OUTCOMES OF LABORATORY TRAINING FOR POLICE OFFICERS

• NCJ Number: 31841
• Journal: Journal of Social Issues Volume: 31 Issue: 1 Dated: (WINTER 1975) Pages: 115-121
• Author(s): G PFISTER
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: Soc for the Psychological Study of Social Issues
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

DESCRIPTION AND EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF A VOLUNTEER SEATTLE POLICE PROGRAM INVOLVING TRAINING IN-DEPTH IN SENSITIVITY TRAINING, COMMUNITY SERVICE, WORKING WITH YOUTH GROUPS, AND GENERAL INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS.

Abstract

THE STUDY WAS CONDUCTED WITH 48 OFFICERS PARTICIPATING IN INTENSIVE 6-DAY COMMUNICATION ORIENTATION WORKSHOP AND 26 OTHER OFFICERS AS A CONTROL GROUP. THE EDWARDS PERSONALITY INVENTORY WAS ADMINISTERED PRE AND POST TO BOTH GROUPS, AND QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES OBTAINED BEFORE AND AFTER THE PROGRAM FROM RESIDENTS WHO HAD NONADVERSIVE (NO ARREST, NO CITATION) CONTACT WITH OFFICERS IN BOTH GROUPS. THE EXPERIMENTAL OFFICERS WERE REPORTED BY RESIDENTS AFTER TRAINING AS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE WARM AND SINCERE, BEHAVING MORE AS COWORKERS, AND LEAVING THE CITIZENS FEELING GENERALLY SATISFIED WITH THE CONTACT. CONTROLS WERE REPORTED AS COMMUNICATING LITTLE UNDERSTANDING, AS TREATING THE CITIZEN MORE LIKE A CASE THAN AS AN INDIVIDUAL, AND GENERALLY LEAVING THE CITIZEN FEELING FRUSTRATED. THE EXPERIMENTAL OFFICERS DESCRIBED THEMSELVES AS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE SELF-UNDERSTANDING AS WELL AS MORE CRITICAL OF OTHERS. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED.