your dad was a great man. He was always taking the time to teach anyone that crossed his path†. All of these people, some who I had never met before, some who had not seen my dad in decades, even some who did not have direct contact with my dad all respected him as a great man, mentor and teacher. It was in that moment that I realized I wanted to become a teacher. As a teacher I can teach the students the values and life lessons I have learned. I can expose them to the growth mindset my parents taught me. I can teach students that it is ok if they make a mistake or get discouraged. In that moment, I can then teach them that they have the choice to re-focus, choose to do their best and make their own path of greatness. I hope to teach students that they can be anything they want to be as long as they are responsible, persistent and hard working. I want to teach math and chemistry in secondary schools. Over the years I have witnessed how hard it is for people to learn and apply the skills learned from these subjects. I have the knowledge and know how to become a successful teacher. If I can teach and inspire even a portion of the amount of people my dad did, I will be the wealthiest person in the world. Bibliography: Dweck, Carol S.. Mindset: the new psychology of success. New York: Random House, 2006. Print.

Why Do Today What Can Be Put Off Until Tomorrow Essay Example

Why Do Today What Can Be Put Off Until Tomorrow Essay There are countless ways a student can avoid success in life, but one of the main behaviors which can cause an individual to fail is procrastination. When students have to complete a task or a big project many of them confuse their priorities, and find themselves waiting until the last minute to finish the task at hand. Another cause for procrastination could be the lack of initiative the student might have in completing an assignment. Or simply some students may fear failure, and may not have full confidence in themselves in order to do the assignment. Procrastination may seem like an easy way out in beginning, but if it’s not address it turns into a huge obstacle of unnecessary stress at the end. The inability for a student to prioritize what is important and what is not, is one of the most common reasons why a student chooses to put off their work. When an assignment seems difficult a student may begin to start thinking of different ways to avoid the work altogether. They may also begin to work on an assignment and feel as if they worked too hard and decide to take a break, forgetting about the work altogether. Consequently they become accustomed to the instant satisfaction of taking a break that it becomes another motive for putting off the work. As the student realizes that the due date draws near a sense of panic overcomes them, which temps them into giving up completely. Another reason why a student may choose to procrastinate may be the lack of initiative to complete the task presented to them. We will write a custom essay sample on Why Do Today What Can Be Put Off Until Tomorrow specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Why Do Today What Can Be Put Off Until Tomorrow specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Why Do Today What Can Be Put Off Until Tomorrow specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The student may go over the task and find it boring or not challenging enough to hold their interest. This mentality can hinder the ability for a person to concentrate in their task. Also others may find false security in thinking that they can do the task tomorrow; as a result the person puts off doing the work until the night before the due date. This causes them to work under stress through long hours of the night and as a result they turn in an assignment which is poorly completed. Fear is a very strong emotion, and many students face it when having to do an assignment. They may avoid the assignment all together because they feel like they don’t have the adequate knowledge or skill in order to do the work correctly. Procrastination also feeds on making the individual feel like they are not good enough and falsely gives the individual the idea that it’s ok not to the work. Some people may also fear the professor’s criticism that accompanies their work whether it is constructive or not. Fear can blindly make an individual accept the false idea that they have to be procrastinators and be complaisant with this behavior. Procrastination may give a feeling of instant satisfaction but in the long run it does affect the efficiency of a student. It does not matter how easy or complex an assignment may seem, the bottom line is that it will have to be completed sooner or later. Don’t fall back on the though â€Å"I’ll have more time tomorrow† because you may be busier tomorrow than today. Why Do Today What Can Be Put Off Until Tomorrow Essay Example Why Do Today What Can Be Put Off Until Tomorrow Essay There are countless ways a student can avoid success in life, but one of the main behaviors which can cause an individual to fail is procrastination. When students have to complete a task or a big project many of them confuse their priorities, and find themselves waiting until the last minute to finish the task at hand. Another cause for procrastination could be the lack of initiative the student might have in completing an assignment. Or simply some students may fear failure, and may not have full confidence in themselves in order to do the assignment. Procrastination may seem like an easy way out in beginning, but if it’s not address it turns into a huge obstacle of unnecessary stress at the end. The inability for a student to prioritize what is important and what is not, is one of the most common reasons why a student chooses to put off their work. When an assignment seems difficult a student may begin to start thinking of different ways to avoid the work altogether. They may also begin to work on an assignment and feel as if they worked too hard and decide to take a break, forgetting about the work altogether. Consequently they become accustomed to the instant satisfaction of taking a break that it becomes another motive for putting off the work. As the student realizes that the due date draws near a sense of panic overcomes them, which temps them into giving up completely. Another reason why a student may choose to procrastinate may be the lack of initiative to complete the task presented to them. We will write a custom essay sample on Why Do Today What Can Be Put Off Until Tomorrow specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Why Do Today What Can Be Put Off Until Tomorrow specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Why Do Today What Can Be Put Off Until Tomorrow specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The student may go over the task and find it boring or not challenging enough to hold their interest. This mentality can hinder the ability for a person to concentrate in their task. Also others may find false security in thinking that they can do the task tomorrow; as a result the person puts off doing the work until the night before the due date. This causes them to work under stress through long hours of the night and as a result they turn in an assignment which is poorly completed. Fear is a very strong emotion, and many students face it when having to do an assignment. They may avoid the assignment all together because they feel like they don’t have the adequate knowledge or skill in order to do the work correctly. Procrastination also feeds on making the individual feel like they are not good enough and falsely gives the individual the idea that it’s ok not to the work. Some people may also fear the professor’s criticism that accompanies their work whether it is constructive or not. Fear can blindly make an individual accept the false idea that they have to be procrastinators and be complaisant with this behavior. Procrastination may give a feeling of instant satisfaction but in the long run it does affect the efficiency of a student. It does not matter how easy or complex an assignment may seem, the bottom line is that it will have to be completed sooner or later. Don’t fall back on the though â€Å"I’ll have more time tomorrow† because you may be busier tomorrow than today.

Schrenker Faked Death to Escape Financial Trouble

Schrenker Faked Death to Escape Financial Trouble Wealthy business owner and money manager Marcus Schrenker made headlines in January 2009, when he attempted to escape the consequences of frauding investors by parachuting out of his small one-engine prop plane in an attempt to fake his death. At one time, Marcus Schrenker had everything. He owned three investment consulting firms, lived with his wife and children in the exclusive Indianapolis suburb of Geist, in a $3 million dollar waterfront home that had a dock and a large swimming pool. Flying was a hobby of his and he owned two aircraft which he used to go on lavish vacations. But in January 2009, it all came crashing down. Idyllic Life on the Outside Marcus Schrenker was born on November 22, 1970.   He grew up in Merrillville, Indiana which is located in the Chicago metropolitan area. In 1989 Schrenker graduated from Merrillville High School, and then went to college at Purdue University. It was at Purdue that he met (former wife) Michelle, married and together they had three children together. As idyllic as the Schrenkers life appeared, there was also a dark side that those who lived with Marcus or around him were very aware of to the point of feeling discomfort when he was around. Schrenker would go from being friendly and charismatic to angry, unreasonable and combative. And, according to his neighbor Tom Britt in an interview with abcnews.go.com, episodes of this type of erratic behavior became more frequent as he grew older. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder, Schrenker did what many with this disorder do, he would often stop taking his medication, and Michelle, their children, and investors would end up paying the price. Savvy Financial Investor Turned Crook Schrenker owned three financial companies: Heritage Wealth Management, Heritage Insurance Services, and Icon Wealth Management.   His wife Michelle was paid $11,600 as the chief financial officer of the three companies and bookkeeper. She was also on the bank account of Heritage Insurance Services, which gave her the authority to write checks and withdraw money. But in 2008 Schrenker was under investigation in Indiana after several complaints were lodged by some of his investors, upset with how he was handling their money. Friends, the parents of friends and neighbors were among the investors that filed complaints. Michelle had also filed for divorce on December 20, 2008, after learning of her husbands infidelities with a woman who worked at the airport. Investors Supported Lavish Lifestyle Unknown to Schrenker, he had been under investigation for 10 years for various lawsuits that had been filed against him. Then on December 31, 2008, state investigators armed with a search warrant, seized computers, several plastic tubs filled with paperwork, the Schrenkers passports, over $6,000 in cash, and the title to a Lexus, from the Schrenkers home. On January 6, 2009, Schrenker was charged with unlawful acts by a compensated adviser and unlawful transaction by an investment adviser. Bail was set at $4 million.   According to Jim Atterholt, who was the State Insurance Commissioner, Schrenker charged investors exorbitant surrender charges after he moved them out of one annuity and into another. The investors were not told in advance about the fees.   Three days later, on January 9, Schrenkers company Heritage Wealth Management Inc. was issued a $533,500 judgment after a federal court in Maryland ruled in favor of OM Financial Life Insurance Co. The lawsuit contended that Heritage Wealth Management was involved in insurance irregularities and should have returned commissions of more than $230,000. Plane Crash   On Sunday, January 11, 2009, Schrenker flew off from an airfield in Anderson, Indiana in his single-engine Piper. He listed his destination as Destin, Florida. As he neared Birmingham, Alabama, he put out a fake mayday signal and told air traffic controllers that he had been badly injured and was bleeding profusely after the windshield of the plane imploded.Afterward, he put the plane on autopilot and parachuted out. Military jets attempting to intercept the plane reported that the door of the plane was opened, and the cockpit was dark and appeared empty. The jets followed the unmanned plane which crashed over 200 miles later in a swamp in Santa Rosa County, Florida, around 50 yards from a residential area.   After the crash, the plane was found somewhat intact. Investigators searched the plane and reported that there was no blood inside of it and the windshield was completely intact. Authorities put out a warrant for Schrenker arrest. On the Run Schrenker plan was to fake his death and make a run for it. On January 10, the day before he parachuted out of his plane, he drove to Harpersville, Alabama and stashed a motorcycle, money and other supplies in a storage facility. He informed the owner of the facility that he would return Monday. Once Schrenker parachuted to the ground, he made it to Childersburg, Alabama, where at 2:30 a.m. he asked for help from a private resident. He told the resident that he had been in a canoeing accident. He was given a ride to the nearest town and went to the local police station.   He gave the police the same story about being in a canoe accident, and after producing his (surprisingly) real identification, the police drove him to a hotel where he registered under a fake name and paid cash for the room. The following morning, after hearing about the plane crash and that Schrenker was on the run, the police returned to the hotel, but he was gone. Schrenker managed to walk undetected to Harpersville and retrieved his motorcycle then rode it a KOA Campground in Quincy, Florida. There he bought a tent site for one night, wood, a six-pack of Bud Light Lime and was given access to the campgrounds wireless access. Embarrassed and Scared On January 12, Schrenker emailed his friend, Tom Britt, and wrote that the crash was a misunderstanding and that he was too embarrassed and scared to return home, so instead checked into the hotel. He went on to say that he would soon be dead.   On the same day, a Hamilton County Superior Court judge froze both Marcus and Michelles assets. Capture The campground owners were contacted by the sheriff, who wanted to know if there was anything unusual going on there. They told the sheriff about the man who had checked in the previous day but had not checked out.  Soon afterward, U.S. marshals swarmed the campground and found Schrenker, barely conscious and incoherent, lying inside the tent. He had lost a lot of blood from a self-inflicted cut on his wrist and an area near his elbow. He was flown to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. On January 13, Schrenker was arrested and charged in federal court in Pensacola, Florida, with deliberately crashing his plane and making a fake distress call.   Trials and Sentencing February 5, 2009A man in Dothan, Alabama was granted $12 million after an Alabama judge ruled in his favor that Schrenker had sold him a defective airplane. June 5, 2009  Schrenker pleaded guilty to intentionally crashing his plane as a way to escape his mounting financial and legal problems. He was sentenced two months later to four years and three months in prison, $34,000 in restitution to the Coast Guard for its search and rescue efforts and $871,000 in restitution to Harley-Davidson, the lienholder of the plane. Schrenker later pleaded guilty to three counts of securities fraud and two counts of working as an investment banker without being registered. He was given a 10-year prison sentence to run consecutively with the previous sentence for the fake plane crash, and he also had to pay $633,781 in restitution. Six Years Later Schrenker was released from prison on September 18, 2015.

(Dear #2996) Essay in Philosophy class Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

(Dear #2996) in Philosophy class - Essay Example This short paper focuses for the main part on the subject of God in addition to the soul, rebirth and the more mundane affair of marriage. We also discuss points that would help to explain this situation that is peculiar to the Buddhist religion. In relation to mundane life, the noble Buddha did not delve extensively on the topic of marriage for example, so no rules were laid down dealing with married life although he did give some basic advice to ensure that people would lead happily married lives. Similarly, there are no direct references to related issues such as divorce or birth control. Nonetheless, worldly concerns were addressed but the focus was on liberation from suffering in this world and general guidance on how to live a good life. The most notable absences however, that one would expect to have been talked about by the founder of a religion, are the subjects of God and soul. A common fallacy is that buddhists deny the existence of both. Some would differ saying that by not proclaiming the existence of God, the noble Buddha in effect denied the existence of God, but even with this position, they cannot claim this with certainty for the very reason that no clear statement was made accepting the existence of God. At the same time, we could also argue that God does exist because there are sufficient records of noble Buddha discussing God in the Buddhist scriptures. In regard to the soul, the position of Buddhism is similar to Islam wherein God responded to a question concerning the soul; that people have only been given a little knowledge. The noble Buddha however was more strict in ensuring that his teachings were kept simple, and he did not intend to cause any confusion. In actual fact, the noble Buddha neither categorically denied God or the soul, nor did he affirm their existence. What the noble Buddha discouraged was speculating on such subjects on which one does not have proper knowledge. The noble Buddhas position was to either remain

Richard III - Shakespeare Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Richard III - Shakespeare - Essay Example He engages other by his persuasions in order to win their support; he does this using all possible means even killing others in order to achieve his ambitious dream. Although at the end of it all we see Devine power taking control of the scene. Because of Richard’s hunger for power, conflicts have been created in this society throughout the play Richard III. Richard is so ambitious and hungry to be the leader of England no matter the conflicts he brings between him and the people. From the beginning to the end of this play, every move is about Richard and his desire to be the king. He either uses persuasion or even kills to ensure he achieves this ambition. We see Richard sweet talking Lady Anne in order to win her. Lady Anne knows that Richard killed his husband and father in law King Henry VI, but still Richard cunningly is able to lure and win her for marriage. Richard knows that by marrying Lady Anne he makes a strategic move towards getting the throne (Shakespeare, 1597, A4v). He further spreads rumors about his brother through his false prophecy claiming that Clarence was planning to kill the king’s heirs yet he is the one planning to do so. He makes the king furious with Clarence leading to his imprisonment and later he is killed through Richard’s orders (Shakespeare, 1597). Richard had a number of plans of evil thi ngs to do to make himself king and rule England forever. These plans were to; eliminate his brother Clarence, marry Lady Ann, kill king Edward IV, become protector since the heirs were still young, eliminate anyone who supported the heirs, murder the young princes, make himself king, murder his wife then beat up Richmond. Richards hunger and ambition to get to power lead him to commit so many evil deeds in order for him to achieve his dreams. All the deeds by Richard to get himself to power created conflict between

Research The Interpretivism Philosophy Management Essay

Research The Interpretivism Philosophy Management Essay Firstly, it is the research philosophy. There are two main types of philosophy and they are positivism and interpretivism. In this research the interpretivism philosophy will be applied to adopt the nature of theories on the factors influencing the project management performance. Secondly, it is the research approach that includes deduction and induction. In this research, the induction approach is considered the appropriate approach for the project management when the researcher examines three factors influencing the project management performance at BORDA Vietnam. Thirdly, it is the research strategy. There are three categories of research strategy such as exploratory, descriptive and explanatory. To pursue the purpose of this research is to explore the understanding of the concepts of project management and the impacts of factors on the project management performance at BORDA Vietnam, the exploratory strategy is selected to use. Fourthly, it is research methodology. There are two methods when conducting the research generally. They are quantitative and qualitative. With each method there are advantages and disadvantages duing application. In this research, the qualitative method is chosen to apply due to its appropriateness for the topic of factors influencing the project management performance at BORDA Vietnam. Fifthly, it is the data collection and data processing that describes how the primary and secondary data will be collected and how the collected data will be analysed to have findings for the next chapters. Last but not least, it is ethical issues of the research. 3.1 Research philosophy Sauders at al. (2009) emphasises that the research philosophy relates to the development of knowledge and its nature. It will reflect the researchers view of the world and underpin the research strategy. There are different philosophies of the research such as positivism, realism, interpretivism and pragmatism and these belong to the research philosophy which is the first layer of the research onion (Sauder et al., 2009). Depending on the type of research topic which philosophy will be adopted in the research? 3.1.1 Positivism Positivism reflects the philosophical stance of the nature scientist (Sauder et al., 2009). The positivism philosophy is applied to the research for generating the existing theories to develop the hypotheses and these hypotheses will be tested with highly structured and large samples relating to the observation and numeric data. However, when observing the social reality (Sauder et al., 2009), the researcher is independent from which is observed. 3.1.2 Interpretivism In the management research, the interpretivism refers to the understanding difference between the human as social actors (Sauder at al., 2009:16) and the objects. It focuses on the subjective meanings and the interpretation of the meanings behind the social phenomena. By applying the interpretivism philosophy for the research, the qualitative methodology is more appropriate to help the researcher conduct the small sample with in-depth interview and focus group interview. Project management performance plays an important role in the success of the project. However, there are many factors but the research focusing on three key factors influencing the project management performance. The factors are leadership style, teamwork and staff motivation. For conducting the research, the interpretivism philosophy is selected to help the researcher interpret the meanings of contextual observations and collected information from interview. 3.2 Research approach Research approach relates to the theory of the research. It explicit the concerned questionnaires for survey or guidelines for interview. There are two different kinds of research approaches, deduction and induction. Sauder et al. (2009) pointed out that the deductive approach is when to develop the theory and hypotheses and the research strategy is designed to test those hypotheses. The deductive approach is believed to be more appropriate with the positivist philosophy. Other way round, it is inductive approach in which the data is collected and theory is developed as the results of data analysis. The inductive approach is considered more appropriate with the interpretivist philosophy. 3.2.1 Deductive approach Deductive approach involves in the development of theory and hypothesis. The data or findings from questionnaire survey, guideline interview and secondary sources are the results to be tested to confirm or reject the hypotheses (Gill and Johnson, 2010). This approach is suitable with large sample from the quantitative method. 3.2.2 Inductive approach Inductive approach allows the researcher to develop the theory base on analysis of the phenomena. The theory is developed based on the result of data analysis. Sauder et al (2009) suggested that the small sample conducted for the research is suitable with the inductive approach. The research on factors that influence the project management at BORDA is to pursue the purpose of identifying and analysing three burning factors really affecting the performance of project management at BORDA Vietnam. The small sample of interview with the managers and staffs of BORDA office and involved partners will be conducted. Therefore, the inductive approach is considered more appropriate to conduct this research. 3.3 Research strategy Research strategy plays an important role during conducting the research. According to Sauders at al. (2009:141) the research strategy helps to guide the research questions, objectives, the extent of existing knowledge, the amount of time, other available resources and to underpin the research philosophy. There are three categories of research strategy such as (1) exploratory, (2) descriptive and (3) explanatory (Yin, 2003, cited in Sauderset al.2009:141). Each category is valuable with different research purposes. However, it is pointed out that the purpose of enquiry may change over time (Robson, 2002, cited in Sauders et al, 2009:139). 3.3.1 Exploratory The exploratory strategy is useful to clarify the understanding of the phenomena by finding out what is happening, to seek new insights, to ask questions and to assess phenomena in a new light (Robson, 2002: 59, cited in Sauders et al., 2009:139). There are three principal ways of conducting the exploratory research: A research of the literature Interviewing experts in the subject Conducting focus group interviews (Sauders et al. 2009:140) 3.3.2 Descriptive The object of descriptive research is to portray an accurate profile of persons, events or situations (Robson, 2002:59, cited in Sauderset al.2009:140). It means that before the data is collected, it should be a clear picture of which data should be collected. However, the descriptive research is as one piece of exploratory research and also the explanatory research. 3.3.3 Explanatory Explanatory research focuses on explaining the relationship between variables (Sauderset al.2009:140) of a situation or a phenomena. This strategy is more quantitative in the research methodology. In addition, it can be a combination between the quantitative and qualitative methods in the research methodology by collecting the qualitative data for explanation of the reason to the phenomena or problem. The purpose of the research is to gain the understanding about the concept of project management and impacts of factors influencing the project management performance in BORDA Vietnam. In view of the foreging, the exploratory strategy is chosen to use in this research that helps the researcher to interpret the findings to the meanings of this research. 3.4 Research methodology There are two main types of research methods: (1) qualitative and (2) quantitative. Each method will be selected to use depending on specific research topic and analysis sample. 3.4.1 Qualitative method According to Sauders et al.,(2009:480) the qualitative data refers to all non-numeric data or data that have not been quantified and can be a product of all research strategies. There are many things in human life which may not be quantitative. They are no worse for that. If they are of non-quantitative nature, they can be investigated in terms of their own categories and such investigation is no less scientific than measurement (Michell, 1999:14, cited in Giorgi A, 2005:80). When conducting the qualitative research, the purpose is to understand the meanings expressed through words (Sauderset al.2009:482) of the problem or phenomena from real world settings (Golafshani N, 2003:600). The qualitative research means such methods like interviews and observations are dominant in the naturalist (interpretive) paradigm and supplementary in the positive paradigm ((Golafshani N, 2003:600). The qualitative data after being collected is inputed into the analysis process through three main types: Summarising (consideration) of meanings; Categorisation (grouping) of meanings; Structuring (ordering) of meanings using narrative. (Sauderset al.2009:490). 3.4.2 Quantitative method According to Ponterotto J.(2005:128), the quantitative method focuses on the strict quantification of observations (data) and on careful control of empirical variables. This method needs the large sample and uses of statistical procedures to examine the meanings and variables (Ponterotto and Grieger, 1999, cited in Ponterotto, 2005:128). The quantitative research helps the researcher familiarize with the problem or phenomena to be studied and develop the hypotheses to be tested through the quantitative techniques. The categories of quantitative method include (1) the emphasis is on facts and causes of behaviour (Bogdan and Biklen, 1998, cited in Golafshani N, 2003:597); (2) the information is in the form of numbers that can be quantified and summarised; (3) the mathematical process is the norm for analysing the numeric data and (4) the final result is expressed in statistical terminologies (Charles, 1995, cited in Golafshani N, 2005:598). From the different above definitions and concepts of research methods, the researcher select the qualitative method that is considered the most suitable and conceptual analysis shall be applied via observation of daily management work at BORDA Vietnam and the in depth interview to all staffs and managers of BORDA office and partners involving in the project. It is small sample. The qualitative method will help the researcher find out the key crucial factors affecting the performance of the project management. The qualitative method will be described through the research process in the figure below: Research objectives Theories relating to the project management Qualitative method, data collection: + Primary data: in-depth and group focus interview, daily observations + Secondary data: desk research Discussion and analysis of findings Identification of weaknesses corresponding causes in PM Recommendations solutions for improving PM performance Figure 3.1: Research process (Source: Authors design) 3.5 Data collection The data used for this research comes from both primary and secondary sources. 3.5.1 Secondary source Secondary data collection: the data will be collected from the books, articles, journals publication, reports, annual working plans, desk research, evaluations. These resources provide the information and data on the activities and project implementation at BORDA Vietnam. 3.5.2 Primary data In-depth interview: the in-depth interviews will be conducted with 15 staffs of BORDA office and involved partners, 2 focus group interviews for staffs and managers to collect their opinions, comments and assessments on current project management performance and the factors influencing the project management performance at BORDA Vietnam. The contents of the in-depth interview guideline shall be flexible and subject to the persons interviewed to be able to get the best results for analysis, summarising and consolidation. The tentative duration for the interviews shall last from 15 October to 31 October 2012. The primary data collected through the interviews is used to give insights into the main factors influencing the project management performance within the implementation progress. Observation from daily management work: The researcher is a part of this team, so that the daily management work at BORDA Vietnam will be observed. 3.6 Data processing The information and data from the interviews shall be collected, summarised, consolidated and analysed to see the problems of project management and examined whether the factors such as leadership style, team work and staff motivation have an effect on the performance of the project management at BORDA Vietnam or not. The feedback from the interviewees is also considered the useful inputs for the recommendations and solutions of the researcher. 3.7 Research ethics In the scope of this research, the researcher focus on examining the practices of financial and human resource management to the project management performance at BORDA Vietnam in the period of 2011 2013. Because of time limits, the research cannot be conducted for other factors such as the role of management of quality, information system, knowledge, relationship, etc. to the project management performance. The research will use both the secondary and primary data, especially the in-depth interview questions for information collection. Before interviewing, the researcher will ask the potential interviewees directly or through emails and telephones for their convenience and agreement of spending time and providing the information, opinions. Without agreement, the researcher will not provide the name of interviewees in the research or any sensitive information will be kept confidentially for the researcher only. Moreover, this is an independent study from the point of view of the researcher. The findings and recommendations will be proposed to the high management level of BORDA to help improve the project management performance of project implementation in Vietnam. Chapter summary Through this chapter, the researcher describes the picture of how the research will be conducted and how data is collected and analysed. After studying about the different types of research philosophy, approach, strategy, method the researcher select: Research philosophy: interpretivism Research approach: inductive Research strategy: exploratory Research method: qualitative The findings from the in depth interviews with individuals of 15 interviewees and two focus group interviews for staffs and managers of BORDA Vietnam and involved partner VAWR/ CTIC and from the daily observation of the management work as well as from the desk research of the secondary data, the meanings shall be summarised, categorised ans structured (Sauders et al., 2009:490) The research ethics are mentioned at the end of this chapter. The researcher will ask for acceptance of using the personal information from the interviewees. Without the agreement, it will be considered the confidential information and will not be displayed in the research.