Document Type
Thesis
Date of Degree Completion
Summer 2020
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Law and Justice
Committee Chair
Cody Stoddard
Second Committee Member
Jillian Desmond
Third Committee Member
Michael Harrod
Abstract
Understanding the public perceptions of police is not a new topic, but it is one that has not focused on that of university students. This current study aims to fill the gap in knowledge by comparing student’s perceptions of two different police departments; traditional hometown police departments and special district police. This study targeted a specific population, college students, that needs additional research to understand what factors contribute to their perceptions of police. This study gathered students’ perceptions of police using an email survey of all on-campus students in a regional state university. Using OLS regression, I was able to see the effect of select variables, like race, gender, living on/off campus, fear of crime on campus, social cohesion on perceptions of police. This study found that effectiveness, social cohesion, race, and sexual orientation was statistically significant and positively associated with the dependent variable.
Recommended Citation
Pierce, Angela, "Comparing Students' Perspectives on a Rural University's Special District Police Department and Student's Traditional Hometown Police Departments" (2020). All Master's Theses. 1387.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/etd/1387