Research Papers / I need help stating a theory for my topic (quantitative research methods) [3]

I have to come up with a topic, theory, and hypothesis on the topic. I am stuck on what to ask or how to ask. I want to research something in the realm of people's attitudes towards prison inmate education. I read papers already on the benefits of education in the prison etc but how can I make it my own that is the problem.

During lecture my professor said

: When Reading Papers:
- Note what authors are saying
What do they say they are studying?
How do they perform their study?
What did they find?
What would you ask next?
- Ask: what new information do the authors give
us?
- Ask: what else do we want to know

The last few sentences I am not sure what I would personally ask next???

He also
Once you have enough information to ask a
question, ask a question
- State hypothesis
- Briefly a your variables and what you will
measure, and what results will support your
hypothesis

That is the part what am I asking? if am looking at programs for inmates and attitudes towards them by the public how will I ask that? When I do my lit review I have to find research that supports my hypothesis but its confusing??

help =(