Write a paper in which you discuss a potential research design for your dissertation. Include the following in your submission:
A discussion of the GCU Core Design that you believe is most appropriate for your intended dissertation.
A research-supported rationale for the chosen design.
A research-supported discussion of why the other GCU Core Designs are not as appropriate as your chosen design given the intended dissertation research.
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
Proposed Research Design for Dissertation
Introduction
Selecting an appropriate research design is crucial for any dissertation, as it fundamentally shapes how research questions are approached and answered. For my intended dissertation, which aims to explore the impact of remote work on employee productivity and job satisfaction, I have chosen a mixed-methods design based on the Grand Canyon University (GCU) Core Designs. This paper will discuss the rationale for selecting the mixed-methods approach, supported by relevant literature, and will also outline why other GCU Core Designs may not be as suitable for this research.
GCU Core Design: Mixed-Methods Approach
The mixed-methods approach combines qualitative and quantitative research methods, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of complex phenomena. This design is particularly suitable for my dissertation due to the multifaceted nature of remote work, which encompasses both measurable productivity outcomes and subjective experiences regarding job satisfaction.
Research-Supported Rationale for Mixed-Methods Design
1. Comprehensive Data Collection: Mixed-methods research enables the collection of both numerical data (quantitative) and narrative data (qualitative). According to Creswell and Plano Clark (2017), this duality allows researchers to validate findings through triangulation, enhancing the reliability and credibility of the results. In the context of my dissertation, quantitative data can provide insights into productivity metrics, such as hours worked and project completion rates, while qualitative interviews can capture employees’ feelings about their work environment and job satisfaction.
2. Flexibility in Research Questions: The mixed-methods design offers flexibility in addressing various aspects of the research question. For instance, while quantitative data can reveal trends in productivity, qualitative data can explore underlying factors that influence these trends. This aligns with the findings of Johnson, Onwuegbuzie, and Turner (2007), who argue that mixed-methods designs allow researchers to ask ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions that are often overlooked in purely quantitative studies.
3. Addressing Complex Interactions: The interplay between remote work conditions and employee outcomes is complex and influenced by various factors, including organizational culture and personal circumstances. A mixed-methods approach facilitates a more nuanced analysis, allowing researchers to examine how different variables affect one another. This complexity is highlighted by Baruch (2000), who notes that job satisfaction is influenced by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors that may require different methodological approaches to fully understand.
Discussion of Other GCU Core Designs
Qualitative Design
While qualitative research focuses on understanding phenomena through in-depth exploration, it may not provide the necessary breadth needed for my dissertation. Qualitative methods primarily yield rich, descriptive insights but lack the ability to generalize findings to a larger population (Creswell, 2013). Since my research aims to quantify productivity changes across a broad spectrum of employees working remotely, relying solely on qualitative methods would limit the scope and applicability of my findings.
Quantitative Design
Conversely, a purely quantitative design may overlook critical contextual factors that influence employee experiences. While quantitative methods excel in measuring relationships and establishing statistical significance, they often fail to capture the depth of human experiences associated with remote work (Bryman, 2006). In my dissertation, understanding employee perceptions of job satisfaction is essential; thus, relying exclusively on quantitative measures would provide an incomplete picture.
Conclusion
In summary, the mixed-methods design is the most suitable choice for my dissertation on the impact of remote work on employee productivity and job satisfaction. This approach allows for the integration of both quantitative and qualitative insights, facilitating a comprehensive understanding of the complex interactions at play. By leveraging the strengths of mixed methods while acknowledging the limitations of purely qualitative or quantitative designs, my research can yield rich, actionable insights that contribute meaningfully to the field.
References
– Baruch, Y. (2000). Distance Learning: A Review of the Literature. International Journal of Management Reviews, 2(2), 155-191.
– Bryman, A. (2006). Integrating Qualitative and Quantitative Research: How Is It Done? Qualitative Research, 6(1), 97-113.
– Creswell, J. W. (2013). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (4th ed.). Sage Publications.
– Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2017). Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research (3rd ed.). Sage Publications.
– Johnson, R. B., Onwuegbuzie, A. J., & Turner, L. A. (2007). Toward a Definition of Mixed Methods Research. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 1(2), 112-133.
This paper provides a clear rationale for my chosen research design while articulating why alternatives may not serve my research objectives as effectively.
