THIS MANUAL LISTS AND DESCRIBES AREAS OF INQUIRY THAT HAVE BEEN DETERMINED TO BE LEGITIMATE FOR THE BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION. FOR EACH AREA, SUGGESTIONS ARE MADE TO THE INVESTIGATOR AS TO WHAT AN INQUIRY MIGHT REVEAL ABOUT THE APPLICANT. THE TEN SUBJECT AREAS CONSIDERED ARE: PERSONAL; RELATIVES, REFERENCES, ACQUAINTANCES; EDUCATION; RESIDENCES; EXPERIENCE AND EMPLOYMENT; MILITARY; FINANCIAL; LEGAL; MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATION; AND GENERAL TOPICS. ALSO MENTIONED ARE THOSE AREAS OF INQUIRY WHICH SHOULD BE AVOIDED BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF JOB RELATEDNESS. THE BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION DESCRIBED IS DESIGNED TO BE USED BY AGENCIES TO ESTABLISH MINIMUM LEVELS OF COMPETENCE WHICH THEY ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT REGARDING 15 JOB DIMENSIONS OF THE POLICE PATROL FUNCTION. THESE DIMENSIONS ARE COMMUNICATION SKILLS, PROBLEM-SOLVING ABILITY, LEARNING ABILITY, JUDGMENT UNDER PRESSURE, OBSERVATIONAL SKILLS, WILLINGNESS TO CONFRONT PROBLEMS, INTEREST IN PEOPLE, INTERPERSONAL SENSITIVITY, DESIRE FOR SELF-IMPROVEMENT, APPEARANCE, DEPENDABILITY, PHYSICAL ABILITY, INTEGRITY, OPERATION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE, AND CREDIBILITY AS A WITNESS IN A COURT OF LAW. APPENDED MATERIALS INCLUDE SAMPLE INVESTIGATION QUESTIONNAIRES, LETTERS, CHECKLISTS, AND DATA COLLECTION FORMS.