NCJ Number
96592
Journal
Security Management Volume: 29 Issue: 2 Dated: (February 1985) Pages: 67-71
Date Published
1985
Length
5 pages
Annotation
The attitudes were analyzed of a representative group of members of American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS) by asking them to respond to a two-page questionnaire.
Abstract
Questionnaires were returned by 177 members of Michigan ASIS chapters. While this represented only 38 percent of the study population (540 questionnaires had been sent out) the respondents are believed to be fairly representative of those not returning questionnaires. The respondents answered questions designed to show their attitudes toward their jobs, the relationship between private security and public law enforcement, and related issues. Most were clearly pleased with their jobs. A theoretical measure of cynicism revealed respondents were well below a neutral point on that scale and should not be considered overly skeptical of human nature. Furthermore, respondents believed that security managers and police managers enjoy occupational prestige ranked roughly below a banker and above an army captain. A total of 91 percent reported enthusiasm about their job. Respondents thought that relationships between the public police and private security have improved over the last decade. They are uncertain whether security can only be learned on the job, as opposed to classroom instruction, and they do not place more value on security hardware than on software approaches. A total of 13 footnotes are included.