NCJ Number
27286
Date Published
1975
Length
111 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY DEVELOPS A MIDDLE RANGE THEORETICAL MODEL OF PROFESSIONALIZATION IN POLICE ORGANIZATIONS.
Abstract
PROFESSIONALIZATION IS INTERPRETED AS A KNOWLEDGE DEVELOPMENT COMPONENT OF ORGANIZATIONAL TECHNOLOGY. ORGANIZATIONAL SIZE, STRUCTURE-COMPLEXITY, ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT, AND INTERORGANIZATIONAL FIELD LINKAGE ARE MODEL DIMENSIONS RELATED TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. THE MODEL WAS TESTED USING DATA FROM A SAMPLE OF 139 POLICE DEPARTMENTS. THE FINDINGS INDICATE THAT MODEL VARIABLES HAVE A SELECTIVE IMPACT ON VARIATIONS IN THE LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALIZATION. ORGANIZATIONAL AND CONTEXTUAL VARIABLES HAVE STRONGEST EFFECTS ON THE INTERORGANIZATIONAL FACTOR SUBSUMING DISCRETIONARY FUNDING AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS PERSONNEL. SIZE AND INTERORGANIZATIONAL FIELD LINKAGE SHOW A SUBSTANTIAL POSITIVE IMPACT ON A GENERAL EDUCATION DIMENSION OF PROFESSIONALIZATION BUT NOT ON FACTORS REFLECTING THE STRUCTURING OF EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING PRACTICES. THE FINDINGS SUGGEST THAT EXTERNAL PRESSURES FOR PROFESSIONALIZATION ARE BEING RESPONDED TO BY KNOWLEDGE DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES ONLY MARGINALLY RELATED TO THE STRUCTURE OF POLICE PRACTICES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)