NCJ Number
171099
Journal
Policing Volume: 20 Issue: 3 Dated: (1997) Pages: 473-480
Date Published
1997
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Questions intended to measure public support for the police were studied with respect to differences in the results that different questions produce regarding public attitudes toward the police.
Abstract
Data were collected as part of a larger study of community policing in Cincinnati in April-June 1995. Data were collected by means of telephone interviews with a random sample of 298 households in 32 neighborhoods. Each participant was asked two questions plus one of three questions that varied in focus and referent. These three questions were as follows: (1) In general, how satisfied are you with the police in your community? (2) In general, how satisfied are you with the police in your neighborhood? and (3) In general, how satisfied are you with the police? The four response options were very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied. Results revealed very little change in response patterns across the items. Findings suggested that the questions produced substantively and statistically similar levels of support for the police regardless of the focus or referent of the question. Findings indicated that participants have rather stable and uniform outlooks toward the police regardless of the specific questions asked. Findings also suggested that it would be useful for further research to examine more directly how these outlooks are formed. Tables, note, and 19 references