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RESEARCH ON POLICE DISCRETION AND ORGANIZATION BEHAVIOR - SURVEY INSTRUMENT

NCJ Number
68719
Date Published
1973
Length
57 pages
Annotation
THIS PUBLICATION PRESENTS A SURVEY INSTRUMENT FOR USE IN RESEARCH ON POLICE DISCRETION AND ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR.
Abstract
THE INSTRUMENT WAS DEVELOPED BY THE INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT LOS ANGELES. FUNDED BY LEAA, IT WAS INTENDED FOR USE IN AN INTERVIEW STUDY OF DECISION MAKING BY POLICE OFFICERS IN THREE DEPARTMENTS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY. THE SURVEY SOUGHT INFORMATION ABOUT THE WAY POLICE OFFICERS MADE ROUTINE DECISIONS AND THE REASONS FOR THESE DECISIONS AS WELL AS ABOUT SUPERVISORY PRACTICES AND OTHER ASPECTS OF ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR. THE SECTION ON GENERAL INFORMATION COVERS THE SURVEY'S PURPOSE, THE TIME REQUIRED FOR EACH INTERVIEW, PROCEDURES FOR CONDUCTING INTERVIEWS, INTERVIEWER'S MANNERS, ASKING QUESTIONS, RECORDING INFORMATION, AND PROBING FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. THE FIRST FOUR SURVEY QUESTIONS ARE DESCRIPTIONS OF HYPOTHETICAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SITUATIONS AND ASK POLICE OFFICERS WHAT THEY WOULD DO IN THOSE SITUATIONS. OTHER QUESTIONS PRESENT HYPOTHETICAL SITUATIONS WHICH INCLUDE POLICE ACTIONS AND ASK FOR EVALUATIONS OF THOSE ACTIONS. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS CONCERN OPINIONS ON EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE, DEPARTMENTAL EXPECTATIONS OF INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS, EVALUATIONS OF OFFICERS, ATTITUDES TOWARD POLICE WORK, AND THE OFFICER'S PERSONAL BACKGROUND. INSTRUCTIONS TO THE INTERVIEWER ACCOMPANY EACH QUESTION OR GROUP OF QUESTIONS.