NCJ Number
50843
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 6 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1978) Pages: 336-344
Date Published
1978
Length
9 pages
Annotation
A STUDY OF 118 NONSUPERVISORY PATROL OFFICERS FROM THE LINCOLN, NEBR., POLICE DEPARTMENT FOUND THAT HIGHER EDUCATION WAS ASSOCIATED WITH LESS DOGMATIC BELIEFS AND BETTER PATROL PERFORMANCE.
Abstract
THE ROKEACH DOGMATISM SCALE WAS USED TO MEASURE BELIEFS; THE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION SYSTEM OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE WAS USED TO MEASURE JOB PERFORMANCE. TABLES AND GRAPHS PRESENT STUDY RESULTS WHILE A NARRATIVE COMMENTARY DISCUSSES MATHEMATICAL TESTS OF SIGNIFICANCE. THE PEARSONIAN CORRELATION COEFFICIENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION AND DOGMATISM AND FOR DOGMATISM AND JOB PERFORMANCE WERE HIGHER THAN FOR HIGHER EDUCATION AND JOB PERFORMANCE. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT HIGHER EDUCATION AFFECTS JOB PERFORMANCE THROUGH CHANGE IN ATTITUDES. IT IS ALSO SUGGESTED THAT POLICE DEPARTMENTS ENCOURAGE HIGHER EDUCATION FOR EXISTING OFFICERS AND ATTEMPT TO ATTRACT NEW RECRUITS WITH HIGHER EDUCATIONAL LEVELS. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SEX OF OFFICER, EDUCATION, ATTITUDES, AND JOB PERFORMANCE NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. THE FACT THAT MANY DEPARTMENTS REPORT THAT WOMEN ARE LESS AGGRESSIVE THAN MEN MAY BE RELATED EITHER TO EDUCATIONAL OR ATTITUDINAL FACTORS. SUPPORTING DATA ARE TABULATED AND ILLUSTRATED BY GRAPHS. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED IN FOOTNOTES. (GLR)