4) Independent and Dependent Variables
Independent variables that might influence the study focused on the mentally ill include other influencing factors such as support from family, friends, age, and the use of psychotropic drugs.
Independent variables that can influence the study includes attitudes and stigmatization by professionals at institutions that house mentally ill inmates. This can be influenced by individuals' knowledge of the mentally ill, such as having family members or friends with related conditions.
5) Operational Definitions:
Support from family and friends is taken to mean monitoring medication and liaising with mental health professionals.
In terms of age, it is commonly experienced that mentally ill patients tend to become more responsible with age in terms of understanding the nature of their condition and taking responsibility for medication and regular clinic visits.
Psychotropic drugs are commonly prescribed to patients suffering from mental illness.
6)
Possible extraneous variables are as follows:
The severity of mental illness in the patients being investigated.
The level of expertise of prison and clinical professionals working with the mentally ill.
The attitude of these persons towards those with mental illness in their care
The workload of professionals who work with mentally ill inmates and patients.
The influence of family members and friends on persons suffering from mental illness.
In conclusion, the behavioral difficulties suffered by mentally ill patients are often misunderstood and misconstrued....
This makes it very difficult to cultivate a non-biased understanding of the sociological problems related to conditions suffered by these persons. Studying the issues involved will therefore be a valuable contribution to offering help to those with mental illness, as well as to professionals who work with them and loved ones who care for them.
References
Harrison, J. And Nadeau, a. (2007, Dec. 15). Mental Illness, Recidivism, and Loss of Good Time Among Inmates in a State Prison. American Sociological Association. Retrieved from AllAcademic.com: http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p242729_index.html
Haverhals, L. And Lang, a. (2004, May 27). An empirical examination of the effect of DTC advertising on stigma towards mental illness. International Communication Association. Retrieved from AllAcademic.com: http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p242729_index.html
Payton, a. (2007, Aug 11). A New Model of Mental Health and Mental Illness Incorporating Distress and Alienation. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association, TBA, New York. Retrieved from AllAcademic.com: http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p181789_index.html
Rohlfsen, L. (2003, Dec. 8). Institutions to Community-Based Care Facilities: The Continued Dehumanization of the Chronically Mentally Ill. American Sociological Association. Retrieved from AllAcademic.com: http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p110098_index.html
Stout, P., Hyojin, K. And Jennings, N. (2004, May 27). Assessing the use of Mental Illness References During Prime-Time Television. International Communication Association. Retrieved from AllAcademic.com: http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p113127_index.html
