Criminal Justice Administration Comprehensive Doctoral Review Examination

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Comprehensive Doctoral Review ExaminationPresented in Partial Fulfillmentof the Requirements for the DegreeDoctor of Business Administration (or Philosophy)By“YOUR NAME”Healthcare AdministrationCriminal Justice AdministrationDiscuss how reductionism, as a research theory, can be applied to the study of the impact ofprivatization on the quality of healthcare in prisons. In your answer, explain the three main typesof reductionism—ontological reductionism, theory reductionism, and methodologicalreductionism—and how each would contribute to your research. Additionally, address potentiallimitations or controversies associated with using reductionism in this context. Your responseshould be 1500-2000 words.

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TheoryPart 1In research, theory refers to defined or proposed ways through which researchers are ableto make sense of concepts or situations. It is through a theory that researchers are able to presentreliable solutions to a problem (Udo-Akang, 2012). Theory can be viewed as a generalizationthat is used to explain a phenomenon in line with the reasons why it occurs and how it occurs.General statements that are used to explain the cause or effect of a phenomenon are based onspecific theoretical frameworks (Stam, 2010). A theory is a powerful tool through whichresearchers connect events and observations into a single unified web. The relationship amongthe statements of a theory defines the power of the theory as a basis upon which problems aresolved and phenomena are understood (Harlow, 2009). A theory plays an important function inexplaining, describing, controlling or predicting phenomena in different or divergent contexts(Udo-Akang, 2012).The interactions of the various variables of phenomena constitute a theoreticalframework. Theory can also be viewed as a system or a group of laws or rules and assumptionsthat are used to explain the implications of phenomena (Zahra, & Newey, 2009). Theories areused to make inferences or conclusions on a specific issue. The generalizations that are presentedwithin theoretical frameworks often indicate new research observations (Wacker, 1998). Theseobservations are constituted within a theory if they can be tested through scientific inquiry and ifthey are applicable in predicting or explaining certain phenomena. When knowledge is organizedin a systematic manner, it also becomes and constitutes a theory. Theories are specificallyapplied to solve problems in the real world (Stam, 2010).

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Credible or reliable research should be grounded on a specific theory or theories. Thismeans that research should be informed and guided by theoretical views. Research findings cantherefore be used to describe or explain a theory or be used to come up with new theories (Udo-Akang, 2012). There are two main types of theories upon which researches are grounded. Theseare philosophical theories and scientific theories. Philosophical theories are those whose subjectmatter or what they postulate is based on ideas rather than empirical research data (Harlow,2009). The truth behind philosophical theories does not require an empirical research process orinquiry in order to be proven. Ethical theories and frameworks are examples of philosophicaltheories (Corley & Gioia, 2011).Scientific theoryrefers to explanations or descriptions of a phenomenon that are based onempirical data or facts. Scientific theories are therefore those that have been proven throughobservations, surveys or experiments (Zahra, & Newey, 2009). The predictions of a scientifictheory must be predictable, accurate and consistent, regardless of the discipline of study orresearch. The evidence that supports scientific theory is strong because it can be authenticated(Udo-Akang, 2012). Scientific theories are used to define and explain a wide range of concepts,issues and phenomena. The diversity of the concepts that are described by a scientific theory isused to define its level of complexity (Harlow, 2009). As scientific knowledge expands, theaccuracy of scientific theory improves. This is due to the role of research in improvingtheoretical frameworks and making them more evidence based (Wacker, 1998). The real lifeproblems that scientific theory is used to solve include the management or treatment of illnessesand developing new and improved technologies to solve problems with efficiency.Various concepts are related to theory and its application in research processes. Theseconcepts include model, paradigm, concept and hypothesis. Even though these concepts are

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