Citation

Anson RH, Mann JD, Sherman D. J. Crim. Justice 1986; 14(4): 295-305.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1986, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/0047-2352(86)90123-6

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article presents an empirical assessment of the reliability and predictive validity of a modified version of Niederhoffer's (1967) police officer cynicism scale. The version of the scale examined in the study has been the subject of considerable methodological evaluations (Regoli, 1976a; Regoli and Poole, 1979; Anson et al., 1980; Anson, 1983). The results of these studies have not been consistent; nor have they come to grips with the predictive validity of the scale. Forty police officers attending a regional metropolitan training academy completed the scale at six-week intervals. The first administration of the scale subsequently was correlated to police supervisory ratings six months after scoring the Niederhoffer instrument. Longitudinal data revealed that the scale was an unstable and internally fragmented measurement instrument. Simple correlations between two distinct administrations of the scale and evaluations of police officers by superior officers indicated that the instrument had little predictive validity. The directions of the correlations support a reference group theory of police officer cynicism. Officers scoring high on cynicism receive higher job evaluations by superiors in police organizations. These data provide empirical support for the argument that cynicism is functional in the police officer subculture and that it is positively reinforced by superiors and peers.