Research Methods

For everything that occurs, there will somehow be something that caused the action to happen. It is more of a cause and effect ideal or simple a reaction to an action. In terms of research academics, independent and dependent variables are concepts or attributes to certain things that occur such as drug use, crime, or domestic abuse. For example, stress or other personal problems may lead to someone to use drugs. Also, poverty may lead someone to commit crime. In addition, a power controlled individual may cause a partnership to suffer physical or verbal abuse.

In research, the cause is the independent variable and the outcome is the dependent variable. According to Bachman, R and Schutt, R. (2012),” a variable is a characteristic or property that can vary taking on different values or attributes.” Furthermore, Bachman, R and Schutt, R. (2012) indicate, “ an independent variable causes a change in a dependent variable affecting its state by either impacting it positively or negatively.”

Bachman, R and Schutt, R. (2012) state, “ a hypothesis is an idea or a claim linking or establishing a relationship between two variables.” Specifically, a hypothesis may not be definite or true until proven to be factual by research, experiments and evidence. An independent variable leads a researcher to find meaningful, truthful and extensive observational data that concludes that the independent variable affected or caused a change to the dependent variable.

There are many topics of interest to me in the juvenile justice system. Although it is sometimes considered more of a process that the juvenile offenders go through, I do believe the punishment and discipline factor regarding violent juvenile offenders is sometimes just too lenient ...

... middle of paper ...

...on and parole officers by gathering data from line officers and middle managers. It is shown that not many respondents contributed to the research study. In my opinion, I do agree that the information regarding decision making might have been better coming from seasoned and experienced veterans of the job. Overall, the experience and almost every case being different and unique, the answers may have been more reliable and more valid on different types of circumstances.

On the other hand, trying to get data from overworked and possibly overwhelmed officers, the intense caseloads and time consuming tasks may have contributed to the non response factors.

Obtaining information or rather measurements by a survey in this type of occupation would be one of the last type of methods that I would use. Simply and to sum up, not everyone answers or likes to complete surveys.