There has been very little research, however, on the question of how different race, class, age and other groups perceive the roles and functions of the police in society. The conceptualization and conduct of the research permits a partial testing of three alternative theoretical frameworks. / The three theoretical models are: (1) The Functional Model. This perspective, in short, would lead one to expect no major systematic differences between or among large groups in society concerning the functions and behavior of the police. (2) The Class Conflict Model. According to this theoretical perspective, one would expect to find major systematic differences concerning the police between socioeconomic groups, with the lower groups (lower class) more likely to perceive police functions and behavior as oppressive. (3) The Colonial Model. This perspective also emphasizes differences concerning police functions and behavior, but along race rather than socioeconomic group (class) lines, with blacks more likely to perceive police functions and behaviors as oppressive. / The major findings of the study are: (1) Perceptions of Police Brutality.--The variance in all three measures of perceptions of police brutality is mainly accounted for by the variable race. Blacks are more likely to perceive the episodes as cases of abusive police behavior. The colonial model appears to be supported. The only variable appearing in the model is socioeconomic status, but not in the way predicted by the class conflict model. According to the results of the analysis, higher rather than lower, socioeconomic respondents are more likely to perceive the episodes as instances of police brutality. (2) Police Functions.--In that it is not possible to construct a statistical model that adequately accounts for the variance in the perceptions of police functions variable, the functionalist model hypotheses concerning this variable seem to be supported to some extent. The statistical analysis, however, indicates that males and blacks hold considerably more negative views of police functions than other groups. Thus, the colonial model hypotheses seem to receive a modicum of support. The class/conflict model hypotheses are not supported. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 45-04, Section: A, page: 1211. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1984.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_75304 |
| Contributors | POLIVKA, LAWRENCE J., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 170 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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