1. My research topic is:

The mental health of children with incarcerated parents

2. My research question is:

What are the side effects on children growing up with incarcerated parents?

3. The following are key concepts associated with the topic or contained in the research question

that are not clear and need to be defined:

4. Specify the nominal definition for each of the concepts in question #3:

5. Specify the operational definition (how you would measure the concept).

for each of the concepts in question #3:

6. Which concept seems as if it is causative (independent variable or IV) of the other (dependent

variable or DV)?

7. State a tentative hypothesis involving these variables (Remember: IV & DV must be clearly

specified, the precise nature and direction of the relationship between IV & DV must be

specified, hypothesis must be stated in a way that can be verified or refuted, and all concepts and

comparisons must be clearly stated).