The purpose of this study is exploratory as the researcher uses the existing theoretical frameworks and explores particular facets of police officers’ job satisfaction. The researchers test a number of hypotheses to identify a new angle to address the issue. The researchers hypothesize that police officers with certain traits have higher levels of job satisfaction compared to those having other characteristic features. The authors also hypothesize that younger police officers have a higher level of job satisfaction. The independent variables are age, working experience, personality traits, and job characteristics. The dependent variable is job satisfaction. There is no control variable, which is common for studies that are not based on the implementation of the experiment.
The job satisfaction was measured with the help of Dantzker’s job satisfaction scale, the job characteristics variables was measured with the help of the job diagnostic survey. Personality traits were measured with the help of the Neuroticism Extraversion Openness-Five Factor Inventory. The data for this study were collected through the completion of self-reporting surveys. This is the cross-sectional study as it measures certain characteristics at a single point in time. No experiment was implemented, so the participants were not divided into groups. The target population was sworn police officers of a police department located in the south of the USA. Non-probability sampling was used as the researchers focused on a single police department, and only a part of the eligible samples agreed to participate. The authors provide quite a few details concerning their sampling techniques and methods, but it is possible to characterize the method employed as convenience sampling.
The general data collection technique was the completion of self-reporting surveys. This technique might seem quite inappropriate for a truly scientific research that should focus on facts rather than people’s views. However, the major goal of the study in question was to identify the level of people’s satisfaction. Therefore, it is but natural that researchers used certain scales to elicit people’s ideas on their job experiences as well as the level of their job satisfaction. It is necessary to note that the researchers used solid frameworks that had been used in various studies and had proved to be effective. Clearly, there are some threats to the study’s validity as people could try to provide answers that would please their bosses rather than reveal their true attitudes. However, the scales used minimized this threat. Besides, the participants were informed about the purpose and possible outcomes of the research, which could encourage them to provide sincere answers.
It is necessary to note that little information concerning ethical principles and safeguards is provided in the article in question. The authors do not even state explicitly if the participants signed the written consent form. It is also unclear whether the participants were given any confidentiality guarantees. At that, it is clear that no vulnerable groups were involved, which is associated with fewer ethical concerns. Nonetheless, this study could be improved if certain ethical guidelines and principles were followed and mentioned. The researchers could obtain written consent from the participants. This could ensure the participants’ awareness of all the major goals and outcomes of the study for the field of research as well as their professional practice. The author could pay more attention to issues of confidentiality, which had to be described in the article. Finally, the authors could address a research ethics board that would help them make sure that all ethical concerns are properly addressed. This could be their university’s board.