Examining Alignment Between Canadian Municipal Police Performance Evaluation Policies and ...

243 Pages·2016·2.11 MB·English

Walden University
ScholarWorks
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Collection
2016
Examining Alignment Between Canadian
Municipal Police Performance Evaluation Policies
and Officer Perceptions
Birdella Wilson
Walden University
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Walden University

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by

Birdella Wilson

has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects,
and that any and all revisions required by
the review committee have been made.

Review Committee
Dr. Matthew Jones, Committee Chairperson,
Public Policy and Administration Faculty

Dr. Richard Worch, Committee Member,
Public Policy and Administration Faculty

Dr. Christopher Jones, University Reviewer,
Public Policy and Administration Faculty

Chief Academic Officer
Eric Riedel, Ph.D.

Walden University
2016
Abstract
Examining Alignment Between Canadian Municipal Police Performance Evaluation
Policies and Officer Perceptions
by
Birdella Lorraine Wilson

M.S.W., M.T.S., [Wilfrid Laurier University], 1992, 2002
B.A., B.S.W. McMaster University, 1990

Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
Public Policy and Administration

Walden University
August 2016
Abstract
A lack of alignment between police performance evaluation policy purposes and officer
performance evaluation perceptions has implications for the organizations’ resource
management, officer morale, and public safety. A literature review points towards a gap
existing between policy purpose statements and employee perceptions. The purpose of
this study was to investigate the relationship between the policy purposes of police
performance evaluations and the officers’ perceptions of those evaluation experiences in
4 Ontario municipal police services. DiMaggio and Powell’s (1983) Institutional theory
was the foundation for this study. Data for this study were collected from 4 police
services in Ontario, Canada. The data consisted of police performance evaluation
policies and in-person interviews with 12 officers. Data were inductively coded, and then
the coded data were subjected to content analysis. Three policy purpose themes and 13
officer perception themes emerged that indicate that: 1) there seems to be a lack of
alignment between the policy purpose theme of assessing work performance and eight of
the perception themes; 2) officers perceived performance evaluations as negatively
impacting their morale: and, 3) healthy relationships with supervisors were more useful
to officers than performance evaluations in terms of performance and career outcomes
and progression. Consistent with Institutional theory, officers perceived performance
evaluations to be necessary even with limited utility. The positive social change
implications stemming from this study include recommendations to police executives to
consider alternative processes in tandem with performance evaluations to improve
morale, in turn creating better opportunities for improved public and officer safety.
Examining Alignment Between Canadian Municipal Police Performance Evaluation
Policies and Officer Perceptions.
by
Birdella Lorraine Wilson

M.S.W., M.T.S., [Wilfrid Laurier University], 1992, 2002
B.A., B.S.W. McMaster University, 1990

Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
Public Policy and Administration

Walden University
April 2016
Dedication
For those who work full-time, take care of their families and still make time for
education.
Acknowledgments
I thank Peel Regional Police who has funded this degree as part of their
commitment to the development of employees. Without their financial support I would
not be writing this. I also acknowledge my parents, Lorna and Fred Wilson who fostered
a love of learning and supported my education, something that they did not have. Dr.
Jones, my Research Chair and Dr. Worch have been critical to me finishing this degree
and are excellent in providing feedback and being both accessible and supportive.
Finally, many thanks to Joseph Paolini, my sweetheart, who for the past many years has
been supportive while giving up big parts of our life together as I worked on this degree.
Table of Contents
List of Tables .......................................................................................................................v
Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ....................................................................................1
Introduction ....................................................................................................................1
Background of the Study ...............................................................................................1
Problem Statement .........................................................................................................3
Purpose of the Study ......................................................................................................3
Research Question .........................................................................................................4
Theoretical Foundation ..................................................................................................4
Conceptual Framework ..................................................................................................6
Nature of the Study ........................................................................................................8
Definition of Terms........................................................................................................9
Assumptions .................................................................................................................10
Scope ..........................................................................................................................11
Delimitations ................................................................................................................11
Limitations ...................................................................................................................12
Significance..................................................................................................................13
Summary ......................................................................................................................14
Chapter 2: Literature Review .............................................................................................16
Introduction ..................................................................................................................16
Literature Search Strategy............................................................................................17
i
Theoretical Foundation ................................................................................................19
Police Organizations’ Unique Societal Position ..........................................................27
Performance Evaluations .............................................................................................29
Transparency and Accountability ................................................................................31
Alignment ....................................................................................................................32
Summary ......................................................................................................................34
Chapter 3: Research Method ..............................................................................................35
Introduction ..................................................................................................................35
Research Design and Rationale ...................................................................................36
Role of the Researcher .................................................................................................37
Methodological Approach ...........................................................................................38
Participant Selection Logic ................................................................................... 38
Determining the Sample ....................................................................................... 39
Instrumentation ..................................................................................................... 42
Procedures for Recruitment, Participation, and Data Collection .......................... 43
Data Analysis ........................................................................................................ 45
Issues of Trustworthiness .............................................................................................46
Ethical Procedures ................................................................................................ 53
Summary ......................................................................................................................54
Chapter 4: Results .............................................................................................................55
Introduction ..................................................................................................................55
Setting ..........................................................................................................................55
ii
Demographics ..............................................................................................................56
Data Collection ............................................................................................................57
Data Analysis ...............................................................................................................57
Evidence of Trustworthiness........................................................................................59
Results ..........................................................................................................................63
Interview Themes.................................................................................................. 63
Policy Themes ....................................................................................................... 95
Discussion of the Relationship between Officer Perception Themes and
Policy Themes ........................................................................................... 96
Discussion of Officer Perception Themes by Highest Subcategory
Response Percentages in Relation to Policy Purpose Themes................ 112
Discussion of Officer Perception Themes by Second Highest Subcategory
Response Percentages in Relation to Policy Purpose Themes................ 115
Discussion of Officer Perception Themes by Third Highest Subcategory
Response Percentages in Relation to Policy Purpose Themes................ 118
Discussion of Officer Perception Themes by Fourth Highest Subcategory
Response Percentages in Relation to Policy Purpose Themes................ 120
Discussion of Response Frequency Percentages by Perception Theme and
Policy Purpose Themes/Nonalignment ................................................... 120
Discussion of the Importance of Discrepant Data .............................................. 121
Discussion of Results in Relation to Institutional Theory .................................. 125
Summary ....................................................................................................................126
iii