NCJ Number
61416
Date Published
1978
Length
12 pages
Annotation
A 1977 PROJECT OF THE GEORGIA BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (GBI) TO DETERMINE THE SPECIFIC NATURE OF THE WORK PERFORMED BY SPECIAL AGENTS IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE STUDY OBJECTIVES WERE TO IDENTIFY JOB TASKS FOR THE PURPOSE OF AIDING THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF BASIC AND INSERVICE TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR INVESTIGATORS AND TO CLARIFY JOB APPLICANT CRITERIA. TASK IDENTFICATION WAS COMPLICATED BY THE FACT THAT AGENTS PERFORM AT WIDELY SCATTERED LOCATIONS FOR A LARGE NUMBER OF DIFFERENT AGENCIES. THE SIMPLEST METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION WAS DESIRED DUE TO BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS. ALL 140 GBI AGENTS WERE SURVEYED. MAJOR PROCEDURAL STEPS INCLUDED INTERVIEWS WITH FIRST-LINE SUPERVISORS, PREPARATION OF A PRELIMINARY LIST OF JOB TASKS, CONSTRUCTION OF A QUESTIONNAIRE BOOKLET FROM THE REVISED LIST, TESTING AND REVISION OF THE BOOKLET, ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOOKLETS, AND DATA ENTRY AND ANALYSIS. SEPARATE INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED WITH THE SUPERVISORS, A PRELIMINARY LIST OF JOB TASKS WAS DEVELOPED. THIS LIST WAS REVISED FOLLOWING INPUT FROM 22 SUPERVISORS AND THE DIRECTOR OF INVESTIGATIONS. THE QUESTIONNAIRE BOOKLET WAS DEVELOPED FROM THE FINAL LIST. QUESTIONS FOCUSED ON HOW THE TASK IS PERFORMED, HOW LONG THE TASK TAKES, THE CONSEQUENCES OF INADEQUATE PERFORMANCE, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE TASK TO OVERALL JOB PERFORMANCE. THE BOOKLET WAS AGAIN REVISED FOLLOWING ADMINISTRATION TO THREE PERSONS. NO SUBSTANTIVE PROBLEMS WERE NOTED. SUPERVISORS ARRANGED FOR AGENTS TO COMPLETE THE BOOKLETS AT A SCHEDULED TIME AND PLACE; ADMINISTRATION TOOK 3 TO 5 HOURS. DATA ANALYSIS REVEALED THAT THE PROJECT FULFILLED ITS INTENDED PURPOSE IN IDENTIFYING JOB TASKS PERFORMED BY SPECIAL AGENTS. IN ADDITION, IT IS PRODUCING NEW IDEAS AND ATTITUDES WITHIN MANAGEMENT CONCERNING WORK ACTUALLY PERFORMED BY LINE PERSONNEL. IT HAS REMINDED GBI MANAGERS THAT YESTERDAY'S ANSWERS ARE NOT ALWAYS ADEQUATE IN ADDRESSING TODAY'S PROBLEMS. AN APPENDIX IS INCLUDED IN THE PAPER. (LWM)