NCJ Number
138712
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 19 Issue: 3 Dated: (September 1992) Pages: 286-293
Date Published
1992
Length
8 pages
Annotation
The ability of peer assessment to predict police academy performance and later job performance was explored using information from 82 trainees at the University of Alabama Law Enforcement Academy.
Abstract
They represented 46 percent of the trainees in eight classes. They evaluated their peers in the areas of interpersonal responsiveness, technical ability, and overall likelihood of success as a law enforcement officer. This information was compared with the final examination scores (percentage correct) at the academy and job performance data based on the supervisor's evaluation on an 18-item Likert- type job performance scale 1 year following graduation from the academy. Supervisors also provided more objective information from personnel records, including firing and suspensions, days absent, promotions and merit salary increases, and other factors. Results revealed that peer rankings were significantly correlated with academy instructor rankings, with job supervisors, and with two of the four objective measures of job performance (retention and absenteeism). Findings indicate that peer assessment techniques provide concurrent and predictive validity and may be a valuable tool for the prediction of success in law enforcement. Tables and 4 references