RESEARCH QUESTION

. Propose a research question may use one of those if you wish or propose your own 2. Identify the independent variable and the dependent variables 3. Suggest an hypothesis 4. Specify how the independent and dependent variables will be defined Research Question: After you select a basic topic, you need to develop a research question that expresses what you intend to study. It should include independent and dependent variables, which are discussed below. One easy way to begin the development of a research question is to simply state your topic idea as a question. For example: Topic - I'm interested in finding out if race impacts prison sentence length. Research Question: Does race impact prison sentence length? Then refine the question: Do African-American non-violent felons' receive longer prison sentences than their White non-violent counterparts? Even better: Do African-American non-violent felons in urban metropolitan areas receive longer prison sentences than their White non-violent urban dwelling counterparts? Even better: Do African-American felons convicted of non-violent larceny in urban metropolitan areas receive longer prison sentences than their White counterparts? Independent and Dependent Variables: The independent variable is the social element that varies and may impact the dependent variable, such as race or age. The dependent variable is the social element that varies based on how the independent variable interacts with it, such as prison sentence length. I think of it like this: The dependent variable depends on the independent variable.

THE RESEARCH QUESTION:

A convicted felons' prison sentence length (dependent variable) may vary by felons' race (independent variable). The prison sentence length depends on the race of the felon