NCJ Number
53155
Journal
Police Research Bulletin Issue: 31 Dated: (AUTUMN 1978) Pages: 4-8
Date Published
1978
Length
3 pages
Annotation
RESULTS ARE REPORTED FROM AN EXPERIMENT TESTING OFFICER RECALL IN THE USE OF TRADITIONAL STYLE BRIEFINGS AND A NEW STYLE OF BRIEFING USING FEWER ITEMS REPEATED ON A SERIES OF DAYS.
Abstract
THE EXPERIMENT HYPOTHESIZED THAT OFFICERS WOULD REMEMBER MORE INFORMATION FROM BRIEFINGS IF FEWER ITEMS WERE PRESENTED AND A VISUAL STIMULUS WAS ASSOCIATED WITH EACH ITEM. TO TEST THE HYPOTHESIS, TWO POLICE STATIONS EMPLOYED BOTH THE TRADITIONAL AND NEW STYLE OF BRIEFINGS, WITH OFFICERS TESTED ON RECALL OF THE ITEMS IN EACH OF THE BRIEFING TYPES. AFTER A BRIEFING, EVERY OFFICER WHO DID NOT IMMEDIATELY HAVE TO LEAVE THE STATION WAS REQUIRED TO WRITE AS MUCH OF THE BRIEFING INFORMATION AS HE COULD REMEMBER FROM THE BRIEFINGS OF THE CURRENT AND TWO PRECEDING DAYS. RECALL WAS SCORED BY COUNTING THE NUMBER OF BRIEFING ITEMS MENTIONED IN RECALL AND THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUAL PIECES OF INFORMATION MENTIONED IN THE RECALL OF EACH ITEM. IT IS CONCLUDED FROM THE DATA THAT THE NEW STYLE BRIEFINGS USING FEWER ITEMS RESULTED IN MORE INFORMATION (ABOUT 25 PERCENT) BEING RECALLED IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT ALTHOUGH REPETITION OF ITEMS ON A SERIES OF DAYS MIGHT IMPROVE RECALL, IT WAS NOT THE SOLE REASON FOR IMPROVED RECALL IN THE NEW SYSTEM. IT IS FURTHER NOTED THAT THE NEW SYSTEM IS NOT ONLY MORE EFFICIENT IN RECALL, BUT REQUIRES LESS TIME FOR PRESENTATION. DATA ARE INCLUDED. (RCB)