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Predisposition Or Socialization? A Study Of Law Enforcement Values, Everett O. Doolittle Dr.

School of Business Student Theses and Dissertations

This research was intended to contribute to this debate and its policy implications by examining whether students entering a law enforcement degree program hold predetermined beliefs and values that are significantly different from their classmates not entering law enforcement careers and that vary among themselves according to age, race, or gender. Over 5 years, a 30-question survey of 28 classes regarding current criminal justice issues and debates was conducted among 833 students taking an introductory-level criminal justice course at a mid-western university.

The data strongly supported the research hypothesis that beginning law enforcement students held different beliefs and values than …