NCJ Number
60749
Journal
Canadian Police College Journal Volume: 3 Issue: 2 Dated: (1979) Pages: 126-161
Date Published
1979
Length
36 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY FOUND PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING TO BE COMMONLY AND WIDELY USED IN CANADIAN POLICE FORCES, FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS AND PURPOSES. IT ADVISES THAT USE OF THESE TESTS SHOULD BE IMPROVED.
Abstract
THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY WAS TO ASCERTAIN COMMON PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING PRACTICES OF THE CANADIAN POLICE FORCES, THE PRACTICAL VALUE OF THE TESTS USED, AND IMPORTANT TEST-EVALUATION CRITERIA. ALL CANADIAN POLICE FORCES HAVING OVER 200 MEMBERS WERE CONTACTED BY LETTER. DESCRIPTIVE INFORMATION ON THE USE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS BY EACH FORCE WAS REQUESTED. OF THE 24 FORCES CONTACTED, 16 MUNICIPAL-REGIONAL AND 2 PROVINCIAL FORCES RESPONDED DIRECTLY AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WAS OBTAINED ON 3 OTHERS. OF THE 21 FORCES FINALLY INCLUDED IN THE STUDY, 10 REPORTED USING PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS REGULARLY WHILE THE OTHERS DID NOT. A LITERATURE REVIEW ALSO WAS CONDUCTED. THE STUDY FOUND SUGGESTIVE EVIDENCE THAT SOME FORMS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING MAY BE USED TO ADVANTAGE IN SOME POLICE SITUATIONS. HOWEVER, THE SMALL NUMBER OF STUDIES AND THE SPECIFIC DEFECTS IN EACH MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GENERALLY ENDORSE PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING AS AN ACTIVITY OF PROVEN BENEFIT. THE LACK OF HARD DATA PROHIBITS A FIRM ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION OF SUCH TESTING. THE STUDY FOUND THE LEVEL OF TESTING EXPERTISE IN THE POLICE COMMUNITY TO BE SOMEWHAT BELOW DESIRABLE. POLICE FORCES MUST RECOGNIZE THAT ACQUIRING PROFICIENCY IN TESTING EXPERTISE IS NECESSARY FOR ACHIEVING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SUPERIOR POLICING. ALSO, THE CANADIAN POLICE COMMUNITY SHOULD DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN A SOURCE OF PROFESSIONAL, BUT NONPROFIT, TESTING EXPERTISE FOR CONSULTING PURPOSES. SUITABLE CRITERIA FOR SELECTING RELIABLE TESTS SHOULD INCLUDE JOB ANALYSIS CAPABILITY, FAVORABLE RELIABILITY DATA, AND PROFESSIONAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE TESTING INSTRUMENT, REFERENCES AND TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (PRG)