Unobtrusive research methods allow us to gather insights without directly influencing the subjects being studied. Consider the ethical considerations of conducting research without direct participant interaction. How might unobtrusive research methods offer unique advantages and challenges compared to more interactive approaches? Can you envision a scenario in social work where unobtrusive methods could provide valuable insights while respecting the privacy and dignity of individuals? Share your thoughts on how the use of unobtrusive research aligns with the values of social work and the pursuit of ethical, impactful research.
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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
Unobtrusive Research Methods: Ethical Considerations and Advantages
Unobtrusive research methods refer to approaches that allow researchers to gather insights without directly influencing or interacting with the subjects being studied. These methods offer unique advantages and challenges compared to more interactive approaches, particularly when it comes to ethical considerations. In the field of social work, unobtrusive research methods can provide valuable insights while respecting the privacy and dignity of individuals, aligning with the values of social work and the pursuit of ethical, impactful research.
One of the primary ethical considerations in research is ensuring that participants’ rights and well-being are protected. Unobtrusive research methods inherently uphold this principle by minimizing or eliminating direct participant interaction. This approach reduces the potential for harm or discomfort that could arise from intrusive questioning or observation. Researchers can gather data through existing records, archival materials, or indirect observations without infringing upon individuals’ privacy or compromising their dignity.
Unobtrusive research methods offer several advantages over interactive approaches. Firstly, they allow researchers to study natural behaviors and contexts without altering them due to the presence of the researcher. This provides a more authentic representation of individuals’ experiences and actions, minimizing the influence of observation bias. Additionally, unobtrusive methods often enable the examination of large-scale phenomena or long-term trends that would be challenging to capture through direct interactions with participants. This breadth and depth of data can lead to more robust and comprehensive findings.
In social work, unobtrusive research methods can be particularly valuable when studying sensitive topics or populations. For instance, investigating patterns of domestic violence or substance abuse may require a non-intrusive approach to respect the privacy and safety concerns of individuals involved. By analyzing available records or conducting content analysis of media portrayals, researchers can gain important insights while minimizing the risk of retraumatization or harm to vulnerable populations.
The use of unobtrusive research methods aligns with the values of social work, which emphasize respect for individuals’ dignity, autonomy, and privacy. By employing these methods, researchers uphold these ethical principles by minimizing direct intrusion into participants’ lives while still generating meaningful knowledge. Furthermore, unobtrusive research promotes inclusivity by allowing access to marginalized or hard-to-reach populations who may be hesitant to engage in more traditional research methods.
However, it is essential to acknowledge some challenges associated with unobtrusive research methods. One key challenge is the potential lack of context or understanding that may arise from not directly interacting with participants. Researchers must be cautious in interpreting and drawing conclusions from the collected data, as they may miss important nuances or perspectives without direct engagement. Additionally, issues related to data reliability and validity should be carefully addressed to ensure the accuracy and integrity of findings.
In conclusion, unobtrusive research methods offer unique advantages in terms of ethical considerations, providing valuable insights while respecting the privacy and dignity of individuals. In social work practice, these methods can be particularly useful when studying sensitive topics or hard-to-reach populations. By aligning with the values of social work, unobtrusive research contributes to the pursuit of ethical and impactful research that respects the rights and well-being of individuals while generating knowledge that can inform practice and policy in a meaningful way.
