Police Job Satisfaction Essay

The Impact of Work Atmosphere and Officers’ Demographics on Police Job Satisfaction

The work atmosphere and officers’ demographics have a major impact on how satisfied police are with their jobs. (Higgins 10). To improve police work satisfaction, however, more study on this relationship is required. There are various ways to capture observations in a study survey, according to McLeod. Controlled views, unrestricted observations, and participant observations are a few of these techniques. Since few resources are needed, a researcher can conduct observations for a relatively low expense.

Controlled Observations in Psychology Labs

The majority of controlled observations happen in a psychology lab. The researcher uses a standardized method for this observation, and participants are assigned to various independent variable groups at random. Observation of subjects’ behavior is done by the use of a behavior schedule. The behavior observed by the researcher is classified systematically into distinct categories. The coding of categories on the schedule is usually done to enable the collected data to be counted and to be turned into statistics (Hansen, Rowna 371). In controlled observations, the participants are aware that they are being observed since the researcher outlines the purpose of the research to the research participants. However, these observations are non-participant as the researcher avoids direct contact with the participants.

Naturalistic Observation in Natural Surroundings

On the other hand, naturalistic observation focuses on participant’s spontaneous behavior while in natural surroundings. The researcher records observations from the participants by observing them in natural surroundings (Meisels, Murray 30). This kind of observation leads to the generation of new ideas since the researcher has an opportunity to evaluate the whole situation. However, these observations are less reliable since it is difficult to control some variables. This unreliability does not allow the repeat of the research exactly by other researchers.

Participant Observation and Deeper Insight

In participant observation, the researcher obtains a deeper insight of the participants by becoming part of the group. For instance, Leon Festinger used this approach to study a religious cult who had the belief that the world was about to end. Leon Festinger joined the cult to study their reaction if the prophecy did not come to pass (Goisman, Robert M. 194). However, in this approach the objectivity of the researcher can be lost for getting too involved hence becomes biased.

The Best Observation Method for Research on Police Job Satisfaction

The best observation method for research on police satisfaction on the job would be the controlled observation approach. This approach is the best suited for this research since it utilizes structures necessary for directly obtaining information from the study subjects. The approach is also cheap to use.

Method of Sampling

Despite the observation strategy used by the researcher, the researcher has to make an important decision on how to classify and record the data. This classification and recording of data usually involve a method of sampling. Methods of sampling can be based on probability or non-probability in nature. Probability sampling involves selecting the study sample randomly while non-probability sampling selectively selects the study sample hence it is also referred to as judgment sampling. Research on police satisfaction on the job is based on various demographic characteristics of individual officers as well as the work environment. This fact makes it necessary to use non-probability methods of research since the study involves the selection of officers with different characteristics.

Purposive Sampling for Obtaining Specific Characteristics

In this study, the sampling method to be adopted would be the purposive sampling. Purposive sampling requires the researcher to choose research participants using his or her judgment. This method is a non-probability sampling method. This method is an ideal approach to choosing the right participants for the research. For instance, there are various demographic characteristics of the officers which have to be represented in the study. These demographic characteristics include age, gender, rank, and educational level of the participants. To obtain study participants with all these characteristics, purposive sampling will enable the selection of participants with such characteristics.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Purposive Sampling

Purposive sampling has several advantages as well as disadvantages. Among other sampling methods available, purposive sampling is more cost-effective and time-effective. If the primary source of data is limited, purposive sampling can serve as the only appropriate method of sampling to use. However, purposive sampling may be vulnerable to errors since the researcher has to make a judgment on the research participants. Also, this method of sampling has a low level of reliability and high levels of bias.

Other Methods of Sampling

Other methods of sampling which are commonly used in research include the probability sampling methods. However, using these methods would lead to a scenario where all the demographic characteristics of police officers are not represented in the study participants since the participants are selected randomly. Probability sampling, however, makes it possible for a researcher to estimate the amount of sampling error to be expected in a given sample. There are several probability sampling methods which include simple random, stratified random, systematic, and cluster (Gabler, S. 171).

Simple Random Sampling

In simple random sampling, the selection of a given participant is independent of the selection of another participant. Research participants are drawn from the study population by the use of a table of random numbers (Gabler, S. 171). This method of sampling is not suitable for selecting police officers with different demographic characteristics since participants are selected randomly.

Stratified Random Sampling

Stratified random sampling involves the dividing of the study population into subgroups from which participants would be drawn randomly. Each stratum contains different and specific characteristics. The researcher needs to understand the different demographic characteristics of the study population (Gabler, S. 171). This approach would be employed on the research on police satisfaction on the job, but it would be tedious since all the study population needs to be divided into subgroups according to specific demographic characteristics then the study participants would be selected from the subgroups.

Systematic Sampling and Cluster Sampling

Systematic sampling allows the selection of study participants at specified intervals. This method of sampling would not be appropriate for the research since the selection of participants would lead to the absence of some demographic characteristics of the study participants. On the other hand, cluster sampling employs the division of the study population into different clusters from where study participants can be drawn randomly (Gabler, S. 171). This method is similar to stratified sampling and would not be appropriate for the research since all demographic characteristics of the police officers may not be represented in the study participants.

Works Cited

Higgins, G. “Major determinants of job satisfaction among police managers.” The southwest journal of criminal justice (2011): 8-15.

Hansen, Rowna. “Controlled Observations.” Childhood Education, vol 4, no. 8, 2015, pp. 370-372. Informa UK Limited, doi:10.1080/00094056.1928.10723319.

Meisels, Murray. “Naturalistic Observation in Psychoanalysis.” Psychoanalytic Social Work, vol 6, no. 2, 2012, pp. 19-35. Informa UK Limited, doi:10.1300/j032v06n02_02.

Goisman, Robert M. “Participant Observation.” Comprehensive Psychiatry, vol 19, no. 2, 2014, pp. 193-194. Elsevier BV, doi:10.1016/0010-440x(78)90066-4.

Gabler, S. “On Unequal Probability Sampling: Sufficient Conditions for the Superiority of Sampling without Replacement.” Biometrika, vol 71, no. 1, 2014, p. 171. JSTOR, doi:10.2307/2336409.