NCJ Number
123848
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 17 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1990) Pages: 32-39
Date Published
1990
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Interaction between rater and ratee characteristics during oral interviews was studied using police officer candidates in a medium-sized southern police agency.
Abstract
Seventy-three candidates advanced to the oral interview board stage; the board determined whether candidates continued in the selection process. Candidates appeared before the board in random order, and the board used a structured format in which each candidate was asked the same questions. Female raters consistently gave lower ratings than their male counterparts, and they gave especially low ratings to blacks. Females considered the absence of past police experience to be a more serious deficiency than did male raters. There was no evidence of reverse discrimination against white candidates on the part of black raters. Black raters tended to rate both black and white candidates high; however, white raters rated black candidates significantly lower. Older raters tended to give high ratings to candidates who had more education, while education was not related to the ratings of younger raters. It is concluded that an oral interview board's demographic composition will affect the ratings and eventual rankings of police officer candidates. 8 references, 7 tables, 3 figures.