Date of Conferral

2016

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Nancy Bostain

Abstract

Female law enforcement officers remain an underrepresented population in ranking positions within police organizations in the United States. Current research focuses on systemic factors that inhibit female law enforcement officers within the United States from achieving positions of rank. Grounded in Costa and McCrae's five factor model of personality, this study examined female law enforcement officers' personality traits and their relation to achieved rank. This quantitative study used multiple regression analysis of survey data to determine whether the personality traits of openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and/or neuroticism alone or in combination predict rank. American female law enforcement officers in both ranking and nonranking positions were sampled from the social media site LEO-ONLY. Data collection included the personality index NEO Five Factor Inventory - 3 survey (a self-report inventory that measured the five domains of personality) and a research-developed demographic questionnaire. Data were collected electronically through the Survey Monkey website. Findings of the study indicated that a statistically significant relationship between the five factor model personality traits alone or in combination with one another and rank of female law enforcement officers was not found. Although the results of the study were not statistically significant, the study results determined that the personality traits of both ranking and nonranking female officers were similar. The results of this study will influence social change by providing a different perspective on influencing factors in rank advancement of female law enforcement officers.

Download

Included in

Psychology Commons

Share

 
COinS