Please advice. 10 points for the best advice. Thank you very much?

Question

I want to write a thesis about Capital Punishment. I would like to prove that race and economic status do influence public support for capital punishment. What do you think of this topic? Will my research be bias? Will I be able to prove this? Please give me some feedback and suggestion.

I am a graduate student. Unfortunately, the MPA program at my university does not emphasize on research---they focus on exams and application. I am just want to do an independence study on how to write a thesis. The professor said, "Okay, they will help me. Before picking the topic--- I want your suggestion.

Please help. Thank you very much for your kindness.
Sorry for the poor grammar--English is my second language.

Answer 1

Yeah,
I believe race and economic status play a major role not only in capital punishment but also in any form of criminal justice system. No matter what the situation be, people still harbor a certain type of racial bias towards other people, and this belief can in fact affect how justice is served. The economic and social status of a certain person, also is a huge obstacle in how justice is served on that particular person.
Even though our world is getting closer, and people are intermingling with people of other races, bias on the bases of race and status will not go away easily. Just take, the African American people of the United States, the sacrifice they payed for equality with whites is great, but there is still a big gap between them and the average white person and that affects them in a lot of ways.
You should always keep in mind that even justice can fail, where human beliefs and customs come into conflict. Laws can be erased and written, but it will take more than a rubber and a pencil to change human feelings and beliefs when it comes to race and status.
I am just a senior in High school, so I'm sorry if my ideas are far too useless for your thesis.
Hope I helped
Alex

Answer 2

I agree that capital punishment is influenced by race and economic status. That sounds like a hard one to write about though, but if you can do it, it will be done very well and be well respected. I do not think your research will be bias, as long as you base it on several different sources. But if you feel strongly towards one side of the question, of course you will have a bias, i am not sure if it is possible to not have one unless one is complacent, and do not care about anything. Proof should not be too hard to find, just look at random countries with different races and wealth, and compare to their judgment system. I suppose by doing that, you will see for yourself if you are correct or not - that may be what it takes to cause your bias to be neutral. Maybe choose one country from each continent, or the riches and poorest one from each continent to study.

Answer 3

Statistics would clearly indicate that certain socio-economic groups are more likely to receive the death sentence but I am unaware of any research that suggests that support for capital punishment increases or decreases depending on ones position within the class structure.

My suggestion would be a thesis on the white superiority complex and the oppression and exploitation of the black man.

Plenty of material and horrific examples of white brutality towards blacks and still qualifies as current affairs.

Answer 4

You have chosen a very difficult and important topic. Yes the death penalty in the United States is flawed. Number one, it favors the rich who rarely get the death penalty. Look at OJ Simpson when he was tried for the murder of his ex-wife and Ron Goldman, the prosecutors did not ask for the death penalty in a double homicide case. The poor man, black or white, has a better chance of the death penalty. The young black man has the best chance. I hope that my insight is wrong and no matter wealth, race, or age have nothing to do with receiving the death penalty only the severity of the crime.

Answer 5

This is a very broad subject that is mostly based upon opinion. It's often hard to find factual evidence on proving your point in this subject area. If you are able to pull it off, I would love to know how it goes. Personally, I like to stick to topics with plenty of 'already proven' facts. I wish you the best of luck. I hope a thesis isn't in my future.

Answer 6

I have no experience in this sort of thing but would with respect start with a statistical survey of say 100 executions (I that it you are in US and not UK) and analyse them starting with race and social background. An then take another say 200 cases of sentances of imprisonment of five years or more and do the same thing. You may get away with less but I think this will keep you going for a while and give you a background to make your arguments and conclusions

Answer 7

this is hard to talk about. why because most people on death row is from the low class and low income. they are the ones that don't finish school and in up on the streets. so when you do a study of this kind and there has been more than on done on this. you will have a one side study. and what i want to know is why you want to do it just for extra credit? any way this can be a good debate class talk but as a study goes unless you had one thing you were going to zero in on it to wide of a subject. but good luck

Answer 8

It is a very interesting topic. Will you be conducting the study in the US? Or another country? It may be difficult to prove, but I am sure you will be able to build a defendable case for your argument.