Advantages And Disadvantages Of Case Studies Psychology Essay

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Case Studies Psychology Essay Qualitative approach Research methods are commonly divided into quantitative and qualitative research methods (Some researchers (Lee, 1991; Ragin, 1987) have suggested to combine these methods by triangulation). Qualitative research methods are designed to help researchers understand people and the social and cultural contexts within which they live. Kaplan and Maxwell (1994) argue that the goal of understanding a phenomenon from the point of view of the participants and its particular social and institutional context is largely lost when textual data are quantified. The strengths of qualitative research derive primarily from its inductive approach, its focus on specific situations or people, and its emphasis on words rather than numbers (Maxwell, 1996, p.17). A key difference between quantitative and qualitative research is that quantitative researchers work with a few (quantifiable) variables and many cases, whereas qualitative researchers rely on a few cases and many (primarily q ualitative) variables (Ragin, 1987). In this research a qualitative research approach is chosen for the following reasons. First, the nature of the research questions suggests a qualitative approach. They are as understanding of what are the factors that enable or inhibit people to share their knowledge. Second, the aim is to present a detailed understanding of the dynamics of sharing knowledge, requiring a focus on participants’ perspectives and their meaning. Third, knowledge-sharing individuals are studied in their natural setting. Knowledge sharing is a situated process, so removing participants from their organizational context would lead to findings that are out of context. And these contexts which determine the factors that enable o inhibit knowledge sharing process. The characteristics of qualitative methods are listed in Table 1 Characteristics 1, 2, 4 and 7 highlight the emphasis of qualitative data on providing richness of understanding of phenomenon in context (Du ncan, 1979; Yin, 1989). Quantitative methods â€Å"à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦by themselves may ignore much of the process phenomenon associated with a particular research question so that a real understanding of what’s happened may not exist† (Duncan, 1979, p.424). The use of qualitative data collection and analysis methods increases the likelihood that the advantages of case study method can be obtained. Table 1 Characteristics of qualitative methods 1. Qualitative research is inductive. 2. Researchers look at settings and subjects holistically. 3. The researchers are sensitive to their effects on subjects. 4. Researchers try to understand subjects from their own perspective. 5. Researchers try to set aside their own beliefs, perspectives and predispositions. 6. Researchers try to see all different perspectives of subjects as valuable. 7. Qualitative methods are humanistic. 8. Researchers emphasis validity as prime research criteria 9. Researcher sees all settings and subjects a s worthy of study. 10. Qualitative research is a craft. Source: This characteristics adapted from Taylor and Bogdan (1984, p.5-8). Interpretive research All research is based on some assumptions with respect to methodology the most pertinent philosophical assumptions are those that relate to the underlying epistemology guiding this research. And it refers to the assumptions about knowledge and how it can be obtained. Different classifications of epistemological assumptions exist (Guba and Lincoln, 1994). For explaining the underlying paradigm of this research, the three epistemological stands distinguished by Myers are used: positivist, interpretive and critical. Positivism claims that social life should be understood and analysed in the same way that scientists study the ‘natural world’. Positivists generally assume that reality is objectively given and can be described by measurable properties independent of the observer and of one’s instruments. Positivist stu dies generally attempt to test theory, in an attempt to increase the predictive understanding of phenomena. On the other hand the interpretive stand base is hermeneutics and phenomenology. Interpretive researchers start out with the assumption that access to reality (given or socially constructed) is only through social constructions such as language, consciousness and shared meanings. They generally attempt to understand phenomena through the meanings that people assign to them. Interpretive research does not predefine dependent and independent variables, but focuses on the full complexity of human sense making as the situation emerges.

Should gay marriage be legal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Should gay marriage be legal - Essay Example One thing, which needs to be considered is that the number of gays living in the United States is very less as compared to the people who like to have relationship with the opposite gender. Therefore, giving freedom to such people to develop relationships with the same gender does not make a big difference. From the perspective of gays, some of the reasons that support gay marriages include strengthening of social concept of marriage, sexual freedom, and freedom of choice. Gay marriage has least concern with the morality since it promotes justice, freedom, and equality. If a person wants to spend his life with a person belonging to the same gender, no one should oppose it because every person has the right to do whatever he wants to do as long as his actions do not affect the rights of any other person. Therefore, gay marriages should be held legal because it does not affect the rights of others. Warren, Patrick. â€Å"Same Sex Couples Can Avoid Unnecessary Problems By Getting These Documents In Order Now.† Ezinearticles.com, 03 Aug. 2011. Web. 23 Sep. 2011.

Hollywood Cinema Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Hollywood Cinema - Essay Example cal implication of women getting more and more involved with cinema during the classical period of Hollywood, it is important to have a brief and a close grasp at the classical period of Hollywood cinema. In the film history, classical period refers strictly to a style of cinema that involved a particular visual and audio mode in production of cinema during the period between 1927 and 1963 in the American film industry. A very unique and identifiable style evolved in the cinema during this period and that style actually came to be known as classical Hollywood style. Developed on the principle of continuity editing which is also known as â€Å"invisible style†, the American cinema started gaining more popular grounds amid the masses. In a modernist or postmodernist works, visual arts did witness the call of attention between the camera and the sound recording. In the classical periods, these two main facets of the cinema making were placed completely at peace with each other ma king the presentation smoother and eloquent. It would be very unjustified action, if the cinemas produced during the classical period of Hollywood are judged under the light of feminist film theories. The movement of feminism in the cultural arena of America gained its strong grounds during 70s and the transition of silent cinema into a complete audio-visual mode was over by 60s itself. Yet, to trace the importance of women to cinema going during the classical period of Hollywood cinema, a thorough study of feminist interpretation of the cinema would definitely guide to the platform upon which the social importance of women to cinema going could be traced naturally. Theoretical film criticism developed on the matrix of feminist politics and feminist theory and an approach to cinema analysis of... As discussed in the introductory part of the essay, to comprehend the thesis pertaining to the sociological implication of women getting more and more involved with cinema during the classical period of Hollywood, it is important to have a brief and a close grasp at the classical period of Hollywood cinema. In the film history, classical period refers strictly to a style of cinema that involved a particular visual and audio mode in production of cinema during the period between 1927 and 1963 in the American film industry. A very unique and identifiable style evolved in the cinema during this period and that style actually came to be known as classical Hollywood style. Developed on the principle of continuity editing which is also known as â€Å"invisible style†, the American cinema started gaining more popular grounds amid the masses. In a modernist or postmodernist works, visual arts did witness the call of attention between the camera and the sound recording. In the classica l periods, these two main facets of the cinema making were placed completely at peace with each other making the presentation smoother and eloquent. This report makes a conclusion that cinema over the years have faced transition but irrespective of any gender, class or age Hollywood cinema have been able to enchant and engross millions of spectator across the globe. It is evident that the role of cinema into the life of women is far reaching. Once, who were captivated inside the four walls of their household, got their foremost chance of tasting liberty of thought process and a scope to gaze out to the world beyond the four walls of their house and watch the world with a new vision and perspective.

SHORT STORY QUESTIONS Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

SHORT STORY QUESTIONS - Assignment Example In the lines â€Å"and thinking nothing of it† (lines 45-46), the poem expresses how the author seems to want to have that innocence of a child, wondering how it is to be an adult, without any idea of the hardships. 2. Sexton’s life and death can make a reader view the poem as an expression of her unspoken sentiments. It seems Sexton relates to the time when she was young and carefree. Since she went through depression stages in her life, the poem could also be an expression of her thoughts on how she, like a child, tried to overcome the obstacles in her life and take giant steps to attain her goals. II. â€Å"To My Dear and Loving Husband† by Anne Bradstreet 1. In this poem, the line â€Å"If ever two were one, then surely we† is a personal favorite because it denotes the happiness and satisfaction of the wife in her married life. She considers herself one with her husband, which means her daily decisions are based on what is good for the household and th e family, and not merely for a specific individual. It also portrays how effectively the spouses are able to work on their marriage since the wife seems to know that her husband is also as happy as she is. It is a personal favorite because this bliss is a widely-coveted feeling in several unions. 2.

Human Resource Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 16

Human Resource Management - Essay Example Given the significant changes in the demand of a company’s goods and services, the number of required employees also changes. Human resource management plays a crucial role over the success of implementing organizational downsizing. In the absence of human resource management, it would be difficult on the part of the human resource managers to effectively handle employees when organization change becomes inevitable. As part of the study of human resource management, human resource managers are encouraged to have competitive leadership and communication skills. Aside from providing the readers a list of recommended solutions on how to minimize and prevent the lost of business opportunities associated with the negative consequences of implementing organizational downsizing strategy, this study will discuss the importance of using transformational and authentic leadership style which are suitable when implementing organizational downsizing. As an end result of globalization, many businesses today are restructuring their organizational and business approach in order to keep the local firms competitive in the local and global market. (Business Week, 1997) One of the most common restructuring strategies that aim to increase the efficiency of a company is organizational downsizing. Although many firms have enjoyed the benefits from organizational downsizing in terms of increasing the profitability of the company by reducing its operational cost and making its operational process more efficient, it remains inevitable that most encounter internal problems related to its existing employees. Each organizational downsizing event could result to predictable outcomes in terms of having similar issues related to the feelings of betrayal, loss of trust in the management of the company, and experiencing internal conflicts between the corporate management and employees in line with retaining and losing their job. (Strom, 2008) As a result, the lack

Provide an in-depth analysis of the Gong Lum v. Rice case Study

Provide an in-depth analysis of the Gong Lum v. Rice - Case Study Example Bayor asserts that Lum was denied a chance at Rosedale Consolidated High School because of her Chinese descent (45). This was in favor of the White students, who were allowed in this high school. The defendants in the case were responsible for her racial exclusion from the learning institution. The defendant included the Mississippi state superintendent, the board of trustees of the school, and Rice. The petitioners of the case indicate that there was no school that catered for the students of Chinese descent. The constitution of Mississippi stipulates that a common school fund should be available in every county to cater for the student needs. The fund ought to constitute of the taxation obtained from the public contributions and the apportionments from the treasury department. This fund is meant to support schools for four months. The plea of the case is based on the breach of this requirement of the constitution. This is because Rosedale Consolidated High School was an appropriate school for Martha Lum. More to that, her father was a taxpayer who also helped to support the running of the school as stipulated in the legislative document. This implied that denying her the right to attend and learn in Rosedale high school was tantamount to racial discrimination, which was not allowed by Mississippi’s constitution. In essence, the fact that Martha was educable is substantial for her to be allowed to progress in her education and career. According to Dickson, it is Martha’s constitutional right to access education given that she was not a member of the colored race (67). The colored race, especially Mongolians, was verboten in the Mississippi County. The court ruled that a writ of mandamus be invoked according to the petition filed to stop the hindering of Martha attending the school. The appeal of the defendants against the ruling of the supreme court of Mississippi culminated in a stern directive by the

Marketing Intelligence in the Vineyard Limited Company Assignment

Marketing Intelligence in the Vineyard Limited Company - Assignment Example Here, I can obtain valuable information about the status of the company at present. The most efficient and easy way would be accessing the data on the internet by typing the trade name â€Å"Vineyard Limited Company.org. Alternatively, I would simply Google, â€Å"industry research reports† to receive a lot of information on the company’s current status as well as uncovering various marketing analysis information. My next step would be to carry out a formal research project. This would make it possible for me to identify the perceptions of customers about behavior patterns of the company. I can do this by observing customers and the way they purchase foods and drinks from the company as well as using questionnaires. From the forester reports, I learned that Emails connects everything in the process of an interactive mix (VanBoskirk 10). I would, therefore, use simple and easy-to-follow mail questionnaires to get an extensive knowledge of current issues in Vineyard Limited and to enable respondents to complete the quizzes conveniently. They will be more willing to give family and personal sensitive issues for the reason that the mail feedback can be anonymous. Data analysis and interpretation would be my critical step in analyzing the company’s current state. I would use computer-based statistical packages to analyze the data. My last step would be to use the results to make a marketing conclusion about this company. Given that I have already obtained information from customers as outlined above, I would come up with a process to guide the company in the desired direction. For instance, I would constantly develop new breakfast cereals, where the product element is this new foodstuff itself.