Perceptions Of Officers Research Articles

Training practices and perceptions of soccer officials: Insights from the Referee Training Activity Questionnaire

This study sought to: (1) document the multifaceted training practices of soccer officials in relation to their role and officiating category; and (2) explore the association between the officials’ training practices and perceptions of the attributes pertinent to optimal performance. Field referees and assistant referees at officiating categories 1–3 ( n = 173) with the Scottish Football Association were invited to participate in this national cross-sectional study. Using the Referee Training Activity Questionnaire (RTAQ), officials reported the volume and type of training engaged in during a 2-week in-season period. Respondents’ perceptions of the skills pertinent to performance were also explored using a 7-point Likert scale ( 1 = not at all important; 7 = extremely important), with the frequency in which they trained these skills assessed using a 5-point Likert Scale ( 1 = less than once a month; 5 = more than once a week). Ninety-one responses were received, representing a 52.6% response rate. Irrespective of their role or level of professional attainment, the officials’ training was focused mostly on physical conditioning, with significantly less time apportioned to decision-making ( P < 0.001; ES = 1.28), psychological ( P < 0.001; ES = 1.47), and technical ( P < 0.001; ES = 1.23) skills training. Meanwhile, although decision-making and psychological skills were rated as “ very important” to “ extremely important” amongst both field referees and assistant referees, officials purposefully trained these skills “ less than once a month.” The present study provides important new insights into the training practices engaged in by soccer officials. As accurate decision-making is at the forefront of soccer officiating, enhancing the exposure of match officials to match-related decision-making during training should be considered a priority for future research.

Police officer perceptions of diversity efforts: a disconnect between the goals and the methods

ABSTRACT Diversifying law enforcement agencies to reflect the communities they serve has continued to be a difficult task worldwide. Research has focused on evaluating diversity initiatives in terms of staffing demographic changes, but the perspective of officers working in departments aiming to diversify is often missing. This study examines officers’ perceptions of diversity initiatives in practice. Qualitative analysis indicated officers were supportive of diversifying; however, nearly all officers, regardless of gender or race/ethnicity, were concerned with the methods used. Findings revealed that officers: 1) doubted the merit of their own achievements, 2) perceived promotion/assignment practices as ambiguous, 3) felt politics created symbolic changes, and 4) wanted to inform future diversity efforts. Findings suggest that officer perspectives, particularly from underrepresented groups, are needed to better understand why diversity initiatives have yielded minimal change and to build more effective practices to increase diversity and retain diverse personnel.

Identifying job seekers’ perceptions of public officials in Korea using Q methodology

ABSTRACT Public service positions have long been one of the most sought-after jobs among the youth in the Republic of Korea. Individuals may possess mixed motives to take the national civil service exam, which cannot be explained by a single theory or framework. Public choice or public service motivation theory, for example, may not alone describe young Koreans’ desire to work for the government. Furthermore, it may be necessary to specifically consider the Korean culture to examine the complex nature of one’s motivation to become a public official. The study aims to categorize how the youth perceive bureaucrats and find reasons behind the craze for taking the national civil service exam, thus suggesting theoretical and practical implication. Using Q methodology, this study identified four distinct perceptions of Korean public officials: genuine public servers, rise-in-status pursuers, self-interest maximizers, and public policymakers. These conceptions contribute to understanding how young Koreans feature mixed motivations to choose the government as their employer and designing better policies to tackle the issue of youth removing themselves from the labor market to prepare for the national civil service exam.

Perceptions on Data Quality, Use, and Management Following the Adoption of Tablet-Based Electronic Health Records: Results from a Pre–Post Survey with District Health Officers in Ghana

PurposeAn electronic health record (EHR) system known as the e-Tracker was introduced in community health facilities in Ghana and numerous advantages were expected for clinical staff, as evidenced by previous literature. However, little is known about public health officials’ views, specifically in low-resource settings. This study aimed to investigate the perceptions of district health officers on data quality, use, and management following the adoption of tablet-based electronic health records in Ghana.MethodsA pre- and post-survey was conducted in two regions of Ghana that adopted the e-Tracker for the entire districts during the early stages of the national rollout. Sociodemographic information, internet connection environment, and perceptions on data quality, use, and management were measured. McNemar’s test and Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test were performed to identify changes in perceptions. Chi-square test and Mann–Whitney U-test were used to find any statistical differences in demographic characteristics between the two regions.ResultsTwenty-four out of 25 districts in Volta and 24 out of 26 districts in Eastern regions participated in both pre- and post-surveys, with a total of 73 participants. In terms of efficiency in data management, the district health officers reported reduced time commitment in data validation and aggregation. Within less than a year, however, no statistically significant improvement was found in data quality and the use of electronic data for relevant tasks.ConclusionA new EHR system in low-resource settings can rapidly improve efficiency in data management from the public health officials’ perspectives. Further impact evaluation is warranted to assess the long-term effect of the EHR system.

Canadian environmental health officer perceptions of barriers to research utilization in everyday and emergency practice

Understanding the barriers to research utilization (RU) experienced by Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) facilitates evidence use and improved outcomes in both normal and emergency practice. The purposes of this study were to (i) understand the barriers to research use in the everyday work of EHOs and (ii) determine how these barriers change in the context of emergency practice. The Barriers to Research Utilization (BARRIERS) Scale was disseminated to a cross-sectional sample of Canadian EHOs. Responses were analyzed using measures of central tendency. Data were collected during a typical work period in 2012 (311 respondents) and during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 (82 respondents). The three greatest barriers to RU identified by EHOs at both points in time were (i) a lack of authority to implement changes in practice, (ii) a lack of time to review research, and (iii) a lack of time to implement research findings. Mean ratings were not statistically different in 2012 and 2020. The consistency of the top three barriers to RU suggests they are particularly embedded in EHO practice in Canada, indicating that they are useful intervention targets to increase RU. Further, it can be inferred that targeted interventions to support RU will benefit outcomes in both normal and emergency situations. More research is needed to understand the embedded structural and organizational issues influencing EHO practice behaviour.

GÜVENLİK GÖREVLERİNİN ÖRGÜTSEL ADALET ALGILARININ İŞ MOTİVASYONLARINA ETKİSİ

Çalışma Elazığ ili Fırat Üniversitesinde görev yapan güvenlik görevlerinin örgütsel adalet algılarının iş motivasyonlarına etkisi amacını taşımaktadır. Çalışmanın evrenini Fırat Üniversitesi Fırat Üniversitesinde görev yapan güvenlik görevleri oluştururken, örneklemi ise Elazığ ile sınırlı olmak koşuluyla Fırat Üniversitesinde çalışan 182 güvenlik görevlileri oluşturmuştur. 
 Çalışmaya katılan güvenlik görevlilerinin örgütsel adalet ve iş motivasyonlarının incelenmesi amacıyla kişisel bilgi formu ve “Örgütsel Adalet Ölçeği ve Motivasyon Ölçeği” kullanılmış olup, istatistiki program sayesinde oluşturulan frekans ve yüzde analizleri yapılıp, ikili gruplarda t testi, çoklu gruplarda ise varyans analizi (Anova), ayrıca gruplar arasındaki farklılıkları bulmada TUKEY testinden yararlanılmıştır. 
 Sonuç olarak; Fırat Üniversitesinde görev yapan güvenlik görevlilerinin medeni durumlarının, yaşlarının ve çalışmaları yıllarının örgütsel adalet ve iş motivasyonlarına etkisi olmadığı görülmüştür. Eğitim durumuna göre; kurumdaki yöneticilerin mezuniyet durumu lise olan özel güvenlik görevlilerine karşı dağıtımsal adalet ve adil işlem yapma yönünden adaletli davrandığını söylenebilir. İş motivasyonuna bakıldığında üniversite mezunu güvenlik görevlilerinin araçsal motivasyonları lise mezunu çalışanlara göre daha fazla olduğu görülmüştür. Özel güvenlik görevlilerinin örgütsel adalet algılarının iş motivasyonları arasında düşük düzeyde de olsa olumlu yönde etkiler olduğunu söyleyebiliriz.

외사 경찰의 국제공조수사 인식에 대한 탐색적 연구

This study aims at exploring the subjective perception of law enforcement practitioners who work in the field of foreign affairs and INTERPOL. In particular, the present study focuses on examining the perception of Korean police officers regarding the necessities and the ways of building international cooperation with foreign police officers. The numbers of dangerous criminals who had fled overseas have been dramatically increased in South Korea. International Criminal Police Organization(INTERPOL) refers to the international organization that supports worldwide partnerships of police in order to combat transnational crimes and arrest the offenders fleeing overseas. Numerous criminals who tried to flee overseas have committed various types of transnational crimes such as cyber crimes, trafficking in persons, and other organized crimes avoiding investigation of INTERPOL. Few studies have been conducted about the attitude and perception of policemen who work in the sectors of foreign affairs and INTERPOL in South Korea. The current study emphasized the significance of the perceptions of police officers about utility of INTERPOL for re-arresting criminals who fled overseas and subjective opinions of police officers about red notice for combating transnational crimes. Furthermore, this study concentrated on the comparative police cooperation strategies in terms of assigning the effectiveness of “KOREAN DESK Police Officers” regarded as Korean liaison officers who work in foreign countries. Data were drawn from the total number of 317 police who had participated in survey from 4, December to 7, December, 2020 with the support of Korean National Police Agency. Result demonstrated that specific training and education for police officers are required in the field of foreign affairs due to the lack of perception about non-red notice issues of INTERPOL and insufficient international cooperation systems with foreign police departments. Further policy implications will be discussed.

JUVENILE PROBATION OFFICER PERCEPTIONS OF PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN JUVENILE PROBATION AND WITH CONTINGENCY MANAGEMENT.

Probation is a common sanction for youth substance users, and as such, juvenile probation officers (JPOs) shoulder much of the burden for treatment and rehabilitation. To improve youth outcomes and alleviate some of the burden, JPOs may seek parental involvement in the probation and substance use desistance processes. Using focus group data, we analyzed JPO perceptions of the role parents play in contingency management (CM)-an incentive system designed to produce and reward decreased substance use-and whether they perceived any value in CM. We found that most JPOs perceived parental involvement as critical to the success of both substance use treatment and CM for youth. Our findings also suggest JPOs found parental involvement in CM valuable given that CM was employed on nonstudy clients and future clients. This has implications for the practicality and sustainability of CM as a youth probation intervention.

Perceptions of Patients and Officers towards the Use of Online and Offline Registration Systems at the Surgical Polyclinic of Gatot Soebroto Army Central Hospital

In this era of digital technology, development makes it easier for humans to do things such as seek treatment easily and practically. Registration application online still has drawbacks, namely bugs in the application, the queue paper printing machine does not work, and error system barcode. Online and offline registration. Descriptive method using quantitative analysis. This research was conducted at Gatot Soebroto Army Central Hospital with a sample of 45 offline and 45 online, and 7 registration officers. SOP only covers offline, for SOP online still does not exist. Most of the patients in offline and online registration stated that the quality of service, knowledge, experience, and satisfaction was good. Officers feel that there has been a change since the online registration because it has become a new thing in the surgical polyclinic because the officer at registration at the surgical polyclinic assumes that it is necessary to socialize with patients on the online application because the majority of patients do not register online because they do not know how to register online, especially patients Elderly officers are of the opinion that online registration makes it easier at the registration section.

Perceptions of Agricultural Extension Staff towards Financial Support Before and After Devolution in Kericho County, Kenya

Agricultural extension services are put in place to improve rural development in many nations. Devolution of agricultural extension services have been tried in many nations with mixed results. Since the implementation of the devolved system of governance in Kenya, its effect on agricultural extension service delivery, in Kericho has not been studied and documented. The purpose of this study was to determine the perception of agricultural extension staff towards financial support in Kericho county before and after devolution in Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive research design, which is used to describe characteristics of a population or phenomenon being studied. The target population comprised of 117 agricultural extension officers in Kericho County. The study used a census sampling method because the target population was very small; thus, all the units in the target population were considered. However, inclusion criteria were applied by only including individuals who were in employment both before and after devolution. Data were collected using a questionnaire. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics (means, standard deviation, frequencies, and percentages) inferential statistics (paired correlation and paired t-test) with the aid of SPSS. The results show that the majority of the respondents, (86%) were either positive or very positive towards financial transparency before devolution as opposed to the only 4.3% after devolution. The t-test results showed a statistically significant difference in perception of agricultural extension officers towards funding of agricultural extension services before and after devolution in Kericho county. The study concludes that financial support was better before devolution compared to after devolution. The study suggests that the county government of Kericho should improve their financial commitment to promote effective and efficient delivery of extension services.

“Culture eats strategy for breakfast”: An in-depth examination of police officer perceptions of body-worn camera implementation and their relationship to policy, supervision, and training

“Culture eats strategy for breakfast”: An in-depth examination of police officer perceptions of body-worn camera implementation and their relationship to policy, supervision, and training

Public Officials and Operators’ Perceptions on the Implementation of the Four Modern Rice Processing Complexes (KOICA RPCs) in the Philippines: An Evaluation Study

This evaluation study identified the different perceptions of public officials from the government sector and operators (Management Board/Team and other employees) regarding the implementation of the four modern rice processing complexes (KOICA RPCs) in the Philippines funded by the Republic of Korea through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). The KOICA RPC project was suitably implemented in the country (from project planning to approval, operation, monitoring, and evaluation) based on the insights and observations of public officials and operators. It was discovered that evaluations and assessments were carried out prior to the start of the project commenced. To guarantee that the project was implemented effectively, both government and private sector implementers followed the RPC Operational Guidelines and Policies. The findings revealed that the project’s operating guidelines need to be reviewed or revisited in order to meet the identified areas for improvement (especially in the sustainability aspect of the RPC operation). Furthermore, the respondents (both public officials and operators) determined that the RPCs require further financial, technical, and administrative support in order to improve their performance and ensure the project’s long-term viability. This study will assist implementers in better understanding each other’s perspectives on the operation and execution of the KOICA RPC project in the country. It will also encourage active participation and improve relationships among project stakeholders, resulting in stronger, more efficient, and successful future collaboration and partnership.

Finding good cops: the foundations of a screen-in (not out) hiring process for police

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to outline components of a proposed screen-in (not out) hiring process for police.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses survey data collected from police officers of all ranks (n = 166) in one Arizona police department, exploring officer perceptions of the most important qualities necessary to be an exceptional police officer, as well as the optimal processes for finding people with those traits.FindingsResults build on prior studies that have begun to identify sought-after traits including honesty, integrity, ethics, compassion, empathy, as well as communication and listening skills. Findings also suggest preliminary steps for finding good cops through expansion of existing screen-out processes to also screen-in desirable prospects, application of some academy training processes to the hiring pool, and more proactive recruitment efforts.Originality/valueThis study adds value to the extant literature on the characteristics of good policing and on identifying the qualities by which to “screen-in” officers during the hiring and recruitment process. Further, the authors expand this understanding by capturing perceptions of the best processes to identify individuals with desirable qualities during the hiring and recruitment process. The implications of these findings are used to initiate a discussion of foundational components of a screening-in hiring process for police, informed by both empirical research and community perspectives.

“Culture eats strategy for breakfast”: An in‐depth examination of police officer perceptions of body‐worn camera implementation and their relationship to policy, supervision, and training

AbstractResearch SummaryThis study uses interviews with 23 police officers from a small police department to conduct an in‐depth examination of their perceptions of three critical but understudied areas related to body‐worn camera programs: the implementation and policy‐making process, supervision, and training. The focus is on understanding the factors which contribute to, or undermine, body‐worn camera integration and acceptance.Policy ImplicationsIncluding patrol officers directly in the implementation and policy‐making processes might help increase officer acceptance of body‐worn cameras (BWCs), and the identification of potential implementation problems (especially around BWC activation, civilian notification, and minor violations of department policies). Moreover, police departments may need to anticipate resistance from features of the traditional police culture toward certain BWC uses and consider how these might be overcome. One suggestion is to conduct regular reviews of BWC footage with officers as a learning tool to help guide discretion on BWC use (especially around recording protocols), to help reframe BWCs as an innovative technology for improving street‐level performance, and to provide routine reminders to officers of the importance of BWC activation and civilian notification for achieving their potential benefits.

Exploring the Links Between IT Tools, Management Accounting Practices and SME Performance: Perceptions of CFOs in Ireland

Notwithstanding its sectoral importance to wealth creation and employment, research on the role of management accounting in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is limited. This paper first examines the perceptions of chief financial officers (CFOs) on the impact of information technology (IT) tools on management accounting practices (costing, budgeting, and performance management). Secondly, it examines how CFOs perceive these management accounting practices are affecting the performance of their SMEs. The study is based on a survey of CFOs in Irish SMEs. We propose a conceptual model of these relationships. We use partial least squares (PLS) to analyse the data from the 109 participating CFOs. The results show a significant positive relationship between IT tools and all three management accounting practices, along with significant partial support for how CFOs perceive management accounting practices impacting the performance of their SMEs.

The nexus between the Baltic governments and think tanks as instruments of foreign and security policy

This study aims to unveil the nexus between the governments of the Baltic states and think tanks (TTs), which work on foreign and security policy. The article argues that the Baltic governments wish to use TTs as instruments of foreign policies, as they are highly interested in influencing well-known TTs abroad to further their national interests. The Baltic states undertake a good deal of effort to contribute to debates in the capitals of the powerful nations through the TT channel, hoping that some form of support can be gained for their positions in the international arena. Meanwhile, the governments expect domestic TTs to be visible internationally and influence policy debates by sending Baltic-favourable messages to foreign policy communities. On the other side of the nexus, TTs adapt to government expectations while also trying to maintain some level of independence. The process of using TTs as instruments to further the aims of governments is based mainly on the perceptions of government officials themselves, who are convinced that TTs should serve policy goals. Governments dominate the nexus because TTs depend on governmental support and/or wish to be helpful in furthering governmental goals.

The “Civilizing” Effect of Body-Worn Cameras on Police-Civilian Interactions: Examining the Current Evidence, Potential Moderators, and Methodological Limitations

Past studies on the “civilizing” effect of body-worn cameras (BWC) on police and civilian behavior have yielded mixed results. Some studies have shown a reduction in the use of force reports (e.g., Ariel et al., 2015 ) and civilian complaints ( Hedberg et al., 2017 ) as a result of officers utilizing BWCs. However, other studies have found null effects (e.g., Yokum et al., 2017 ) or even the opposite findings (i.e., increases in use of force reports; Ariel et al., 2016a ). In the current review, we aim to reconcile these inconsistencies by discussing psychological factors (i.e., police attitudes toward BWCs, civilian attitudes toward the police, geographic psychology, officer perceptions of self-legitimacy, and civilian stress) that may moderate the civilizing effect of BWCs. We also highlight the methodological issues (i.e., contamination, unit of analysis, and low base rates) that have burdened past studies involving field experiments and advocate for the use of multiple methods to strengthen any existing weaknesses in the literature. Overall, we argue for a closer examination of individual-level psychological factors and the use of multiple methods to help elucidate the ambiguities concerning the “civilizing” effect found in the BWC literature.

Factors influencing incarcerated offenders’ perceptions of correctional officers in South African correctional centres

Factors influencing incarcerated offenders’ perceptions of correctional officers in South African correctional centres

Building resilience: a case study of occupational factors influencing levels of ‘happiness’ for Abu Dhabi police officers

Abstract The policing and security community globally is in a race against time to develop strategies for improving mental health well-being amongst the profession. For professionals across the multiple contributing areas supporting police officer well-being, i.e. medical practitioners, psychologists, management professionals, mentors, coaches, counsellors, understanding contributing factors from the experience, and perception of police officers is a critical contributing area of research (Baker et al., 2020; Deschênes et al., 2018. Psychosocial factors linked to the occupational psychological health of police officers: preliminary study. Cogent Psychology 5(1): 1426271; Purba and Demou, 2019. The relationship between organisational stressors and mental wellbeing within police officers: a systematic review. BMC Public Health 19(1): 1286) The aim of the study reported in this paper was to evaluate the influence of work factors of organizational rewards, job characteristics, and factors relating to working in a public service agency on an officer’s perception of happiness. A survey was distributed to police officers in the Abu Dhabi police force, with an inferential analysis conducted to examine the relationships between work factors and levels of officer happiness. The findings identified employee perception of organizational rewards, job control, task significance, frequency of feedback, desire for helping others as primary reasons to work in the police, and opportunities available to help others in society were all predictors of police happiness. This article discusses specifically the employees’ perception of rewards at work and job characteristics as determinants of happiness. The findings contributing to development of future organizational response for enhancing officer well-being and importantly inform in building resilience to mental health illness for police officers.

Police encounters with individuals perceived as having intellectual or developmental disabilities: an examination of encounter characteristics from two studies

PurposeVery little is known about the frequency and nature of police contacts with individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DDs). The purpose of the study is to examine the characteristics of police contacts with persons with I/DD and how they differ from other behavioral health-related encounters.Design/methodology/approachThe authors draw on data from two large National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded studies of police response to mental/behavioral health crises and the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) approach. Both projects used the same incident report form. The authors examine detailed information from 219 calls in which officers perceived that the subject had I/DD, either alone or co-occurring with a mental illness or substance use disorder and compared them with calls in which I/DD was not indicated (n = 1,305).FindingsCalls with subjects with I/DD most frequently occurr ed in homes or on the street and were resolved without formal action. The most frequent subject symptoms/behaviors noted were confusion and anxiety. Some differences from calls with individuals without I/DD were noted in term of presentation and outcomes.Research limitations/implicationsData relied on officer perception of subject having I/DD, which may miss more subtle indicators.Social implicationsThere is a need for specific research attention to police contacts with persons with I/DD that differentiates those contacts from other behavioral health-related encounters.Originality/valueThere is still much the authors do not know about police contacts with persons with I/DD. However, findings provide a preliminary glimpse into the nature of these contacts and suggest they may differ somewhat from other behavioral health related police encounters.