Diversity Receptivity and Awareness Among a Police Academy Cohort: Effectiveness of an Implicit Bias Training

• In Event: Police Training Programs

Abstract

Purpose: Widespread calls for police reform make implicit bias training in policing essential. The purpose of this research is to measure student officers’ awareness and receptivity to racial diversity and gender equality before and after an implicit bias training. Methods: Surveys with the Quick Discrimination Index (QDI) were distributed to a cohort of student officers in a unique dual-enrollment academy and Master’s program (n=15) before and after an 8-hour Fair and Impartial PolicingⓇ training. Results: The female officers’ (n=6) scores were significantly lower than the male officers’ (n=9) scores for the total index as well as two of the three QDI factors, indicating that the female officers were more receptive, aware, and sensitive to both racial diversity and gender equality. The groups were not significantly different in their feelings of closeness toward diverse racial groups. The training did not lead to a significant change in student officers’ scores. However, their pretest scores were high relative to other student samples, indicating a possible ceiling effect. Conclusions: These results indicate that this implicit bias training may not be effective, at least for this unique sample, but they support efforts to increase the presence of female officers in the field.

Authors

• Alyssa M. Yetter, Merrimack College

• Alicia M. Girgenti-Malone, Merrimack College