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- Title
A Qualitative Study of Rural Police Culture.
- Authors
Carson, Kathleen
- Abstract
American policing evolved from a British policing model and developed first in urban cities across the United States. The problem was a lack of information on rural police culture (RPC). This research question sought to reveal RPC. This non-experimental qualitative grounded theory study explored 20 rural police departments in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming to determine if rural police culture was separate and distinct from what was found in literature on urban police culture. The purpose of this study was to describe rural police culture (RPC) to create a better understanding of rural police. Thirty-nine interviews were conducted using snowball method and using the Strauss and Corbin approach to Grounded theory by validation through a systematic method. The central research question what common themes developed and what theory was discovered that helped describe the genetic makeup of RPC? A five-part model developed by the researcher was the vessel that helped establish the genetic makeup of rural police culture as a composite of social, psychological, physical, internal, and external influences. The central research question generated 271 categories and 274 subcategories for a total of 545 categories and subcategories. A twostage checks-and-balances procedure ensured reliability. First, in the presumptive stage data were collected through open and axial coding analysis and coding to develop selective data. The data analysis resulted in 21 primary themes, 30 secondary themes, and 54 tertiary themes. Second, in the confirmatory stage, the selective data results were coded into data files and verified by highlighting repetitive content using a color-coding traffic light system. The result indicated RPC theory emerged as distinct from urban police and was later described using the five-part model. The significance of this study was to improve understanding of RPC so effective training can be developed for rural police.
- Subjects
UNITED States; LAW enforcement; POLICE; CITIES &; towns; RURAL police; GROUNDED theory
- Publication
Journal of Law Enforcement, 2014, Vol 3, Issue 6, p1
- ISSN
2161-0231
- Publication type
Article