NCJ Number
208143
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 31 Issue: 6 Dated: December 2004 Pages: 676-694
Date Published
December 2004
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This study examined the predictive validity of the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI-R) facet scales for predicting academic, firearms, physical, and disciplinary elements of police academy performance, as well as academy graduation.
Abstract
The initial sample of subjects consisted of 74 members of 3 consecutive classes in a police academy training program in the St. Louis metropolitan area (Missouri). The classes were formed in January 2001 (n=35), May 2001 (n=14), and July 2001 (n=25). Of the 74 recruits, 62 received diplomas at the end of their academy training, and the remaining 12 were either dismissed for rule violations or resigned prior to completing academy training. Of the 62 successful recruits, 50 were male and 12 were female. There were no significant demographic differences between those who graduated and those who did not. All participants completed the NEO PI-R at the beginning of academy training. The NEO PI-R is a personality inventory that measures neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. There are six facet scores within each of the five domains. For the primary analysis, multiple regression was used to predict performance from demographic variables and NEO PI-R scores. The findings showed that the recruits who scored higher on "values" and lower in "excitement-seeking" did better academically; those lower in "anxiety" did better at firearms performance; and those lower in "deliberation" and "fantasy" and higher in "activity" did better in physical training. "Excitement-seeking, "ideas," and "values" predicted disciplinary memos; whereas, "self-consciousness," "altruism," "feelings," "order," "positive emotions," and "vulnerability" predicted absenteeism. Vulnerability to stress was the only multivariate predictor of graduation. The study concludes that the NEO PI-R appears promising as a selection instrument for police officers. 7 tables and 25 references