What would be a good thesis statement for the following example?
Formulation of the research problem
The intersection of age, sexual orientation and identity has historically been a trigger for age discrimination and homophobia in Puerto Rico (López, 2019). This oppression perpetuates the marginalization and invisibility of homeless LGBTQIA+ seniors. Therefore, the research problem lies in identifying the structural barriers that older LGBTQIA+ people face when seeking adequate shelter and/or long-term care services.
Justification:
Despite existing studies and recommendations, the issue of homelessness in the aging LGBTIQ+ community remains largely unaddressed. Therefore, examining the characteristics of understudied subgroups, such as older adults within the LGBTIQ+ population who experience homelessness, provides an intersectional understanding of the ways in which age, gender identity, and sexual orientation interact with the experience of homelessness; a critical step to inform policies and interventions aimed at addressing homelessness among this vulnerable community.
Objectives:
This research proposal aims to achieve the following objectives:
• Identify the main causes of homelessness within the LGBTIQ+ community of older adults in Puerto Rico.
• Compare the experiences of homeless Puerto Rican older adults within the LGBTIQ+ community with those of the general older population.
• Evaluate available support mechanisms, including social services and advocacy, to address homelessness within the LGBTIQ+ senior community in Puerto Rico.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of these support mechanisms to reduce homelessness among LGBTIQ+ Puerto Rican seniors.
Research questions:
To address these objectives, the study will ask the following research questions:
• What are the main causes of homelessness within the LGBTIQ+ community of older adults in Puerto Rico?
• How do the experiences of Puerto Rican homeless older adults within the LGBTIQ+ community differ from those of the general older population?
• What support mechanisms are available to address homelessness within the senior LGBTIQ+ community in Puerto Rico?
• How effective are these support mechanisms in reducing homelessness among Puerto Rican LGBTIQ+ seniors?
Variables:
• Dependent variable: Homeless people within the LGBTIQ+ community of older adults in Puerto Rico.
• Independent Variables: Discrimination, family dynamics and support mechanisms.
Hypothesis?
The causes of homelessness among LGBTIQ+ older adults in Puerto Rico are _____________ of structural and systemic factors (such as discrimination, family dynamics, and the effectiveness of support mechanisms provided by the State).
