Qualitative and Quantitative research methods – Although there are technically more than two, research methods can be divided into two domains called quantitative research methods and qualitative research methods. Briefly describe these two research methods.
Explain answer in at least 250 words. Provide at least two academic sources (wiki sites and the course text are not acceptable).
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
Introduction
Research methods are fundamental tools used by researchers to gather and analyze data in order to answer research questions and draw conclusions. Two common research methods are quantitative and qualitative research methods. While both approaches aim to understand phenomena, they differ in terms of their data collection and analysis techniques, as well as the types of questions they seek to answer. This essay will provide a comprehensive overview of these two research methods, highlighting their key characteristics and applications.
Quantitative Research Methods
Quantitative research is a systematic and structured approach that utilizes numerical data to investigate relationships, patterns, and trends. It involves the collection of objective data, which can be measured and analyzed using statistical techniques. Quantitative research is often associated with the positivist paradigm, where researchers aim to uncover universal truths and generalizations.
Data Collection
In quantitative research, data is typically collected through structured surveys, experiments, or the analysis of existing datasets. Researchers use standardized instruments and procedures to ensure consistency and reliability. Large sample sizes are preferred to obtain statistically significant results.
Data Analysis
Quantitative data is analyzed using statistical procedures, such as regression analysis, t-tests, and chi-square tests. These techniques enable researchers to identify patterns, associations, and statistical significance between variables. The results are often presented in the form of tables, graphs, and statistical summaries.
Applications
Quantitative research methods are particularly suitable for investigating relationships between variables, testing hypotheses, and making predictions. It is commonly employed in fields such as psychology, sociology, economics, and market research, where numerical data is essential for understanding human behavior, attitudes, and preferences.
Qualitative Research Methods
Qualitative research is an exploratory and interpretive approach that focuses on understanding the meaning and complexity of human experiences. It involves the collection of non-numerical data through interviews, observations, or analyzing texts. Qualitative research is often associated with the interpretivist paradigm, where researchers aim to gain insights into subjective experiences and social contexts.
Data Collection
In qualitative research, data is collected through open-ended interviews, participant observation, or the analysis of documents and texts. Researchers aim to understand participants’ perspectives, behaviors, and interactions in naturalistic settings. Small sample sizes are preferred to obtain in-depth insights.
Data Analysis
Qualitative data analysis involves coding and categorizing textual or visual data to identify themes, patterns, and emergent theories. Researchers use various techniques such as content analysis, grounded theory, or thematic analysis to interpret and make sense of the data. Findings are typically presented through rich descriptions and quotes.
Applications
Qualitative research methods are particularly suitable for exploring complex phenomena, understanding social processes, and generating new theories. It is commonly used in fields such as anthropology, education, healthcare, and sociology, where subjective experiences, cultural norms, and social interactions are of central interest.
Conclusion
In conclusion, both quantitative and qualitative research methods have unique characteristics that make them suitable for different research questions and contexts. Quantitative research focuses on numerical data and statistical analysis to uncover patterns and relationships between variables. On the other hand, qualitative research emphasizes understanding subjective experiences and social contexts through non-numerical data analysis techniques. By utilizing these two approaches appropriately, researchers can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the phenomena they are studying.
References
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2017). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). Sage Publications.
Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (Eds.). (2018). The Sage handbook of qualitative research (5th ed.). Sage Publications.
