Review “ Descriptive Research: Assessing the Current State of Affairs” on pages 14–16 in Chapter 1 of your course text, Research Methods for the Behavioral Sciences, focusing on the differences between qualitative versus quantitative research.
Review the article, “From Single Case to Database: A New Method for Enhancing Psychotherapy Practice.” Pay particular attention to the differences between quantitative and qualitative analyses.
Using the Walden Library, choose and review a research study dealing with an area of forensic psychology in which you are interested and which uses quantitative analysis.
Consider how you might design the study you selected using a qualitative approach (e.g., case study, action research, etc.) and why you would do so.
With these thoughts in mind:
Post by Day 4 a brief description of the research study you selected. Then explain what makes this a quantitative study and how you might design a study on this topic using a qualitative method. Provide a rationale for doing so. Be specific.
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
Research Study Description: Quantitative Analysis in Forensic Psychology
The research study selected is titled “The Relationship Between Childhood Trauma and Recidivism Rates in Juvenile Offenders: A Quantitative Analysis.” This study aims to investigate the relationship between childhood trauma and the likelihood of reoffending among juvenile offenders in the field of forensic psychology.
The study collects data from a sample of juvenile offenders who have been involved in the criminal justice system. The researchers utilize standardized questionnaires to assess the presence and severity of childhood trauma experienced by these individuals. They also gather data on recidivism rates, which are measured by official records of subsequent arrests and convictions.
To conduct a qualitative study on this topic, an appropriate approach could be conducting in-depth interviews with a select group of juvenile offenders who have a history of childhood trauma. This qualitative method would allow for a deeper exploration of their experiences, perspectives, and the impact of childhood trauma on their lives and offending behavior.
Designing a Qualitative Study: Case Study Approach
A case study approach would be suitable for designing a qualitative study on the relationship between childhood trauma and recidivism rates in juvenile offenders. The rationale for using this approach is to gain an in-depth understanding of the individual cases and explore the unique factors that contribute to their reoffending behavior.
The qualitative study would involve selecting a small sample of juvenile offenders who have experienced childhood trauma and have a history of recidivism. In-depth interviews would be conducted with these individuals, exploring their experiences of childhood trauma, the impact it has had on their lives, and their perceptions of the relationship between trauma and reoffending. The interviews would be transcribed and analyzed thematically to identify common patterns, themes, and factors influencing recidivism.
Using a qualitative approach would provide rich and detailed insights into the complex interplay between childhood trauma and recidivism. It would allow for a deeper understanding of the individual experiences and subjective interpretations of the participants. Additionally, this approach would provide a foundation for developing more targeted interventions and support services for juvenile offenders with a history of trauma, potentially reducing recidivism rates.
In summary, while the selected research study employs quantitative analysis to examine the relationship between childhood trauma and recidivism rates in juvenile offenders, a qualitative approach using a case study design would provide a more nuanced understanding of the individual experiences and factors contributing to recidivism. By conducting in-depth interviews with participants, researchers can gain valuable insights into their unique stories and inform targeted interventions in forensic psychology.
