NCJ Number
39283
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 4 Issue: 4 Dated: (DECEMBER 1976) Pages: 389-403
Date Published
1976
Length
15 pages
Annotation
THIS PAPER PRESENTS THE RESULTS OF A STUDY ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF AN URBAN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND A SENSE OF ALIENATION ON THE PART OF THE WORKING POLICEMAN.
Abstract
THE STUDY CONCERNED ITSELF WITH THE SPECIFIC SOCIAL ARRANGEMENTS WITHIN THE POLICE ORGANIZATION ITSELF, AND IT EXAMINES THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE STRUCTURE OF THAT ORGANIZATION IS RELATED TO ALIENATION. THE INDEPENDENT VARIABLES IN THE STUDY WERE SPECIALIZATION AND FORMALIZATION, AND THE ALIENATION CONCEPTS OF NORMLESSNESS AND POWERLESSNESS WERE CONSIDERED. DATA WERE GATHERED BY MEANS OF A QUESTIONNAIRE ADMINISTERED IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OF A LARGE MIDWESTERN CITY. CHI-SQUARED AND GAMMA MEASURES OF ASSOCIATION WERE SELECTED FOR DATA ANALYSIS. THE FINDINGS INDICATE THAT ALONG WITH THE SEVERAL POSITIVE CONTRIBUTIONS TO GOAL ACHIEVEMENT AND OTHER DESIRABLE BENEFITS DERIVED FROM FORMALIZATION AND SPECIALIZATION WITHIN A POLICE ORGANIZATION, SEVERAL NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES ARE ALSO REALIZED IN TERMS OF ALIENATION. THE AUTHOR SUGGESTS METHODS FOR FURTHERING SPECIALIZATION AND FORMALIZATION WHILE DECREASING THEIR NEGATIVE EFFECTS....EB