Friday, December 27, 2019

Sociology and Internet - 2020 Words

Background Due to the rapid advancement of the information technology, the World Wide Web (WWW) has now become a multifunctional tool. People can get lots of things done through the Internet, chatting with friends through MSN, shopping on Amarzon.com, settling the credit card bill, making new friends through the Facebook, reading newspaper on appledaily.com, etc. Besides, when we want to search for information, we can simply â€Å"Google† it, and we get what we want. It is no doubt that the Internet has greatly sped up the flow of information. In Hong Kong, the popularization of the Internet leads to the formation of different forums, for example Uwants.com, Discuss.com, forum.hkgolden.com, etc. The forums have provided a platform for people†¦show more content†¦Freedom of Speech VS Personal Privacy Solove (2008) firmly argues that privacy is a fundamental right of citizens, which is a social value, is an essential component in the functioning of democratic societies. As private information is a kind of personal property, we shall ask for permission from the information owner before we assess their privacy on the Internet. Hence, from the society’s perspective, the behaviors performed by the web users would be classified as deviance, that is a social behavior does not follow the guidelines or expectations of society. It is no doubt that adverse effects brought by their pseudo expression of freedom of speech are serious, and such behavior of intruding other’s personal privacy is not the only way to achieve their intention. Therefore, in this case obviously the right of protecting personal privacy overrides the freedom of speech. In order to prevent serious effect brought by the deviant behaviors, measures have to be imposed to combat disclosure of private information. There are many means to achieve the goal, for example the moral education of using the Internet. Our group deems that legislation will be one of the most considerable means against disclosure of privacy on the Internet. According to Ms Susan So (2009), Director-General of Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children, stated that cyberShow MoreRelatedSociology and Internet2036 Words   |  9 PagesPeople can get lots of things done through the Internet, chatting with friends through MSN, shopping on Amarzon.com, settling the credit card bill, making new friends through the Facebook, reading newspaper on appledaily.com, etc. Besides, when we want to search for information, we can simply â€Å"Google† it, and we get what we want. It is no doubt that the Internet has greatly sped up the flow of information. In Hong Kong, the popularization of the Internet leads to the formation of different forums,Read MoreWhat is Sociology? Essays665 Words   |  3 PagesWhat is Sociology? After reviewing the article titles given for this first assignment, I believe they indicate that Sociology, generally speaking, is not only a study of diversity or commonality in traits among people; it is also a science about factors in a person’s life and how these factors culminate responses. Interestingly enough, its topics of concern seem to be directly determined by current and common events of the world. Through the invention and expansion of new ideas, popular trendsRead MoreThe Textbook, Sociology867 Words   |  4 PagesThe textbook â€Å"Sociology† has tons of information at its publisher website, which includes a different variety of resources that can help expand a student’s understanding of the book and review concepts as well. The website not only has information about the textbook, but has other types of reliable information from outside sources to help understand sociology on a different level. The resources that the website provided were use ful, but the resources that I believe that will help me the most is theRead MoreThe Impact Of Social Media On Sociology855 Words   |  4 Pagesconcerning the influence that social media has had on sociology in general. Most of these perspectives have been brought up as people try to find out the level of dependency on technology in sociology. The internet, for instance, whose initial use was for the government and governmental operations, has turned out to be a tool for societal interaction as well as a way of making and finding numerous opportunities. It has been reported that the number of internet users doubles every year which shows an increasedRead MoreAgents Of Socialisation : The Mass Media1120 Words   |  5 PagesIn the present day, the media is incorporated into our daily lives. Every day, through newspapers, radio, television, email, the internet and social media, are we sucked into an electronic world, which changes many of our beliefs and values about how we live our lives. It plays such a large role in almost every person’s life compared to 50 years ago, when the internet did not exist. It effects things such as our political views, tastes in music, views of men, women, gay and coloured people. MediaRead MoreRecent Changes in British Society and Greater Diversity of Family Types1379 Words   |  6 PagesBritish Society and Greater Diversity of Family Types Recent changes in British society have led to a greater diversity of family types, Some writers have argued that traditional family life is disappearing in Britain Moore, 1987, Sociology alive. Most people seem to view the traditional family as a married male and female with dependant children, however family types today may include one parent families, same sex families, unmarried parents who co habit and most popularlyRead More Comparing Functionism, Marxism, and Social Action Theory Essay1538 Words   |  7 Pages Sociology is generally made up of three paradigms: Functionalism, Conflict Theory and Symbolic interactionism. A paradigm is a set of assumptions that shape and underlie explanations of why society is the way it is (Early Stratification Theory, internet 2003). Functional Theory is often traced from Durkheim, Parsons and Merton. Functionalists believe in shared norms and values, which are influenced by the Family, Education, church and employment. It sees Read MoreThe Sociological Imagination Option 1830 Words   |  4 Pages(Essentials of Sociology 8). It has resulted in many jobs shifting from the agricultural sector, to more specialized and complex jobs that we see today. This factor has an enormous influence on my life. For instance, in the past, college was seen as a privilege. In this era, it is almost unthinkable not to go to college. This concept of globalization has had an impact on me because it influences the decisions I have made. Globalization has also given the rise to the internet. One can see theRead MoreThe Gender Marketing Of Toys : Shaping The Way Americans Shop And Play Essay1623 Words   |  7 PagesColor and Type of Toy on the Disney Website† authors Carol Auster and Claire Mansbach examined gender marketing of Disney products on the Internet. The way toys are marketed to the public shapes the perception of whether it is appropriate for a particular child to play with a certain toy. The authors found it important to study Disney toys marketed on the Internet because children spend much of their time surrounded by toys, e-commerce has growth significantly in the past decade, and Disney is dominantRead MoreMy Career As A Sociology1369 Words   |  6 PagesI’m currently a sociology major but I have changed my major multiple times. I feel pretty confident with sociology but that could possibly change. Having a sociology degree is very versatile. I’m so passionate about traveling and learning about different cultures and I felt as though this major was the closest thing relating to that. At first I was worried about salary and the chances of not getting a job but I’m not going to spend 4 years of my life and thousands of dollars devoted to studying

Thursday, December 19, 2019

The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald - 1722 Words

The Beginning of Everything â€Å"Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone...just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had† (Fitzgerald 1). The first line of The Great Gatsby illustrates a heartfelt sentiment of treating others respectfully and not judging a book by its cover. However, as the chapter continues, the narrator Nick Carraway, suggests this propensity of tolerance is better used as leverage to entice more people to trust you and tell you their secrets. Nick is privy to the secret lives and untold truths of many rich and powerful people of New York because he could be trusted, whether he wanted to be or not. This is a constant theme throughout The Great Gatsby -- the internal struggle of F. Scott Fitzgerald, portrayed through his characters, of being a kind, honest person content to live his own life versus a grotesquely rich and selfish person who only cared about himself and living the illusive American D ream. The characters created by F. Scott Fitzgerald in The Great Gatsby strongly reflect influences of people and events in his life, and demonstrate facets of his personality that dictated how he viewed the world, friendship and love. People often compensate for things they don’t have. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald’s character Gatsby loved Daisy because she was the epitome of everything he wished he had in his youth. She was rich, exciting and full of life. To win her attention, he throws money into parties, carsShow MoreRelatedThe Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald1393 Words   |  6 PagesF. Scott Fitzgerald was the model of the American image in the nineteen twenties. He had wealth, fame, a beautiful wife, and an adorable daughter; all seemed perfect. Beneath the gilded faà §ade, however, was an author who struggled with domestic and physical difficulties that plagued his personal life and career throughout its short span. This author helped to launch the theme that is so prevalent in his work; the human instinct to yearn for more, into the forefront of American literature, where itRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1343 Words   |  6 PagesHonors English 10 Shugart 18 Decemeber 2014 The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald s 1925 novel The Great Gatsby is a tragic love story, a mystery, and a social commentary on American life. The Great Gatsby is about the lives of four wealthy characters observed by the narrator, Nick Carroway. Throughout the novel a mysterious man named Jay Gatsby throws immaculate parties every Saturday night in hope to impress his lost lover, Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby lives in a mansion on West Egg across from DaisyRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1155 Words   |  5 PagesThe Great Gatsby The Jazz Age was an era where everything and anything seemed possible. It started with the beginning of a new age with America coming out of World War I as the most powerful nation in the world (Novel reflections on, 2007). As a result, the nation soon faced a culture-shock of material prosperity during the 1920’s. Also known as the â€Å"roaring twenties†, it was a time where life consisted of prodigality and extravagant parties. Writing based on his personal experiences, author F. ScottRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1166 Words   |  5 Pagesin the Haze F. Scott Fitzgerald lived in a time that was characterized by an unbelievable lack of substance. After the tragedy and horrors of WWI, people were focused on anything that they could that would distract from the emptiness that had swallowed them. Tangible greed tied with extreme materialism left many, by the end of this time period, disenchanted. The usage of the literary theories of both Biographical and Historical lenses provide a unique interpretation of the Great Gatsby centered aroundRead MoreThe Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald845 Words   |  3 PagesIn F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, colors represent a variety of symbols that relate back to the American Dream. The dream of being pure, innocent and perfect is frequently associated with the reality of corruption, violence, and affairs. Gatsby’s desire for achieving the American Dream is sought for through corruption (Schneider). The American Dream in the 1920s was perceived as a desire of w ealth and social standings. Social class is represented through the East Egg, the WestRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald Essay970 Words   |  4 Pagesrespecting and valuing Fitzgerald work in the twenty-first century? Fitzgerald had a hard time to profiting from his writing, but he was not successful after his first novel. There are three major point of this essay are: the background history of Fitzgerald life, the comparisons between Fitzgerald and the Gatsby from his number one book in America The Great Gatsby, and the Fitzgerald got influences of behind the writing and being a writer. From childhood to adulthood, Fitzgerald faced many good andRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald2099 Words   |  9 Pagesauthor to mirror his life in his book. In his previous novels F. Scott Fitzgerald drew from his life experiences. He said that his next novel, The Great Gatsby, would be different. He said, â€Å"In my new novel I’m thrown directly on purely creative work† (F. Scott Fitzgerald). He did not realize or did not want it to appear that he was taking his own story and intertwining it within his new novel. In The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, he imitates his lifestyle through the Buchanan family to demonstrateRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1607 Words   |  7 Pages The Great Gatsby is an American novel written in 1925 by F. Scott Fitzgerald. One of the themes of the book is the American Dream. The American Dream is an idea in which Americans believe through hard work they can achieve success and prosperity in the free world. In F. Scott Fitzgerald s novel, The Great Gatsby, the American Dream leads to popularity, extreme jealousy and false happiness. Jay Gatsby’s recent fortune and wealthiness helped him earn a high social position and become one of the mostRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1592 Words   |  7 PagesMcGowan English 11A, Period 4 9 January 2014 The Great Gatsby Individuals who approach life with an optimistic mindset generally have their goals established as their main priority. Driven by ambition, they are determined to fulfill their desires; without reluctance. These strong-minded individuals refuse to be influenced by negative reinforcements, and rely on hope in order to achieve their dreams. As a man of persistence, the wealthy Jay Gatsby continuously strives to reclaim the love of hisRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1646 Words   |  7 PagesThe 1920s witnessed the death of the American Dream, a message immortalized in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. Initially, the American Dream represented the outcome of American ideals, that everyone has the freedom and opportunity to achieve their dreams provided they perform honest hard work. During the 1920s, the United States experienced massive economic prosperity making the American Dream seem alive and strong. However, in Fitzgerald’s eyes, the new Am erican culture build around that

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Global Financial Crisis in Retrospect †Free Samples to Samples

Question: Discuss about the Global Financial Crisis in Retrospect. Answer: Introduction: Liquidation can be defined as a situation of winding up of business in which assets are sold to pay off the remaining obligations. Liquidation can take place voluntarily or compulsorily as per the conditions of business (Manganelli, Morano, and Tajani, 2014). The present study is focused on the description of events that led up to liquidation of ABC Learning, HIH Insurance and One.Tel Phone Company. The financial stress of cited companies will be supported by the description of ethics and governance. In liquidation, entity winds up, sold its assets and the profits from sales are given to the creditors or entities having claims on the company. The procedure of liquidations is mandatory if the wind up takes place as the consequence of an order of the court (Lessambo, 2014). Other are considered as voluntary when the owners or shareholders engaged in operating the business choose to end operations. The universal reasons of liquidations are legal problems, insufficient desire, and bankruptcy, between the individuals running the business to be maintaining it as operating. In past few years, several liquidations of multinational firms and strengthen business entities have occurred in Australia. In accordance with the viewpoint of Foreman (2014), court rules stated that liquidations differ all over the world, but these measures classically begun by the business itself on behalf of their creditors or shareholders. The party desires to start the proceeding while making a court filing describing the reason for choosing liquidations and if the request is accepted by the judge, then the firm must end their operations and supervisors and are generally agreed by the court to manage their assets sale (Chow, 2017). Liquidation is not primarily due to financial obligations as it is supported by various other reasons such as breach of ethical and legal aspects, frauds and inappropriate business strategies. Liquidation of ABC Learning Companies suffer from failure primarily because of financial dispensaries. In accordance with the ACCC (Australian competition and consumer commission) representative, ABCs collapse was not because of increasing competition, but it has been due to financial misstatements such as high acquisitions and debts. Also, the failure was the result of financial dispensaries offered by the company (Lewis, 2013). ABC lost its loyalty and reputation among customers and public at the time of financial crisis in 2008. The entire world had evidenced the story behind this collapse. The crises of sub prime lead to self-awareness among various countries regarding the malpractices been used by companies in the market. ABCs financial information gave a severe picture entirely. The balance sheet of company assets side represented intangible assets of 72% to 81%. These intangible assets were inclusive of several operating licenses. Further, it was a big concern for government, and they handled this matter to ASIC by setting up a commission. The commission subjected ASIC failure in this concern to efficiently assess companys operating license (Marks, 2015). ABC asserted a big amount of the licenses which were not even worth in the operating sense of the term. It is because; the high value of operating licence was set in order to draw traders in the marketplace. The committee asked ASIC to make consideration of the real value of the operating license and to determine whether they add any value to the business. The consideration is still in progress, but ASIC announces that the licences were not 'material to the company. The revaluation of operating license was legal in accordance with the accounting standards in June 2005 for the year ended and after that the new standards of accounting will be applied. Under the new standard of AASB 138 "Intangible Assets" enables the intangible assets revaluation only in some situations (Gitman, Juchau and Flanagan, 2015). However, these standards are only applicable when the treatment of accounting creates a materialistic impact. ASIC illustrated that at the point of its investigation, the concerns of financial were not material to the company. The main component in the downfall of ABC was the existence of transactions of related parties. Eddy Grooves was involved in the growth and development of the company. The company was successful in a short term. However, it was stated that Mr Grooves failed to manage the company (Lessons to be learnt from ABC Learning's collapse, 2009). The company didnt follow the framework of business governance rules during the supremacy of Mr Grooves there were various related party transactions. In 2006, a broking firm named Austock consisted significant shares by Grooves while entering in transactions with ABC (Marley and Pedersen, 2015). ABC gave an amount of $27 million to Austock as transactional fees. QMS (Queensland Maintenance Services) was underneath the directorship of Frank Zullo, who was relative (brother-in-law) of Mr Grooves. The company had compensated the loss of $74 million in exchange for their work centre of ABC. Grooves owned the team of Brisbane Bullets Basketball team, and i t was sponsored by ABC. ABC declared that the transactions were not material and related to the company and contained no interest also. However, there was the proof of the weak business measure of the company, and this considerably weakens the confidence of companys investors. Liquidation of HIH insurance The failure of HIH Insurance in March 2001 trembled the Australian business community. HIH was worlds second largest employer and at the hindmost part of a major achievement binge that had observed the companys major purchases of insurance in New Zealand, Argentina. In early 2001, the company was suffering from the unstable financial position and later they suffered the biggest corporate failure in the history of Australia, with a loss of more than $5bn (Damiani, Bourne and Foo, 2015). With the firm ongoing to act purely in order to examine old claims without new business taken to abroad, financial regulators of Australia were placed to identify the clear chain of measures that resulted in HIH collapse. There was a proper collapse in the operational area, and the level of the failure was so high that the charges were taken against the companys key members like Rodney Adler, Ray Williams, William Howard and Geoffrey Cohen (Doyle, 2017). Especially, Rodney Adler was charged on the basis of four particular claim which is fraudulence in the liberty of his duties and purposely distribution of fake information and data. Adler was found guilty of deliberately distributing financial data. However, separate calls were made regarding the queries that the corporate governance systems of HIH were unsuccessful because Adler misuses his powers and position. In a separate claim, Adler was blamed for influencing HIH to make an investment of a $2m loan in Business Thinking Systems (BTS). In this transaction, Adler had an interest in the cited company. Another main weak point that resulted in the failure of HIH was the lack to offer future claim in a proper manner, and other problem raised from this single issue. Covering of future claim is considered to the most significant aspect of any insurance company. However, by the end of the survival of HIH was in a situation in which just a negative shift of 1.7%will be sufficient in leading the company into insolvency.Themost importantreason for this collapse wasmisstatements in changing conditions of the market, which extremely enlarged the liabilities of HIH. These aspects were not compensated by viable strategic planning due to which changingconditions of markets lead to serious damage in the insurance companies, but companies are known about these risks, and they do planning in order to reduce the risks. Furthermore, HIH radically coverage itself was the part to be concerned with the extreme expansion of the company. HIH got holding of several companies in their ending year and was building a chief drive for the global expansion. These expansions was a strong move for business, as it brings increased liabilities and HIH acted on the basis of its belief that liabilities will be compensated to the expansion. The Company appear to have primarily misinterpreted the level by which extra provisions were required to be considered as per changing market conditions. This was the primary mistake made by the company, as if it deals with at the same time it could have been resolved. Namely, HIH board went evident while practising this strategy; it demonstrated that there was downfall of corporate governance at HIH, without real omission applicable to check either the strategy implemented was appropriate or financial sustainable With the collapse of HIH insurance, there were significant changes in regulations made by Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) for prevention of similar issues (Kehl, 2001). For this aspect, a new set of corporate governance rules has been designed regarding expansion. The company could prevent liquidation if management were more cautious about liabilities while expansion (Betta, 2016). They were in a position to introduce cost cutting programs and ignoring decision taken by Rodney Adler of securing investment on the basis of false statements. Further, they provided a lesson to have effective market research prior to entering any new market to prevent issues related to mismanagement. Liquidation of One.Tel Phone Company The collapse of One-Tel is considered to significant liquidation case in Australia in 2001 as it was fourth largest telecommunication company with a customer base of two million in eight countries. The collision of the company was due to wrong pricing policy, strategic mistakes and unbridled growth. The primary issue with the company was an inappropriate corporate structure which causes ineffective communication (Adams, 2014). Their centralization strategy of promoting Yes man by humiliating managers who were showcasing problems had increased employee turnover. Management of company was too autocratic, and opinions of employees were ignored which had raised the issue of understaffing and consequently customers satisfaction was affected. These issues had wasted technology and created financial issues for business. By considering financial figures of commendable company growth in sales and customers based can be noticed, but same has not been translated into increased profitability. All financial issues primarily arise due to corporate governance issues such as inappropriate managerial authorities; unclear allocation of responsibilities, ineffective internal control and increasing work issues (Debbage and Dickinson, 2013). In One-Tel there was a major breach of corporate governance such as non-compliance of law related to fiduciary duties of directors. For example, Adler contravened directorial duties sec 181, 182 and 183 as loans were raised without considering the interest of shareholders as it was not in good faith. Mark Silberman fail to supervise business activities and misled the board in terms of actual cash flow (Avison and Wilson, 2002). Liquidation of the company shows that it is not sufficient for companies to attain large scale customers until they made a contribution towards profitability of the firm. Further, implementation of highly competitive price strategy merely to gain market share can cause disastrous consequences, and sales revenues must be supported by cash collection strategies else there will be a liquidity crisis. Conclusion By considering the present study, it can be concluded that primary reason of liquidation is not financial liabilities as it is supported by various other reasons such as breach of ethical and legal aspects, frauds and inappropriate business strategies. It is because, financial obligations are a consequence of inappropriate business strategies, contravention of ethical aspect and laws and ineffective corporate governance. To prevent this, laws of Australia has been stricken to ensure corporate governance and protect the interest of stakeholders. Further, companies have mandatory obligations to comply with developed laws else they have to face severe adverse consequences such as penalties and compulsory liquidation. However, the interest of stakeholders and economy will be cushioned by imposing a penalty on individual who is liable for misconduct. The study also shows that for sustainable growth and success it is essential to have effective corporate governance and internal control sys tem to prevent frauds in business. In addition to this, managerial authorities should focus on long term sustainability instead of having short term profits. References Adams, M.A., 2014. Faulty lines in corporate law: issues for insurance policies.Governance Directions,66(8), p.504. Betta, M., 2016. Three Case Studies: Australian HIH, American Enron, and Global Lehman Brothers. InEthicmentality-Ethics in Capitalist Economy, Business, and Society(pp. 79-97). Springer Netherlands. Chow, J.C., 2017. ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CREDIT RISK USING MACHINE LEARNING. Damiani, C., Bourne, N. and Foo, M., 2015. The HIH claims support scheme.Economic Round-up, (1), p.37. Debbage, S. and Dickinson, S., 2013. The rationale for the prudential regulation and supervision of insurers. Doyle, M., 2017. Market-based indirect causation after HIH.Australian Resources and Energy Law Journal,35(3), p.205. Foreman, R., 2014. Insolvency: It's a wind-up.Law Society Journal: the official journal of the Law Society of New South Wales,52(1), p.71. Gitman, L.J., Juchau, R. and Flanagan, J., 2015.Principles of managerial finance. Pearson Higher Education AU. Lessambo, F.I., 2014. Corporate Governance, Accounting and Auditing Scandals. InThe International Corporate Governance System(pp. 244-263). Palgrave Macmillan UK. Lewis, G., 2013. Australia's regulatory panopticon.AQ-Australian Quarterly,84(4), p.26. Manganelli, B.E.N.E.D.E.T.T.O., Morano, P.I.E.R.L.U.I.G.I. and Tajani, F.R.A.N.C.E.S.C.O., 2014. Companies in liquidation. a model for the assessment of the value of used machinery.WSEAS Trans. Bus. Econ,11, pp.683-691. Marks, R.E., 2015. Learning Lessons: The Global Financial Crisis in Retrospect. Marley, S. and Pedersen, J., 2015.Accounting for Business: An Introduction. Pearson Higher Education AU. Sirtes, G., Lo Surdo, A. and White, R., 2016. Corporations law and class actions: Court recognises indirect or market-based causation in shareholder claims.LSJ: Law Society of NSW Journal, (23), p.80. Online Avison, D. and Wilson, D., 2002. IT FAILURE AND THE COLLAPSE OF ONE.TEL. [PDF]. Available through https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-0-387-35604-4_3.pdf. [Accessed on 29th August 2017]. Kehl, D., 2001. HIH Insurance Group Collapse. [Online]. Available through https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/Publications_Archive/archive/hihinsurance. [Accessed on 29th August 2017]. Lessons to be learnt from ABC Learning's collapse. 2009. [Online]. Available through https://www.smh.com.au/business/lessons-to-be-learnt-from-abc-learnings-collapse-20090101-78f8.html. [Accessed on 29th August 2017].

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Qualitative and Quantitative Research Designs Differences

Introduction Research design is the process through which the research questions are turned into a testing project. The suitability or the effectiveness of a research design depends on the research questions. As a blue print for the study, a research design is concerned with the following issues.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Qualitative and Quantitative Research Designs’ Differences specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More First, it identifies the questions to be studied by the researcher. Second, it helps the researcher to identify the relevant data that needs to be collected. Finally, it is concerned with how data should be analyzed in order to achieve the desired results. Research design can be qualitative or quantitative. A quantitative study involves systematic and empirical investigation of social phenomena with the aid of statistical techniques. Qualitative study on the other hand is â€Å"a me thod of inquiry that facilitates an in-depth understanding of human behavior, and the factors that influence such behavior†. This paper focuses on the differences between qualitative and quantitative research designs. Characteristics of a Qualitative Study Design Strategies A qualitative study uses naturalistic inquiry. This means that real-world situations are studied as they occur without manipulating or controlling them. A qualitative study is based on emergent design flexibility. Thus, it allows the research to adapt to changes in situations, and enables the researcher to adopt new techniques as they emerge. The study also uses purposeful sampling to recruit participants. Selection of the sources of information or the participants is based on the ability of such participants to provide useful information on the subject under study. Data Collection In qualitative studies, qualitative data is collected through observations that give details about the research topic. Other me thods of collecting data include interviews, case studies and document review. Personal experiences and insights of the researcher are an integral aspect of the inquiry. They help in understanding the phenomenon under study. Empathic neutrality, as well as, mindfulness must be maintained during data collection to avoid bias. Change in the phenomenon under study is assumed to be on-going. Thus, attention must be given to system and situation dynamics during data collection.Advertising Looking for research paper on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Analysis Strategies The analysis process is based on unique case orientation. Thus, the first step in analysis is â€Å"being true to, respecting, and capturing details†, of each case being studied. The study uses inductive analysis, as well as, creative synthesis to analyze data. The analysis starts by exploration, and then confirmation is made based on analytical pri nciples instead of rules. A creative synthesis ends the analysis process. A holistic perspective must be developed by understanding the phenomenon as a complex system that is greater than its constituent parts. The analyst focuses on the complex interdependencies, as well as, system dynamics that can not be conceptualized as separate, and linear cause-effect relationships. The analyst aims at being in control of, and reflective about his voice and perspective. A reliable voice expresses authenticity and trustworthiness. This enables the researcher to understand and depict the world authentically â€Å"in all its complexity while being self-analytic and reflexive in consciousness†. Characteristics of Quantitative Study Design Strategies A quantitative study aims at classifying facts, counting facts, and developing statistical or mathematical models in order to explain the phenomenon under study. The researcher normally has a clear understanding of what he is interested in prio r to the study. Consequently, the various aspects of the study are properly designed prior to data collection. However, designing all aspects of the study in advance limits the researcher’s ability to adopt emergent techniques during the study. Besides, it makes it difficult to adapt the study to systems or situation dynamics. Measurement is an integral aspect of quantitative study. Data Collection Quantitative studies use quantitative data in order to facilitate mathematical analysis. Quantitative data are usually in numerical or statistical form. Thus, the first step in data collection is to ensure that the variables considered in the study are measurable. A measurement instrument has to be developed to help the researcher to collect quantitative data. In experimental quantitative studies, the researcher has to control, and manipulate the variables in order to obtain the desired information. The methods used to collect data include surveys and interviews. In most quantitati ve studies, only part of the population (sample) is selected to provide information. However, the sample must be representative of the population in order to improve the credibility of any generalizations made on the population. Consequently, random sampling is used to ensure representativeness. Analysis Strategies In quantitative studies, analysis involves modeling the data by mathematically expressing the relationships between variables. The collected data is then analyzed using statistical techniques in order to provide insights on the phenomenon under study. The results of the statistical analysis are used to test the research’s hypothesis. Quantitative studies can be purely analytical or predictive. However, both cases focus on determining cause and effect relationships.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Qualitative and Quantitative Research Designs’ Differences specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Lear n More In analytical studies, the analyst concentrates in analyzing how various factors (variables) contribute to the situation. In predictive studies, the analyst establishes how the variables influence the phenomenon under study in different situations or circumstances. In this case, the analyst aims at using the results for generalization. The researcher tends to be objective throughout the analysis process in order to avoid bias. Discussion and Comparison of the Differences Both qualitative and quantitative research designs aim at establishing cause and effect relationships. However, the approaches adopted by the two designs are fundamentally different. The two research designs can, thus, be compared as follows. First, the primary aim of a qualitative study is to provide a detailed and sufficient description of the study topic. Quantitative studies on the other hand concentrates on counting and classifying variables, and use statistical models to explain observations. Second, qualitative studies are suitable for initial stages of a research project while quantitative studies are suitable for the later stages. In this regard, quantitative research gives a clearer picture of the entire study compared to qualitative research. Third, the researcher acts as the main instrument for collecting data in qualitative research. The researcher uses methods such as individual in-depth interviews, documentary analysis and focus group discussions. In quantitative studies, tools such as surveys are the main instruments of data collection. Fourth, the data used in qualitative studies are presented in the form of words, images and artifacts. On the other hand, the data used in quantitative studies are presented in terms of statistics and numbers. Finally, qualitative studies tend to be subjective in approach since they aim at understanding â€Å"human behavior and reasons that govern such behavior†. Quantitative research on the other hand is objective in approach si nce it only focuses on precise measurements, and analysis. References Agrawal, N. (2009). Quantitative Research Methods. New Delhi: Prateeksha Publications. McBurney, D., White, T. (2009). Research Methods. New York: Cengage Brain.Advertising Looking for research paper on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Weinbers, N. (2009). Qualitative Reserach Methods. New York: John Wiley and Sons. This research paper on Qualitative and Quantitative Research Designs’ Differences was written and submitted by user Devin P. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.