Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

What would be the Hypothesis and Variables (2) and how do the variables relate, for this question?

Do black offenders receive longer and harsher sentencing then white offenders?

Some ideas on hypotheses:
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... esis.shtml

Some ideas on variables:
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... bles.shtml

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... test.shtml

You may want to read the entire Science Buddies project guide:
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... ndex.shtml

Your proposed topic is likely to be controversial, eliciting strong (and possibly irrational) opinions on both sides, so it is especially important to try to design your hypothesis and variables in as unbiased and objectively testable way as possible.

Some possibly useful data:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/07/weeki ... ref=slogin

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/html/s ... 205tab.htm

Good luck on your project. It is a potentially important and very valuable topic if you can deal with it objectively and fairly.

Barrett Tomlinson

Thank you so much on you input and the web sites that you listed!!

Hi,

If you are still doing your research, it might be interesting to follow up on these leads:

I saw a great show on PBS Bill Moyers Journal of March 28, 2008 that included an interview with Corey Booker, mayor of Trenton,NJ, and reviewed the Kerner Report of 1968 on the causes of race riots in the early 1960s and referenced the Eisenhower Foundation which follows up on the Kerner report. I think you would find all of this relevant to your topic.

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/index-flash.html

http://www.eisenhowerfoundation.org/

The more I have learned recently the more important your project appears to me. I wish you every possible success in your efforts!

Best regards,

Barrett Tomlinson