Community Members' Motivations when Deciding to Attend a Police-Sponsored Public Meetings and Events
Date of Conferral
2023
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Criminal Justice
Advisor
John M. Walker
Abstract
AbstractCommunity events sponsored by police organizations intend to promote communication and support for the police, but there is limited information on what would attract participants to these events. The current study explored what conditions were needed for community members to make their decision to attend. Social exchange theory was used in this research as the conceptual framework to understand participant behavior, positing that the rewards and the benefits affect an individual's decisions. Situational theory of publics also elucidates the understanding of the results, pointing out the differences between groups within a community when planning an event. Open-ended interview questions explored ten community members' motivations when deciding on attendance. The data were then coded and analyzed, finding that trust in the police, police legitimacy, or the police use of procedural justice did not influence attendance. The ultimate decision to attend a police-sponsored event was the location, purpose, convenience, and any activities involved, so long as attendance did not interfere with anything else. Communication is vital to positive social change. The research findings can assist law enforcement with planning events to present a more comprehensive message to the groups within the community they want to interact, which can attract better attendance. The results of this research can improve communication and lead to positive social change by connecting people with common interests not only in community safety but in their hobbies and daily lives.
Recommended Citation
Venables, Lynn Vernon, "Community Members' Motivations when Deciding to Attend a Police-Sponsored Public Meetings and Events" (2023). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 14790.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/14790
