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School of Professional Studies - QUAN 201 Signature Assignment B: Casting your vote on risk Policy making is dependent on information. Quantitative data can serve as the evidence used to support or oppose a given initiative. However, because data is so open to analysis and varied interpretations, each side of a position can shape and present the data to support their distinct positions. Consider this: “Coverage of mammograms for breast cancer screening is mandated by the Affordable Care Act, which provides that these be given without a co-pay or deductible beginning with plan years starting after August 1, 2012. This doesn’t apply to health plans that were in place before it was passed (called grandfathered plans). Those plans are covered by state laws, which vary, and other federal laws” (American Cancer Society, 2013). Imagine that you are a member of Congress voting on a bill to amend the Affordable Care Act to mandate “grandfathered” and “individual” (self –paid) insurance plans to provide full coverage for bi-annual mammography screening for all females of 35 years and older and all females of 20 years and older who have documented breast cancer in an immediate family member. The legislation would nullify the individual state laws that have varied mandates and coverage, and grant all women access to free screening. Insurance companies have lobbied you to vote against the amendment, and cancer awareness organizations (i.e. ACS, Komen) have lobbied you to vote for it. The insurance companies highlight the costs of screening. While the advocates for the amendment use data to support the cost to benefit analysis. As a member of Congress, you decide to carry out your own research on the benefits of screening (read the module texts) and using varied sources of data to inform your decision. After extensive research, you are now ready to cast your vote and prepare a statement for your constituency. Preparation: STEP 1 Review the course texts and navigate the various data/statistics available through the NCI, Komen Foundation, and other valid sources. Select two (2) data visualizations that would serve to support your chosen position and one (1) misleading data visualization, which you will critique. STEP 2 In addition to the texts supplied, you will need to research financial costs of breast cancer screening (focusing on individuals, insurance plans, the government). You should locate at least one (1) valid – preferably government or academic journal – source of data for your cost analysis. Cancer can be a very emotional subject, but the statements that you make and data that you report about the importance, harms, benefits or effects of mammography must be substantiated by a cited source. It is also important that additional sources you find are valid and not driven by bias. STEP 3 Analysis Guidelines: Structure your paper as a letter to your constituents, explaining why you support or oppose such a policy. This statement would be posted to your congressional website. Introduce the proposed bill and state your position. Provide a context for your position, explaining the sources of information you have studied to come to this conclusion. Argue the rationality of routine screening or not screening based on the scientific research and social critique you have read. *Make sure to ‘Talk back to’ the opposing argument/position with data.* Identify specific data (rates, probability, mean, etc) to support your argument. Include at least 5 varied data points to integrate into your analysis Explain your interpretation of the two data visualizations you selected to support your argument. Critique a misleading data visualization. School of Professional Studies - QUAN 201 Signature Assignment B: Casting your vote on risk (Analysis Guidelines cont’d) Discuss the implications of supporting or not supporting the bill mandating full coverage for routine screening. What health implications does it make? What are the financial costs? – include the data you researched What might the cultural effects be? Who would benefit most from such a provision? What harm or backlash could you foresee from passing such a law? . Paper requirements: Statement of position Cited statistics supporting this position Appropriately cited use of three (3) published data visualizations Interpretation of data visualizations and critique of a misleading one Critical assessment of the collective data and information sourced Paper Formatting (standard): 3 pages of text (approximately 1650 words, excluding reference list and charts/data visualization) 1” Margins Standard font (i.e. 12pt Times New Roman, 11pt Calibri) Introduction – Body – Conclusion 3 Data visualizations (cited) Reference List APA formatting Remember: Edit your work before submitting it to ensure correct use of grammar, spelling and word choice, and a cohesive narrative. Avoid simply responding to the guideline questions in succession; your writing should form a narrative guided by the questions above. This means that in addition to your work being accurate it should read smoothly in your unique analytical voice. Crime Trend Lines Analysis of crime in Los Angeles and New York Introduction The rate of crime plays an important role in making a choice of moving to a particular city. A comparison of crime rates in New York and Los Angeles can be done by focusing on a comparative trend line analysis which would help understand multiple factors relating to the crime rates in these cities (Roeder, Oliver K.; et al., 2015). Some of the top most worries of citizens living in these cities include being mugged, someone breaking into their home and stealing, vandalism and theft or assault. It is important to consider the current situation as well as the past trends in order to be able to evaluate the situation completely. The renewed economic growth of developing states spurred a much bigger middle class and the discovery of new natural resources has helped to create a great economic interest in cities by both Western and non-Western states that have sought to engage that there be better consideration of ensuring that the crime rates are kept minimum (James, Nathan, 2015). Property crime is known to be high in USA. This is a major concern for a person moving to a different city in USA. Discussion There are multiple sources on the internet which specify the levels of crime and safety in both Los Angeles and New York. It indicates that there is a need to evaluate the overall indication from various reliable data sources in order to understand the crime index, safety scale and the overall nature of crimes in both the cities (Roeder, Oliver K.; et al. , 2015). The first index considered in the crime index and safety scale comparison between Los Angeles and New York. It indicates that Los Angeles has a higher crime index and lower safety scale. This indicates that New York is safer to live in present times. It also indicates that there is better support from state police and people around in the neighborhoods in New York. Yet, the level of crime are quite high in both the cities (Wadsworth, Tim, 2010). Source: https://www.numbeo.com/crime/compare_cities.jsp?country1=United+States&city1=Los+Angeles%2C+CA&country2=United+States&city2=New+York%2C+NY The second source being evaluated is the crime situation in New York and Los Angeles as against the whole of USA. Also, there is a consideration of the nature of crime. The data indicates that though violent crime levels are same in Los Angeles and New York, which are both much higher when compared to the total crime rates in USA. The rate of property crime is much higher in Los Angeles when compared to New York. Also in New York, the rate of property crime is low. This does indicate that New York is a safer city to reside in when compared to Los Angeles (Wadsworth, Tim, 2010). It indicates that as the safety scale is also high, there is a possibility of low level of violent crimes and a possibility of higher levels of property crimes in these places. Data source: https://www.bestplaces.net/compare-cities/los_angeles_ca/new_york_ny/crime [INSERT INDEX CRIME] Annual Incidents by City Year 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 New York City 21 30 32 26 28 29 38 35 24 29 Los Angeles 25 26 30 25 26 38 40 45 47 32 Data Source: Uniform Crime Report, Table Builder, https://www.ucrdatatool.gov The third analysis is of the data collected of previous years. Data has been collected on crime index in New York city and Los Angeles city for 10 years starting from 2005 to 2014. It indicates that though there is a fall in the overall crime rate of Los Angeles, there has been a sharp growth in the crime rate from 25 index points to 40 index points in 2008 to 2011. This inconsistency is not a positive factor. Whereas in case of New York city the crime rate has remained consistent and there is a possibility that the police force and protection in New York is much better. It indicates a better possibility of crime rates being contained and kept low (Roeder, Oliver K.; et al., 2015). According to a 2004 study by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, from 1981 to 1999, the United States had a lower surveyed residential burglary rate in 1998. But this rate has been growing and has reached a very high level in the present times. This does pose a reason for worry for people changing city of residence in America. Moreover, the geography of crime indicates that metropolitan cities have a much higher crime rate than smaller urban areas or sub urbs and rural areas in a country. This makes both Los Angeles and New York quite likely to have higher crime rates even in the coming times (Roeder, Oliver K.; et al, 2015). Conclusion Increased globalization has played a key role in shaping recent trends and concerns in the economic diplomacy of various nations. It is important that there be effective proposal, creation and enforcement of laws in such a way that there is complete support and safety to the citizens. It is crucial to enable citizens to lead their lives safely without having to face violence or crime (Roeder, Oliver K.; et al, 2015). The police force has an important role to play as it helps ensure that the city is safe to live in. So, a lower crime rate indicates that the police force of a city is more efficient and that the place is safer to live in. It is essential to consider statistics based on crime rate index in order to equip a better understanding of how safe or unsafe a city is. The overall analysis does indicate that there is an increase in crime in USA. Also, Los Angeles and New York have