Law Enforcement Job Suitability Evaluations: How Military Service Influences Psychological Testing and Suitability

Date of Award

2021

Document Type

Doctoral Research Paper

Degree Name

Psy.D.

Organizational Unit

Graduate School of Professional Psychology

First Advisor

Laura Meyer

Second Advisor

Artur Poczwardowski

Third Advisor

Jamie Brower

Keywords

Law enforcement, California psychological inventory, Selection, Job suitability, Pre-employment post-offer psychological evaluation

Abstract

This study examined group differences in response to the California Psychological Inventory – 434 Police and Public Safety Score report (CPI-PPSSR) using a public safety candidate sample. Even though a significant portion of public safety applicants are military veterans, few studies have investigated psychological suitability ratings of this population specifically. Furthering previous research on the CPI-PPSSR, the purpose of this study was to identify key differences in personality traits between civilian and military veteran applicants. Archival data from pre-employment post-offer job suitability evaluations were used. A one-way multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was conducted to explore differences between three applicant groups: civilians, military veterans, and military veterans with a history of disciplinary action during their military service. Personality traits known to be predictive of future job behavior in police work, as assessed by the CPI-PPSSR, were used. There were no statistically significant differences between group membership on the variables assessed in this study. This study clarifies that disciplinary action in military settings do not result in unique personality presentations as measured by the CPI-PPSSR. Additionally, it offers novel considerations for psychologists evaluating military veteran law enforcement police applicants.

Publication Statement

Copyright held by the author. Permanently suppressed.

Extent

35 pgs

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