Comments | usmilitary: From your responses, here is the current skeleton of the research idea. More informative?

caerbannogbunny in usmilitary

From your responses, here is the current skeleton of the research idea. More informative?

Dec 06, 2009 09:10

Research Idea: Military Experience and Homelessness.

Rationale: Military anti-recruitment and other groups cite a higher proportion of military veterans in the homeless population. Their take is the military produces "damaged goods" unable to adapt to civilian life after the military. I propose-if a difference in proportion exists-such a ( Read more... )

Comments 4

lometa December 6 2009, 16:47:01 UTC

I can't find the thesis statement. Is it "Veterans are forced into choosing to be homeless because they have survival skills and have experienced combat?" Perhaps a sociology professor can help.

caerbannogbunny December 6 2009, 18:31:34 UTC

That's not really the point. (And I have a hypothesis, why do I need a thesis statement at this point? Not creative writing, a research concept.)

This study wouldn't be about what forces anyone to be homeless--directly--and--if hypotheses 2 and/or 3 are true--would actually show that veterans are less forced into homelessness than non-veterans... allowing for further investigation into why--if there is a difference in proportions or perceptions--veterans are homeless differently than non-veterans.

I mean, some people--veteran or not--are homeless because their medical/psychological problems and economic situation preclude any other option except death or prison. In these cases, the other options would likely be reported as 0. Unless there is some etiology related to military service disproportionately creating these problems (Yes, a possibility), there would be no meaningful difference in the other independent variables.
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lometa December 6 2009, 21:34:54 UTC

Thesis statements aren't restricted to creative writing. They are a useful tool in all kinds of works including scientific, sociological and so on. The basic ideas is to help readers link your ideas together. A single declarative sentence that states what you want your readers to know, believe, or understand after having read the hypotheses will go a longer way towards the discussion you may be hoping to have ( ... )

caerbannogbunny December 7 2009, 05:00:32 UTC

True. I'm finishing up an undergrad degree and this semester has been all about the research mindset--experimental psych and research techniques in animal behavior--so the idea of a thesis statement makes me think of English classes and not the anthro/psych/biology I've been focused on ( ... )