StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

The Factors of Stress and Their Impact on Police Officers - Research Proposal Example

Cite this document
Summary
The paper "The Factors of Stress and Their Impact on Police Officers" states that research ethics is an imperative component of every research process, and therefore, during primary research, especially during the interviews and questionnaires, the researcher will ensure absolute confidentiality…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER95.4% of users find it useful
The Factors of Stress and Their Impact on Police Officers
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "The Factors of Stress and Their Impact on Police Officers"

?Running Head: Research Proposal Research Proposal [Institute’s TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 BACKGROUND 3 RESEARCH STATEMENT 3 PRELIMINARY LITERATURE REVIEW 3 METHODOLOGY 6 Research Plan 7 ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS 8 REFERENCES 9 BACKGROUND Since many decades, humans have divided civilized societies in terms of responsibilities and roles of different groups of people. In particular, this process resulted in the cluster of police officers who now put extensive amount of efforts to ensure security and safety of citizens inside the city and country (Brehm, 1998). It is an observation that members of police department though receive special training, however, they do not come from any special planet, and thus, they behave and act like humans. In particular, police officers have families as well, they go through the same emotional process as other humans do (Goldberger & Breznitz, 1993), and thus, as stress has become one of the most common issues in the current society, police officers are no different, and there have been observations of adverse impact of such on them as well. RESEARCH STATEMENT In this regard, the researcher will focus on the following research statement: “To identify and analyze the factors of stress and their impact on police officers” PRELIMINARY LITERATURE REVIEW Brief analysis of literature (Constant, 1991) has indicated that stress has become one of the most common issues in human lives these days, and almost every human is now under the varied impact of stress due to various factors (Monat & Lazaruz, 1991). Experts (Franken, 1994) have specified that different levels of stress influence an individual differently; however, studies have indicated evident impact of stress on neurological, as well as psychological functions of individuals. In addition, stress has nowadays not remained a disease but a normal aspect of humans where every individual confronts and reacts to it in a diverse manner. Literature review has identified the Biopsychosocial Model of Stress (Bernard & Krupat, 1994) that has been very imperative in understanding different aspects of stress, and thus, it will be a part of this preliminary literature review. According to this model, stress exists with its three components: “an external component, an internal component, and the interrelationship between the external and the internal components” (Bernard & Krupat, 1994). Advocates of this model believe that diverse environmental events begins the waves of stress; however, these waves when come in contact with internal component causes a reaction in human body, and the then interrelationship causes different stress levels and diverse impact in individuals (Cannon, 1932). In 1967, psychiatrists from the University of Washington (Holmes & Rahe, 1967) carried out a study to inquire about the impact of stress on causation of illnesses in humans. For this purpose, approximately five thousand patients participated in the study that enabled the researchers to come to forty-three causes of stress (Holmes & Rahe, 1967). However, experts now believe that the causes have jumped up to more than forty-three due to stressful lives of humans in today’s society. When it comes to law enforcement officers, undoubtedly, they face stressful situations more than any other professionals do due to the very nature of a police officer’s job. It has been observations that law enforcement officers although perform duties according to a schedule like other professions. However, unlike other professions, police officers cannot keep their work aside from their daily routines, and a horde of responsibilities always follows police officers at their homes as well that is one of the major causes of higher stress levels in law enforcement officers. One of the major reasons behind higher stress levels is that by becoming a law enforcement officer, the individual not only put his own life in danger but also of his family members and friends that has so far been the most common factors of huge stress levels in police officers. This subsequently affects the performance and effectiveness of their duties (Territo & Sewell, 2007). In addition, though police officers get time for recreation and family, however, reports have indicated that in six out of ten cases, a police officer ends up doing his duty in his time of recreation and family that responsibilities become a part of his family life, and subsequently, gradually causes adverse impact on family life as well. Another tough aspect of a law enforcement officer’s job is hectic and irregular working schedules. A police officer although receives a shift schedule, however, he is never aware of an urgent task that may come in between of a family gathering or sleep. All such aspects gradually increase levels of stress in individuals. Moreover, studies (Miller, 2006) have specified that besides family members, police officers have to confront many problems when they socialize, and many a times, either police officers or the other individuals cut ties to avoid any security-related issues. Thus unlike other professions, police officers often start to feel lonely while performing their responsibilities, and this loneliness frequently causes adverse impact on effectiveness of their jobs. Experts (Miller, 2006) have indicated that “these law enforcement officers or ‘tough guys’ are more than often vulnerable to dreadful occurrences and routinely burdens for which they do not only need to adopt a strong and a watchful attitude but also an effective disposition and training. If they do not possess these qualities, they will most likely fail at their jobs”. In this regard, this fear of failure is the second most common factor that causes higher stress levels in law enforcement personnel, which then affects personal lives as well. Due to above-discussed higher stress levels and adverse impact on professional and public lives of law enforcement officers, there have been notable reports of higher suicide rates in police officers as compared to other professions, which can be associated with the fear of failure and loneliness. At the same time, officers who do not attempt suicide go through a phase of different stressful events and occurrences, and these incidents then cause problems in the families. Unfortunately, besides suicide, divorce is second most common practice in law enforcement officers. It could either be due to hectic schedules that do not allow officers to spend quality time with their family members, and it can be due to the impact of the other factors that cause problems in relationship of a husband and wife. In this regard, analysis of identified literature has shown that spouses and family members can play a considerable role in reducing stress levels of police officers. Thus, it is very important for concerned authorities to provide awareness to new law enforcement officers, as well as their family members that will be beneficial and imperative in avoiding any adverse impact on the professional, as well as private life of law enforcement personnel due to different factors and causes of stress (Territo & Sewell, 2007). METHODOLOGY Researcher has planned to carry out a qualitative study that will be focusing on the police officers and impact of stress & its levels on different aspects of their lives. It is an understanding that as the foremost aim of the proposed research revolves around the role of police officers and impact on their lives, the researcher has decided to go with the qualitative paradigm that will allow a comprehensive understanding of the social issue. Moreover, preliminary literature review has identified a number of scholarly sources that include works of experts and sociologists on the similar aspect of police officers, and thus, these works will be of valuable interest and importance during the proposed research. For this reason, the researcher will be creating fundamental basis of the research by carrying out a secondary research methodology that will be very beneficial in understanding different aspects of the identified research statement. At the same time, secondary research will allow identification of possible gaps that researchers overlooked previously, which will help in adding volume and validity to the proposed research. However, the major objective of the proposed research is not only to identify and analyze available sources but also to understand the impact on individual levels. For this purpose, the researcher will then be focusing on primary research method to focus on particular group of police officers, and then will carry out interviews to understand different factors that cause stress in their lives and their level of impact as well that will be very imperative for the research. In this regard, the proposed research will include both primary, as well as secondary research methodologies that will enable the researcher to acquire findings in the most critical manner. Research Plan # Phases Date Date Date Date Date Date Date Date Date 1 Theoretical Framework 1st week 2 Research Proposal 2nd week 3 Collection of Available Literature 3rd week 4 Analysis of Literature Review 4th week 5 Primary Research 5th-6th week 6 Questionnaires & Interviews 7th week 7 Analysis 8-9th week 8 Rough Draft of Dissertation 10th-11th week 9 Final Submission 12th week ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS It is an understanding that research ethics is an imperative component of every research process, and therefore, during primary research, especially during the interviews and questionnaires, the researcher will ensure absolute confidentiality of participating police officers, and will put efforts to ensure their privacy during the research according to ethical code of conduct of the research. In particular, the researcher will be informing participants about aims and objectives of the proposed study, and it is anticipation that this will ensure truthful participation of police officers and other concerned authorities in the research. REFERENCES Bernard, L. C., & Krupat, E. (1994). Health Psychology: Biopsychosocial Factors in Health and Illness. Harcourt Brace College Publishers. Brehm, B. A. (1998). Stress Management: Increasing Your Stress Resistance. Longman. Cannon, W. B. (1932). The Wisdom of the Body. Norton. Constant, T. (1991). “Not So Obvious Police Stress”. Retrieved on September 17, 2011: www.tearsofacop.com/police/articles Franken, R. E. (1994). Human Motivation, third edition. Brooks/Cole Publishing Company. Goldberger, L. & Breznitz, S. (1993). Handbook of Stress: Theoretical and Clinical Aspects. The Free Press Holmes, T. & Rahe, R. (1967). "The Social Readjustment Rating Scale". Journal of Psychosomatic Research. Volume 11, Issue 2, pp.213-218. Miller, L. (2006). “Law Enforcement Traumatic Stress: Clinical Syndromes and Intervention Strategies”. Retrieved on September 17, 2011: www.ncjrs.gov Monat, A. & Lazaruz, R. S. (1991). Stress and Coping. Columbia University Press. Territo, L. & Sewell, J. D. (2007). Stress Management in Law Enforcement. Carolina Academic Press. Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Stress and Law Enforcement Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/law/1431681-stress-and-law-enforcement
(Stress and Law Enforcement Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 Words)
https://studentshare.org/law/1431681-stress-and-law-enforcement.
“Stress and Law Enforcement Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/law/1431681-stress-and-law-enforcement.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF The Factors of Stress and Their Impact on Police Officers

The Importance of Psychology Amongst Police Officers

In short, police officers are faced with a great deal of stress and there is increasing evidence that this stress is detrimental to the mental health of the police officers and the spouse and possibly children of the police officers.... police officers encounter a range of different scenarios on any given day that would bring stress to the heartiest of humans.... police officers encounter a range of different scenarios on any given day that would bring stress to the heartiest of humans....
19 Pages (4750 words) Research Paper

Stress Management in Law Enforcement

Stress Management in law enforcement is interesting in the terms it has grown more important as the criminal activities around the globe are increasing nod thus more accountability surrounds the law enforcement personnel and police officers causing a state of mental stress.... The paper would look into the importance of stress management in law enforcement agencies with a focus on stress management techniques actually implemented in these organizations in contrast to other private companies to keep their employees' performance up to the mark through effective stress management trainings and techniques....
15 Pages (3750 words) Research Paper

Effect of Perceived Job Stress on Job Satisfaction among Urban Police Officers

This dissertation "Effect of Perceived Job Stress on Job Satisfaction among Urban police officers" captures the essence of emotional intelligence, by describing people who had the ability to understand and manage men and women as having a different type of intelligence.... The research covered 150 Norwegian police officers.... This study presents a different understanding of police satisfaction, where personality types responded differently to various job demands, including general job satisfaction....
13 Pages (3250 words) Dissertation

The Effect on Job Satisfaction Among Urban Police Officers

The purpose of this study is to explore the confluence of perceived job stress, social support and emotional intelligence as it relates to job satisfaction in urban police officers.... According to the research high social support was found to be positively correlated with high emotional intelligence and high social support was positively correlated with job satisfaction in this sample of urban police officers.... This research will begin with the statement that historically, police officers work is to protect life, liberty, and property, the role of police officers comes with many challenges such as fighting, deterring and preventing crimes....
81 Pages (20250 words) Dissertation

The Role Police Officers Play in Domestic Violence

In every community, individuals and community groups have expectations on police officers.... This research paper discusses the role of police officers, that is more complex and demanding that is can be seen at first.... People usually think of police officers as men and women in uniform whose primary role is to roam the streets and ensure peace and order in the community.... This research paper focuses on the topic of police officers, who usually assume four major roles in the following areas: law enforcement, order maintenance, provision of miscellaneous services, and convenience norm enforcement....
9 Pages (2250 words) Research Paper

Causes of Police Stress and Prevention Methods

This is a proposal on a research that will determine the causes of stress among police officers and manners in which this kind of stress can be prevented.... The proposal goes ahead and discusses the various studies that have been carried out on the causes of stress among police officers and the manner in which stress among police officers can be put under control.... The literature review part introduces the kind of environment police officers work in and the nature of the profession....
9 Pages (2250 words) Research Proposal

Gender Discrimination and Stress among Female Police Officers

The problem of this paper is the gender discrimination and stress among the female police officers.... n the past, the ratio of female police officers was less when compared to that of men.... The ratio of female police officers is around 12 percent in urban areas and the ratio is less in rural parts of the country.... The problems faced by the female officersThe purpose of this study is to explain the problems and differences among female police officers....
12 Pages (3000 words) Research Paper

Causes and Effects of Workplace Stress in the Police Force

The paper "Causes and Effects of Workplace Stress in the police Force ' is a perfect example of a term paper on human resources.... The paper "Causes and Effects of Workplace Stress in the police Force ' is a perfect example of a term paper on human resources.... This paper proposes an expanded HeartMath program for the police department.... Occupational therapists rank the police force among the three topmost organizations bedeviled by workplace stress (Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, 1)....
10 Pages (2500 words) Term Paper
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us