MAINTAINING RESEARCH ACCESS IN POLICE ORGANIZATIONS

• NCJ Number: 47889
• Journal: Criminology Volume: 16 Issue: 1 Dated: (MAY 1978) Pages: 87-98
• Author(s): R J LUNDMAN; J C FOX
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 12 pages
• Grant Number(s): RO1 MH17917-02
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare
• Corporate Author: Sage Publications, Inc; Regional Institute of Social Welfare Research, Inc.
• Sale Source: Institute for Scientific Information
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. AN EARLIER VERSION OF THIS PAPER WAS PRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CRIMINOLOGY, CHICAGO, NOVEMBER 1-4, 1974

Annotation

PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY RESEARCHERS DURING A 15-MONTH PARTICIPANT-AS-OBSERVER STUDY OF POLICE-CITIZEN ENCOUNTERS IN A LARGE MIDWESTERN CITY ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

SEVERAL RESEARCHERS HAVE REPORTED THAT MAINTAINING RESEARCH ACCESS IN POLICE ORGANIZATIONS FOR EXTENDED PERIODS IS A DIFFICULT, TIME-CONSUMING PROCESS. THE PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN THE PARTICIPANT-AS-OBSERVER STUDY INCLUDED DIFFICULTIES IN COMMUNICATING WITH AND WINNING THE ACCEPTANCE OF STREET-LEVEL PATROL OFFICERS, PROBLEMS IN ESTABLISHING A FIELD ROLE FOR OBSERVERS THAT WAS ACCEPTABLE BOTH TO POLICE AND TO RESEARCHERS, AND THREATS TO TERMINATE THE RESEARCH PREMATURELY. IN LIGHT OF THESE PROBLEMS, RESEARCHERS ARE ADVISED TO MAKE SPECIAL AND REPEATED EFFORTS TO INFORM PATROL OFFICERS ABOUT THE RESEARCH, TO EXPECT AND IF NECESSARY ACCEPT OFFICERS' SKEPTICISM REGARDING THE MERITS OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. TO BE PREPARED TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE TRADITIONAL PARTICIPANT-AS-OBSERVER ROLE TOWARD AN EMPHASIS ON THE OBSERVER'S OCCUPATIONAL ROLE AS A RESEARCHER, AND TO CONSIDER RESPONSES TO THREATS OF PREMATURE TERMINATION. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED).