10 research outputs found

    ‘Questions about Dawlah. DM me, plz.’ The Sock Puppet Problem in Online Terrorism Research

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    This paper explores the problem of deception in online terrorism research. While conducting research into the growing phenomenon of female migration to Islamic State-held territory by Western females, we began following a Twitter account exhibiting suspicious activity. The account owner – believed to be a Canadian teenage female – indicated interest in learning more about joining the IS. We tracked this account for three weeks in order to discover more information about its activities and thus to develop a set of key indicators that might help predict future migration risk. We subsequently learned it was a fake account (‘sock puppet’) established to fool IS recruiters. The operation of such ruses and the problems they create is discussed here

    Preparing Police Recruits of the Future: An Educational Needs Assessment

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    Given increasing demand for post-secondary education (PSE) within Ontario’s police applicant pools, coupled with rising costs in post-secondary education, it is of critical importance we ensure the content and quality of PSE programs marketed to students as appropriate for a policing career, does, indeed, match the needs of potential employers. This study examines this issue by drawing on the results of a mixed-methodological approach, combining qualitative interviews of police recruiters and senior officers with an environmental scan of relevant college and university programs. Our findings indicate there are both strengths and weaknesses in the delivery of PSE when it comes to meeting the hiring needs of Ontario’s police agencies. Based on these findings, we provide a series of recommendations to help fill identified delivery gaps

    Factors Affecting Resistance and Receptivity to Evidence-based Policing Practices in Canada

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    Evidence-based policing (EBP) is based on the use of research for decision-making in police organizations. Despite its noted importance, there is a dearth of research that identifies specific reasons which lead to receptivity to EBP or the lack thereof. Based on a qualitative methodology, the present dissertation addresses this gap in literature by exploring the contextual factors which may be responsible for police resistance or receptivity to the use of evidence. Data were collected from Canadian police organizations through qualitative questions added to a survey (n = 353) as well as in-depth interviews with police leaders across Canada (n = 38). The present dissertation is based on the institutional theory framework. It draws upon literature in sociology, management and organizational behavior to explain the impact of organizational context on receptivity or resistance to EBP. The results suggest that a history of failed change attempts affects employee confidence in the management’s ability to successfully implement change. Resistance to EBP somewhat overlapped with general resistance to change but pointed towards factors present in the internal and external organizational context. In terms of receptivity to EBP, the external and internal organizational context again emerged as factors enhancing receptivity to EBP

    Preparing Police Leaders of the Future: An Educational Needs Assessment

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    Given that there is very little research available – in Canada or elsewhere – on police leadership education and training, and police are being challenged to work in increasingly complex decision and task environments, an empirical analysis in this area is both timely and of significance utility for shaping both public policy and police practice. This study answers the following research questions: RQ1. What forms of police leader education and training currently exist for Canadian police leaders? RQ2. Are these courses and/or programs suitable for the needs of police leaders given the demands they face? To answer these questions, we conducted a two-part study. The first part consisted of an environmental scan of training and educational programs for police leaders. This scan helped us by providing a basis for understanding what current program offerings exist for Canadian police leaders – both within Canada and across the globe. The goal of the second part of the study was to develop a needs assessment. Our assessment and recommendations are based on interviews with 29 senior officers (Inspector to Chief ranks) from police organizations across Canada. Using an interview guide, we asked for their views on police leadership training and education, what forms of education should be available, and what types of education (ie. content, modes of delivery) would be most useful for meeting the needs of their respective positions

    ‘If it’s not worth doing half-assed, then it’s not worth doing at all’: Police views as to why new strategy implementation fails

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    Strategy implementation is the most challenging aspect of strategic management. In the case of police organizations, failure to effectively carry out a strategy results in loss of organizational resources and employee commitment. The present study is an attempt to explore the reasons behind failure of new strategies by drawing upon qualitative survey responses from 353 police officers and civilian employees from seven agencies across Canada. The results reflect mostly negative sentiments towards strategy implementation efforts, with failure attributed to issues ranging from leadership incompetence to lack of organizational resources. These concerns must be taken into account by police leaders in order to address challenges associated with strategy implementation in their organizations

    The moderating role of employability on the relationship between job insecurity and commitment to change

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    The development of commitment to change is an underresearched area especially in non-western settings. The aim of the present study was to determine whether employability can moderate the negative effects of job insecurity on individuals’ commitment to change. A survey method approach was used to collect 149 responses from managers of a large public sector organization in Pakistan undergoing restructuring. Hierarchical multiple regression results suggest that employability is an important coping resource during organizational change as it helps mitigate the negative effects of job insecurity on the most desirable form of commitment to change, namely affective commitment to change. Theoretical and practical implications of the study are discussed.http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0143831X0935121

    A Canadian replication of Telep and Lum’s (2014) examination of police officers’ receptivity to empirical research

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    Research conducted in the United States (U.S.) suggests that many police professionals are unaware of, or resistant to, empirical research, and see little value in adopting evidence-based approaches for tackling policing issues. To determine whether similar views are held by Canadian police professionals, 598 police professionals (civilians and officers) from seven police services across Canada were surveyed. The survey was designed by Lum and Telep (n.d. Officer receptivity survey on evidence-based policing. Fairfax, VA: Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy, George Mason University) to determine respondents’ knowledge of, and support for, evidence-based policing (EBP). Using their survey allowed us to compare our results to the data they collected in the U.S. Although Canadian respondents had similar concerns regarding EBP as those in the U.S., in several ways, Canadian police professionals were more open to the idea of EBP. The results are encouraging, but still suggest a lack of buy-in from some police professionals in certain regards. Potential reasons for the cross-national discrepancies, and the consequences of the findings, are discussed
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