Alternative methodology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Alternative methodology - Essay Example Scientific theory is usually objective, while the constructivist approach is mostly subjective. This paper aims to identify the ways in which the study would have been different if the researchers had taken the scientific theory or positivist approach as opposed to the constructivist approach used. This difference will be identified by focusing on the epistemology, ontology, methodology and the effects of the theory on the data generated and inferences used. According to Gialdino (2009), epistemology is the approach that the researcher takes to the study based on the theory being used. As already identified, scientific theory usually takes on the objective construct, while constructivist paradigms usually involve subjectivity. The objectivity or subjectivity of the researcher is the epistemology of the research. In the case of Swain and Hammond (2011), it is evident that the research took a subjective view, which means that the researchers used the constructivist approach. In this case, if the researchers had taken the scientific approach, the research would have been different. In the scientific approach, the researchers remain objective and try to eliminate bias from the research. The ontology of research is a concept that deals with the relationships between different aspects of the society, and is different in both scientific and constructionist approaches (Hein, 1991). In the constructionist approach, researchers consider that there is no true knowledge, that knowledge is interpreted differently by different individuals. Since the constructionist approach is usually qualitative, it differs from scientific research in its ontology. If the research by Swain and Hammond (2011) had taken a scientific approach, the ontology would have been differentiated. Scientific or positivist paradigms use knowledge as the goal of

Comparison of The Marriage of Heaven and Hell and The Songs of Innocenc

Blake’s â€Å"The Songs of Innocence & Experience† and â€Å"The Marriage of Heaven and Hell† play an important role in the age of romanticism and important step in romantic poetry. Looking at the two pieces as a comparison, it can be seen that Blake used two different pieces to question traditional institutions. Blake questions institutionalized religion with â€Å"The Marriage of Heaven and Hell† and questions the industrialized age with â€Å"The Songs of Innocence and Experience†. â€Å"The Marriage of Heaven and Hell†, questions the very fabric of traditional religion through Blake’s criticisms on the need for change towards political and religious freedoms. Blake attacks the ways in which society has become by comparing good and evil while challenging the orthodoxy of conventional religion. Blake explains that people are resisting their desires and in doing so confining to the rules that the convention of religion has placed on t heir followers. â€Å"The Songs of Innocence & Experience comments on the industrial revolution and the affects it’s had on society. Blake touches on the socials evils that come with the industrialized revolution and the consequences of an unequal social structure. Blake comments on how the corruption of society hinders the freedoms people once felt as children bringing to light such social problems as urban poverty and misery. Blake identifies the industrialization revolution and conventional religion as the problem between man and the return to the natural state of being. Blake insinuates that the world has lost its freedom and natural beauty from being consumed in a material world full of corruption and misery. Blake uses radical questioning to address the issues of conventional religion and industrialization through â€Å"The Song... ... through both of his pieces that conventional religion has condemned people to confinement and that as long as there is oppression of desire no individual can truly be free. Works Cited Blake, William. â€Å"The Marriage of Heaven and Hell†. The Broadview Anthology of British Literature: The Age of Romanticism.V.4 2006 44-51 Blake, William. â€Å"The Songs of Innocence and Experience†. The Broadview Anthology of British Literature: The Age of Romanticism.V.4 2006 36-44 Musante, R.. â€Å"Embracing the divine: The life of spirit in William Blake's "Songs of Innocence", "Songs of Experience", and "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell". Diss. Middle Tennessee State University, 2007. Dissertations & Theses: A&I, ProQuest. Web. 26 Nov. 2010. Swearingen, James E. â€Å"William Blake’s Figural Politics†. ELH. Vol 59, No 1 (Spring 1992). John Hopkins University Press.

Barefoot running

Athletics is one of the major sports in the world with running being the key event. The major debate relating to running concerns the benefits of running barefoot over running in shoes. Hersher (2010) argues that there is a growing trend of athletes going shoeless and taking on the lifestyle of running barefoot. Quite a number of well known international athletes have effectively completed barefoot. Barefoot running in long distance events is clearly not a hindrance to performance (Montgomery, 2010).Numerous studies have been conducted to determine the most appropriate mode of dressing during running; this includes running in shoes and barefoot running. Proponents of barefoot running, as indicated by Montgomery (2010), argue that it enhances foot biomechanics and also reduces risk to injury. My concern on the issue of barefoot running increased after realizing that quite a number of runners complete in bare feet during major events. This review is aimed at showing that running barefo ot increases performance and reduces the risk of injury.Benefits of barefoot running Studies, according to Barkoviak (2010), have revealed that people who run barefoot greatly avoid heel-striking and instead land on the mid section of the foot. As a result these runners utilize the architecture of the foot and leg in addition to some physics devised by Isaac Newton to prevent damaging and potentially hurtful effects, which are two to three times equal the body weight, that shod heel-strikers repeatedly undergo through (Warburton, 2001).Barefoot runners are at an advantage as compared to those who run in shoes, because they subject their feet to minimal damage due to the fact that they hold their feet differently (Hersher, 2010). They land on the midsection or the front of their foot thereby greatly reducing impact collision. People who run in shoes, on the other hand, generate a very high collision impact when they heel-strike. Barefoot runners tend to land with a bouncy step toward the front of the foot.Barefoot runners also tend to stretch out their toes more at landing; this helps them avoid collision by reducing the effective weight of the foot that suddenly comes to a stop after landing and through a springy leg (McDougall, 2010). A lot of people think that barefoot running is dangerous and hurtful, but in reality an individual can run on the worlds hardest and roughest surfaces without experiencing any discomfort or pain. However heel-striking is painful when running barefoot (McDougall, 2010).This is because it causes a great collisional force every time a foot lands on the ground. Modern running shoes are designed in such a way as to make heel-striking comfortable and easy. The padded heels, of modern shoes, reduce the force of impact and as a result make heel-striking less punishing. However, people who run in shoes only use a small percentage of their leg muscles. On the contrary, barefoot runners use different muscles of their legs (Warburton, 2001) . As a result the strength of their calf and foot muscles is developed rapidly (Warburton, 2001).Studies, as Barkoviak (2010) asserts, have revealed that damage to the foot muscles is higher in people who run in shoes as compared to those who run barefoot. It has been discovered that chronic damage to bone and connective tissue in the legs are uncommon in developing countries, where people usually run barefoot, as compared to developed countries, where it is rare to find a person running barefoot (McDougall, 2010). Running shoes tends to aggravate the risk of plantar fasciitis in addition to other chronic damage of the lower limb through adjusting the transfer of shock to muscles as well as other supporting structures (Montgomery, 2010).Montgomery (2010) argues that running in shoes makes the small muscles in the legs to weaken, and the connective tissue and natural arches to stop functioning properly. Shoes insert orthotics as well as extra padding, which results in poor foot biome chanics and increase in the risk of damage to the foot, leg, and the knees (Hersher, 2010). Muscles, tendons, and ligaments of barefoot runners are stronger as compared to those who run in shoes. This strength helps them develop a more natural gait thereby improving the balance of athletes along with helping them stay connected with their environment.Barefoot running is also economically beneficial, in regards to the energy cost of running, as compared to running in shoes. Research, according to Barkoviak (2010), has shown that increasing the amount of mass on the feet increases the rate of oxygen consumption. Running barefoot is as Warburton (2001) argues, beneficial as it reduces the rate of oxygen consumption thereby enabling athletes to compete effectively. However, as a disadvantage, it is impossible to run barefoot in some weather conditions due to minimal foot protection. Running shoes are very beneficial in extreme weather conditions as they play a protective role.Conclusion Barefoot running is more beneficial a compared to running in shoes. There is a growing trend of athletes going shoeless and taking on the lifestyle of running barefoot. Proponents of barefoot running argue that it enhances foot biomechanics and also reduces risk to injury. People who run barefoot greatly avoid heel-striking and utilize the whole architecture of the foot and leg thereby enhancing the development of their foot muscles, ligaments and tendons. Damage to bone and connective tissue in the legs is less common in people who run barefoot.Muscles, tendons, and ligaments of barefoot runners are stronger as compared to those who run in shoes. Running barefoot is beneficial as it reduces the rate of oxygen consumption thereby enabling athletes to compete effectively. Reference: Barkoviak M. , (2010), Study: Running Barefoot Better Than Wearing Running Shoes, Retrieved on May 1, 2010 from http://www. dailytech. com/Study+Running+Barefoot+ Better+Than+Wearing+Running+Shoes/articl e17535. htm Hersher R. , (2010), Barefoot running easier on feet than running shoes: New research castsdoubts on some major assumptions, retrieved on May 1, 2010 from http://harvardscience. harvard. edu/foundations/articles/barefoot-running-easier-feet-running-shoes McDougall C. , (2010), Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never, ISBN 0307279189: Vintage Books Montgomery B. , (2010), Barefoot Running: Should You Ditch Your Running Shoes and Bare it All? Retrieved on May 1, 2010 from http://walking-runningtraining. suite101. com/article .cfm/barefoot-running Warburton M. , (2001), Barefoot Running, retrieved on May 1, 2010 from http://www. sportsci .org/jour/0103/mw. htm

Hurricane Katrin Emergency Planning - 1185 Words

Week 3 Assignment – Hurricane Katrina HSM315: Emergency Planning Hurricane Katrina was an extraordinary act of nature that created massive human tragedy. Experts say that Hurricane Katrina was the most destructive natural disaster in U.S. history. This massive hurricane brought with it catastrophic floods, obliteration of numerous homes and business, ruined the offshore energy infrastructures, and caused an estimated $96 billion dollars in damage. The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina resulted in an estimated 1,833 human fatalities. Many victims found it significantly difficult to reconstruct their shattered lives. So who is to blame for such massive destruction of property and loss of life? Do we just simply blame Hurricane Katrina†¦show more content†¦Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Some feel that FEMA’s absorption into DHS was to blame for the failure to effectively respond to Hurricane Katrina. There was much unfamiliarity with the revised National Response Plan and the fresh creation of the Department of Homeland Security. â€Å"It’s been said that experience is the best teacher. The unfortunate thing is that the learning process is sometimes such a painful one.† (The U.S. House of Representatives, 2006). During a hearing held in October 2005, it was said that FEMA had been under-funded and under-staffed, thus contributing to the unsuccessful response to Hurricane Katrina. Furthermore, there were claims that Congress had undermined FEMA’s effectiveness when it consolidated with the Department of Homeland Security. Ultimately, no one knew what role the Department of Homeland Security played during a disaster situation. Unfortunately, there was a failure of managing the risk factors associated with an actual hurricane affecting New Orleans. The current emergency plan in place at the time of Hurricane Katrina only prepared the area for a Category 3 hurricane. No one anticipated a higher category hurricane could or would hit the area. They took for granted that the probability of a stronger hurricane occurring was low, thus overlooking major risk management identifiers. When Hurricane Katrina actually hit, emergency planners were now being reactive instead ofShow MoreRelatedRastafarian79520 Words   |  319 Pagesdevil-devised doctrine to the detriment of deluded mankind and which sinful shitsem [system] will therefore be destroyed in a predestined apocalyptic judgement of volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, lightening bolts, brimstone, molten lava, thunder, plagues, hurricanes, drought, famine, tidal waves, hail and heat waves . . . in short by what could be described as a supernaturally controlled ecological backlash.56 52 RASTAFARI Thus the cataclysmic destruction of Babylon will come by its own hands. Its