Does Teaching Law Enforcement Leaders about Evidence-Based Policing Increase their Receptivity to Research?

• In Event: Police Effectiveness and Performance

Abstract

Evidence-based policing (EBP) encourages law enforcement leaders to make decisions based on objective, rigorous, empirical research. While evidence-based research has been widely used in various disciplines, it has not been fully integrated into police strategy, despite research demonstrating its benefit. To examine whether training police leaders about EBP increases their receptivity to research, we conducted an experimental evaluation of a 40-hour EBP training block. Study participants included active-duty police administrators and supervisors who were enrolled in the Southern Police Institute’s Command Officer Development Course. Using a Solomon four-group design to assess pre-testing effects, study participants were randomly assigned to two treatment groups and two control groups. Participants in each group completed surveys pre-training and/or post-training, and long-term follow up surveys regarding their perceptions about using empirical research during strategic decision-making processes. This presentation will discuss findings from our multivariable analyses, as well as policy implications for practitioners and criminal justice educators.

Authors

• Megan C. Atwood, University of Louisville

• Dennis G. Hippert, University of Louisville, Southern Police Institute

• Bradley A. Campbell, University of Louisville