ABSTRACT

This study aimed to evaluate the dimensionality of motivations to become a police officer; assess sex, race, and ethnicity differences in motives; and analyze the relationship between motivations, job satisfaction, and career outlook. Using a sample of police recruits (N = 1009) drawn from the United States, the analyses revealed three basic dimensions: (1) economic opportunities and stability; (2) working conditions, including excitement and prestige; and (3) humanitarian reasons, such as working with people. The results suggest that focusing on humanitarian motivations should directly result in the recruitment of more female, Black, and Latinx candidates and indirectly result in higher job satisfaction and more positive career attitudes. Furthermore, the results indicate that using messages that convey economic opportunities and job stability for recruitment efforts should also result in more female, Black, and Latinx candidates; however, this strategy will not have the positive indirect effect of increased satisfaction or career outlook.

摘要

本研究旨在评估成为警察的动机维度；评估动机中的性别、种族和民族差异；并分析动机、工作满意度和职业前景之间的关系。使用警察新兵样本（N= 1009）来自美国的分析揭示了三个基本维度：（1）经济机会和稳定性；(2) 工作条件，包括兴奋和声望；(3) 人道主义原因，例如与人合作。结果表明，关注人道主义动机应直接导致招聘更多女性、黑人和拉丁裔候选人，并间接导致更高的工作满意度和更积极的职业态度。此外，结果表明，在招聘工作中使用传达经济机会和工作稳定性的信息也应该会导致更多的女性、黑人和拉丁裔候选人；然而，这种策略不会产生提高满意度或职业前景的积极间接影响。