There are several methods used in determining sample size, what process do you imagine you would feel the most assured using? Why do you favor this method? In your research please describe the methods used in determining sample size and answer the questions 1.what process do you imagine you would feel the most assured using?
2.Why do you favor this method?
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Determining Sample Size: Methods and Personal Preference
Sample size determination is a crucial step in the research process, influencing the reliability and validity of study results. Various methods exist for calculating sample size, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. In this essay, I will describe several common methods for determining sample size, explain which method I would feel most assured using, and provide reasons for my preference.
Common Methods for Determining Sample Size
1. Cochran’s Formula: This method is particularly useful for large populations. Cochran’s formula provides a simplified way to calculate sample size based on the desired confidence level, margin of error, and population proportion. The formula is as follows:
[
n_0 = \frac{Z^2 p(1 – p)}{E^2}
]
Where:
– ( n_0 ) = required sample size
– ( Z ) = Z-value (the number of standard deviations from the mean)
– ( p ) = estimated proportion of the population
– ( E ) = margin of error
2. Power Analysis: This method is commonly used in experimental research. Power analysis helps determine the minimum sample size needed to detect an effect of a given size with a specified level of confidence (usually 80% or 90%). It takes into account the expected effect size, significance level (alpha), and statistical power.
3. Sample Size Tables: Researchers can also refer to pre-existing tables that provide sample size recommendations based on various parameters, such as confidence levels and expected variability in the data.
4. Computer Software: Several statistical software packages (e.g., G*Power, SAS, R) offer functionalities to calculate sample size based on user-defined parameters. These tools can perform complex calculations that consider various factors influencing sample size.
5. Rule of Thumb: Some researchers use simple rules of thumb to determine sample sizes, such as “at least 30 participants per group” in experimental designs. While easy to apply, this method lacks statistical rigor.
Personal Preference
1. What Process Would I Feel Most Assured Using?
I would feel most assured using Power Analysis for determining sample size in my research. This method allows for a thorough understanding of the relationship between sample size, effect size, and statistical power.
2. Why Do I Favor This Method?
My preference for power analysis stems from several key reasons:
– Statistical Rigor: Power analysis incorporates essential statistical parameters, including effect size and desired power level. This rigor ensures that the sample size is not just arbitrary but is based on measurable criteria that can significantly influence the study’s ability to detect true effects.
– Flexibility: Power analysis can be applied to various research designs, whether experimental or observational. It allows researchers to adjust parameters based on specific hypotheses, making it versatile across different fields of study.
– Minimization of Type II Errors: By ensuring that the sample size is sufficient to detect an effect if it exists, power analysis helps reduce the likelihood of Type II errors (failing to reject the null hypothesis when it is false). This increases the reliability of the study findings.
– Guidance for Planning: Conducting a power analysis during the planning stage of research provides a clear guideline for what needs to be achieved in terms of sample size. It can also guide researchers in designing more effective studies by understanding how changes in methodology impact the required sample size.
– Improved Resource Utilization: By determining an optimal sample size through power analysis, researchers can better allocate resources, avoiding over-sampling (which can waste time and funding) or under-sampling (which can jeopardize study validity).
In conclusion, while various methods exist for determining sample size, power analysis stands out as a method I would feel most assured using due to its statistical rigor, flexibility, and ability to minimize errors. By basing the sample size on concrete evidence rather than arbitrary rules or estimates, researchers can enhance the quality and reliability of their studies.
References
Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd ed.). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Kelley, K., & Maxwell, S. E. (2003). Sample Size for Multiple Regression: Obtaining Regression Coefficients That Are Accurate, Not Significant. Psychological Methods, 8(3), 305-321.
Biau, D. J., & Kernéis, S. (2018). Sample Size in Randomized Controlled Trials: A Review of Guidelines and Recommendations. Clinical Trials, 15(3), 305-312.
