Prediction of Law Enforcement Training Performance and Dysfunctional Job Performance with General Mental Ability, Personality, and Life History Variables

• NCJ Number: 212859
• Journal: Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 33 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2006 Pages: 3-25
• Author(s): Michael J. Cuttler; Paul M. Muchinsky
• Date Published: February 2006
• Length: 23 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The two studies presented in this article focused on predicting success in law enforcement training and predicting dysfunctional job behavior among officers using general mental ability, personality, and life history indicators.

Abstract

Univariate and correlation analysis suggested results that were relatively consistent with previous research on law enforcement candidate selection and supported the conclusion that general mental ability is predictive of officer success in cognitive/intellectual skills, such as completing law enforcement training and avoiding disciplinary problems on the job. Results from study 1 indicated that none of the personality indicators were predictive of success in law enforcement training. However, one of the life history indexes, the work index, and general mental ability as measured by the Wonderlic Personnel Test, were found to reliably predict success in law enforcement training. Results from study 2 revealed that the three personality scales predicted dysfunctional job behavior, as did two of the three life history scales, general mental ability, the veracity index, and the drug use index. Study 1 participants comprised 2 groups of officer candidates selected from 25 law enforcement agencies: group 1 included 132 candidates who had completed training while group 2 included 132 candidates who failed to complete training. Study 2 participants also comprised 2 groups of law enforcement officers selected from 39 law enforcement agencies over a 4-State area: group 1 included 200 officers who had required formal disciplinary or departmental action while group 2 included 200 officers who had no disciplinary background. All participants in both studies were administered a series of survey instruments measuring general mental ability, personality, and life history variables such as work history, drug use history, and criminal history. Tables, references