Question 1

Hargrave and Hiatt (1987) found that people portray themselves more __________ in face-to-face interviews than on personality tests,resulting inmore________________.

Accepted Answer

Hargrave and Hiatt (1987) discovered that individuals tend to present themselves in a more positive light during face-to-face interviews compared to how they might appear on personality tests. This tendency can lead to the hiring of individuals who may not be as suitable for the position as their interview persona suggests, thus increasing the risk of poor hiring decisions.

Question 2

Which of the following psychological instruments was specifically developed to measure law-enforcement candidates' personality attributes andbehavior patterns?

Accepted Answer

The Inwald Personality Inventory (IPI) was specifically developed to measure the personality attributes and behavior patterns of law enforcement candidates. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), California Psychological Inventory (CPI), and Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator (MBTI) are all general personality instruments that were not designed specifically for law enforcement candidates.

Question 3

The research literature from industrial/organizational psychology on the use of the clinical interview process in police selection

Accepted Answer

The research literature from industrial/organizational psychology on the use of the clinical interview process in police selection does not provide evidence that the interview is a valid predictor of job performance.

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT a problem associated with problem police officers?

Accepted Answer

Low intelligence is not a commonly identified problem associated with problem police officers. Impulsivity, risk-taking, and easily getting bored are all potential problems that could lead to misconduct or poor decision-making by police officers.

Question 5

Germann (1969) estimated that as much as 90% of entry-level police training is devoted to "crook-catching." Approximately how much of their time doactual police spend doing so?

Accepted Answer

While Germann estimated that 90% of entry-level police training is devoted to "crook-catching," actual police spend a much smaller percentage of their time doing so, with estimates ranging from 10 to 15%.

Question 6

Traditional police training programs have been criticized for narrowly focusing upon aspects of the job associated with _______while ignoring_______.

Accepted Answer

Traditional police training programs have often been criticized for focusing too much on aspects of the job related to criminal activity, such as arrest procedures and the use of force, while not giving enough attention to human-relations skills, which are crucial for community policing and building trust within communities.

Question 7

Bartol (1991) found that police officers who scored high on the L scale of the MMPI demonstrated poor judgment in the field,particularly under high levelsof stress.What is the L Scale used to detect?

Accepted Answer

The L Scale is used to detect attempts by respondents to present themselves in a favorable light. This scale consists of 15 items that assess the tendency of individuals to deny social deviance and exaggerate their virtues. High scores on this scale suggest that the respondent is trying to appear better than they actually are, which can affect the validity of their responses. In the case of police officers, high scores on the L Scale may indicate a tendency to present themselves as competent and responsible, despite lacking the necessary qualities, which can lead to poor judgment in high-stress situations.

Question 8

Using the MMPI and the IPI in combination has been found to

Accepted Answer

Studies have found that using both the MMPI (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory) and the IPI (Inwald Personality Inventory) together increases the accuracy of police selection decisions to around 85%. This is because the two tests measure different aspects of personality, and using them in combination can provide a more comprehensive assessment of the applicant's suitability for the job. Gender does not appear to be a factor in the effectiveness of using these tests together.

Question 9

What is true regarding situational tests?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is true regarding situational tests?
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Question 10

Which of the following is NOT a problem associated with the interview process for police applicants?

Accepted Answer

This is not a problem associated with the interview process for police applicants. The high number of police academy applicants who qualify for admission is actually a positive aspect of the process because it allows for a highly selective and competitive recruitment process.

Question 11

In New York City,the police admission test is usually taken by between 30,000 and 50,000 applicants.Out of these,approximately how many arechosen for the police academy each year?

Accepted Answer

While the exact number varies, typically between 500 to 1500 applicants are chosen for the police academy each year in New York City. This falls within the range given in option C. Options A and B are too low, while option D is too high.

Question 12

Which of the following profiles from the California Psychological Inventory (CPI) best explains the differences between problematic police officers andthose who have had few serious problems?

Accepted Answer

Class II includes traits such as maturity, responsibility, self-control, and personal values, which are all important in preventing problematic behavior in police officers. Therefore, this profile may best explain the differences between problematic and non-problematic officers. The other class options do not necessarily address traits that specifically relate to police behavior.

Question 13

What is an example of "role malfeasance"?

Accepted Answer

Destroying evidence is an example of role malfeasance because it is a violation of the public trust and a breach of the officer's duty to uphold the law.

Question 14

According to the study by Shusman,Inwald,and Knatz (1987),which of the following most accurately assigns police candidates?

Accepted Answer

The IPI (Inwald Personality Inventory) is specifically designed for assessing the suitability of police candidates, as indicated by the study.

Question 15

Which of the following is the most commonly used psychological inventory for police selection?

Accepted Answer

The most commonly used psychological inventory for police selection is the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). It is a standardized assessment tool that assesses a range of psychopathology and personality traits. The MMPI has been validated for use in law enforcement and is widely used in police selection processes. The other options, such as the Maslow Hierarchical Inventory, Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator, and Inwald Personality Inventory, are not commonly used in police selection processes.

Question 16

Which of the following situational tests was shown to be the most highly correlated with success at the police academy?

Accepted Answer

The Clues Test has been shown to be the most highly correlated with success at the police academy because it assesses observational and memory skills, which are critical for law enforcement officers.

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT one of the reasons described by White and Honig (1995) explaining why police officers often have antagonistic attitudes toward psychologists?

Accepted Answer

White and Honig (1995) did not mention the portrayal of psychologists by the media as a reason why police officers may have antagonistic attitudes toward psychologists.

Question 18

Stress management would be an example of what kind of on the job training for law enforcement officers?

Accepted Answer

Stress management is a type of wellness training that focuses on maintaining physical and mental health in high-stress occupations such as law enforcement. Options B, C, and D imply training related to organizational, informational/skill-related, and specialized training, respectively, which do not specifically address stress management for officers.

Question 19

A study by Ostrov (1985) showed a relationship between several of the Drug Scale items on the IPI and positive urine analysis results of applicants to theChicago Police Department.What conclusion was made,in light of thisrelationship?

Accepted Answer

The study showed a relationship between the Drug Scale items on the IPI and positive urine analysis results, suggesting that candidates had admitted to illegal behaviors in their responses to the IPI.

Question 20

Hargrave and Hiatt (1987) looked at the ability of two clinicians to predict the success of police trainees using interviews.The study found

Accepted Answer

The study found that both clinicians correctly judged trainees as suitable vs. unsuitable for more than 65% of the trainees, indicating that they were able to predict the success of police trainees using interviews to some extent. Option A does not accurately reflect the results of the study, as it suggests that both clinicians had strong predictive abilities, while the study only found that they were able to predict success to some extent. Option B may or may not be accurate, as the study did not compare the two clinicians' abilities directly. Option D is not accurate, as the study did find that the clinicians could predict the success of the trainees.

Quiz 3: Psychology and Law Enforcement: Selection, Training, and Evaluation

Hargrave and Hiatt (1987) found that people portray themselves more in face-to-face interviews than on personality tests,resulting inmore______.