Sunday, January 26, 2020
The Basic Building Blocks Of Quantitative Research Psychology Essay
The Basic Building Blocks Of Quantitative Research Psychology Essay Qualitative Research Methodology is gaining wide spread acceptance among Researchers in Social Sciences Circle but finds less acceptance among Basic Scientists and Engineers who prefer to use Quantitative (Statistical) Methods of Research. Statistics can be defined as collecting, summarizing, and analyzing of data. Selection of a statistical analysis that is appropriate depends on whether the data for the variable under study are qualitative or quantitative. Quantitative data consists of numerical information and a methodology when applying statistical/mathematical tools for analysis of such type of data is known as Quantitative Research Methodology. In contrast, Qualitative data consists of non-numerical information (such as text, images, and sounds) and a methodology of analysis of such kind of data when not relying on statistical/ mathematical tools is known as Qualitative Research Methodology [1]. The main difference that describes whether qualitative research is superior or quantitative research is how they are able to contribute to bodies of knowledge. Qualitative research mainly focuses on the behaviors, cultures and defining characteristics of events, human nature, interactions and experience. Data is not trans formed to numerical data. Qualitative research methods emphasis on interpretation and by providing the analysts with complete views, environmental immersions and a depth of understanding of concepts. Qualitative methods of research provide a depth of understanding of issues/problems which is not possible through the use of quantitative methods (statistically-based investigations). The knowledge gained through qualitative research methods is more informative, richer and offers enhanced understandings in comparison to that obtained through quantitative research methods. Quantitative research is typically considered to be the more scientific approach that is concerned with number, or numerical descriptions of things and their relationships [2]. The basic building blocks of quantitative research are variables. Important types of variables used in quantitative research are: categorical variable, quantitative variable, dependent variable and independent variable. Three major types of quantitative research are: experimental, non-experimental research and survey. The purpose of experimental research is to study relationship of cause and effect. It is only type of research where active manipulation of an independent variable is present. Random assignment to create equivalent groups is used in the strongest experimental research designs [3]. Experimental research includes testing a hypothesis in a controlled environment while non-experimental research involves examining the already existing scenario in the world and trying to draw conclusions from the situation by using usually a cause-effect relationship. Social sciences, particularly history, archaeology, and political science, focus the non-experimental research methods. Owing to the complexity of the situation there is no way to form a meaningful experiment for the majority of these fields. Though psychology and anthropology are much more inclined to experimental research for determining patterns [4]. Testing of the hypothesis is done by either of the three tests: z-test, t-test and p-value test [5]. Quantitative analysis also includes descriptive and inferential statistics. Basic difference between descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (or inductive statistics) is that descriptive statistics which aims to summarize a sample, rather than using the data to learn about the population that the sample of data is thought to represent. They are not developed on the basis of probability theory [6]. Descriptive Statistics are the tabular, graphical, and numerical methods used to summarize data. Statistical inference is the process of using data obtained from the sample and to make estimates and test hypotheses about the characteristics of the populat ion [7]. Summarizing of quantitative data includes [8]: Frequency Distribution Relative Frequency and Percent Frequency Distributions Dot Plot Histogram Cumulative Distributions Numerical methods used to summarize the quantitative data are [9]: Mean Median Mode Variance Standard Deviation CAQDAS: Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software (CAQDAS) is the use of computer software for qualitative research. It helps in transcription analysis, coding and text interpretation, recursive abstraction, content analysis and discourse analysis etc. It is used in psychology, marketing research, ethnography, and other social sciences. A CAQDAS program should have: Content searching tools, Coding tools, Linking tools, Mapping or networking tools, Query tools, Writing and annotation tools. The advantages of using this software include: avoiding from manual and clerical tasks, time saving, managing huge amounts of qualitative data, increased flexibility, improved validity and auditability of qualitative research. Disadvantages include: increasingly deterministic and rigid processes, privileging of coding, and retrieval methods; reification of data, increased pressure on researchers to focus on volume and breadth rather than on depth and meaning, time and energy spent learning to use computer packages [10]. CAQDAS (Computer assisted qualitative data analysis software) is the good one technique in qualitative which helps us to find the true forecast and acceptable results in a specific topic [11]. A unique aspect of using CAQDAS vs. hand-coding/analysis is the ability of the program to create visual representations of data-charts, graphs, trees-that help in analysis and potentially can help readers to more deeply understand the interpretations [12]. CAQDAS potentially mak es qualitative inquiry more logical, transparent and trustworthy. CAQDAS such as NVivo can help in all the six steps of qualitative data analysis which are [13]: Choosing a topic literature review Development of theoretical and conceptual foundations and research questions Research design, Sample, context and negotiating access Data collection and preparation Data analysis and Discussion and final write-up All the CAQDAS packages provide these following features that make qualitative data analysis much easier: structure of work, closeness to data and interactivity, explore the data, code and retrieve functionality, project management and data organization, searching and interrogating the database, writing tools and standard selection of output reports [14]. Do I agree? I agree with the view that qualitative research methodology is gaining wide spread acceptance among researchers in social sciences circle but finds less acceptance among basic scientists and Engineers who prefer to use quantitative (statistical) methods of research. In my opinion neither school of research is superior. Both when carried out correctly provide good research results. The superiority of qualitative or quantitative research depends on the data under study and the fruitful additions to the knowledge made by either of the methods. The qualitative descriptive study is the method of choice when straight descriptions of phenomena are desired. Such study is especially useful for researchers wanting to know the who, what, and where of events [15]. Qualitative research covers a broad area of philosophical positions. Interest in qualitative re-search is increasing in health department [16]. The purpose of qualitative analysis is to achieve greater understanding and to attain a hig her level of conceptual or theoretical background than it can be achieved in any individual empirical study [17, 18]. Quantitative research is described by some as a quick fix, it involves very little or no contact with the field or people [19, 20]. Method which I will use: Being an engineer I shall use quantitative research method in my research project because it will be carried out in a controlled environment i.e. it will be experimental. Based upon the test results I will validate my hypothesis and further statistical analysis will be conducted. (Insha Allah) Refrences: [1] Haegeman, K., et al. (2013). Quantitative and qualitative approaches in Future-oriented Technology Analysis (FTA): From combination to integration? Technological Forecasting and Social Change 80(3): 386-397. [2] Richard Tewksbury (2009). Qualitative versus Quantitative Methods: Understanding Why Qualitative Methods are Superior for Criminology and Criminal Justice Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical Criminology, Vol 1 (1). [3] McMillan, J. H., Schumacher, S. (2009). Research in education Pearson Education. [4] Neuman, W. L. (2005). Social research methods: Quantitative and qualitative approaches Allyn and Bacon. [5] http://statistics.about.com/od/HelpandTutorials/a/How-To-Conduct-A-Hypothesis-Test.htm [6] Berenson, M. L. (1998). Basic business statistics: Concepts and applications Prentice Hall PTR. [7] Bryman, A., Cramer, D. (2005). Quantitative data analysis with SPSS 12 and 13: A guide for social scientist. Routledge. [8] De Veaux, R. D., Velleman, P. F., Bock, D. E. (2009). Stats Pearson, Addison-Wesley. [9] Teddlie, C., Tashakkori, A. (2008). Foundations of mixed methods research: Integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches in the social and behavioral sciences. SAGE Publications, Incorporated. [10] Ann Lewins and Cristina Silver (2009). QUIC-Qualitative innovations in CAQDUS 6th edition [11] Rudolf. R. S, Eva. A. A (2012). Facilitating the interaction between theory and data in qualitative research using CAQDAS Sage Publications, 109-131 [12] Linnea L. Rademaker, Elizabeth J. Grace, and Stephen K. Curda (2012). Using Computer- assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software (CAQDAS) to Re-examine Traditionally Analyzed Data: Expanding our Understanding of the Data and of Ourselves as Scholars The Qualitative Report 2012 Volume 17, Article 43, 1-11 [13] Sinkovics, Rudolf R. and Eva A. Alfoldi (2012), Facilitating the interaction between theory and data in qualitative research using CAQDAS, in Qualitative organizational research: Core methods and current challenges, Gillian Symon and Catherine Cassell (Eds.). London: Sage Publications, 109-131. [14] Garcà aà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Horta, J. B., Guerraà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Ramos, M. T. (2009). The use of CAQDAS in educational research: some advantages, limitations and potential risks. International Journal of Research Method in Education, 32(2), 151-165. [15] Margarete Sandelowski (2000). Focus on Research Methods Whatever Happened to Qualitative Description? Research in Nursing Health, 2000, 23, 334-340 [16] Denis Walsh, Soo Downe (2005). Appraising the quality of qualitative research Midwifery (2006) 22, 108-119. [17] Rona Campbell, et al. (2003). Evaluating meta-ethnography: a synthesis of qualitative research on lay experiences of diabetes and diabetes care Social Science Medicine 56, 671-684. [18] Winter, G. (2000). A comparative discussion of the notion of validity in qualitative and quantitative research. The Qualitative Report 4(3): 4. [19] Williams, F., Monge, P. R. (2001). Reasoning with statistics: How to read quantitative research (pp. 127-141). London: Harcourt College Publishers. [20] Bryman, A. (2006). Integrating quantitative and qualitative research: how is it done? Qualitative research, 6(1), 97-113.
Saturday, January 18, 2020
Full Metal Jacket (1987) Essay
The Film: Pro-War or Anti-War? A question as to the war sentiments of this film can be most accurately answered through an analysis of Private Joker. As his nickname suggests, the young marine is glib; using his sharp wit, average John Wayne interpretations, sense of irony and his readily apparent above-average intelligence to keep himself detached from the training and the Vietnam War. It is as if he knows the futility of his actions, covers the meaninglessness of it all by going through the motions and yet uses his humor as a defense mechanism. His message is clear: It means nothing to me but I do it anyway. Hence, in answer to the question of whether the film is pro or anti war, I would have to say neither. It does acknowledge both sides of story. Its general message is not to preach, merely to tell a story or a situation like it is. An illustration of this is how Private Joker wears a hat with the message ‘Born to Kill’ on it and at the same time sports a peace sign on his marine uniform.  In fact Private Joker himself put a name to the vacuum of opinion he (or man in general) is in: the duality of man. This philosophical concept, while very Jung-ishly technical is another way (at least in the film’s context) of putting confusion and hypocrisy. It speaks of an inner battle being waged inside a man’s soul; not necessarily about good or evil, right or wrong†¦but more about belief. What is exactly that you believe in? Another illustration of this so-called duality is seen during the hazing of Gomer Pyle. Once again the inner battle of Private Joker can be used as an anchor of this concept. Initially, he hesitated in throwing the poor man a blow with his makeshift weapon. In the end, however, he did land a few good hits. The inner struggle can be seen later on when Joker covers his ears to drown our Pyle’s cries. If Joker had been fully comfortable from the beginning with the physical hazing, I doubt that he would have bothered to cover his ears. This just goes to show how one’s soul gets racked when one does something that half of him disapproves of. Portrayal of War What sets the film apart from other war movies is that it has a lot less drama. There are no heart-wrenching one-liners. It painted the circumstances of the war without the usual dramatic coatings that tug at one’s tear ducts. On the other hand, it did not paint war either as fiercely brutal. Like what I mentioned earlier, war was painted it like it was. In that sense, one can say that the portrayal of war in this film is realistic. It must be said however that if one has not experienced war first-hand, one can never really know what it is like. And even with that, each war is different. Hence, all I can offer is my perception of the war that was portrayed in the film. War, with its shallow characteristics were equally portrayed along with the intricacies that usually accompany loss, brotherhood, bloodshed and self-realization. One the one hand, Kubrick masterfully conveyed the message that war, from a soldier’s perspective, is merely about the survival, detached from the political machinations that caused it in the first place. Justifiable War            In my opinion, the film does not touch upon issues of morality. It makes no judgment calls. What it does is bring all the ingredients of war into the mix and calls for the viewers to come up with their own conclusion. There is, at least in my view, no hard and fast message about the justifiability of war that can be easily gleaned from this film. Therefore, in answer to this question of whether or not the film viewed war as justifiable, one must look into each character. If one pegs the answer to the character of Animal Mother, war is justifiableâ€â€as long as one is the victor. His character is of the opinion that war is the ultimate means to display one’s superior strength. On the other hand, the character of Eightball pointed out that the Americans were in Vietnam to help the locals. He was very miffed about the fact that the supposed beneficiaries of their aid were very ungrateful of it. Therefore, through this perspective, it can be said that war can be justified if the cause is rooted in good intentions. Relationships among the characters            Like all war movies, the concept of brotherhood plays a central role. The ties of brotherhood were bound by the most powerful forces on earth: hardship, pain, loss and bloodshed. It is amusing to note however, that even in the midst of war there were competitions being waged on the same side. Although some of the competitions were outright obvious (i.e. Animal Mother and his Alpha-Male swagger towards Private Joker), others were less evident. This highlighted one more characteristic of war. While it is essentially about winning over the enemy, it is also about besting the rest of your team.            There is also the idea that one person is responsible for the next one. Like most other responsibilities in life, this may not be a great gift but it must still be done. Semper Fidelis (Always Faithful) says it all. It speaks of a responsibility one man to another no matter the cost. The burden is not always welcomed, like with Private Joker and Rafterman, but it is always there. The enemy            From the viewing of the film, I walked away with two concepts of the ‘Enemy’.  During their training days, I was of the conclusion that the enemy (as a general concept) was on some level respected. This can be seen in the Marine’s Prayer when they recite that a line about shooting straight and narrow against the enemy. The general idea is that while the enemy might be good, a Marine is always better. However, there is still a begrudging respect accorded. This respect to the potential abilities of the enemy is obvious from how hard the Marines train for combat. Nothing is left to chance.            However, during the war portions of the movie, I got the feeling that the soldiers overly relied on the idea that American Marines are the best that they underestimated the enemy. It was amazing how they still displayed shock over the Tet Offensive. It was of course masterful on the part of the Vietnamese fighters to lull the Americans into the false sense of security. However, the Americans should have known better. They completely underestimated their opponents and paid handsomely for the mistake. Reinforcing stereotypes            In my opinion, the film mainly reinforces the stereotypes of machismo and women.            The stereotypes of the macho man, valued only for his brute strength is to a certain extent unavoidableâ€â€Full Metal Jacket is a war movie after all. The stereotype of the soldier is reinforced as well: the image of an un-thinking, un-feeling killing machine that does not weigh any moral or ethical issues, believing only the sanctity of the command.            The role of women is viewed through a narrow lens as well. There are only 2 women that make an appearance in the film: a prostitute and a sniper. The idea of Ann Margret, although she never made an appearance, can also be considered as a third role of women. The obvious implications of these three roles are far-reaching and will take more than 10 pages to fully discuss in detail. However, it is quite obvious that the film also reflects the belief of the times that women, despite the many advances for the cause, could be viewed as either a prostitute, a treacherous killer or an object of sexual desire. Meaning to the wartime experience            The first half of the film shows the harsh indoctrination of boys into angry, killing Marines. The severe methods employed by the group’s drill sergeant left no room for innocence and self-assurance to survive. These marines, although it was their training that hardened them, one can say that it was the war that wizened, matured them. This can be clearly seen as we see how the central character (the narrator of sorts), Private Joker progresses during the film.
Thursday, January 9, 2020
Getting the Best How to Write an Introduction for an Essay Samples
Getting the Best How to Write an Introduction for an Essay Samples Here's What I Know About How to Write an Introduction for an Essay Samples The issue with long, garbled sentences is the fact that it makes readers work hard. You have to make your introduction captivating to earn any reader keep reading your work. With these insights, you'll be in a position to write a fantastic introduction to your research paper as you already understand what should an introduction include. If you've written a crystal clear introduction, your reader is going to have a great idea about what. It's ineffective because it gives details your reader probably already knows and which are irrelevant to the thesis. The issue lies in identify a superb service to rely on. Soon you will begin to create your first working draft. It may also work as a transition from the idea presented in the prior paragraph. A letter of introduction does what it really implies it introduces one particular party to some other party. For example, it is not a cover letter. There are two sorts of letters of introduction. You just have to start with a couple catchy lines that introduce your topic. It can be carried out in a couple of sentences. What subject to comprehend how to ascertain a very clear function. All About How to Write an Introduction for an Essay Samples To be able to create a good paper, it's required to have a strong comprehension of the subject issue. In some cases, you might have a complicated endeavor to work on. Be aware that what constitutes an excellent introduction might vary widely based on the type of paper you're writing and the academic discipline in which you're writing it. If a system is already running but should be restarted, it's called rebooting. You might discover that you don't know precisely what you're likely to argue at the start of the writing process. It will ensure your reader has a crystal clear comprehension of any term you use, especially once you wish to come up with a conceptualization which uses terminologies your audience is unfamiliar with. Some folks realize that they will need to compose some sort of introduction so as to find the writing process started. Obviously, a different approach could also be quite successful, but looking at the way in which the professor set up the question can on occasion offer you a few ideas for how you might answer it. How to Write an Introduction for an Essay Samples for Dummies As a result, if you are unable to complete one of the steps well, you risk your odds of becoming good grades. Sometimes you only have to begin writing and you may begin at the start or dive right into the core of your essay. The other thing which makes this a prosperous introduction is the simple fact that Mary leaves us wondering. If you're working to figure out the way to get from Chapel Hill to Wrightsville Beach, it may make more sense to zoom into the level where it's possible to see most of North Carolina (but not the remainder of the Earth, or even the remainder of the United States). How to Write an Introduction for an Essay Samples Explained A great introduction presents a wide summary of your topic and your thesis, and ought to convince the reader it is worth their time to really read the remainder of your essay. Writing a catchy or surprising introduction is critical for an excellent essay and ought to depart from your audience wanting more. To prove to be an excellent at paper writing you'll want to make your interpretation and thoughts together very strong. Additionally, there are websites offering completely free essay samples on practically any topic. You should revise your paper to be certain that the introduction, each one of the evidence, and the conclusion reflect the argument you intend. Possessing the best vocabulary is important for writing a first-class essay. It might also explain certain elements which are important to the essay if explanations aren't part of the primary text. Ensure it comes towards the close of the introduction. Or you can write the major argument initially and the introduction and conclusion. You might think that you've got to compose your introduction first, but this isn't necessarily true, and it isn't always the best way to craft a great introduction. Typically, the introduction is one particular page. It's characterised by the debut of the pointed arch. A great introduction is broken up into three parts. Whenever you don't have a lot to say on a particular topic, it is not difficult to create this sort of introduction. The topic you select ought to be interesting and appropriate.
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
Essay Project 2 - Ccjs 321 Digital Forensics - 1776 Words
Project 2 CCJS 321 – Digital Forensics | Name Date of submission: FEB 14, 2016 | Project 2 - CCJS 321 Digital Forensics For the purpose of this Project, you are still the InfoSec Specialist for the Makestuff Company. Consider this project a continuation of the work you performed in Project 1. With the scenario in mind, thoroughly answer the following questions (in paragraph format, properly citing outside research, where appropriate): 1. What permissions/authorities should you have before you search Mr. Yourprop’s former Company work area, and how would you document that authority? As the InfoSec Specialist, you wouldn’t be looking for a search warrant before going into his work area. â€Å"It is important to note that†¦show more content†¦The three items that I would collect would be the external hard drive, the laptop, and the USB thumb drive. It’s important to remember that you †must use caution when collecting, packaging, or storing digital devices to avoid altering, damaging, or destroying the digital evidence. Avoid using any tools or materials that may produce or emit static electricity or a magnetic field as these may damage or destroy the evidence†(Mukasey, 2008). The first item that I would collect as digital evidence would be the external hard drive. It may contain all types of evidence such as: files, logs, pictures, recordings, or even video logs. Before collecting it as evidence I would take pictures of the hard drive, making sure to get the manufacturer and serial numbers, and then document it. Once complete, I would seal it in an anti-static bag and label that as well. The second item that I would collect would be the laptop. This could have all of the same type of information that the hard drive has and also may contain copies, pictures, or the source code itself from â€Å"Product X.†The laptop may show whether or not he was sharing files or trade secrets with outside sources, or even if he were attempting to crack passwords so as to get into systems that weren’t available toShow MoreRelatedCCJS321 Project 11347 Words  | 6 Pagesï » ¿ Project 1 – The Right to Search CCJS 321 Digital Forensics University of Maryland University College July 3, 2015 Project 1 – The Right to Search 1. Can you as the investigator, or Mr. Yourprop’s supervisor, search Yourprop’s personal vehicle currently parked in the Company parking lot for digital evidence? In this scenario - assuming Makestuff Company has a policy in place for searching employees personal property while on Company premises - a search of Mr. Yourprops personal vehicle byRead MoreCCJS321 Project 2 Essay1898 Words  | 8 Pagesï » ¿ Project 2 – Identifying and Collecting Digital Evidence CCJS 321 Digital Forensics University of Maryland University College July 18, 2015 Project 2 – Identifying and Collecting Digital Evidence 1. What permissions/authorities should you have before you search Mr. Yourprop’s former Company work area, and how would you document that authority? Generally speaking, an employer can search an employee’s desk or work area without expecting any legal repercussions. The desk is property of the employer
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