Measurement Scales Paper - 1006 Words

Measurement Scales Paper Marketers use scales to measure the assignment of numbers to objects or persons to represent quantities to their attributes (Aaker, 2007). This includes the measurement of agreements or disagreements that relates to attitudes or objects. For example, the measurement is in two parts, the item part, and the evaluative part. It is important to understand the level of characteristics of scales such as nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio because scales differ with respect to the scaling characteristics. Nominal scales label the objects. Ordinal scales rank the order and size difference of the respondents or their responses. Interval scales represent the equal distance between the descriptor. Finally, the ratio scales†¦show more content†¦Then if the individual were a female, she would answer the gender question with number one, which corresponds to female. When questionnaires are completed the numerical scales are the number and percentage of objects, such as 53 females (51.5 % ) and 50 males (48.5%) (McDaniel, 2006). Ordinal Ordinal scales use labeling characteristics similar to nominal scales but in this case, it uses the numbers for the ability to order the data. This scale is a higher level of measurement and is used mostly to show the rank order of the items to be reviewed. The operations determine which is greater or lesser than another in the same list. For example, if there were a questionnaire about a person’s preference of restaurants, the questionnaire would give the respondent a few choices to review. If the example has five choices, the respondent would choose one to five with the number five as most desired. Then the individual will rank the most desired restaurant by placing the number five next to the name of the restaurant he or she prefers the most. This helps the questionnaire determine which restaurant is preferred greater than others. Then the measure of central tendency is the median, and the percentile would be used for measuring dispersion (McDaniel, 2006). Interval Interval scales have characteristics of nominal and ordinal scales but also have equal intervals between the points on the scale (McDaniel, 2006). This type of scale is the preferred measure ofShow MoreRelatedMeasurement Scales Paper892 Words   |  4 PagesMeasurement Scales Paper Measurement in Analysis can take on many forms, but in this case, these come in the form of questionnaires. A questionnaire when not done correctly may not be able to obtain the information in which the corporation may be seeking. There are in general four categories that these fall into. Categorically, these include Nominal, Ordinal, Interval and Ratio Numbers. The essential goal of this author is to explain to the utmost of authority of how these fit into questionnairesRead MoreMeasurement Scales Paper846 Words   |  4 PagesMeasurement Scales Paper When conducting marketing research it is imperative to comprehend the different types of measurement scales in order to properly apply or use them in the collecting data process. Also selecting the right measurement scale is key to assist researches in collecting quality data. According to Hyper Stat, 2011, Measurement scales are use in the assignment of numbers to objects or events in a systematic fashion. Four levels of measurement scales that are commonly distinguishedRead MoreSurvey Paper961 Words   |  4 Pagesidentifies and defines the problem to research. Sekaran (2003) said, â€Å"No amount of good research can find solutions to the situation, if the critical issue or the problem to be studied is not clearly pinpointed† (p. 69). The area of research for this paper focuses on software development, in particular, the study of agile software development methodologies and if these methodologies are successful in delivering software on time, within budget, and includes th e requested features. Researching a problemRead MoreUses of Statistical Information Paper1250 Words   |  5 Pagesinformation paper HCS 438 Jennifer Scott December 6, 2010 Pam Bennett Uses of statistical information paper When working with uses of statistical information there is as few topics individuals and organizations need to know and these are how are statistics used in the workplace, what is one example of descriptive statistics used in the workplace and what is one example of inferential statistics used in the workplace. Plus how is data at each of the four levels of measurement usedRead MoreFour Types of Measurement Scales704 Words   |  3 PagesIntroduction There are four measurement scales, or types of data, nominal, ordinal interval and ratio. These four measurements are simple ways to categorize different types of variables. This paper will discuss the usage of each scale. Nominal Nominal scales are the most commonly used in marketing research. Nominal scales are used for labeling variables, without any quantitative value. In fact, Nominal scales could be called â€Å"labels†. Nominal are categories with numbers assigned to themRead MoreLab 1: Microscopy and the Metric System856 Words   |  4 Pagesand the Metric System Purpose The purpose of this lab is to become familiar with the lighted microscope, how to prepare a wet mount, and understand taking measurements in the metric system and its conversions.   Materials amp; Methods Materials: Part A: * Computer for videos Part B: * Tape measure with centimeters * Scale that measures grams * Thermometer that shows Celsius * Campbell Biology Book * 1 piece Orange Starburst Methods: Part A: Combined LightedRead MoreValidity: Critical Thinking About A Research Project1607 Words   |  7 Pagesimportant concepts to know include: validity, variable, operationalization, sample, measurement, measurement error, causation, plausible rival explanations, hypothesis, reliability, and unit of analysis. The researcher must learn how to apply each key concept in an effort to make the research study valuable. These concepts will be reviewed individually to be able to understand how to apply them when writing a research paper. It is significant to have validity in research. Validity is the best approximationRead MoreUsing a Top Loading Balance744 Words   |  3 Pagestop loading balance, follow these steps: a. Press the bar on the front of the machine to turn on the balance b. Wait for the digital display to read â€Å"0.00 g† (grams) c. Place a weighing paper on the pan of the balance d. Zero out the scale by pressing the bar on the front of the machine e. Using the paper to hold the substance, place the solid chemical on the pan to be weighed f. Check the display for the mass of the chemical (grams) 3. Identify two things that can go wrong when using theRead MoreSampling and Data Collection in Research Paper1118 Words   |  5 PagesSampling and Data Collection in Research Paper BSHS 435 Roxanne January 12, 2015 Heather Suggs Sampling and Data Collection in Research Paper Research is essential to improve the effectiveness of the delivery of human services and to further the education of human service professionals. Research allows human service professionals to understand and apply what was learned in research to better assisting clients to accomplish their objectives and goals. There are different ways to conduct researchRead MoreTime and Motion Study1616 Words   |  7 Pages* Model for the construction industry using pre-determined times Jasper Van Gilsa, Leo Vaningelgema Abstract This paper is based on our work experience with Office-line. This company prepares standard times for companies in the industrial sector. Standard time is productive time that is required and achieved by an employee. Standard time contains everything that is necessary for the work specified to be completed. The reason why Office-line only prepare standard times for the industrial sector

My Personal Experience Through Art - 1518 Words

Art is such a powerful mechanism in terms of expression. Personally I tend to channel my emotions into my art to allow for an honest and thought-provoking image. Emotion and expression is the basis of art as mentioned in the above quote which I think beautifully sums up the foundation of all artworks. Personal experience is also beneficial to the artists and I can identify with this. By personifying my personal experiences through art I am able to express myself in a unique way as well as use it as a form of venting. This is when you can see and feel the raw emotion through the work of the artist. That is why personal experience is so important, you can identify with the fear they could have felt through a certain experience or event. An artist who I think has fully lived up to this is Frida Kahlo. Kahlo was a surrealist artist who expressed herself through art. She went through tons of emotional suffering with her husband cheating on her with her sister as well as physical suffering in which she spent several months in hospital after a fatal bus accident. Being put through so much emotional toll she channeled these emotions through art. We can therefore identify with the suffering she experienced through her lifetime. Her images are confrontational conversely to my images that are subtler. I was therefore inspired by her to be more upfront and provoking with my art through symbolism of suffering. Similarly, I wanted to express my inner emotions and make myself vulnerableShow MoreRelatedThe s Theory Of Knowledge1664 Words   |  7 Pagesfrom our evolving environment, through different ways of knowing such as perception, reason, emotion and language. Knowledge can be defined as information acquired from experience or education or the awareness of a situation. Thus, denoting experience, education and awareness as the roots of knowledge. Consequently, if a knower is not able to experience an event or be educated, the concept of knowledge may cease to exist. Therefore, in order for a knower to experience an event, they must acknowledgeRead MoreHow Art Is Art?1457 Words   |  6 PagesWhen you look upon my walls, you are sure to find art. When you walk down the street, you are sure to find art. Everywhere you look and everywhere you go there is art, but art is more than pictures hanging upon a wall and is more than the paintings that painter John Berger references in his essay â €Å"Ways of Seeing†. Art is not one definable thing, but is of many origins and form. Paintings are art, poetry is art, music is art and so much more. There is simply no way to avoid it. Art has an impact onRead MoreAdvantages And Disadvantages Of Experiential Learning1086 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"The main problem about experience, a problem which precedes questions about how we can learn best from experience, lies in a double unsaid: a silence about the implication of experience in language and a silence about the implication of experiential learning in discourse† (Boud, Cohen Walker, 1993, p. 169). This author explains that through the very subconscious thoughts, we often approach events believing that they have to acquire a particular meaning. Sometimes through language, we often misreadRead MoreWhat Is Art?, And Marcel Duchamp s The Creative Act1067 Words   |  5 PagesToday day, art still is a controversial subject of aesthetics, in discussing whether variet y form of modern visual art is art or not. In Laurie Schneider Adams’ article â€Å"What is Art?† and Marcel Duchamp’s â€Å"The Creative Act†, they have own criteria to definite what the nature of art, its meaning and its function. In evaluation Doris Salcedo’s art work Atrabilious, a set of worn shoes encased in rectangle niches on the wall. I agree with their explanation of art thought the combined in structure andRead MoreRelationship Between Shared And Personal Knowledge1373 Words   |  6 Pagesshared knowledge and personal knowledge. Shared knowledge is difficult to define because it includes all knowledge, but it is usually considered as information known by a group of people because of communication outside that particular group. It is basically universal knowledge known by everyone. In contrast, personal knowledge is information only perceived by the individual through personal experiences. Can these two somehow be connected? The relati onship between shared and personal knowledge can beRead MoreI Should Be Considered For This Scholarship852 Words   |  4 Pagesbe considered for this scholarship due to that as a result of my personal goals and qualities I seek to improve my campus and community and in ten years I hope to have radically improve my campus and self. This scholarship will assist me in affording an institution that will grow my mind and achieve my goals of inclusion and diversity. Rotary represents standing for the common good and improving one s community through leadership, which I also strive to accomplish. I have volunteeredRead MoreEducation Biography1433 Words   |  6 PagesCountless leaders, revolutionaries, and scholars have discerned that only through the trials of experience are we able to clearly identify an established pursuit. This prospect of a delayed reward seemingly motivates us to continue in our endeavors. Finding little relevance in experiences void of challenge or difficulty, we discern our interests largely through the upheaval of current understanding. As we mature we realize that we must first embrace where we came from if we hope to continue to developRead MoreWho Is Art As Something We Create?1037 Words   |  5 Pagesreason why I wonder is that we consider art as something we create. Making characters, their lives and their conflicts, would be an art, does not it? When we think about an artist first three topics co me to mind are a painter, musician, and dancer. I get the impression that writers are further down the list of potential artists. When you search for the word artist in google search, you would find it as one who professes skills and practices an imaginative art. Nevertheless, when you look at the Merriam-WebsterRead MoreDeaf Art Is More Than Just A Painting Or Drawing1715 Words   |  7 PagesDeaf Art Deaf art is more than just a painting or drawing. So, what exactly is Deaf art? Deaf art is something that can bring together the Deaf Community. The feelings that the Deaf experience are now brought onto a canvas. Art plays a huge role in the Deaf community. After all, the Deaf are thought of as the best visual people. Deaf artists bring their Deaf pride and pour their hearts out into their art works. They are great role models to the people in their community. The first Deaf artistsRead MorePablo Helguer An Artist919 Words   |  4 Pagesrange of art and a director of adults and academic programs at the Museum of Modern Art, New York. He has created artworks engaging communities in local or global issues as an artist. Due to his career background, his works includes art educational elements. As a speaker of the conference, he gave a presentation on socially-engaged art, which is the creation of participatory art focusing on social engagement, inviting collaboration with individuals and communities. Socially-engaged art is analogous

Article Review This Doctor Does Not Want You By...

Basic Publishing Information The article entitled â€Å"This Doctor Does Not Want To See You† by Alice Park was published on Thursday, June 11, 2009 in print. The article was published in U.S. TIME magazine, subcategorized in a health issue containing the expose collection entitled â€Å"How Not To Get Sick†. Due to the articles age, it was accessed for this assignment using the archives of TIME magazine online. TIME magazine online is an electronic resource which archives from TIME magazine’s print copy, thus online articles are now published daily while the print version is circulated monthly. Reporter Alice Park is a TIME’s writer with specialization on â€Å"Breaking frontiers of health and medicine† (Unknown). Article Issue The issue covered within the article is the price versus cost of U.S. health care and alternative methods of care, including their successes and costs with focus on the work of The Cleveland Clinic. The angle of coverage includes views of Cleveland Clinic staff on methodology behind its focuses with commentary from Renee Turner (security staff and patient), Delos Cosgrove (CEO), and Dr. Michael Roizen (Chief wellness officer/anaesthesiologist). This commentary is used in comparison to health care statistics and facts provided by the U.S. National Database. The article is a special health report in an archived health issue entitled â€Å"How Not To Get Sick†, contributing to a compilation of five experts’ best advice for staying healthy throughout life. The articleShow MoreRelatedPeople recognize a difference between children and adults. What events (experiences or ceremonies) make a person an adult? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your answer.7516 Words   |  31 Pagesof all,in which patients have fear of long words. It is certainly true that the children of phobics are more likely to be fearful and anxious, but it s difficult to say whether this is genetic or learnt. As the capacity to be anxious or fearful depends on a chemical balance in the brain, it is possible that this chemical imbalance is passed down from parent to child,.Children learn by watching how their parents, and other adults, react to the world around them. Parents need to be careful notRead MoreLogical Reasoning189930 Words   |  760 PagesSacramento Sacramento, CA 95819 USA ii iii Preface Copyright  © 2011-14 by Bradley H. Dowden This book Logical Reasoning by Bradley H. Dowden is licensed under a Creative Commons AttributionNonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. That is, you are free to share, copy, distribute, store, and transmit all or any part of the work under the following conditions: (1) Attribution You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author, namely by citing his name, the book titleRead MoreLife of Cristiano Ronaldo9631 Words   |  39 Pagesplaying against  Chelsea  in April 2006. Ronaldo became  Manchester Uniteds first-ever Portuguese player when he signed for â‚ ¬15  million[25]  ( £12.24  million) after the  2002–03 season.[26]  He requested the number 28 (his number at Sporting), as he did not want the pressure of living up to the expectation linked to the number 7 shirt, which had previously been worn by players such as  George Best,  Bryan Robson,  Eric Cantona, and  David Beckham. After I joined, the manager asked me what number Id like. I saidRead MoreFrom Salvation to Self-Realization18515 Words   |  75 PagesEssays in American History, 18801980, ed. by Richard Wightman Fox and T.J. Jackson Lears, New York: Pantheon Books, 1-38. Reprinted with the permission of the author. 1On or about December 1910, Virginia Woolf once said, human character changed. This hyperbole contains a kernel of truth. Around the turn of the century a fundamental cultural transformation occurred within the educated strata of Western capitalist nations. In the United States as elsewhere, the bourgeois ethos had enjoined perpetualRead MoreA Descriptive Study of the Practice of Music Therapy in Hong Kong17388 Words   |  70 Pagesinterviewing local music therapists, focusing on the current professional status and practice of music therapy in Hong Kong. Finally, this paper evaluated the challenges of developing music therapy in Hong Kong in the contexts of Hong Kong’s culture and society. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am deeply appreciative of Prof. Manny Brand for his guidance and assistance in producing this thesis. He has inspired me and made me aware of the possible I am ways to get the work done when I was quite confused at theRead MoreMcdonald Marketing of Service12670 Words   |  51 PagesShare Strategy 40 11.3 Placement Strategy 41 12 Reference List 42 Acknowledgement This marketing plan project would not have been possible without the support of many people. We would like to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to Dr. Anthony Chia as our lecture for his patient in guidance, constructive suggestions and valuable critics, during the development and progress for this services marketing plan report. His willingness to lend his time for explaining to us has beenRead MoreAccounting Information System Chapter 1137115 Words   |  549 PagesCHAPTER 1 ACCOUNTING INFORMATION SYSTEMS: AN OVERVIEW SUGGESTED ANSWERS TO DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1.1 The value of information is the difference between the benefits realized from using that information and the costs of producing it. Would you, or any organization, ever produce information if its expected costs exceeded its benefits? If so, provide some examples. If not, why not? Most organizations produce information only if its value exceeds its cost. However, there are two situationsRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesOrganizational Behavior This page intentionally left blank Organizational Behavior EDITION 15 Stephen P. Robbins —San Diego State University Timothy A. Judge —University of Notre Dame i3iEi35Bj! Boston Columbus Indianapolis New York San Francisco Upper Saddle River Amsterdam Cape Town Dubai London Madrid Milan Munich Paris Montreal Toronto Delhi Mexico City Sao Paulo Sydney Hong Kong Seoul Singapore Taipei Tokyo Editorial Director: Sally Yagan Director of Editorial Services:Read MoreLangston Hughes Research Paper25309 Words   |  102 PagesIn 1919, when Langston Hughes was seventeen years old, he spent the summer with his father, Jim Hughes, in Toluca, Mexico. Langston had not seen his father since he was a small child, and he was excited about making the trip. However, during this visit, no affectionate bond would develop between Langston and Jim. Jim Hughes was a cold, difficult man, who was driven by ambition to make money and achieve respect. He had moved to Mexico to avoid segregation and racial injustice in the United StatesRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 Pagesmymanagementlab is an online assessment and preparation solution for courses in Principles of Management, Human Resources, Strategy, and Organizational Behavior that helps you actively study and prepare material for class. Chapter-by-chapter activities, including built-in pretests and posttests , focus on what you need to learn and to review in order to succeed. Visit www.mymanagementlab.com to learn more. DEVELOPING MANAGEMENT SKILLS EIGHTH EDITION David A. Whetten BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY

The Moonstone Dual Narratives free essay sample

Kendra Lynch English 1302 Ms. Olsen 15 March 2011 The Moonstone Wilkie Collins’s famous detective novel, The Moonstone (1868), takes place in the 1840s during the high-Victorian imperialist age, a time in which the British experienced a long period of contentment and prosperity. During this time, a strong sense of anti-feminism seemed to thrive in British society. Despite this fact, Wilkie Collins did not hesitate to make the women in his novel central characters that have a great influence on the plot. Collins’s effort to balance the plot and characterization in his novel was a great success. The characters in The Moonstone are more than just fictional characters, as they portray various social and religious messages and scores of Collins’s personal ideas. The plot of The Moonstone is stimulated by secrecy, and its story line is further complicated by the suppressed voices of women in the story. Wilkie Collins’s unique narration, complicated social messages, and intricate symbolism are all separate features of the novel that make it outstanding. The novel begins with a prologue called â€Å"The Storming of Seringapatam (1799): (Extracted from a Family Paper)† (Collins 5), when the British are currently raiding the palace of General Baird. An English adventurer named John Herncastle obtained possession of a magnificent, yellow diamond that was sacred to the Hindus. In his last breath, one of the Brahmin men opened his mouth and spoke in his indigenous language saying â€Å"The Moonstone will have its vengeance yet on you and yours! † (Collins 6-7). After the prologue, the novel advances to fifty years later. Herncastle willed the marvelous diamond to his niece, Rachel Verinder, who is soon to receive the diamond as a gift for her eighteenth birthday from her cousin, Franklin Blake. â€Å"Herncastle’s gift of the diamond to Rachel was not a gift of love but a ‘gift’ of a curse and vengeance† (Grinstein 134). On the night of Rachel’s party, the diamond was stolen out of her room with no signs of how it may have vanished. This mysterious event can be seen as the turning point in the novel, as it causes the plot to accelerate and continue on in a whirlwind of false accusations, passionate emotions, several unforeseen eaths, and major trust issues between family members, including the servants of the house. The narration of The Moonstone is a very unique feature of the novel as it is told through the perspective of eleven different narrators. Collins’s use of multiple narrators â€Å"wrenches authority away from an individual first-person narrator or an ill-defined but omnipresent omniscient narrator† (Free 342). Because the story is told through various points of view, the reader is able to better understand Collins’s intricate plot by following the story through the eyes and minds of all his characters. Patrick Brantlinger notes how the plot unravels â€Å"through the gradual discovery of knowledge, until at the end what detective and reader know coincides with what the secretive or somehow remiss narrator-author has presumably known all along† (Gruner 226). The reader only knows what the characters themselves knew about the events at the time they experienced them; this essentially puts them in a detective position. Not only does Collins keep his readers guessing, but he also uses his characters to present social messages to his readers throughout the story. Ian Duncan states that â€Å"the characterological scheme expresses a historical and cultural crisis of national dimensions† (Duncan 300). In most Victorian novels, servants exist as background characters, and nothing more. Contrarily, several of the main characters of The Moonstone are servants who not only play significant roles in the story, but also discuss their social positions. Rosanna Spearman and Gabriel Betteredge are two examples of servants who frequently speak up and make various comments about social class. Betteredge is a very stubborn, prejudiced man who does not trust any man other than a white Englishman. He believes that he is nothing more than the average man, and he feels that the rich have more â€Å"luxuries† than members of the working class: People in high life have all the luxuries to themselves—among others, the luxury of indulging their feelings. People in low life have no such privilege. Necessity, which spares our betters, has no pity on us. We learn to put our feelings back into ourselves, and to jog on with our duties as patiently as may be. I dont complain of this—I only notice it (Collins 166). In other words, when a tragedy such as Rosanna’s suicide occurs, servants must force a smile on their faces and continue on with their tasks while the rich are allowed to grieve and mourn as long as they feel necessary. Rosanna’s suicide â€Å"shows how members of the working class are invisible to those they serve† (Heller 249). The only thing standing between Blake and Rosanna is her working-class status. Before taking her own life, Rosanna leaves a letter for Blake in which she describes her emotional pain and his apathy. After Rosanna’s voice is finally heard through her letter, it becomes clear that she could not communicate directly with Franklin due her to position in society and her femininity. The Moonstone contains not only social messages dealing with society and class, but also social messages related to religious issues of the time. Wilkie Collins succeeds in mirroring the Victorian society through his diverse characters, as most English people in this era were searching for a moral truth to put their faith in. Religion is significant in most of the characters’ lives; however, it plays a different role for each of them. In the first scene, three Brahmin men illustrate Hindu mythology to the reader. The introduction of Orientalism creates an atmosphere of theology and suspense which hinders English society rather than Indian society. Betteredge feels that the â€Å"devilish Indian diamond† (Roy 660) has invaded the sanctity of the English home. Ezra Jennings is a physician who bases his faith on medicine and scientific reasoning. Lady Verinder and her daughter, Rachel, are both affiliated with the Church of England. Despite the fact that they are both Christian, Miss Clack habitually tells them that they must convert to her form of Christianity or they will go to hell. Miss Clack, along with Godfrey Ablewhite who also verbalizes his religion, is a complete hypocrite. As she preaches to the reader, she exclaims, â€Å"Oh, my young friends and fellow-sinners Let your faith be as your stockings, and your stockings as your faith. Both ever spotless, and both ready to put on at a moments notice! † (Collins 203). In other words, she implies that her devout faith is nothing more than a front that she can â€Å"put on† and take off. Lastly, unlike most Victorian novels, The Moonstone contains female characters that are skillfully developed and unconventional. Many critics believe that Collins was genuinely feminist for his time and that he had a great interest in contemporary social issues of his time. Gender stereotypes are asserted by different characters throughout the novel, but the majority of them get repudiated. Collins gives his female characters a solid, sharp presence, unlike all the other delineations of literary heroines of his time period. In fact, the women lay such significant roles that â€Å"†¦the plot of The Moonstone is complicated by the silence of women,† as they â€Å"conceal their own motivations and what they know of others’ in order to protect secrets of their own, thus complicating and ultimately doubling the plot†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Gruner 225). Another essential element of the plot is the use of symbols throughout the novel. The first and most important symbol that Coll ins introduces is, of course, the Moonstone. The diamond is described as a beautiful, yellow gem that is sacred to the Hindu people. It is a symbol of what most humans tend to spend their lives striving for—beauty and power. The Moonstone’s history is also quite dangerous, as it can easily return and infect the present. The idea that an evil past may return quickly becomes a recurring theme throughout the novel. The Moonstone â€Å"is directly responsible for Godfrey’s death, and indirectly for Rosanna’s and Lady Verinder’s. It separates Rachel and Franklin. It baffles the law and the police. It destroys the peace of the household. In short, the diamond is dark despite its brightness†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Lonoff 212). Many critics have discovered how the diamond also symbolizes Rachel’s virginity. Rachel’s purity is accentuated in the text when she is referred to as a â€Å"lily on its stem† (Collins 157). The diamond is given to Rachel Verinder on her eighteenth birthday, an age when a girl can truly be seen as a woman. During that same day, the diamond was stolen from her in the middle of the night and Rachel seemed to experience an enigmatic change. â€Å"The novel coyly plays upon the sexual metaphor of a precious, stolen gem, keeping its own secret from the reader as to whether Rachel’s virginity has been stolen along with the Moonstone† (Blumberg 175). Collins continues to develop this symbol by taking it to a further level, focusing on the more complex themes of premarital sex and defloration. At one point in the story, Godfrey Ablewhite was planning to cut the diamond into small pieces and pawn them because the diamond would be worth more if it were cut into smaller stones. â€Å"Rachel and her (uncut) diamond are both more valued in a capitalist economy for their potential than for themselves† (Gruner 230). In other words, once a woman loses her virginity, she is no longer exchange value for men, which essentially makes her less valuable to society. The repetition of the Shivering Sands symbolizes a place of comfort for some of the characters, but for others, the Sands are frightening. Rosanna admits that she is fascinated by the Sands as she says â€Å"Isn’t it wonderful? Isn’t it terrible? I have seen it dozens of times, and it’s always new to me as if I had never seen it before! † (Collins 30). For Rosanna, the Shivering Sands are a place of disclosure and comfort where she can go to hide. Unlike Rosanna, Franklin Blake feels threatened by the Sands. Being at the site of Rosanna’s death causes Franklin to feel susceptible to â€Å"the threat that this female sexuality poses to his masculine identity†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Heller 253). Immediately after Blake sets foot on the quicksand, â€Å"his nerves are shaken, as if he were a neurasthenic woman, but he confesses to overpowering the fear at the moment he penetrates the quicksand†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Heller 253). At first glance, the Shivering Sands appears to be nothing more than an area of quicksand; however, it is that and much more to several of the characters in the story, especially Rosanna Spearman. The Moonstone may appear to be another ordinary mystery novel of the Victorian era; however, Collins’s complex plot consists of various twists and unexpected turns that keep his readers guessing. Many critics would strongly agree that â€Å"The Moonstone is†¦Wilkie Collins’ most remarkable performance. In this, above all his books, he achieved precisely what he set out to do, and more—for it is unlikely that he intended to produce the archetype of a new branch of English fiction† (Robinson 218). http://www. jstor. org/stable/469430 http://www.proquest.com/products-services/pqdtglobal.html