Introduction In the Ph.D. program in Walden University’s School of Public Policy and Administration, dissertation research is to be based on a “theoretical”—rather than a “conceptual”—framework. Similarly, a “model” does not substitute for a theoretical framework. A model describes a specific, narrow scope of a given phenomenon. A theory, on the other hand, describes the relevance and values of, and relationships among, variables and concepts. Its purpose is to identify what will be studied, as well as to explain something, predict possible outcomes, or extend knowledge (Desjardins, 2010; Ostrom, 2007; Sabatier &, Weible, 2014; Shafritz, Ott, & Jang, 2016; USC Libraries, n.d.). The document Theoretical Frameworks in SPPA, in this week’s Learning Resources, explains the distinction between theoretical and conceptual frameworks It is important to be able to apply several theoretical frameworks, rather than just one. There are three reasons for this: 1. The researcher is less likely to believe any given theory is the authoritative one. 2. Various theories may have value in different situations. 3. Knowing other theories helps to understand values inherent in a preferred theory. This week you will study theoretical frameworks that are relevant for public policy and administration research, and select one or more theories to serve as the framework for your proposed research. This will become a section in your Prospectus. References Desjardins, F. J. (2010, July 19). Theoretical framework [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcnufgQzMjc Ostrom, E. (2007). Institutional rational choice: An assessment of the institutional analysis and development framework. In P. A. Sabatier (Ed.), Theories of the policy process (2nd ed., pp. 25–26). Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Shafritz, J. M., Ott, J. S., & Jang, Y. S. (Eds.). (2016). Classics of organization theory. (8th ed). Belmont, CA: Wadworth, Cengage Learning. ISBN: 978-1-285-87027-4 USC Libraries. (n.d.). Organizing your social sciences research paper: Theoretical framework. Retrieved from http://libguides.usc.edu/content.php?pid=83009&sid=618409 Objectives Students will: Analyze the use of theoretical frameworks in public policy and Applying Theoretical Frameworks You have distinguished theoretical from conceptual frameworks, and both types of frameworks from models. Also, you have learned the value and importance of identifying a relevant theoretical framework for your proposed research. In other readings this week, you read about a number of theoretical frameworks that are pertinent in public policy and administration. In this Discussion, you will identify two theoretical frameworks you might use in your research, at least one of which will become a section in your Prospectus. By Day 3, post a brief description of your Dissertation topic and problem statement. Select one theoretical framework either the Shafritz and Weible & Sabatier texts; write 2–3 paragraphs on your selected theory and be sure to: • Describe the framework and the relevance of that theory to your dissertation topic and problem statement. • Why did you select the theory as being most appropriate for framing your proposed research? Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources. Read a selection of your colleagues' postings. Respond by Day 6 to at least of at least two of your colleagues who have not yet had a reply, in any of the following ways: • Support or challenge your colleagues’ reasoning for their selection of theoretical frameworks. How appropriate are they for both their Dissertation topic and problem statement, and for the field of public policy and administration? • If possible, offer another theoretical framework that might be equally or more suitable in public policy and administration. Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you have learned and/or any insights you have gained as a result of the comments your colleagues made. • administration research • Evaluate theoretical frameworks of proposed research Study 1 JGT Dissertation Topic and Problem Statement My dissertation topic involves an evaluation of Georgia’s new hands-free law prohibiting touching mobile devices while operating a motor vehicle on the roadways to determine whether it reduced the number of motor vehicle accidents and fatalities in the first year of enforcement as compared to the per capita number of accidents and fatalities in the previous five years. Georgia implemented the update to an old law in response to a horrific accident claiming the lives of five nursing students on Interstate 16 (Stevens, 2016); increased numbers of accidents even in light of augmented enforcement efforts further prompted the law change (GOHS, 2017). Georgia conducted a large advertisement campaign prior to the law change might also influence potential accident reductions, so comparing possible accident reductions against other states with similar laws can enhance correlation understanding. The proliferation of mobile device usage among drivers and its impact on the increasing number of motor vehicle accidents and subsequent deaths elevates the need to identify and mitigate the causations of individuals continuing to utilize mobile devices while operating motor vehicles on the roadways. The increased number of drivers of the road demands greater understanding of what can help reduce the dangers of driving. A literary review by Lipovac, Deric, Tesic, Andric, and Maric (2017) included 60 articles all demonstrating a direct correlation between distracted driving caused by mobile device use and reduced driving performance. Research indicated a 10% reduction in driver fatalities in states with mobile device use prohibitions (UHB) for all drivers versus only a 3% reduction in the presence of a universal texting ban (UTB) (Rudisill, Chu, & Zhu, 2018). Research exists to suggest no statistically significant relationship between legislation and reduction of distracted driving (Quisenberry, 2015). The inclusion of the advertisement campaign prior to the law implementation could positively affect commensuration with the legislation as an additional measure to ensure compliance, a factor noted in Rupp, Gentzler, and Smither’s (2016) article. The coupling of initiatives could elucidate greater realization of distracted driving reduction and lower numbers of motor vehicle accidents and fatalities in Georgia. The value of the study relates directly to its significance. Since Georgia moved from a universal texting ban (UTB) to a universal handheld ban (UHB), the ability to definitively compare the number of accidents before the UHB against postimplementation accident numbers while controlling for ancillary characteristics such as road and weather conditions, urbanicity, and additional contributing factors gives a clearer picture of the efficacy of UHB legislation against UTB laws. Should the study demonstrate a direct correlation between the education initiatives preceding the law activation and driver compliance with the law, it could indicate necessary replication for other states with similar laws or considering this legislation. Also, if Georgia’s legislation shows significant reduction in motor vehicle accidents and fatalities through diminished distracted driving occurrence, the resultant fiduciary benefit for drivers from lowered insurance rates provides assistance for Georgia drivers. The emotional stabilization for drivers traveling the roads with less worry and the lives saved cannot be underestimated either, another significant benefit of this study. All told, the study can designate the importance of Georgia’s legislation and approach to advance these initiatives across the United States and globally. Currently, no literature exists to determine the efficacy of UHB legislation replacing UTB laws in the initial year of implementation, nor does any research include UHB efficacy including urbanicity. Lastly, there is no literature related to enforcement of UHB and its impact on distracted driving. Theoretical Framework The implementation of new legislation to curtail behaviors of the populace grounded in driver responsibility to one another with the citation of the deaths of college students caused by distracted driving demands a theoretical framework to contextualize the legislative change and perceived impact on driver behavior. Research requires framework as the foundational theories to explicate behaviors (Shafritz, Ott, & Jang, 2016). The proposed research suggests two distinct theories for consideration: 1) corporate social responsibility (CSR); and, 2) narrative policy framework (NPF). CSR frameworks originate from the field of economics to define and the impact of a business’ actions on society (Shafritz et al., 2016). NPF relies heavily on the narrative behind legislation for traction and acceptance (Shanahan, Jones, McBeth, & Radaelli, 2018). Both frameworks hold merit for inclusion in the study, as one addresses how individuals (as part of the corporate community) inject themselves into society for recognition of responsible behaviors while the other speaks to the amenability of the legislation based on the methodology of presentment. The first framework for discussion is CSR. Four specific components exist to measure CSR (economic, legal, ethical, and philanthropic) in a business (Shafritz et al., 2016); carrying these concepts to the research creates the idea that society members bear a corporate responsibility to one another to preserve community member’s economic, legal, ethical, and philanthropic interests. Individual submission to Georgia’s UHB meets the economic expectation in lowered insurance costs and reduced fiscal burden of property/person injury or loss. The legal aspect of complicity speaks for itself, as individuals expect one another to conform to legislative mandates. Ethical measures work in conjunction to the legal aspect, as each driver trusts the others on the roadway to operate their vehicle in a safe and legal manner, avoiding questionable actions like texting and driving. Lastly, the philanthropic element of CSR in this case might include volunteering to participate in a pledge drive as a promise to adhere to the new UHB law, or help those injured from accidents caused by UHB violations. Though unorthodox, the application of CSR could elucidate driver behaviors toward reduced motor vehicle accidents, injuries, and fatalities. The unconventional nature of CSR could explain community response to legislation, but NPF might provide the reasoning for the acceptability of the legislation. NPF purports four basic elements of a successful policy narrative: 1) setting, or the situation of the policy need; 2) characters, or the various individuals inspiring the policy adjustment; 3) plot, or the spatial relationship of the characters including the beginning, conflict, and ending; and, 4) moral of the story, or why the policy would solve the problem based on the story provided (Shanahan et al., 2018). Greater personalization and relatability of the story help expand internalization, making the legislation more agreeable, while the causal elements (the proposed prohibition) expand it even more (Shanahan et al., 2018). Lastly, the “devil-angel shift” demonizes motives versus the angel of problem solution “de-emphasizes villains”, both of which provide clear and vivid imagery for the populace to commensurate with (Shanahan et al., 2018, p. 178). The application of NPF to the topic permits the explication of the ease of application of the legislation. The narrative used involved the death of five nursing students on interstate caused by a distracted tractor trailer driver. The students became the relatable victims – they could be anyone’s sisters, mothers, daughters, aunts, best friends – for the public, while the tractor trailer driver emerged as villain. The setting involved all Georgia roads, and the plot included the tragic and preventable deaths of the young college students. The moral of the story involved the implementation of a UHB to prohibit individuals from touching their devices during motor vehicle operation in order to save countless lives. The narrative behind Georgia’s UHB aligns with NPF quite fluidly. The application of both or either theoretical framework helps encourage understanding of the mechanisms of the legislation, its impact on Georgia drivers, and the potential results of the research. CSR works to define how and why the public might comply with the law (to be seen as responsible citizens), while NPF furthers this understanding by describing the narrative function of the legislation. The compilation of these frameworks should provide excellent insight into the data retrieved. References Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS). (2017). Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety 2017 Annual Report. Retrieved from https://www.gahighwaysafety.org/fullpanel/uploads/files/2017annualrepor t-final-ilovepdf-compressed.pdf. Lipovac, K., Deric, M., Tesic, M., Andric, Z., & Maric, B. (2017). Mobile phone use while driving-literary review. Transportation Research Part F, 47(2017), 132-142. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2017.04.015. Quisenberry, P.N. (2015). Texting and driving: Can it be explained by the General Theory of Crime? American Journal of Criminal Justice, 40(2), 303-316. doi: 10.1007/s12103-014-9249-3. Rudisill, T. M., Chu, H., & Zhu, M. (2018). Cell phone use while driving laws and motor vehicle driver fatalities: Differences in population subgroups and location. Annals of Epidemiology, 28(2018), 730735. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annepidem.2018.07.015. Rupp, M. A., Gentzler, M. D., Smither, J. A. (2016). Driving under the influence of distraction: Examining dissociations between risk perception and engagement in distracted driving. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 97(2016), 220230. doi: 10.1016/j.aap.2016.09.003 Shafritz, J. M., Ott, J. S., & Jang, Y. S. (Eds.). (2016). Classics of organization theory. (8th ed). Belmont, CA: Wadworth, Cengage Learning. ISBN: 978-1-285-870274. Shanahan, E. A., Jones, M. D., McBeth, M. K., & Radaelli, C. M. (2018). The Narrative Policy Framework. In Weible, C. M., Sabatier, P. A. (Eds.), Theories of the policy process (4th ed.) (pp. 173-214). Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Stevens, A. (2016, July 14). Truck driver to serve 5 years for crash that killed nursing students. Retrieved on December 1, 2018 from https://www.ajc.com/news/crime--law/truck-driver-serve-years-for-crashthat-killed-nursing-students/Be8c7ukmukd9S7h1L3muEK/. Study 2 JD Dissertation Topic What is the relationship between the federal employee unions and emergency management networks in the federal healthcare facilities? Problem Statement Emergency management has typically been the responsibility of first responders such as police, fire, and emergency medical services (EMS). The Homeland Security Presidential Directive – 5 (HSPD-5) was signed by President George W. Bush in 2003. The objective of HSPD-5 is to ensure that all levels of government across the Nation can work efficiently and effectively together during times of domestic incidents (Department of Homeland Security, 2003). HSPD-5 and the National Incident Management System (NIMS) encourage the private sector and mandate the federal government to unify under the Incident Command System (ICS) to prepare, respond to, and recover from all-hazard emergencies. First responders, emergency managers, healthcare workers, public affairs, logistics, agency executives, and engineers all need to be a part of the incident command structure in healthcare organizations. There are five unions in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), one being the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). AFGE VA Council #53 has 36 full-time paid employees who represent the various Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) and VA Medical Centers where VA employees work (AFGE, 2018). Many jobs in the VA, such as emergency management or jobs above a certain pay grade, are considered non-union. The AFGE represents over 226,000 employees across the VA, which is approximately 84% of all employees belonging to a union, and approximately 72% of all employees in the VA. Federal unions represent employees in the workplace bargaining their pay, benefits, work hours, and the scope of their roles and responsibilities. Federal unions and emergency management have traditionally been parallel entities expecting different roles and responsibilities of healthcare workers during the day to day operations and emergent incidents. It is not known if the federal unions, which serve the federal health care workforce, and the emergency management networks have a mutually respectful relationship within the federal government healthcare facilities. Studies have identified the importance of emergency management relationships within healthcare settings of the private sector (Alves, Cagliuso, and Dunne, 2015). The articles summarized in this paper identify the emergency management partners in healthcare and the gaps in those collaborative relationships. “Modern” Structural Organization Theory I chose Modern Organizational Theory because of the basic assumptions of the structural perspective (Shafritz, 2016, p169): 1. Organizations are rational institutions whose primary purpose is to accomplish established objectives; rational organizational behavior is achieved best through systems of defined rules and formal authority. Organizational control and coordination are key for maintaining organizational rationality, 2. There is a “best” structure for any organization, or at least a most appropriate structure in light of its given objectives, the environmental conditions surrounding it (for example, its markets, the competition, and the extent of government regulation), the nature of its products and/or services (the “best” structure for a management consulting firm probably differs substantially from that for a certified public accounting firm), and the technology of the production processes (a coal mining company has a different “best structure” than the high-tech manufacturer of computer microcomponents), 3. Specialization and the division of labor increase the quality and quantity of production, particularly in highly skilled operations and professions, and 4. Most problems in an organization result from structural flaws and can be solved by changing the structure. I chose this theory because the current organizational structure of the VA Medical Centers has the emergency management employees parallel to the union but not working concurrently. The AFE represents the VA employees in their day-to-day duties during normal operations. However, there is no stipulation of a relaxation of union rules during emergency incidents when employees might be asked to respond and work beyond the scope of their duties during normal operations. This clash leaves emergency management personnel trying to work around the union rules instead of managing the incident at hand. I believe if the union and emergency management worked together before incidents in their planning and preparing, then response and recovery operations would become more efficient. References AFGE. (2018). About US. Retrieved from American Federation of Government Employees: https://www.afge.org/about-us/ Alves, L. C. (2015, August 25). Building the bridge between healthcare emergency management and daily operations. Journal of Business Continuity & Emergency Planning, 9(2), pp. 137-148. Department of Homeland Security. (2003). Homeland Security Presidential Directive-5. Washington D.C.: Department of Homeland Security. Retrieved from https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Homeland%20Security%2 0Presidential%20Directive%205.pdf Shafritz, J. M. (2016). Classics of organization theory. (8th ed). Belmont, CA: Wadworth, Cengage Learning. ISBN: 978-1-285-87027-4. 1 DISSERTATION PREMISE PAPER Name CRJS – 8115 C Walden University 12/16/18 Premise Paper Dissertation topic. 2 The dissertation topic, I settled on from week one was; Efficacy of Offender Reentry Programs Targeting Recidivism in the United States. For this weeks assignment, I am developing and revising the topic and formulating a problem statement in the dissertation process. The subject of prison reforms receives little attention and has less political popularity, making the area an abandoned area regarding political power. There is a significant research gap, evidence to show that the problem is significant in the field, enough scholarly articles for the topic to build on the literature review and the problem is amenable to a scientific study as evaluated using the Litmus test (Academic Guides: Research Resources: Research Planning & Writing). Problem statement. Offender reentry programs in the United States remain an area of concern with an alarmingly high rate of Recidivism within 3-5 years of release from prison and correctional facilities. Although there are strong unions of correctional officers, they mainly aim at increasing the jail term and not improving the conditions and programs inside and outside the prisons after the jail term. Prisoners have little political power due to the little popularity of the area to political leaders. Furthermore, there are no proper political reforms that can advocate for the allocation of more funds to improve the process of offender re-entry programs into society. Muhlhausen (2015), found out that approximately 67.8% of released prisoners get rearrested within three years for a new crime and the rate increases to 76.6% within five years. Although the higher rate of 95-97% incarcerated citizens in the United Staes being released back into the society, there are no active programs in the re-integration process. To date, there is no clear evidence of the most effective programs that can help to reduce the recidivism rates and help in re-integration for the ex-convicts. Perhaps a study which investigates the efficacy of the offender re-entry programs targeting recidivism in the United States by a mixed-method case 3 study could be useful in determining the most effective remedy programs and assist in policy formulation in the area of prison reforms. Use of the Walden Doctoral Capstone Resources in the Dissertation Process The Walden Doctoral Capstone Resources have been very useful from the first week. The resources helped me a lot in developing the dissertation topic. For this week the resources have been useful, especially the Litmus test resource in the development of the problem statement for the dissertation process. Besides the resources are proving to be handled in refining my skills of using the APA citation style in my academic work. I plan to utilize the resources in the different stages of the research process. The first step in the research process will be the development of the proposal with the capstone resources as a guide. First, the resources on developing an annotated minibiography will be useful when evaluating the credibility of my sources. After I choose the various sources, the Walden resource will come in handy in the development and complication of the literature review. In the later stages of the research, the resources will be useful when choosing the correct research paradigm and methodology. Throughout the dissertation writing process, I will be able to refer to some examples of quality dissertations listed in the Walden Capstone resources which will form a backbone that I can use to evaluate the quality of my dissertation. The Spss resource in the website will be a useful guide during the analysis of the statistical data and the organization, interpretation of the results and the discussion of the findings (Academic Guides: Doctoral Capstone Resources: Home). 4 Efficacy of Offender Reentry Programs Targeting Recidivism in the United States Efficacy of Offender Reentry Programs Targeting Recidivism in the United States I arrived at the above topic after an extensive search and review of the literature concerning the prison reforms, specific rates of recidivism and the reentry programs. Initially, I had made an observation and did prior research on the topic of the effectiveness of reentry programs, so I already had an idea of what I wanted to research on. Any issue concerning prisoners receives little popularity in politics, and therefore prisoners have little political power. There is no proper political constituency to pressure for the funding of prisoner’s reintegration into the society. The process of reentry even becomes more difficult for individuals with multiple jail terms. The unions of correctional officers are powerful, but they urge for increased prison time and not for improving the conditions and programs in the prisons and after the imprisonment. The primary interest in studying the topic is because of the alarmingly high levels of recidivism even with the reentry programs put in place. According to data from the Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), 2014 67.8% of released prisoners get rearrested within three years for a new crime. The rates of recidivism for five years was 76.6 %( Muhlhausen, 2015). Around 95-97% of incarcerates citizens in the US will be released back into society. However, after release life for the ex-convict may become unbearable with no proper or effective system for re-integration into the society. The ex-convicts are released with nothing to call their own-no housing, no food, no clothing and no way to contact their relatives. Furthermore, other factors such as stigma, deterioration of social networks and economic distress that affect the reentry into the community; the adverse effects of such consequences of the ex-convicts with no proper reentry programs contribute to recidivism. 5 Around the early 1990s, the Department of Justice has invested many funds into the prisoner reentry programs. However, currently, there is no adequate knowledge of the most effective programs for assisting inmates to reintegrate successfully and safety into society. Furthermore, policymakers need to ensure that the evaluation of programs is based on the primary purpose for which it was established. Recidivism remains the most effective measure of assessing the impact of the programs for prisoner’s reentry. However, there is still some criticism on the use utilization of recidivism as a measure of effectiveness as compared with other factors used to assess the reintegration process (Muhlhausen, 2015). The rates of recidivism suggest a problem with the reentry programs already in place. While common measures such as housing and employment are critical, the factors are not the primary goal of reentry programs (Muhlhausen, 2015). The lack of adequate measures for the effectiveness of reentry programs targeting recidivism makes the topic worth for further studies and recommendations. There is a lack of focus for policymakers. I am placing primary importance of the recidivism rates as a measure of the effectiveness of reentry programs. Additionally, there is a need to appraise programs about their outcome on the primary purpose for which they were employed. Research on the evaluation of prisoner reentry programs based on employment shows that the programs play a minimal role in reducing recidivism (Muhlhausen, 2015). The outcomes of scientifically based evaluations raise some doubt regarding the effectiveness of the involvement of the federal government in reducing the cost of reentry programs. There is a general assumption by policymakers that assisting ex-convicts to get employment has an impact on the rates of recidivism (Travis et al., 2014). The program assumes that employment helps ex-convicts to desist from crime. However, the primary question is the 6 timing of the employment for ex-convicts and not the employment opportunity itself. The author, Mulhausen (2015) states that there are theories on the relationship between resistance and employment among individuals who leave the criminal justice system. The first premises are the maturation viewpoint, which states that desistance from crime, happens before the acquisition of legitimate employment while the turning point theory presumes that resistance happens after the ex-convict gets employed. Assuming that the maturation theory is more accurate, then assisting prisoners to get employment before they are ready to reform is unproductive. The process of reforming a prisoner and their identity to that of a law-abiding citizen is a complicated procedure that should precede legitimate employment. For example, a prisoner has to change the mindset and realize that a crime has more harm than benefits. Although federally funded reentry programs offering employment can be sufficient evidence shows that it is vital for ex-convicts to be psychologically stable before they can be productive in the workplace. Reentry programs that offer a multifaceted approach have more results that are positive. There is still a gap in the research, mainly on a large scale to shed some light on what programs are effective and which ones are not (Travis et al., 2014). The topic has much significance in society due to a large number of prisoners (up to 700, 000) released from prison early in the United States. Studies show that ex-convicts face many challenges when reintegration back into society. Reentry programs varied based on the services offered and treatment modalities to deliver the services. Among the 700000 ex-convicts, about two-thirds are rearrested are reincarnated within three years. Despite the vast number of reentry programs, little is known about their effectiveness. It is critical to determine whether the reentry programs are useful in the recidivism rate reduction and the factors associated with the highest success rates. 7 Relationship of the topic to public policy and administration In 1968, H. George Frederickson developed a theory of equity in the society and advocated it as the third pillar of public administration (Toavs, n. d). The theory was concerned with how public administration was ignoring the economic and social conditions of different citizens. The assumptions are seen in the case of ex-convicts with no proper ways of evaluating what reforms are best for this group of citizens. It is essential for policymakers to streamline reentry programs to suit the immediate needs of the ex-prisoners first before considering the long-term outcomes (Kendall et al ., 2018). Therefore, the public administration should promote social equity for the ex-convicts to reduce the rates of recidivism. The current post-release programs have a limited effect on the long-term outcomes and rates of recidivism. The impact of the system of prisons on society is tremendous although it is an unpopular area. The prison system is a direct reflection of the effectiveness of the rule of law but happens to have an impact on the society where the prisoners come from and return to after the jail term (Harvard Law Review, 2010). 8 References Academic Guides: Common Assignments: Annotated Bibliographies. (2018). Retrieved from https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/assignments/annotatedbibliographi es Academic Guides: Doctoral Capstone Resources: Home. (2018). Retrieved from https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/doctoralcapstoneresources Academic Guides: Office of Student Research Administration: Ph.D. Dissertation Program. (2018). Retrieved from https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/researchcenter/osra/phd Academic Guides: Research Resources: Research Planning & Writing. (2018). Retrieved from https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/researchcenter/resources/planning Harvard Law Review. (March 2010). "Designing a prisoner reentry system hardwired to manage disputes," 123 Harv. L. Rev. 1339, database: Lexis. Kendall, S., Redshaw, S., Ward, S., Wayland, S., & Sullivan, E. (2018). A systematic review of qualitative evaluations of reentry programs addressing problematic drug use and mental health disorders amongst people transitioning from prison to communities. Health & Justice, 6(1), 4. Muhlhausen, D. (2015). Studies Cast Doubt on Effectiveness of Prisoner Reentry Programs. Retrieved from https://www.heritage.org/.../studies-cast-doubt-effectiveness-prisonerreentry-program... Toavs, D. (n.d.). Ideas of governance. Retrieved from http://www.tikitoki.com/timeline/entry/146482/Ideas-of-Governance 9 Travis, J., Western, B., & Redburn, F. S. (2014). The growth of incarceration in the United States: Exploring causes and consequences. The National Academies Press Introduction In the Ph.D. program in Walden University’s School of Public Policy and Administration, dissertation research is to be based on a “theoretical”—rather than a “conceptual”—framework. Similarly, a “model” does not substitute for a theoretical framework. A model describes a specific, narrow scope of a given phenomenon. A theory, on the other hand, describes the relevance and values of, and relationships among, variables and concepts. Its purpose is to identify what will be studied, as well as to explain something, predict possible outcomes, or extend knowledge (Desjardins, 2010; Ostrom, 2007; Sabatier &, Weible, 2014; Shafritz, Ott, & Jang, 2016; USC Libraries, n.d.). The document Theoretical Frameworks in SPPA, in this week’s Learning Resources, explains the distinction between theoretical and conceptual frameworks It is important to be able to apply several theoretical frameworks, rather than just one. There are three reasons for this: 1. The researcher is less likely to believe any given theory is the authoritative one. 2. Various theories may have value in different situations. 3. Knowing other theories helps to understand values inherent in a preferred theory. This week you will study theoretical frameworks that are relevant for public policy and administration research, and select one or more theories to serve as the framework for your proposed research. This will become a section in your Prospectus. References Desjardins, F. J. (2010, July 19). Theoretical framework [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcnufgQzMjc Ostrom, E. (2007). Institutional rational choice: An assessment of the institutional analysis and development framework. In P. A. Sabatier (Ed.), Theories of the policy process (2nd ed., pp. 25–26). Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Shafritz, J. M., Ott, J. S., & Jang, Y. S. (Eds.). (2016). Classics of organization theory. (8th ed). Belmont, CA: Wadworth, Cengage Learning. ISBN: 978-1-285-87027-4 USC Libraries. (n.d.). Organizing your social sciences research paper: Theoretical framework. Retrieved from http://libguides.usc.edu/content.php?pid=83009&sid=618409 Objectives Students will: Analyze the use of theoretical frameworks in public policy and Applying Theoretical Frameworks You have distinguished theoretical from conceptual frameworks, and both types of frameworks from models. Also, you have learned the value and importance of identifying a relevant theoretical framework for your proposed research. In other readings this week, you read about a number of theoretical frameworks that are pertinent in public policy and administration. In this Discussion, you will identify two theoretical frameworks you might use in your research, at least one of which will become a section in your Prospectus. By Day 3, post a brief description of your Dissertation topic and problem statement. Select one theoretical framework either the Shafritz and Weible & Sabatier texts; write 2–3 paragraphs on your selected theory and be sure to: • Describe the framework and the relevance of that theory to your dissertation topic and problem statement. • Why did you select the theory as being most appropriate for framing your proposed research? Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources. Read a selection of your colleagues' postings. Respond by Day 6 to at least of at least two of your colleagues who have not yet had a reply, in any of the following ways: • Support or challenge your colleagues’ reasoning for their selection of theoretical frameworks. How appropriate are they for both their Dissertation topic and problem statement, and for the field of public policy and administration? • If possible, offer another theoretical framework that might be equally or more suitable in public policy and administration. Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you have learned and/or any insights you have gained as a result of the comments your colleagues made. • administration research • Evaluate theoretical frameworks of proposed research Study 1 JGT Dissertation Topic and Problem Statement My dissertation topic involves an evaluation of Georgia’s new hands-free law prohibiting touching mobile devices while operating a motor vehicle on the roadways to determine whether it reduced the number of motor vehicle accidents and fatalities in the first year of enforcement as compared to the per capita number of accidents and fatalities in the previous five years. Georgia implemented the update to an old law in response to a horrific accident claiming the lives of five nursing students on Interstate 16 (Stevens, 2016); increased numbers of accidents even in light of augmented enforcement efforts further prompted the law change (GOHS, 2017). Georgia conducted a large advertisement campaign prior to the law change might also influence potential accident reductions, so comparing possible accident reductions against other states with similar laws can enhance correlation understanding. The proliferation of mobile device usage among drivers and its impact on the increasing number of motor vehicle accidents and subsequent deaths elevates the need to identify and mitigate the causations of individuals continuing to utilize mobile devices while operating motor vehicles on the roadways. The increased number of drivers of the road demands greater understanding of what can help reduce the dangers of driving. A literary review by Lipovac, Deric, Tesic, Andric, and Maric (2017) included 60 articles all demonstrating a direct correlation between distracted driving caused by mobile device use and reduced driving performance. Research indicated a 10% reduction in driver fatalities in states with mobile device use prohibitions (UHB) for all drivers versus only a 3% reduction in the presence of a universal texting ban (UTB) (Rudisill, Chu, & Zhu, 2018). Research exists to suggest no statistically significant relationship between legislation and reduction of distracted driving (Quisenberry, 2015). The inclusion of the advertisement campaign prior to the law implementation could positively affect commensuration with the legislation as an additional measure to ensure compliance, a factor noted in Rupp, Gentzler, and Smither’s (2016) article. The coupling of initiatives could elucidate greater realization of distracted driving reduction and lower numbers of motor vehicle accidents and fatalities in Georgia. The value of the study relates directly to its significance. Since Georgia moved from a universal texting ban (UTB) to a universal handheld ban (UHB), the ability to definitively compare the number of accidents before the UHB against postimplementation accident numbers while controlling for ancillary characteristics such as road and weather conditions, urbanicity, and additional contributing factors gives a clearer picture of the efficacy of UHB legislation against UTB laws. Should the study demonstrate a direct correlation between the education initiatives preceding the law activation and driver compliance with the law, it could indicate necessary replication for other states with similar laws or considering this legislation. Also, if Georgia’s legislation shows significant reduction in motor vehicle accidents and fatalities through diminished distracted driving occurrence, the resultant fiduciary benefit for drivers from lowered insurance rates provides assistance for Georgia drivers. The emotional stabilization for drivers traveling the roads with less worry and the lives saved cannot be underestimated either, another significant benefit of this study. All told, the study can designate the importance of Georgia’s legislation and approach to advance these initiatives across the United States and globally. Currently, no literature exists to determine the efficacy of UHB legislation replacing UTB laws in the initial year of implementation, nor does any research include UHB efficacy including urbanicity. Lastly, there is no literature related to enforcement of UHB and its impact on distracted driving. Theoretical Framework The implementation of new legislation to curtail behaviors of the populace grounded in driver responsibility to one another with the citation of the deaths of college students caused by distracted driving demands a theoretical framework to contextualize the legislative change and perceived impact on driver behavior. Research requires framework as the foundational theories to explicate behaviors (Shafritz, Ott, & Jang, 2016). The proposed research suggests two distinct theories for consideration: 1) corporate social responsibility (CSR); and, 2) narrative policy framework (NPF). CSR frameworks originate from the field of economics to define and the impact of a business’ actions on society (Shafritz et al., 2016). NPF relies heavily on the narrative behind legislation for traction and acceptance (Shanahan, Jones, McBeth, & Radaelli, 2018). Both frameworks hold merit for inclusion in the study, as one addresses how individuals (as part of the corporate community) inject themselves into society for recognition of responsible behaviors while the other speaks to the amenability of the legislation based on the methodology of presentment. The first framework for discussion is CSR. Four specific components exist to measure CSR (economic, legal, ethical, and philanthropic) in a business (Shafritz et al., 2016); carrying these concepts to the research creates the idea that society members bear a corporate responsibility to one another to preserve community member’s economic, legal, ethical, and philanthropic interests. Individual submission to Georgia’s UHB meets the economic expectation in lowered insurance costs and reduced fiscal burden of property/person injury or loss. The legal aspect of complicity speaks for itself, as individuals expect one another to conform to legislative mandates. Ethical measures work in conjunction to the legal aspect, as each driver trusts the others on the roadway to operate their vehicle in a safe and legal manner, avoiding questionable actions like texting and driving. Lastly, the philanthropic element of CSR in this case might include volunteering to participate in a pledge drive as a promise to adhere to the new UHB law, or help those injured from accidents caused by UHB violations. Though unorthodox, the application of CSR could elucidate driver behaviors toward reduced motor vehicle accidents, injuries, and fatalities. The unconventional nature of CSR could explain community response to legislation, but NPF might provide the reasoning for the acceptability of the legislation. NPF purports four basic elements of a successful policy narrative: 1) setting, or the situation of the policy need; 2) characters, or the various individuals inspiring the policy adjustment; 3) plot, or the spatial relationship of the characters including the beginning, conflict, and ending; and, 4) moral of the story, or why the policy would solve the problem based on the story provided (Shanahan et al., 2018). Greater personalization and relatability of the story help expand internalization, making the legislation more agreeable, while the causal elements (the proposed prohibition) expand it even more (Shanahan et al., 2018). Lastly, the “devil-angel shift” demonizes motives versus the angel of problem solution “de-emphasizes villains”, both of which provide clear and vivid imagery for the populace to commensurate with (Shanahan et al., 2018, p. 178). The application of NPF to the topic permits the explication of the ease of application of the legislation. The narrative used involved the death of five nursing students on interstate caused by a distracted tractor trailer driver. The students became the relatable victims – they could be anyone’s sisters, mothers, daughters, aunts, best friends – for the public, while the tractor trailer driver emerged as villain. The setting involved all Georgia roads, and the plot included the tragic and preventable deaths of the young college students. The moral of the story involved the implementation of a UHB to prohibit individuals from touching their devices during motor vehicle operation in order to save countless lives. The narrative behind Georgia’s UHB aligns with NPF quite fluidly. The application of both or either theoretical framework helps encourage understanding of the mechanisms of the legislation, its impact on Georgia drivers, and the potential results of the research. CSR works to define how and why the public might comply with the law (to be seen as responsible citizens), while NPF furthers this understanding by describing the narrative function of the legislation. The compilation of these frameworks should provide excellent insight into the data retrieved. References Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS). (2017). Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety 2017 Annual Report. Retrieved from https://www.gahighwaysafety.org/fullpanel/uploads/files/2017annualrepor t-final-ilovepdf-compressed.pdf. Lipovac, K., Deric, M., Tesic, M., Andric, Z., & Maric, B. (2017). Mobile phone use while driving-literary review. Transportation Research Part F, 47(2017), 132-142. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2017.04.015. Quisenberry, P.N. (2015). Texting and driving: Can it be explained by the General Theory of Crime? American Journal of Criminal Justice, 40(2), 303-316. doi: 10.1007/s12103-014-9249-3. Rudisill, T. M., Chu, H., & Zhu, M. (2018). Cell phone use while driving laws and motor vehicle driver fatalities: Differences in population subgroups and location. Annals of Epidemiology, 28(2018), 730735. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annepidem.2018.07.015. Rupp, M. A., Gentzler, M. D., Smither, J. A. (2016). Driving under the influence of distraction: Examining dissociations between risk perception and engagement in distracted driving. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 97(2016), 220230. doi: 10.1016/j.aap.2016.09.003 Shafritz, J. M., Ott, J. S., & Jang, Y. S. (Eds.). (2016). Classics of organization theory. (8th ed). Belmont, CA: Wadworth, Cengage Learning. ISBN: 978-1-285-870274. Shanahan, E. A., Jones, M. D., McBeth, M. K., & Radaelli, C. M. (2018). The Narrative Policy Framework. In Weible, C. M., Sabatier, P. A. (Eds.), Theories of the policy process (4th ed.) (pp. 173-214). Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Stevens, A. (2016, July 14). Truck driver to serve 5 years for crash that killed nursing students. Retrieved on December 1, 2018 from https://www.ajc.com/news/crime--law/truck-driver-serve-years-for-crashthat-killed-nursing-students/Be8c7ukmukd9S7h1L3muEK/. Study 2 JD Dissertation Topic What is the relationship between the federal employee unions and emergency management networks in the federal healthcare facilities? Problem Statement Emergency management has typically been the responsibility of first responders such as police, fire, and emergency medical services (EMS). The Homeland Security Presidential Directive – 5 (HSPD-5) was signed by President George W. Bush in 2003. The objective of HSPD-5 is to ensure that all levels of government across the Nation can work efficiently and effectively together during times of domestic incidents (Department of Homeland Security, 2003). HSPD-5 and the National Incident Management System (NIMS) encourage the private sector and mandate the federal government to unify under the Incident Command System (ICS) to prepare, respond to, and recover from all-hazard emergencies. First responders, emergency managers, healthcare workers, public affairs, logistics, agency executives, and engineers all need to be a part of the incident command structure in healthcare organizations. There are five unions in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), one being the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). AFGE VA Council #53 has 36 full-time paid employees who represent the various Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) and VA Medical Centers where VA employees work (AFGE, 2018). Many jobs in the VA, such as emergency management or jobs above a certain pay grade, are considered non-union. The AFGE represents over 226,000 employees across the VA, which is approximately 84% of all employees belonging to a union, and approximately 72% of all employees in the VA. Federal unions represent employees in the workplace bargaining their pay, benefits, work hours, and the scope of their roles and responsibilities. Federal unions and emergency management have traditionally been parallel entities expecting different roles and responsibilities of healthcare workers during the day to day operations and emergent incidents. It is not known if the federal unions, which serve the federal health care workforce, and the emergency management networks have a mutually respectful relationship within the federal government healthcare facilities. Studies have identified the importance of emergency management relationships within healthcare settings of the private sector (Alves, Cagliuso, and Dunne, 2015). The articles summarized in this paper identify the emergency management partners in healthcare and the gaps in those collaborative relationships. “Modern” Structural Organization Theory I chose Modern Organizational Theory because of the basic assumptions of the structural perspective (Shafritz, 2016, p169): 1. Organizations are rational institutions whose primary purpose is to accomplish established objectives; rational organizational behavior is achieved best through systems of defined rules and formal authority. Organizational control and coordination are key for maintaining organizational rationality, 2. There is a “best” structure for any organization, or at least a most appropriate structure in light of its given objectives, the environmental conditions surrounding it (for example, its markets, the competition, and the extent of government regulation), the nature of its products and/or services (the “best” structure for a management consulting firm probably differs substantially from that for a certified public accounting firm), and the technology of the production processes (a coal mining company has a different “best structure” than the high-tech manufacturer of computer microcomponents), 3. Specialization and the division of labor increase the quality and quantity of production, particularly in highly skilled operations and professions, and 4. Most problems in an organization result from structural flaws and can be solved by changing the structure. I chose this theory because the current organizational structure of the VA Medical Centers has the emergency management employees parallel to the union but not working concurrently. The AFE represents the VA employees in their day-to-day duties during normal operations. However, there is no stipulation of a relaxation of union rules during emergency incidents when employees might be asked to respond and work beyond the scope of their duties during normal operations. This clash leaves emergency management personnel trying to work around the union rules instead of managing the incident at hand. I believe if the union and emergency management worked together before incidents in their planning and preparing, then response and recovery operations would become more efficient. References AFGE. (2018). About US. Retrieved from American Federation of Government Employees: https://www.afge.org/about-us/ Alves, L. C. (2015, August 25). Building the bridge between healthcare emergency management and daily operations. Journal of Business Continuity & Emergency Planning, 9(2), pp. 137-148. Department of Homeland Security. (2003). Homeland Security Presidential Directive-5. Washington D.C.: Department of Homeland Security. Retrieved from https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Homeland%20Security%2 0Presidential%20Directive%205.pdf Shafritz, J. M. (2016). Classics of organization theory. (8th ed). Belmont, CA: Wadworth, Cengage Learning. ISBN: 978-1-285-87027-4. Class resources to be used Required Resources Note: To access this week's required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus. Readings Public Policy and Administration • Anfara, V. A., Jr. (2008). Theoretical frameworks. In L. M. Given (Ed.), The SAGE Encyclopedia of Qualitative Research Methods (Vol. 2, pp. 870–874). doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781412963909.n453 Retrieved from the Walden Library databases. • • • Weible, C. M., Sabatier, P. A. (Eds.). (2018). Theories of the policy process (4th ed.). Boulder, CO: Westview Press. o Introduction: Introducing the Scope and Focus of the Policy Process Research and Theory (pp. 1-10) o Chapter 8, “A Comparison of Theories of the Policy Process” (pp. 301-324) o Chapter 10, “Moving Forward and Climbing Upward: Advancing Policy Process Research” (pp. 363-373) Shafritz, J. M., Ott, J. S., & Jang, Y. S. (Eds.). (2016). Classics of organization theory. (8th ed). Belmont, CA: Wadworth, Cengage Learning. ISBN: 978-1-285-87027-4 o Foreword and Preface (pp. ix-xvi) o Introduction (pp. 1-31) o Selected theoretical frameworks (see Assignment) Walden University, School of Public Policy and Administration. (2014). Theoretical frameworks in SPPA. Minneapolis, MN: Walden University. Dissertation • Rudestam, K. E., & Newton, R. R. (2015). Surviving your dissertation: A comprehensive guide to content and process (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. ISBN: 978-1-4522-6097-6 o • Chapter 10, “Writing” (pp. 259-279) Walden University, Center for Research Quality. (n.d.-c). Ph.D. dissertation process and documents.Retrieved from http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/researchcenter/osra/phd o Dissertation Prospectus Guide Writing • USC Libraries. (n.d.). Organizing your social sciences research paper: Theoretical framework. Retrieved from http://libguides.usc.edu/content.php?pid=83009&sid=618409 Media • Laureate Education (Producer). (2010g). Writing a quality Prospectus: The literature review II – part 2[Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
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