NCJ Number
89456
Date Published
1980
Length
129 pages
Annotation
This study investigates the extent to which a military-type, standard police uniform creates evaluation apprehension among people in the presence of the uniform. Evaluation apprehension is an anxiety-toned concern to avoid a negative evaluation by another person.
Abstract
The 64 college-age subjects answered a questionnaire on attitudes toward the police and wrote an essay critical of the police. Subjects in the presence of a uniformed police officer showed more evaluation apprehension than subjects in the presence of a nonuniformed officer. This was reflected in more favorable attitudes toward policepersons as expressed in the essays and questionnaire responses. The police officer's role (as reflected in the military-type uniform) appeared to be of more experimental significance than the individual's personality. More research is needed. Data tables and about 60 references are supplied. Appendixes include the survey instruments, the essay sheet, and a study scale. (Author abstract modified)