NCJ Number
38241
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 4 Issue: 3 Dated: (FALL 1976) Pages: 231-241
Date Published
1976
Length
11 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY EMPIRICALLY ASSESSED THE RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF A POLICE CYNICISM INDEX BY MEANS OF A SURVEY OF 324 UNIFORMED POLICE OFFICERS, AND FOUND THE INDEX TO HAVE SEVERAL MAJOR SHORTCOMINGS.
Abstract
FOR SOME TIME THERE HAS BEEN AN INTENSIVE EFFORT AMONG POLICE SCHOLARS TO DETERMINE THE ATTITUDES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL. THEIR EFFORTS HAVE FOCUSED PARTICULARLY ON THE DETERMINANTS OF POLICE CYNICISM. HOWEVER, TO DATE, THERE HAS ONLY BEEN ONE ATTEMPT TO CONSTRUCT AN INDEX ESTIMATING THAT ATTITUDENIEDERHOFFER'S IN 1967. THUS, ALL DISCUSSIONS OF POLICE CYNICISM REST ON THAT INDEX. THIS PAPER EXAMINES THE RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF THAT INSTRUMENT ON A SEPARATE POPULATION OF POLICE PERSONNEL. THE RESULTS WERE SIGNIFICANT. FIRST, IT IS SHOWN THAT THE INDEX HAS AN EXTREMELY LOW RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY. THEN, IT IS REVEALED THAT THE INDEX IS TAPPING AT LEAST FIVE SEPARATE DIMENSIONS OF CYNICISM-NOT ONE, AS POLICE SCHOLARS SO FREQUENTLY ASSERT. THE AUTHOR NOTES SEVERAL IMPLICATIONS OF THIS RESEARCH. FIRST, HE CONTENDS THAT IT IS TIME TO STOP DISCUSSING THE 'CYNICAL COP'. INSTEAD, HE MAINTAINS THAT SOCIAL SCIENTISTS CAN BEGIN SPECIFYING WHICH DIMENSIONS OF THE OCCUPATION OFFICERS WITH PARTICULAR TRAITS ARE LIKELY TO BECOME CYNICAL ABOUT. THE FINDINGS INDICATE THE NEED TO DEVELOP ADDITIONAL MEASURES OF POLICE CYNICISM THAT ARE MORE RELIABLE AND VALID THAN THE SOLE EXISTING INDEX. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)