M1Assignment2 x
Research Question and Hypothesis
After reading the feedback on your proposed quantitative research question in M1 Assignment 2, provide your revised quantitative research question. Next, develop a hypothesis for the research question (Include a null and an alternative hypothesis for your question.).
Keep in mind that a hypothesis is a specific statement of prediction. A hypothesis describes in concrete (rather than theoretical) terms what you expect will happen in your study. It should be testable and often mirrors the research question in the way that it is written.
For example, there is a positive correlation between having an alcoholic parent and alcoholism in adulthood.
Once you have clearly stated your research question and hypothesis, discuss the following (in 1–2 pages):
the said M1 Assignment 2 is attached below
M1 Assignment 2
Research Question: Legal Socialization of Female Juvenile Offenders
Forensic psychologists involve applying psychological knowledge in legal matters. This means it is a discipline of psychology that deals with criminal and civil cases. In the few decades, juvenile offenders have increased, and the question remains why the young people are coming into contact with the law (Kilpatrick, 2016). There have been violent crimes from the youth, and this is the biggest problem that affects children psychologically when they are found guilty. The more specific problem, in this case, is the large population in the juvenile particularly for females and legal socialization. In support of the increased number of offenders in the juvenile is given by statistics that girl over the last ten years has increased but for male, the number has declined. In 2003 the number of female arrests was higher than that of the male. Over the period the level of decline of male arrest was 22% compared to that of females which was 3%. This is a social problem and research on the problem can help to explore the best remedies to minimize the number (Piquero et al., 2015).
The possible cause of increased female juvenile offenders can be less education, substance abuse, mental health problems and low socio economic status. Less education prevents the young people from having knowledge on legal matters and what can be done if found on the wrong side of law. Most of the reported arrest among the young comes as a result of substance abuse and commit an offense while under the influence. Low socioeconomic status can lead children to crime like theft trying to cope with the situation and cater for basic need for other siblings (Piquero et al., 2015).
The research question will increase knowledge on the forensic psychology since by carrying out the research the researcher will be able to identify the legal socialization of juvenile offenders particularly females. Additionally, the research is practicable, since the question has a connection with the identified problem of juvenile female committing crimes more than males.
References
Kilpatrick, J. (2016). Problem formulating: Where do good problems come from. Cognitive
science and mathematics education, 123-147.
Piquero, A. R., Fagan, J., Mulvey, E. P., Steinberg, L., & Odgers, C. (2015). Developmental
trajectories of legal socialization among serious adolescent offenders. The Journal of criminal law & criminology, 96(1), 267.
