You have learned about the factors that influence the choice of evaluation design for a training program. Based on your own experience, which of those factors would have the greatest influence on your company’s choice of an evaluation design? Why?
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
Factors Influencing Evaluation Design for a Training Program
When it comes to choosing the most appropriate evaluation design for a training program, several factors come into play. Each organization has its unique needs and requirements, making it essential to consider multiple aspects before making a decision. From my own experience, one factor that would have the greatest influence on my company’s choice of an evaluation design is the program’s objectives and desired outcomes.
The Importance of Objectives and Outcomes
The objectives and desired outcomes of a training program lay the foundation for the entire evaluation process. They serve as a roadmap to measure the effectiveness and success of the program. Therefore, it is crucial to align the evaluation design with these objectives to gather relevant and meaningful data.
Thesis Statement
In determining the evaluation design for a training program, an organization should prioritize aligning it with the program’s objectives and desired outcomes, as this factor holds the greatest influence on ensuring an accurate and effective evaluation.
Supporting Points
Measuring Success: The primary purpose of evaluating a training program is to determine its success in achieving the desired outcomes. By aligning the evaluation design with the program’s objectives, organizations can ensure that the evaluation process directly measures what it intends to assess. This alignment helps in accurately identifying whether the program has met its goals or needs further improvements.
Relevance of Data: A well-designed evaluation should collect data that is relevant to the program’s objectives. By selecting an evaluation design that focuses on the specific outcomes desired, organizations can gather data that provides meaningful insights into the effectiveness of the training program. This data allows for informed decision-making, such as identifying areas for improvement or allocating resources appropriately.
Tailored Evaluation Methods: Different training programs require different evaluation methods to effectively measure their outcomes. Aligning the evaluation design with the program’s objectives allows organizations to choose appropriate evaluation methods that suit their specific needs. For example, if the objective is to assess skill acquisition, performance-based assessments or post-training tests may be more suitable. On the other hand, if behavior change is a goal, observations or surveys might be more appropriate.
Resource Optimization: By aligning the evaluation design with the objectives and outcomes, organizations can optimize their resources by focusing on gathering the most relevant data. It helps avoid unnecessary data collection or evaluations that do not contribute to assessing the program’s success. This efficient use of resources ensures that time, money, and effort are allocated effectively, providing a better return on investment.
Conclusion
While several factors influence the choice of an evaluation design for a training program, aligning it with the program’s objectives and desired outcomes holds significant importance. By doing so, organizations can ensure that their evaluations accurately measure success, collect relevant data, tailor methods to their needs, and optimize resources. Ultimately, this alignment enhances the effectiveness of the evaluation process and leads to informed decision-making regarding the training program.
