NCJ Number
81290
Date Published
1970
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This paper provides an overview of the methods and principal findings of a study to test psychological predictors and patterns of patrol officer field performance.
Abstract
A battery of psychological tests, classified into the following three categories, was chosen: motivational measures of intellectual ability, and behavioral measures. The study then identified indices of patrol officer performance against which to gauge the relative value of the tests. A total of 490 Chicago police officers were selected to complete the 4-hour battery of tests. The men were tested in two groups, about 5 months apart. Results indicate that for the total group of officers, there was a statistically significant relationship between the test battery scores and independent measures of police performance. However, the degree of this relationship increased when the subsample of white patrolmen was treated separately and increased even more significantly when the subsample of black patrolmen was treated separately. The best prediction of performance was obtained when weights based on a specific racial group were applied to members of that group. Results also indicate that the critical attributes for patrol officer success are related to stability in the parental, personal family, and occupational situations, etc. In addition, officers considered superior in performance scored higher on critical dimensions of the test than did those in other subgroups. These results bear directly on the procedures for setting meaningful standards for the identification, selection, and placement of candidates in police organizations. Tables, a graph, and six references are appended.