The first step in creating your project is to identify the problem you intend to explore. For this assignment, you will draft your problem and research question. This assignment will be considered as the foundation for your entire project.

In a 2- to 3-page document, respond to the following:

• Identify the general problem you have selected for exploration and define it in a statement. For example, the topic on postrelease employment might generate a problem statement such as "Upon release from prison, offenders face severe difficulties securing legitimate employment, which can lead to recidivism or a reliance on public assistance."
• Create at least one research question that focuses on a specific aspect of the problem. This research question will be the question that your research project seeks to answer. For example, a general interest in the rehabilitation of prison inmates might lead to a focused research question such as "Does participation in prison-based technical training programs improve an offender's opportunities for postrelease employment?" Consider the feedback that you received during the discussion as it may help you refine your general area of interest into an appropriate question that can be examined.
• Briefly describe how you would proceed to find an answer to your research question. Is there data already published that can help? Are there programs or policies already in existence that can be analyzed? Does new data need to be collected or a new program implemented? In the prison rehabilitation example, you might find that innovative job-training programs are in place in some prisons, allowing you the opportunity to examine the effectiveness of an existing program.