Perspectives on the Family: Objectivity and Other Challenges in Research and Therapy
One of the most fundamental issues for all sociological and psychological researchers and therapists is objectivity. The ethical or moral dimension of working in these fields is another important concern for those who ..
Perspectives on the Family: Qualitative vs. Quantitative Research
Research tools and techniques can be divided into two broad categories: qualitative and quantitative. Quantitative research methods usually involve looking at large samples of population. Qualitative research relies o..
Petroleum Production and Transportation: Avoiding Environmental Problems in Transportation of Oil
In 1989, a breakdown in communications and a lapse in procedure caused the Exxon Valdez to run aground on Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound, spilling 11 million gallons of Alaska crude. In the wake of this costly disas..
Petroleum Production and Transportation: Extraction of Crude Oil
Oil production typically starts with exploration that uses seismology and drilling to locate geological formations that contain oil. To access an oil reservoir, a drilling platform is placed over the site. At the bottom..
Petroleum Production and Transportation: Petroleum Production Waste Streams
Because petroleum sources can be found in vastly different regions, producers must mitigate the impact of crude oil production on its surrounding ecosystems. The principal waste stream from production at ARCO's Coles-Le..
Petroleum Production and Transportation: Transportation of Crude Oil and Petroleum Products
Transportation of crude and petroleum products via pipeline and marine vessels is an integral part of the oil industry. The products are also stored in large tank farms. Over land, pipelines handle most of this load, t..
Petroleum Refining and Waste Minimization: Crude Oil, Hydrocarbons and Refineries
Carbon, the building block of life, can bond with itself and hydrogen in an infinite number of ways to form molecules called hydrocarbons. Crude oil is a mixture of all lengths of carbon chains, depending on the source...
Petroleum Refining and Waste Minimization: Petroleum Refining
The first step in optimizing the refining process is determining the composition of the crude. The analysis identifies undesirable trace metals and minerals, like sulfur, which are detrimental to equipment. Since the va..
Petroleum Refining and Waste Minimization: Waste Minimization
Environmental professionals constantly monitor, analyze and audit the treatment and disposal of both hazardous and non-hazardous wastes--a challenging assignment given the number of solid, liquid and gaseous waste strea..
Philosophical Theology
Philosopher Stephen Toulmin discusses the philosophical theology views of Thomas Aquinas, Gottfried Leibniz, and Ludwig Wittgenstein. Professor Toulmin relates an amusing comment from Wittgenstein, who once said when som..