NCJ Number
174633
Journal
Policing Volume: 21 Issue: 4 Dated: 1998 Pages: 632-647
Date Published
1998
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This article examines the results of a study on whether police officers' level of education is significantly associated with their perceptions of the quality of their performance.
Abstract
The study addressed three main questions: (1) the relationship, if any, between officers' level of education and the officers' perceptions of their performance; (2) the performance categories in which officers with higher education perceive themselves performing better; and (3) whether officers with higher education perceive themselves performing better than officers with lower education even when years of experience are controlled. There were significant differences in officers' perceptions of their performance by level of education on several important performance categories even after controlling for years of experience. Level of education did not appear to have any effect on officers' receipt of commendations or reprimands. No significant differences were discerned in officers' involvement in community projects or volunteer work; neither group was overly interested in or excited about such activities after their normal working week. Educational level had no significant effect on officers' attitudes toward their job, office and department. Tables, notes, references, appendix