4 page essay on “Incarceration and social inequality” by Bruce Western and Becky Pettit.

4 page essay on “Incarceration and social inequality” by Bruce Western and Becky Pettit.

Essay Assignment #1 Your assignment is to read, discuss, and evaluate a professional research article focused on a specific sociological issue. You must choose from one the articles in the “essay 1 articles” folder on BlackBoard. There are specific sections covered in professional research articles and your task is to briefly discuss these sections and evaluate them. Your paper should be at least 4-5 pages in length. Please answer all of the following questions: What is the title of the article? Who is (are) the author(s) of the article? What is the name of the professional journal the article was published in? What was the date of publication? 1. Statement of the Problem What is the research problem? What is the author investigating? 2. Literature Review What reference does the author make to previous research on this topic? Briefly discuss the previous research findings that are mentioned in the article. 3. Variables What are the major variables in the study? What are the specific issues being investigated? 4. Hypothesis/Hypotheses What are the authors’ hypotheses? 5. Research Design: Describe how the actual scientific research was conducted. 1) Sample: Who are the specific individuals included in the study? How many individuals were included in the study? What were the sampling techniques? 2) Research Method: What method(s) was used for collecting the data? 3) Implementation and Conclusion of Research When and where was the data collected? Who collected the data? If applicable, what type of statistical analysis was used? How was the data analyzed? (you may not understand all of the information in the section on statistical analysis, therefore, you may have some quoting in this section). 6. Conclusions What conclusions were drawn from this study? Were the hypotheses supported? If the hypotheses are not supported is there an explanation for this? 7. Criticisms Does the study appear to be thoroughly planned? How could the study be improved? You may mention the criticisms that the author/researcher discusses BUT you will also want to think about other ways in which you think the study could be improved).

Essay Assignment #1

Your assignment is to read, discuss, and evaluate a professional research article focused on a specific sociological issue. You must choose from one the articles in the “essay 1 articles” folder on BlackBoard. There are specific sections covered in professional research articles and your task is to briefly discuss these sections and evaluate them. Your paper should be at least 4-5 pages in length.

Please answer all of the following questions:

What is the title of the article? Who is (are) the author(s) of the article? What is the name of the professional journal the article was published in? What was the date of publication?

1. Statement of the Problem

What is the research problem? What is the author investigating?

2. Literature Review

What reference does the author make to previous research on this topic? Briefly discuss the previous research findings that are mentioned in the article.

3. Variables

What are the major variables in the study? What are the specific issues being

investigated?

4. Hypothesis/Hypotheses

What are the authors’ hypotheses?

5. Research Design:

Describe how the actual scientific research was conducted.

1) Sample: Who are the specific individuals included in the study? How many individuals were included in the study? What were the sampling techniques? 2) Research Method: What method(s) was used for collecting the data?

3) Implementation and Conclusion of Research

When and where was the data collected? Who collected the data?

If applicable, what type of statistical analysis was used? How was the data analyzed? (you may not understand all of the information in the section on statistical analysis, therefore, you may have some quoting in this section).

6. Conclusions

What conclusions were drawn from this study? Were the hypotheses supported? If the hypotheses are not supported is there an explanation for this?

7. Criticisms

Does the study appear to be thoroughly planned? How could the study be improved? You may mention the criticisms that the author/researcher discusses BUT you will also want to think about other ways in which you think the study could be improved).