Dpsy assignment

RUNNING HEAD: JOURNAL: CONNECTING TO YOUR DISSERTATION- IDENTIFYING GAPS IN THE LITERATURE2

Journal: Connecting to your Dissertation- Identifying Gaps in the Literature

Jailya J Wooden

Walden University

DPSY 8700

December 25, 2022

Trahan et al. (2018) presents an intersectional analysis of public opinion on capital punishment in the United States. The authors use American National Election Studies (ANES) data to examine how race, gender, and socioeconomic class interact to influence public opinion on capital punishment. The results showed that African American and Hispanic respondents were more likely than White respondents to oppose capital punishment. The authors also found that men and those with higher incomes were more likely to support capital punishment. The authors suggest that there are racial, gender, and class disparities in public opinion on capital punishment and that this is an important consideration when developing public policy on the issue. The article begins by noting that public opinion on capital punishment has been studied extensively, but few studies have addressed the issue from an intersectional perspective. The authors then review the existing literature on the subject and highlight several gaps in the literature (Trahan et al., 2018).

First, the authors note that few studies have examined the intersection of race, gender, and class and how they shape public opinion on capital punishment. They point out that existing studies have focused primarily on race or gender, but not both, and that almost no studies have considered the role of class in shaping public opinion on the issue. Second, the authors note that existing studies have relied on surveys that focus on a narrow set of questions and fail to consider the issue's complexities. They also point out that surveys often fail to adequately capture the nuances of public opinion, such as how individuals' views on capital punishment may be shaped by their experiences and beliefs (Trahan et al., 2018).

Third, the authors note that existing studies have primarily focused on white individuals' attitudes toward capital punishment and that there is a need for research that examines the attitudes of individuals from different racial and ethnic backgrounds. They also note that the research has largely ignored the effects of gender and that there is a need for studies focusing on how gender influences public opinion on the issue (Trahan et al., 2018).

The fourth gap identified in the review article focuses on the inadequate research on the public's opinion of the death penalty in cases of terrorism. As terrorism is an increasingly prevalent issue in the United States and worldwide, understanding public opinion on the death penalty in cases of terrorism is essential. By examining the public's opinion in this context, researchers can gain insight into the potential implications of the death penalty in cases of terrorism and the potential ethical implications of this form of punishment (Trahan et al., 2018).

Additionally, the authors note that few studies have considered the influence of socioeconomic status on public opinion and that there is a need for research examining how individuals from different socioeconomic backgrounds view capital punishment.

Overall, the review article "Public Opinion of Capital Punishment: An Intersectional Analysis of Race, Gender, and Class Effects" identifies several gaps in the existing literature on the public opinion of capital punishment. Existing studies have primarily focused on white individuals' attitudes toward the issue. They have failed to consider the issue's complexities, such as how individuals' views on capital punishment may be shaped by their experiences and beliefs. Furthermore, existing studies have largely ignored the effects of gender and socioeconomic status, and there is a need for research that examines how individuals from different backgrounds view capital punishment. The authors also call for more research on the intersection of race, gender, and class and how they shape public opinion on capital punishment. By doing so, researchers can better understand how public opinion is shaped by different identities and backgrounds and can make more informed policy decisions.

Reference

Trahan, A., Dixon, A., & Nodeland, B. (2018). Public Opinion of Capital Punishment: An Intersectional Analysis of Race, Gender, and Class Effects. Criminal Justice Review, 073401681881868. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734016818818687