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PhD Prospectus Form
Students | Complete your doctoral prospectus within this form. Write your responses in the white spaces using a scholarly tone and include in-text
citations and APA reference entries, where appropriate. You can click on underlined terms and headings for descriptions, resource links, and
examples located in the Appendix. For additional prospectus information and resources, refer to the Doctoral Research Coach. Complete the
Research Design Alignment Table within this form using the information from earlier sections and self-assess your research design alignment.
Submit this completed form into MyDR for formal evaluation and feedback when your committee chair indicates that you are ready to do so.
Student’s Name | LaQuasha Pace
Student ID | A01069073
Program and Specialization* | PHD_CRJSOnline Teaching in Higher EducDQ
Submission Date | 9/3/2023
*Remember that your study focus must be within the realm of your program and specialization area.
Evaluators Only | Complete this section and provide feedback on responses and rubric scores in the form where noted.
Committee Chairperson Name: Dr. Dan Jones
Second Committee Member Name: Dr. Donal Hardin
PhD Program Director: Dr. Kimberley Blackmon
Overall Assessment: Choose score.
Overall Assessment: Choose score.
Overall Assessment: Choose score.
Rubric Standard | Complete > Does the prospectus contain all the required elements? Refer to the annotated outline to see the required parts of the
Dissertation Prospectus document.
Note. Please complete following the directions provided, using the stem sentences, and referring to the examples in the appendix.
Title
Provide a concise (aim for 15 words or fewer) working title for this study. Include the main topic, variables/concepts under investigation, and the relationship
between them. A title should be fully explanatory when standing alone and include the most critical key words.
Understanding Correctional Officers Roles in Preventing Criminal Behaviors Among Their Colleagues: Correctional Officers Perspectives on Criminal
Behaviours within Correctional Facilities.
Supporting Literature
The first step in developing your prospectus is to search the literature related to the general area you want to investigate (see social problem below). In your
review of recent, empirical literature, what keywords did you search and in what databases?
The keywords and databases searched included Preventing Criminal Behaviors, Correctional officers’ perspective on Criminal Behaviors among
Colleagues, Correctional Officers, Preventing Criminal Behaviors.
The databases searched included ProQuest, JSTOR, Criminal Justice Abstract, Ebscohost, Criminal Justice Database, National Criminal Justice
Reference, Science Direct and Social Science Database.
Provide at least 10 brief summaries of recent, scholarly (peer-reviewed) articles that support/justify a current and relevant problem in your discipline or
professional field. Source(s) supporting your framework should be included. Include the complete, APA reference entry, followed by (a) an in-text citation; (b)
what was studied; (c) what was found; and (d) why this research is important in relation to your study. This evidence provides the justification for your
research problem.
Forman-Dolan, J., Caggiano, C., Anillo, I., & Kennedy, T. D. (2022). Burnout among professionals working in corrections: A two stage
review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(16), 9954. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19169954
Forman-Dolan et al., (2022) explores the emotional and physical demanding nature of the work of correctional officers. The article presents the
findings linking work burnout to stress and inappropriate or criminal behaviors exhibited by some correctional officers. Correctional professionals
have a code of conduct that guides their actions and decisions and understanding work burnout which is a major stressor in their work environment
can help with the understanding of why and when correctional officers choose to defy their professional code of conduct and engage in criminal
activities. The article provides background information to understanding correctional officers work environment and factors that influence their
professional behaviors.
Ross, J. I. (2013). Deconstructing correctional officer deviance: Toward typologies of actions and controls. SSRN Electronic Journal.
https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2427392
(Ross, 2013). The author of the article focuses on a study that explores correctional officers’ deviance and the recommended solutions that can be
applied to reduce the impact of the deviance behaviors in correctional facilities. The article focuses on different types of deviance and even though
it does not go into much detail on criminal behavior as a type of deviance, criminal behavior remains one of the major types of deviance among
correctional officers. By unpacking the types, forms, causes and solutions to deviance among correctional officers, the article can bring more
insight to the understanding of correctional officers’ criminal behaviors and the perspectives of correctional professionals on criminal behaviors
among colleagues.
Schultz, W. J. (2023). Correctional officers and the use of force as an organizational behavior. Criminology, 61(3), 654-675.
https://doi.org/10.1111/1745-9125.12346
(Schultz, 2023). Schultz article examines the disciplinary use of force by correctional officers in correctional facilities over the past 30 years and
how it reflects on the management of correctional facilities. The article is very relevant in a study the study that seeks to understand criminal
behavior among correctional officers and the perception of other correctional officers when colleagues are engaged in criminal behaviors. The
disciplinary use of force in correctional facilities can easily lead to abuse of power by correctional officers. Therefore, the article can be used to
understand theory of disciplinary use of force in correctional facilities and how much of it is considered a criminal behavior.
Martinez-Iñigo, D. (2021). The role of prison officers’ regulation of inmates affect on their exposure to violent behaviours and the
development of PTSD symptoms. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2021.1956126
(Martinez-Iñigo, 2021)
The article presents the results of study conducted to determine to impact of the complex and often violent relationship between inmates and
correctional officers. According to the study, correctional officers are often exposed to a lot of violent behaviors when interacting with inmates and
this counts a major cause of work related stress and PTSD which reflects negatively on the correctional officers’ response to certain situations. The
article is relevant in understanding the factors that contribute to correctional officers’ development of criminal behaviors even though the research
is not focused on criminal behavior among correctional professionals. Based on the arguments presented in the article, some correctional officers
believe that the violent and complex relationship with inmates can contribute the to the development of criminal behavior among correctional
officers.
Worley, R. M., Worley, V. B., & Hsu, H. (2017). Can I trust my Co-worker? Examining correctional officers’ perceptions of staff–inmates
inappropriate relationships within a southern penitentiary system. Deviant Behavior, 39(3), 332-346.
https://doi.org/10.1080/01639625.2016.1272972
(Worley et al., 2017)
The study examines the perceptions of correctional officers on the staff-inmate inappropriate relationships exist in correctional facilities. The study
focuses on perceptions of correctional officers on healthy boundaries and misuse of power by correctional officers in the process of forming the
inappropriate relationships with co-workers and inmates. The nature of the inappropriate relationships as described by Worley et al., varies but are
all considered criminal behavior. The article is very accurate for the research project as it focuses on one of the major form of criminal behavior
among correctional officers in correctional facilities.
Attard, B., & Olson, K. (2020). Special issues in investigating or reviewing police misconduct complaints. Police Misconduct Complaint
Investigations Manual, 45-55. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429356452-5
(Attard & Olson, 2020)
Attard & Olson study the special issues encountered in the process of investigating police misconduct complains with major focus on salience
occupational deviance. The article explores some of the common issues that constitutes to police misconduct which can also be referred to criminal
behavior. Even though the main focus is not on correctional officers but police in general, the article can be a good source of supporting arguments
in the exploration of criminal behavior among correctional officers and how correctional officers perceive these behaviors on colleagues. It can be
used to further address how some of the misconduct of criminal behaviors are dealt with in various correctional facilities.
Peterman, D. E., Rubien-Thomas, E., O’Brien, T., Richeson, J. A., Casey, B. J., Meares, T., Tyler, T., & Baskin-Sommers, A. (2020).
Procedurally just organizational climates improve relations between corrections officers and incarcerated individuals. Psychology, Crime
& Law, 27(5), 456-475. https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316x.2020.1818238
(Peterman et al., 2020)
Peterman et al., (2021) carried out a study on the view of correctional officers on the impacts of just organizational climates and how it reflects on
the interaction between correctional officers and incarcerated individuals. The study revealed that most correctional officers perceive
organizational factors just as important as individual factors in influencing the behavior of correctional officers and their interactions with inmates.
The article explores how an organizational setup or climates can contribute to development or engagement of correctional officers in criminal
behaviors. It is accurate and presents update findings that can be used to inform a study on the criminal behaviors among correctional officers and
perceptions of correctional professionals on how to control the issue.
Stinson, P. M. (2015). Police crime: The criminal behavior of sworn law enforcement officers. Sociology Compass, 9(1), 1-13.
https://doi.org/10.1111/soc4.12234
(Stinson, 2015)
Stinson’s article explores criminal behavior among law enforcement officers with the main focus on social deviance. The study reveals the main
types of police crime as sex related crime, drug related crime, alcohol related crime, profit motivated crime and violence related crimes. The article
unpacks the whole idea of police crime or criminal behavior among correctional officers and can be used a significant source of information in the
explanation of the concept of police crime or criminal behaviors among sworn law enforcement officers within correctional facilities.
Cook, C. L., & Lane, J. (2013). Professional orientation and pluralistic Ignorance among jail correctional officers. International Journal of
Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 58(6), 735-757. https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624×13476285
(Cook & Lane, 2013)
The article by Cook and Lane (2013) examines correctional officers’ peers’ orientation and social conditions that contribute to correctional
officers’ pluralistic ignorance. The study reveals that due to the pluralistic ignorance, subcultures are formed within the correctional facilities that
categorizes some officers as less qualified or influential within the facility. The researchers suggest that in an attempt to fit in, correctional officers
can engage in criminal activities or behaviors in their interactions with other staff or with inmates. The article is very accurate for supporting
arguments and bringing in new findings on criminal behavior among correctional officers and how it can be dealt with following other correctional
officers perspectives.
EIGENBERG, H. M. (2000). Correctional officers and their perceptions of homosexuality, rape, and prostitution in male prisons. The
Prison Journal, 80(4), 415-433. https://doi.org/10.1177/0032885500080004007
(EIGENBERG, 2000)
The article explores the perceptions of correctional officers on various criminal activities or behaviors that exist within the walls of various
correctional facilities. The study widely focuses on correctional facilities across most developed countries identifying rape, prostitution and
homosexuality as some of the common immoral behaviors within correctional facilities. The study does not focus much on correctional officers as
part of the perpetrators of these behaviors however, it offers a good starting point to understanding the criminal activities and behaviors that
correctional officers can engage in. Therefore, it is a great source of information for this particular study.
Rubric Standard | Justified > Is evidence presented that this problem is significant to the discipline and/or professional field? The prospectus
should provide relevant statistics and evidence, documentable discrepancies, and other scholarly facts that point to the significance and urgency of the
problem.
Problem
What was the social problem that prompted you to search the literature to find out more? Write in complete sentences using a scholarly tone.
The situation or issue that prompted me to search the literature is The profound social issue that prompted this comprehensive literature review is the need to
understanding correctional officers roles in preventing criminal behaviors among their colleagues and their perspectives on criminal behaviours within
correctional facilities in a southeastern state in the United States.
Now that you have read and summarized some of the recent literature to understand your problem, and given what other researchers are exploring, what
meaningful gap have you identified that your study will address? (What have others not yet explored about this problem that you will contribute with your
study?)
Although researchers have investigated this issue, the topic has not been explored in this way: While researchers have studied this topic, there has
not been an examination of factors that contribute to correctional officers’ development of criminal behaviors and correctional officers’ perceptions
in dealing with criminal behavior among their peers this way within the past five years.
Based on all of the above information (social problem, literature review, gap), in one sentence, what is your research problem?
The research problem is the need to
understand correctional officers’ roles in preventing criminal behaviors among their
colleagues. The problem arises from the lack of comprehensive knowledge about the
responsibility of correctional officers in preventing criminal behavior among
correctional officers. This knowledge gap hinders the development of effective
interventions, policies, and programs to reduce criminal behaviors and promote a safer
and more rehabilitative environment within the correctional facility. Therefore, there is
a need to conduct a qualitative study to investigate and gain a deeper understanding of
the perspectives of correctional officers on criminal behavior among correctional
officers and how to prevent it.
The specific research problem that will be addressed through this study is
Rubric Standard | Meaningful > Has a meaningful problem and gap in the research literature been identified? In other words, is addressing this
problem the logical next step, given the previous exploratory and confirmatory research (or lack thereof) on this topic? It is not acceptable to simply replicate
previous research for a Ph.D. degree.
Rubric Standard | Original > Does this project have potential to make an original contribution? The problem must be an authentic “puzzle” that
needs solving, not merely a topic that the researcher finds interesting. Addressing the problem should result in an original contribution to the field or
discipline.
Purpose
To address your stated research problem, what is the purpose of your study? Will you describe, compare, explore, examine, etc.? Complete the purpose
sentence below and be sure to clarify your variables/concepts of interest.
The purpose of this qualitative research is to investigate
the correctional officers roles in preventing criminal behaviors among their
colleagues. By identifying the perspectives of correctional officers on criminal
behavior among their colleagues, the study aims to understand the
phenomenon comprehensively.
The purpose of this Qualitative study is to
The study strives to shed light on the underlying causes and triggers of criminal
activity within the correctional facility through comprehensive interviews. The
research team will examine factors such as the inmates’ behavior, social
dynamics within the facility, institutional policies and practices, staff-inmate
interactions, and any external influences that might impact the occurrence of
criminal behavior.
The study aims to provide valuable insights and a nuanced understanding of the
complex nature of criminal activity within the correctional setting by uncovering these
contributing factors. The findings may contribute to the development of targeted
interventions, policies, and programs aimed at reducing criminal behavior and
promoting a safer and more rehabilitative environment within the correctional facility.
Framework (Conceptual or Theoretical)
What theory(ies) and/or concept(s) support (frame) your study and who are the original authors? Provide an in-text citation with your response, and the
complete APA reference entry with summary in the Supporting Literature section.
The theories and/or concepts that ground this study include The research will be framed by institutional culture, restorative justice, and
incarceration psychology. Institutional culture theory, as examined by Forman-Dolan et al., (2022), will help us comprehend prison social norms,
correctional officers’ attitudes, and actions. To understand the dehumanizing effects of criminal behavior within correctional facilities, the
psychological impact of correctional officers’ burnout and work related stress will be investigated using several psychological theories. Our study
uses these theories to assess the complex dynamics within correctional facilities and the relationships formed in these facilities, emphasizing the
necessity for good conduct among correctional officers and comprehending correctional officers’ social and psychological experiences.
How do these theories and/or concepts relate to your research problem, purpose, and the nature of your study?
The logical connections between the framework presented and the nature of my study include The rational connections between the framework
introduced, centered on institutional culture, rehabilitative initiatives, and social interactions within correctional facilities, harmonize effortlessly
with the nature of my qualitative study, as they furnish a sturdy base for investigating the diverse elements contributing to criminal behavior.
Rubric Standard | Grounded > Is the problem framed to enable the researcher to either build upon or counter the previously published
findings on the topic? For most fields, grounding involves articulating the problem within the context of a theoretical base or conceptual framework.
Although many approaches can ground a study in the scientific literature, the essential requirement is that the problem is framed such that the new findings
will have implications for the previous findings.
Research Question(s) and Hypotheses (if applicable)
List the question(s) that you plan to use to address the research problem. Your question(s) must align with your study purpose and include the variables
and/or concepts and how they will be examined.
To address the research problem effectively, the following research questions have been formulated.
1. What are the experiences and perspectives of correctional officers regarding their role in preventing criminal behavior among their colleagues in a
correctional facility?
2. To what extent do correctional officers’ interactions and relationships with each other within the correctional facilities contribute to the development of
criminal behavior?
Nature of the Study
What systematic approach/method and research design do you plan to use to address your research question(s)?
To address the research questions in this Qualitative study, the specific research design will include
The study will employ a descriptive
phenomenological qualitative approach to explore perspectives and roles of correctional officers in preventing the development of criminal behavior among their
colleagues. Data will be collected from 5 to 10 correctional officers, wardens, counselor and administration staff through in-depth interviews with open-ended
questions. For the data analysis, the participant responses will be entered into NVIVO software to identify and analyze recurring themes аnd patterns in the
data.
Reference entry for the work on which this research design is based:
Kockelmans, J. J. (1967). Phenomenology: the philosophy of Edmund Husserl and its interpretation. Garden City, N.Y., Anchor Books.
For your planned research design, what type of data will you need and what data collection instruments will provide it?
The data needed is the perceptions and experiences of
correctional officers regarding their roles in preventing criminal behavior among
their colleagues. The data collection method will involve focus group discussion
and open-ended interviews with correctional officers to gather their insights and
observations regarding the influence of external factors on criminal behavior.
For my planned research design, I will need
What data sources and analysis do you plan to use to answer your research question(s)?
Data analysis from focus group open-ended interviews will entail thematic analysis using NVIVO software to identify patterns and themes
connected to criminal behavior within the specified correctional facility and the role of correctional officers.
What limitations, challenges, and/or barriers might you need to address while conducting this study (e.g., access to participants, access to data, requirements
for storing data, separation of roles or other ethical considerations, instrumentation fees, etc.)?
Conducting research within prison establishments presents inherent restrictions and obstacles. Access to participants might be limited because of
security and privacy concerns. Ethical considerations, such as ensuring participant confidentiality, will be paramount.
Rubric Standard | Feasible > Can a systematic method of inquiry be used to address the problem; and does the approach have the potential to
address the problem while considering potential risks and burdens placed on research participants? The tentative methodology demonstrates that
the researcher has considered the options for inquiry and has selected an approach that has potential to address the problem.
Significance
How will your study address the meaningful, discipline-specific issue that you identified and therefore contribute to your field, discipline, professional
practice, etc. contributing to positive social change?
This study holds significant implications for policy formation, prison administration, and prisoner rehabilitation
endeavors. By offering a comprehensive understanding of the diverse elements contributing to criminal behavior in jails and the role of prison
guards, this research can contribute to creating proof-based tactics to improve detainee safety, security, and rehabilitation. Ultimately, this research
aims to drive positive social change by nurturing more efficient and compassionate penal frameworks prioritizing the welfare and successful
reintegration of confined individuals into society.
This study is significant in that
Rubric Standard | Impact > Does this project have potential to affect positive social change? As described in the Significance section, the anticipated
findings have potential to support the mission of Walden University to promote positive social change.
Rubric Standard | Objective > Is the topic approached in an objective manner? The framing of the problem should not reveal bias or present a
foregone conclusion. Even if the researcher has a strong opinion on the expected findings, the researcher must maximize scholarly objectivity by framing the
problem in the context of a systematic inquiry that permits multiple possible conclusions.
Partner Site Masking Self-Check
Walden capstones typically mask the identity of the partner organization. The methodological and ethical reasons for this practice as well as criteria for
exceptions are outlined here (link to posted guidance).
☒ Check here to confirm that you will mask the identity of the organization in the final capstone that you publish in ProQuest.
☐ If you perceive that your partner organization’s identity would be impossible to mask or if there is a strong rationale for naming the organization in your
capstone, please check this box so that your Program Director can review your request for an exception. If granted, that exception must be confirmed by the
IRB during the ethics review process. The IRB will also ensure that your consent form(s) and/or site agreement(s) permit naming the organization.
Research Design Alignment Table
Hover over bold font for Instructions and click links for resources. | Instructions | Quantitative Example Table | Qualitative Example Table
Research Design Alignment Table Video Tutorial (YouTube) | Doctoral Research Design Alignment Appointments or Office Hours
Research Problem, Purpose, and
Framework
Research Question(s), Method,
& Design
Types of Data to be Collected
and Data Collection Instruments
Problem: The profound social issue
1.
RQ1: What are the
experiences and
perspectives of correctional
officers regarding their role
in preventing criminal
behavior among their
colleagues in a correctional
facility?
that prompted this comprehensive
literature review is the need to
understanding correctional officers’
roles in preventing criminal behaviors
among their colleagues and their
perspectives on criminal behaviours
within correctional facilities in a
southeastern state in the United States
Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative
research is to investigate the correctional
officers’ roles in preventing criminal
behaviors among their colleagues. By
identifying the perspectives of correctional
officers on criminal behavior among their
colleagues, the study aims to understand the
phenomenon comprehensively.
Framework: To understand the
dehumanizing effects of criminal
behavior within correctional
facilities, the psychological impact
of correctional officers’ burnout and
work related stress will be
investigated using several
psychological theories. Our study
uses these theories to assess the
complex dynamics within
correctional facilities and the
relationships formed in these
facilities, emphasizing the necessity
for good conduct among
correctional officers and
comprehending correctional
officers’ social and psychological
experiences. .
Data Sources
Data Analysis
I will recruit correctional officerS to
participate in interviews . Interview
protocol will be to develop to address
the problem and solution.
10 Correctional officers
will be Interviewed face
to face, zoom meetings
or by phone. Who works
at correctional facilities
Correctional officers.
Interviews will be their
lived experiences.
Underlining causes of
criminal behavior at the
correctional facility. I will
seek IRB approval to
conduct interviews..
The data
analysis
Salbana’s (2016)
Descriptive
Coded Process .
In use of first
and second
Cycle Coding.
Descriptive
coding assign
labels to words
and phrases.
First and second
cycle relates to
review data
more then once.
Using NVIVO
codes will be
categorized into
consolidated
meanings.
Categories will
be thematically
analyzed.
Themes are
phrase or
sentences that
comes from the
categories.
I will recruit correctional officers to
participate in interviews. Interview
protocol will be to develop and to
address the problem and solution.
10 Correctional officers will
be Interviewed face to
face, zoom meetings or
The data
analysis
Salbana’s (2016)
Descriptive
2.
?
Method: Qualitative
Design: Phenomenological
RQ2:
1. To what extent do
correctional officers’
interactions and
relationships with each
other within the correctional
facilities contribute to the
development of criminal
behavior?
Method: Qualitative
Design: Phenomenological
by phone. Who works at
correctional facilities
Correctional officers.
Interviews will be their
lived experiences.
Underlining causes of
criminal behavior at the
correctional facility. I will
seek IRB approval to
conduct interviews.
RQ3:
Method: Qualitative
Design:
Note. The information in the first column must align with all rows, and each individual RQ row must show alignment across the columns for that row.
Once your Research Design Alignment Table is completed, reflect on your design alignment. Ask yourself:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Is there a logical progression from the research problem to the purpose of the study?
Does the identified framework ground the investigation into the stated problem?
Do the problem, purpose, and framework in the left-hand column align with the RQ(s) (all rows)?
Does each RQ address the problem and align with the purpose of the study?
Does the information across each individual row match/align with the RQ listed for that row?
1.
By row, will the variables listed address the RQ?
2.
By row, will the analysis address the RQ?
3.
By row, can the analysis be completed with the data points that will be collected?
Coded Process .
In use of first
and second
Cycle Coding.
Descriptive
coding assign
labels to words
and phrases.
First and second
cycle relates to
review data
more then once.
Using NVIVO
codes will be
categorized into
consolidated
meanings.
Categories will
be thematically
analyzed.
Themes are
phrase or
sentences that
comes from the
categories.
Rubric Standard | Aligned > Do the various aspects of the prospectus align overall? The nature of the study should align with the problem,
research questions, and tentative approaches to inquiry.
Appendix
The Doctoral Prospectus
The Doctoral Prospectus is a brief document that provides preliminary information about your dissertation research and is used in two ways:
1.
It serves as the tentative plan for developing the proposal and is evaluated to ensure doctoral-level work (e.g., feasibility, alignment, etc.).
2.
It provides information used to assign the committee University Research Reviewer.
Prospectus milestone approval from the committee chair, second committee member, and a program-level designee is required for you to move forward and
work on your proposal. The plan is subject to change, and parts of your research design may need to be adjusted after you complete your exhaustive review of
the literature during proposal development.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
Title
Titles should be concise (aim for 15 words or fewer), be a statement, not a question, and no colons please. The title should indicate the main topic and the
variables/concepts under study and the relationship between them. A title should be fully explanatory when standing alone and include the most critical key
words (a searchable statement of what the manuscript contains). Avoid words that serve no purpose (such as methods, results, a study of…, or investigation
of…), use full terms (avoid abbreviations), and capitalize any word of four or more letters, and all parts of a verb. For more information, see the F&S Checklist.
Quantitative (QN) Example
Differences in the Quality of Problem Statements Written Throughout the Capstone
Qualitative (QL) Example
How Online Doctoral Students Develop a Dissertation Problem Statement
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
Background Literature
Probably the most important step in the research process is searching recent, peer-reviewed literature and reading articles related to the general area you want
to investigate. The area is based on an identified social problem. As you read and learn, you will narrow your focus. This is how you will identify a disciplinespecific research problem.
[Note: Scholarly, empirical articles and how to find them.]
First, you’ll need to determine your search terms or keywords and the databases you should search. As you conduct your search of the literature, stay organized
by keeping a search log.
Search Log Example
Database
