Police perceptions of interpersonal communication training needs

Abstract

Judgment analysis (JAN) is used to assess rating preferences pertaining to the interpersonal-communication training needs of peace officers in the western United States. Two hundred fifty-one subjects in a western state were categorized according to three judgment variables (agency type, size of the population served, and years of experience). Sixteen specific training-need areas for police interpersonal communication, and an overall criterion item, were rated using a five-point Likert scale. Two dimensions of preference were found to exist when officers were grouped according to agency type and experience; however, results indicated that unique components existed for each of the four population-size groups. The quality of experience appeared to be more important than the quantity of experience in determining preferences of perceived needs.