NCJ Number
54408
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 3 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1975) Pages: 149-161
Date Published
1975
Length
13 pages
Annotation
A SCALE FOR MEASURING ALIENATION WAS ADMINISTERED TO POLICE OFFICERS ON STATEN ISLAND IN NEW YORK CITY TO TEST THE HYPOTHESIS THAT POLICE OFFICERS ARE ALIENATED.
Abstract
THREE SPECIFIC SUBHYPOTHESES WERE EXPLORED: (1) OLDER POLICE OFFICERS ARE MORE ALIENATED THAN YOUNGER POLICE OFFICERS; (2) PATROLMEN ARE MORE ALIENATED THAN DETECTIVES; AND (3) PATROLMEN AND DETECTIVES ARE MORE ALIENATED THAN SUPERIOR OFFICERS. THE SCALE FOR MEASURING ALIENATION CONSISTED OF 24 STATEMENTS AND WAS DISTRIBUTED TO 736 PATROLMEN, DETECTIVES, AND SUPERIORS DURING JULY 1971. ALIENATION WAS DEFINED AS AN INDIVIDUAL'S FEELING ABOUT OR FRUSTRATION WITH AND WITHDRAWAL FROM PARTICIPATION IN SOCIETY BECAUSE OF DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN EXPECTATIONS AND REWARDS. THREE COMPONENTS OF ALIENATION WERE POWERLESSNESS, NORMLESSNESS, AND SOCIAL ISOLATION. THE 551 QUESTIONNAIRES RETURNED, A RESPONSE RATE OF 75 PERCENT, WERE SORTED INTO THREE GROUPS (PATROLMEN, DETECTIVES, AND SUPERIORS). THEY WERE ALSO CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO THE NUMBER OF YEARS EACH RESPONDENT CLAIMED TO HAVE BEEN IN THE DEPARTMENT AS OF JULY 1971. ALL THREE SUBHYPOTHESES WERE SUPPORTED BY DATA. AFTER RESPONDENTS REACHED THEIR 15TH YEAR IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, FEELINGS OF TOTAL ALIENATION, POWERLESSNESS, NORMLESSNESS, AND SOCIAL ISOLATION SUBSIDED AND CONTINUED TO SUBSIDE. FURTHER RESEARCH IS RECOMMENDED TO IDENTIFY REASONS FOR HIGH AND LOW ALIENATION SCORES. SUPPORTING DATA ARE PROVIDED. THE FORM USED TO OBTAIN DATA IS APPENDED. (DEP)