Introduction
Classification refers to the method or process of grouping things according to observed similarities or shared features (Sherri, 2009, p. 83). According to the book of Genesis in the bible, the Lord used dust from the land to create the first human beings (Adam and Eve), after creating all animal on land, sea and in the air. The He made Adam to be in control of them all.
Concept of classification
Adam demonstrated the concept of classification by categorizing all the animals according to similar characteristics they exhibited. For instance, he grouped all mammals, reptiles and others together, after which he proceeded to categorize all the birds in the air (Nelsonword, 1993, p. 1).
Adam also clearly portrayed the concept of classification by sorting out wild animals and giving them their names.However, the book of genesis chapter two verses twenty shows that, although Adam saw all the living things he could not find a suitable companion for himself.
The issue of not finding a suitable companion also demonstrates the concept of classification. This is because the act showed Adam did not find a similar characteristic or trait among the created animals that matched his behavior or interests. As a result, God thought it could be best to make Adam a companion.
He made him to sleep and took a rib from him and replaced the place with flesh. This miracle led to the creation of Eve, which made Adam to be contented, because he had found a partner who shared similar qualities with him (Nelsonword, 1993, p. 2).
Concept of Measurement
Measurement refers to the process of perceiving and recording observations collected as part of the enquiries effort. It involves different levels and concepts like interval, nominal, ratio and ordinal. When God was on the subject of wiping out the Earth and all the living things using floodwaters, He commanded Noah to build an ark and called it the Ark of Covenant. Noah used the concepts of measurement as commanded by God.
The ark was to be made of cypress wood and the rooms in it were to be partitioned. In addition, the ark was to be seventy five feet wide, four hundred, forty five feet high and fifty feet long. The roof of the ark was to be completed about eighteen inches on the top and the doors on the side and upper middle and lower decks were to be made too.
After the Ark of Covenant was completed, Noah was asked by God to bring all living creatures into the ark. They were to remain alive with him and his family. To do this, he was to take two of all living creatures, evaluate them, and make sure they are in pairs of male and female before taking them into the ark.
For their sustenance, he had to make sure that there was enough food in the ark, as this is what the creatures and Noah’s family were to eat during the time of the destruction. Therefore, Noah was involved in a lot of collection, observation, evaluation and all aspects and concepts of measurement in completing the task given by God.
Concept of Program Evaluation
Program evaluation refers to an organized procedure of gathering, analyzing and using facts to answer questions about plans and policies, so as to specify their usefulness and efficiency (Sherri, 2009, p. 113).
It also involves scrutinizing the aims and objectives of a particular program or policy and also ascertaining whether they are feasible.
According to the book of exodus chapter eighteen versus thirteen to twenty seven, many Israelites used to go to Moses to seek guidance and directions pertaining to the problems they faced. Moses acted as a judge or an evaluator by ruling on the arguments presented to him by people who had misunderstandings.
The concept of program evaluation is also clearly demonstrated by Jethro, the father in-law of Moses. The book says that Jethro saw Moses judging people and he sought to know why he did so and most importantly, why he was the only one doing it.
This aspect of seeking clarification as portrayed by Jethro showed that he wanted to know the usefulness of the policy employed by Moses. Moreover, he wanted to know whether Moses’ actions could have any positive impact on the lives of the people.
According to verse seventeen of the same chapter, Jethro illustrated the concept of program evaluation.This is clearly revealed when he advised Moses on how well he could succeed in his actions of guiding the people. Jethro recommended to Moses the methods he could employ to effectively and efficiently administer the people who came to him on daily basis.
For instance, he advised Moses to continue assisting and teaching the people about God’s laws and warning them on the consequences of breaking them.
Moreover, according to verse twenty one, Jethro recommended Moses to subdivide the people who came to him into groups of one thousands, one hundreds, fifties and tens. Every grooup had a leader who was trusted and was chosen by Moses; hence, this clearly illustrates the concept of program evaluation.
Manifestation the Hypothesis
Hypothesis is the explanation of the existence of specified collection of sensations to guide investigation. It involves using different procedures and methodologies of research (Creswell, 2003, p. 61). According to the book of Daniel chapter one, Daniel and Melzar used many characters in their explanation. It is evident that they included different instruments and methods to explain the whole phenomena.
Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, ordered Ashpenaz to bring him good handsome young men. These young men were brought from important Judean families, the royal clan of Judah and among the Israelites and they were to be trained for three years to become efficient enough to serve the king of Babylon. King Nebuchadnezzar thought that by giving some of his food and wine to the boys, they could grow healthier.
However, Daniel, one of the boys thought that he was unclean to share food with the king; hence, he asked to be given another type of food. Contrary to his request, because Ashpenaz was loyal and could not object the orders from the king, he explained to Daniel that it was impossible for him to be given a different type of food (Nelsonword, 1993, p. 864).
After this, he asked the warden to give them vegetables and water for ten days and that the guard was to be allowed to evaluate their progress. Daniel together with his friends, Hannaniah, Mishael and Azariah were healthier than the other young men after the ten days. The guard continued serving the four with the vegetables and water and because of this, God blessed Daniel and his friends with wisdom and a lot of abilities.
By the end of the three year training duration, Ashpenaz took all young men to Nebuchadnezzar. The king found that the four boys were healthier than all the others, as they could even demonstrate high degree of understanding and wisdom. Therefore, the king made the four to be his servants.
This case involves a lot of participants, different research arguments and hypothesis. It was evident that using the kings’ food, which was believed to make the boys healthy was in contrast with what actually happened.
Daniel employed qualitative research design in his study. Basically, qualitative research methods place more significance on the need of working with the subjects, which are under study in their natural environment as it attempts to gather an in-depth understanding of the behavior of people.
This type of research is evident in the book of Daniel, because he uses natural qualities such as handsomeness, height, and wisdom to explain why some decisions are made.
According to the book of Daniel, king Nebuchadnezzar ordered Ashpenaz to bring healthy boys who could learn things first, as he considered these qualities vital if one was to be allowed to serve in the Babylonian Kingdom.
In addition, king Nebuchadnezzar ordered Ashapenaz to provide the trainees with his food so that they could become his servants. However, Daniel pleaded with the guard who was guarding them to give him and his friends vegetables instead of the king’s food.
The use of qualities to describe facts is revealed in many parts of the study. For instance, after the training, the king learned that Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah had better qualities compared to others. More specifically, Daniel was the best among them, because he could understand visions and dreams clearly.
References
Creswell, J. W. (2003). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Method Approaches. London: SAGE.
Nelsonword. (1993). Good News Bible: Today’s English Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
Sherri, J. L. (2009). Statistics: Plain and Simple. Boston: Cengage Learning.