NCJ Number
117393
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 56 Issue: 2 Dated: (February 1989) Pages: 36-39
Date Published
1989
Length
4 pages
Annotation
The history of psychological testing of police officer candidates has evolved through three relatively distinct stages, from the early awareness of the need for screening, through the development of standardized tests, to the better use of appropriate norm groups.
Abstract
However, many police departments lack a structured and systematic approach to ensuring that officers are relatively free from psychological problems that may adversely affect their job performance. Nevertheless, it is imperative to determine that a candidate has the emotional and psychological stability necessary to handle the many stressors involved in police work. Testing originally relied largely on the use of intuition and expertise. It then evolved into a stage characterized by the marketing of standardized test instruments and the development of norms based on various deviant populations. Testing now involves standardized testing using norms based on police officers and related professionals. Three main instruments are the Law Enforcement Assessment and Development Report, the Inwald Personality Inventory, and the Minnesota Personnel Interpretive Report. These and other tests provide only small pieces of information about prospective employees, however. A fourth generation of testing is needed that would be based on local norms. 7 reference notes.