NCJ Number
52864
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 6 Issue: 4 Dated: (DECEMBER 1978) Pages: 479-481
Date Published
1978
Length
3 pages
Annotation
A STUDY OF 156 OFFICERS FOUND THAT THOSE WHO BELIEVED THEIR ACTIONS INFLUENCED OUTCOMES HAD HIGHER JOB SATISFACTION AND THAT THIS BELIEF WAS PREVALENT AMONG THE MORE EXPERIENCED POLICE OFFICERS.
Abstract
THE STUDY WAS BASED ON ROTTER'S INTERNAL-EXTERNAL LOCUS OF CONTROL QUESTIONNAIRE, WHICH MEASURES ATTITUDES TOWARD ONE'S ABILITY TO CONTROL ONE'S OWN DESTINY. THE QUESTIONNAIRE WAS ORIGINALLY GIVEN TO 42 EXPERIENCED MUNICIPAL POLICE OFFICERS AND 41 RECRUITS. THE STUDY REVEALED THE FOLLOWING FINDINGS: (1) WHO HAD A STRONG INTERNAL LOCUS OF CONTROL, THAT IS, WHO BELIEVED THAT THEIR OWN ACTIONS INFLUENCED THE OUTCOME OF EVENTS, HAD GREATER JOB SATISFACTION; AND (2) THIS INTERNAL LOCUS WAS STRONGER AMONG EXPERIENCED OFFICERS THEN AMONG RECRUITS. THE QUESTIONNAIRE WAS GIVEN TO AN ADDITIONAL 36 EXPERIENCED OFFICERS AND 37 RECRUITS. THE FINDINGS WERE THE SAME. EDUCATION, MILITARY SERVICE, MARITAL STATUS, AND SIZE OF DEPARTMENT HAD NO EFFECT ON EITHER LOCUS OF CONTROL OR JOB SATISFACTION. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT RECRUITS WITH STRONG BELIEFS IN THE EXTERNAL LOCUS OF CONTROL ARE MORE LIKELY TO DROP OUT EARLY IN THEIR CAREER AS POLICE OFFICERS. IF SO, THIS PERSONALITY MEASUREMENT MAY PROVE USEFUL AS A SELECTION INSTRUMENT FOR POLICE OFFICERS. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (GLR)