Measures change and research that measures difference.

by | Apr 14, 2025 | Essays

Compare research that measures change and research that measures difference. Locate a peer-reviewed research study on an area of organizational behavior by using the SUO library database. Evaluate the connection between the study design and also whether it measures change or difference.

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.


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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.

You’ve asked a great question that requires a blend of methodological understanding and practical application. Let’s break down the comparison and then discuss how to analyze a real-world study.

Research Measuring Change vs. Research Measuring Difference:

  • Research Measuring Change (Longitudinal Studies):
    • Purpose: To track how variables evolve over time within the same group or individuals.
    • Design: Typically involves repeated measurements at multiple time points (e.g., before and after an intervention, over several years).
    • Data Analysis: Often uses statistical methods like repeated-measures ANOVA, paired t-tests, or growth curve modeling.

You’ve asked a great question that requires a blend of methodological understanding and practical application. Let’s break down the comparison and then discuss how to analyze a real-world study.

Research Measuring Change vs. Research Measuring Difference:

  • Research Measuring Change (Longitudinal Studies):
    • Purpose: To track how variables evolve over time within the same group or individuals.
    • Design: Typically involves repeated measurements at multiple time points (e.g., before and after an intervention, over several years).
    • Data Analysis: Often uses statistical methods like repeated-measures ANOVA, paired t-tests, or growth curve modeling.
    • Strengths: Allows for the examination of causal relationships and developmental trends.
    • Limitations: Can be time-consuming, expensive, and subject to participant attrition.
  • Research Measuring Difference (Cross-Sectional Studies):
    • Purpose: To compare distinct groups or conditions at a single point in time.
    • Design: Involves collecting data from different groups simultaneously.
    • Data Analysis: Often uses independent t-tests, ANOVA, chi-square tests, or regression analysis.
    • Strengths: Relatively quick and efficient.
    • Limitations: Cannot establish causality; only shows associations.

Locating and Evaluating a Study:

To provide a concrete example, I would ideally search the SUO library database (or a similar database like PsycINFO or Business Source Complete). Since I cannot directly access those databases, I will create a hypothetical study that is very realistic, and then show you how to evaluate it.

Hypothetical Study:

  • Title: “The Impact of Telecommuting on Employee Engagement: A Comparative Study”
  • Authors: Dr. A. Smith & Dr. B. Jones
  • Journal: Journal of Organizational Behavior
  • Study Design: Cross-sectional.
  • Method:
    • Researchers surveyed 200 employees from a large corporation.
    • 100 employees worked primarily in the office.
    • 100 employees worked primarily from home (telecommuted).
    • Employee engagement was measured using a standardized questionnaire.
    • Researchers used an independent t-test to compare the mean engagement scores of the two groups.

Evaluation:

  1. Study Design:

    • The study used a cross-sectional design, which means it compared two distinct groups (office workers and telecommuters) at a single point in time.

  2. Measuring Change or Difference:

    • This study measured difference. It aimed to determine if there was a statistically significant difference in employee engagement between the two groups.

  3. Connection Between Design and Measurement:

    • The cross-sectional design is appropriate for measuring differences between groups.
    • However, it cannot tell us why any differences exist. For example:
      • Perhaps employees who chose to telecommute were already more engaged.
      • Perhaps the company’s culture was different for each group.
      • It does not show the change in engagement over time.
    • A longitudinal study would be required to measure the change in employee engagement as a result of telecommuting. For example, researchers could survey employees before and after they began telecommuting.

  4. Critical Evaluation:

    • Strengths:
      • Relatively efficient design.
      • Clear comparison between two groups.
    • Limitations:
      • Cannot establish causality.
      • Potential for confounding variables (e.g., job type, personality).
      • Relies on survey data, which can be subjective.
    • Recommendations:
      • Future research should use a longitudinal design to examine the causal relationship between telecommuting and employee engagement.
      • Researchers should consider controlling for potential confounding variables.
      • Researchers could add qualitative data, like interviews, to add more depth to the study.

Key Takeaways:

  • Understanding the difference between studies measuring change and difference is crucial for interpreting research findings.
  • Cross-sectional studies are useful for comparing groups, but longitudinal studies are necessary for examining causal relationships and developmental trends.
  • When evaluating a study, pay close attention to the research design, data analysis methods, and potential limitations.

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