Date of Conferral

2020

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Karel Kurst-Swanger

Abstract

Law enforcement agencies are frequently studied for officer wellness, yet research is limited in the influence of organizational support for the psychological wellness of crime scene investigators exposed to tragic scenes. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the perceptions of job performance effectiveness of crime scene investigators based on organizational support through the provision of stress management resources. The theoretical framework of organizational support theory and management theory formed the basis of the investigation into the contributing elements of job performance. Data were collected through surveys from 92 crime scene investigators, of whom 77 were civilians and 15 were sworn, primarily representing Florida law enforcement agencies. Multiple regression analyses assessed the relationships between the variables of perceived organizational support, stress management training, trauma exposure, tenure, and education to determine factors influencing perceived job effectiveness. The regression analysis results indicated that tenure was a statistically significant determinant of perceived job effectiveness (p = .036) among the predictor variables. The results were consistent with prior explorations of the influential nature of perceived organizational support and demographic characteristics as predictors of job effectiveness. The statistical model applied was appropriate for the theoretical framework examined. Implications for positive social change include recommendations to policy makers to increase resources to law enforcement agencies for the wellness of crime scene investigators and the establishment of a critical incident protocol that, if provided as a preventive measure, could impact public safety and perceptions of organizational support.

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