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It would be helpful to understand not only whether differences exist on this topic between races and genders, but to further investigate why. One obvious reason that I would suspect that there would be a major racial divide is that man more African-Americans are sentenced to death than any other race. This would make me think that African-Americans would more likely be against capital punishment, but certainly we do not know until we run the numbers.

Why does this matter? Racial and gender division is a major issue in our society, and certainly we can see that there are inequalities that need to be addressed in the legal system especially. It is important to understand how the population perceives these things to determine where we should focus our efforts in education and public policy.
What variables can you use to measure correlations that are connected to your research question?

Then, identify variables which you have found in the GSS dataset (be sure to identify the variable name AND the question asked in the survey). Explain why you chose these variables for your project and why you think there is a correlation or a relationship.

The main variables from the GSS data set to consider are:

Variable Name: gender1 (Assuming that the person filling out the questionaire would be the 1st person listed)
Actual question: Gender of first person
Explanation: Since I am interested in gender differences, the gender of the respondent would be necessary.

Variable Name: cappun2
Actual Question: Are you in favor of the death penalty for persons convicted of murder?
Explanation: Since I am looking into capital punishment attitudes, this question directly relates.

Variable Name: race
Actual Question: What race do you consider yourself?
Explanation: Since I am interested in racial differences, the gender of the respondent would be necessary.

Variable Name: (race1 – race 5 may be needed as well)
Actual Question: Is (NAME) Asian, Black, Hispanic, White or something else?
Explanation: Since I am interested in racial differences, the gender of the respondent would be necessary.

Variable Name: hhrace
Actual Question: Race of household.
Explanation: Since I am interested in racial differences, the gender of the respondent would be necessary.

Variable Name: concourt
How much confidence do you have in. . .
E. Courts and the legal system
Explanation: Since I am looking into a law enforcement/court issue, it would be interesting to note the respondent’s attitude toward these institutions.
Some others of interest may be:

Variable Name: wksexism
Actual Question: Do you feel in any way discriminated against on your job because of your gender?

Variable Name: punleak
Actual Question: I’m going to ask you about several offenses. For each case, indicate what you would consider to be the appropriate punishment when the offender is a military service member or government employee.
B. Leaking sensitive information to a newspaper in order to influence public opinion about a controversial political issue. The offender received no money.
Explanation: Since I am looking into a legal punishment/law enforcement/court issue, it would be interesting to note the respondent’s attitude toward similar ideas.

Variable Name: punarms
Actual Question: I’m going to ask you about several offenses. For each case, indicate what you would consider to be the appropriate punishment when the offender is a military service member or government employee.
A. Stealing and selling weapons, ammunition, and explosives from a military depot.
Explanation: Since I am looking into a legal punishment/law enforcement/court issue, it would be interesting to note the respondent’s attitude toward similar ideas.
Variable Name: punenmy
Actual Question: I’m going to ask you about several offenses. For each case, indicate what you would consider to be the appropriate punishment when the offender is a military service member or government employee.
C. Stealing and selling copies of secret codes and other classified intelligence materials to an agent of a hostile foreign government.
Explanation: Since I am looking into a legal punishment/law enforcement/court issue, it would be interesting to note the respondent’s attitude toward similar ideas.
Variable Name: punfrnd
Actual Question: I’m going to ask you about several offenses. For each case, indicate what you would consider to be the appropriate punishment when the offender is a military service member or government employee.
D. Stealing and selling these same materials to a friendly foreign government.
Explanation: Since I am looking into a legal punishment/law enforcement/court issue, it would be interesting to note the respondent’s attitude toward similar ideas.

There are probably many other variables in the GSS dataset that might be of interest once I look deeper into this topic, but this is what I see on my first try. Please advise on any variables that you think might be helpful toward my topic.

C