IV Happens In-Time Before DV

Variable order is critical order. Once you have selected a broad problem area (i.e. topic), it becomes important to narrow a broad topic into a specific variables and or topic. For example, Violence (i.e. topic) narrowed to family violence (i.e. specific topic). Then, what does family violence cause? Family violence leads to juvenile delinquency. Whereas, family violence is assumed to happen in-time before a juvenile become delinquent. Moreover, the assumption is that there is a relationship, association, and or correlation between family violence and juvenile delinquency. This is just an assumption in-need of validation. Having a thought or an opinion about a concept is not validation. Validation is secured through empirical research based on an observation of selected variables.

For example, you should be able to use your selected variables to model the examples below. This is important as the items below become your foundation for the overall project. So, you must be able to write your variables as such to ensure that you are on track.

- Independent variable: Family violence
- Dependent variable: Juvenile delinquency
- Hypothesis: Family violence leads to a high rate of juvenile delinquency in Goldmine County, GA.
- Research Question: Does participation in family counseling reduce juvenile delinquency?
- Research design: Evaluation
- Review the research literature concerning family violence and juvenile delinquency.
- Where will the study be conducted/Scope: Goldmine County in Georgia.
- Who will be surveyed: families within Goldmine who participated in the county family counseling program between 2010 - 2015; estimated 500 families, which is the survey population.

Then, you will need to discuss all of these concepts from a critical thinking perspective, and not just one sentence statements based on opinion. Evidence and or data to support your assertion is a must. As you move forward to observe the relationship between an independent variable and a dependent variable, keep in mind the pros and cons; advantages and disadvantages, and the overall impact of conducting a valid and reliable empirical research study that adds to the body of knowledge that narrows the gap concerning a problem.