Police subcultural influences on the transfer of training
| Author | Adam Dulin,Linda Dulin |
| DOI | 10.1177/1461355720947748 |
| Published date | 01 December 2020 |
| Date | 01 December 2020 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Article
Police subcultural influences
on the transfer of training
Adam Dulin
US Department of State, USA
Linda Dulin
McLennan Community College, USA
Abstract
This research assessed subcultural impacts on police motivation to learn and transfer new knowledge to the field by
deploying a novel survey instrument, the Police Learning Environment Inventory (PLEI). Surveys were issued to 119 police
officers in the southwest and northeast regions of the U.S. Subsequent statistical analyses, employing Ridge and Lasso
regression, revealed that various dimensions of police subculture can impact police motivation to learn and apply new
knowledge. However, two such dimensions, Innovation and Bureaucratic, were significant in all the statistical modelling.
Innovation displayed a consistent and positive relationship with respondent motivation to learn and transfer training.
Conversely, the Bureaucratic dimension was negatively associated with this motivation.
Keywords
Police subculture, police training, police management, police surveys, training motivation
Submitted 15 Sep 2019, Revise received 07 Jun 2020, accepted 01 Jul 2020
Introduction
Subcultures are part of nearly every larger organization.
Their influence on organizational practice is ubiquitous but
often not fully appreciated, with the larger organizational
culture often serving as the focus of attention. But how the
culture translates to smaller collectives of individuals will
differ, sometimes greatly, within a single organization
(Gelder, 2007). Even adjacent work units can differ greatly
despite geographic proximity (Johansson et al., 2014).
Ignoring an organization’s subculture(s) can result in neg-
ative consequences for the organization, ranging from dis-
gruntlement to outright revolt (Hofstede, 1998).
The unique environment of policing, which includes the
authorities bestowed upon officers and the bureaucratic
structures in which they work, contributes to unique sub-
cultural characteristics that affect the work they perform.
Yet the traditional view of policing subculture is associated
with a resistance to change, particularly in the context of
reform efforts such as community policing (Cochran and
Bromley, 2003; Paoline et al., 2000). More recently, the
Policing Education Qualifications Framework (PEQF) has
been introduced in England and Wales to standardize and
raise educational standards. Griffiths and Milne (2018)
found that there is a reluctance among those in police ser-
vice to see the benefits of this change and put it into action.
This resistance to change highlights how subcultures will
help frame larger cultural reform efforts in various aspects,
emphasizing priorities that may clash with larger cultural
views.
Within the context of change, training is the answer
offered for many perceived issues in policing. Training can
also provide legitimacy to new policing paradigms and/or
approaches (Paoline et al., 2000). Yet as Bunch (2007: 150)
points out, “The influence of relationships within and
between subcultures is central to understanding the
Corresponding author:
Adam Dulin, US Department of State, 1901 N Lynn St Arlington, Washing-
ton DC 20522-0002, USA.
Email: stdald15@gmail.com
International Journalof
Police Science & Management
2020, Vol. 22(4) 343–355
ªThe Author(s) 2020
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DOI: 10.1177/1461355720947748
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