Production and Consumption of Research in Police Agencies in the United States

• NCJ Number: 142410
• Author(s): C B Klockars; W E Harver
• Date Published: 1993
• Length: 153 pages
• Grant Number(s): 90-IJ-CX-0031
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Survey

Annotation

This national survey of 491 U.S. police agencies found that about one-third had formal planning and research units, that the national research agenda of police agencies was large and remarkably diverse, and that about one-third believed they had conducted a research project of potential national interest.

Abstract

The survey was based on a sample of all U.S. police agencies employing more than 50 sworn officers, as well as a selected sample of 91 small municipal police agencies employing between 35 and 49 sworn officers. Of the total sample of 777 agencies, 491 or 64 percent returned questionnaires. The survey investigated police research agendas and methods and resources police used to conduct research. More than two-thirds of the respondents reported conducting literature/library searches, more than half reported conducting surveys, and nearly a quarter reported conducting studies that employed experimental designs. About a third had presented papers on their research at professional meetings. More than 70 percent of the police agencies described most of their work in terms of introducing ideas proven to be successful elsewhere. Over 80 percent of the respondents agreed that additional training in research methods would substantially improve their capacity to produce useful research. In about 36 percent of the 491 agencies, research was done by persons employed in formal research and planning units. Most police administrators supported research efforts, and research and planning units played a major role in agency change. An analysis of survey findings and site visits to 12 police agencies suggests a theoretical, organizational typology of the police research function that divides police researchers into four polar types: proactive producers, proactive consumers, reactive producers, and reactive consumers. The dynamics of police research are examined, and policy recommendations on police research are offered. Appendixes contain the survey questionnaires and supporting documents, a list of agencies surveyed, and a list of research topics.