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PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION AND THE POLICE IN THE INNER CITY OF AMSTERDAM (FROM INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON POLICE RESEARCH - FINAL REPORT, OCTOBER 1976, BY LODE VAN OUTRIVE AND SAMIR RIZKALLA - SEE NCJ-49588)

NCJ Number
49601
Author(s)
M PUNCH
Date Published
1976
Length
45 pages
Annotation
THE EXPERIENCES OF AN ENGLISH RESEARCHER IN GAINING ACCESS AND ACCEPTANCE AS AN OBSERVER OF POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS IN THE WORK OF THE AMSTERDAM POLICE ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
ACCESS, INITIAL ENTRY, THE RESEARCH ROLE ITSELF, AND DEPARTURE FROM THE OBSERVED ENVIRONMENT ARE DISCUSSED AS ASPECTS OF OBSERVER RESEARCH. USING ANY EXISTING RELATIONSHIPS WITH POLICE TO MAKE INFORMAL VISITS TO POLICE STATIONS, HEADQUARTERS, TRAINING ESTABLISHMENTS, AND CONFERENCES IS CONSIDERED IMPORTANT IN LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR ACCESS TO POLICE OPERATIONS FOR OBSERVER RESEARCH. A CLEARLY EXPRESSED, PLAUSIBLE RESEARCH GOAL FRAMED SO AS TO SHOW AN INTENT TO BE HELPFUL RATHER THAN THREATENING TO THE POLICE OPERATIONS IS ALSO CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL TO GAINING AN UNRESERVED ACCESS TO FRONTLINE POLICE WORK. SOME OF THE FEELINGS, ATTITUDES, AND SITUATIONS LIKELY TO ARISE IN THE RESEARCH ROLE OF AN OBSERVER WITH THE POLICE ARE CITED. INVOLVEMENT AS A WITNESS TO SUSPECT AND POLICE BEHAVIOR OPENS UP THE POSSIBILITY OF THE RESEARCH BEING CALLED AS A LEGAL WITNESS IN TRIALS OR HEARINGS, WHICH MAY LEAD TO CONFLICT WITH POLICE PERSONNEL WHO HAVE AN INTEREST IN SUCH PROCEEDINGS. THE TENDENCY TO IDENTIFY WITH THE POLICE OR VARIOUS SUSPECTS IS NOTED AS A POSSIBLE AREA OF BIAS THAT CAN AFFECT RESEARCH OBJECTIVELY. THE MODIFICATION OF POLICE OF SUSPECT BEHAVIOR AS A RESULT OF THE PRESENCE OF THE OBSERVER IS NOT CONSIDERED A PROBLEM AFTER INITIAL REACTIONS TO HIS PRESENCE. IT IS CONSIDERED IMPORTANT THAT THE RESEARCHER INFORM THE POLICE PERSONNEL WITH WHOM HE HAS WORKED OF ANY SUBSEQUENT PUBLICATIONS OF THE RESEARCH DONE. DEPARTURE WITHOUT FEEDBACK INDICATES A LACK OF APPRECIATION FOR THE INTEREST IN AND ALLOWANCES MADE FOR THE RESEARCH WORK BY THE POLICE PERSONNEL. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (RCB)