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Improving Observational Studies of Police

NCJ Number
125991
Journal
Criminology Volume: 28 Issue: 3 Dated: (August 1990) Pages: 475-496
Author(s)
S Mastrofski; R B Parks
Date Published
1990
Length
22 pages
Annotation
Despite advances in measurement and the sophistication of statistical technique, quantitative studies of police behavior seem to have reached the limits of their capacity to explain variance, develop and test theory, and inform policy choices. This paper suggests that further advances in observational studies of police behavior require that researchers account for the cognitive decision processes police use in exercising their discretion.
Abstract
A method for debriefing officers after encounters with the public is described. The results of a preliminary test of the method indicate that valuable information can be obtained with quite limited reactivity effects. 1 table, 10 notes, and 48 references. (Author abstract)