SOME QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT POLICE OFFICER SELECTION TESTING

• NCJ Number: 11534
• Author(s): J FURCON
• Date Published: 1972
• Length: 54 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Marquette University
• Corporate Author: University of Chicago
• Sale Source: University of Chicago
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

MAJOR RESULTS AND PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS OF TWO PROJECTS AIMED AT THE IDENTIFICATION AND VALIDATION OF MORE EFFECTIVE WRITTEN TESTS FOR POLICE OFFICER SELECTION.

Abstract

THE PROJECTS, CONDUCTED IN 1966-68 AND 1969-71, WORKED WITH A DIVERSIFIED GROUP OF TESTS IN A 'BATTERY' CONSISTING OF TESTS OF MOTIVATION, WORK INTERESTS, VISUAL PERCEPTION, INTERPERSONAL APTITUDES, TEMPERAMENT, AND PRESSURE TOLERANCE, THUS ASSESSING THE IMPORTANCE OF A WIDE RANGE OF QUALIFICATIONS IN POLICE OFFICER SELECTION. THE PREDICTIVE POWER OF THE TESTS WAS ESTABLISHED BY COMPARING THE TEST SCORES OF EXPERIENCED POLICE OFFICERS WITH THEIR PERFORMANCE ON EIGHT DIFFERENT MEASURES OF JOB SUCCESS. THIS COMPARISON INDICATED RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PERFORMANCE ON WRITTEN TESTS AND ON-THE-STREET EFFECTIVENESS. THE PROJECTS ALSO EXPLORED PROCEDURES OF MAKING TESTING PROGRAMS MORE EQUITABLE TO MINORITY GROUP MEMBERS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO UPGRADE SELECTION STANDARDS. CONTENTS OF THE REPORT ARE ORGANIZED IN A QUESTION-ANSWER FORMAT AND INCLUDE SAMPLE QUESTIONS AND SALES SOURCES FOR THE VARIOUS TESTS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)