The purpose of this paper is to examine how receptive police officers are to having women as partners and supervisors at work in a cross-national context. Specifically, it…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine how receptive police officers are to having women as partners and supervisors at work in a cross-national context. Specifically, it compares male and female police officers’ views on women in policing along three dimensions in Dubai and Taipei: perceived efficacy of women in policing; receptiveness of women at work (as partners and supervisor); and perceived women’s role in police work.
Design/methodology/approach
Surveys (with the same instrument) were conducted with 622 officers (344 male and 278 female officers) in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates and 391 officers (297 male and 94 female officers) in Taipei, Taiwan. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were employed to compare male and female officers’ views on women in policing in both countries.
Findings
It was found that female officers (in Dubai and Taipei) were more likely than their male colleagues to see women as capable and effective in performing police duties. Compared to their colleagues in Taiwan, the Emirati male and female officers were more likely to be supportive of women’s restricted role in policing. Dubai male officers were less likely to be receptive to working at a unit with a female as their supervisor in comparison to their female colleagues in both countries.
Research limitations/implications
Although this study provides important information from a cross-national perspective, caution should be taken while interpreting these findings. The gender roles embedded in Islamic cultures seem to explain Dubai officers’ favorable attitudes toward women’s restricted role in policing. Future studies should incorporate in-depth interviews to explain why officers in Dubai prefer women’s restricted roles in policing.
Practical implications
The statistical analyses show that officers with higher levels of confidence not only held more positive attitudes toward women in policing, but also were more receptive to having women as their partners and supervisors. It suggests that confident officers would be more open-minded and welcome the entry of women into police work. By offering training courses that enhance officers’ work confidence, police organizations in both countries might well cultivate a welcoming work environment for women.
Social implications
If police organizations in Taiwan and the UAE instill cultures with an emphasis less on masculine traits than on collaborative style, male officers might free themselves from traditional gender norms and become more welcoming to women who work in policing.
Originality/value
Previous scholarly efforts on examining different areas of women in policing have mainly focused on police officers in western countries, leaving a relative scarcity of information about how officers perceive women’s role in policing in the other parts of the globe. Female officers have to work hand in hand with male officers in policing. To enhance the efficiency of deployment and cohesion of work relationship among male and female officers, it is important to understand how male officers perceive women’s roles in policing and how receptive they are to having women as partners. Understanding their perceptions from both sides can help administrations initiate effective training and educational programs.
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This study aims to examine Taiwanese male and female police officers' perceived stress during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine Taiwanese male and female police officers' perceived stress during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were analyzed based on surveys conducted with 1,671 officers in various cities and counties between May and July of 2021, during the period of level 3 alert of COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan.
Findings
It was found that officers who perceived poor inter-agency coordination and higher risk of infection, and those who were assigned to home quarantine duty and stationed in the metropolitan areas of Taipei, which suffered the worst spread of infected cases, were more likely to exhibit a higher level of stress. On the other hand, police identity, COVID-19 self-legitimacy, supervisor support, COVID-19 information and adaptive emotion regulation were found to be associated with an enhanced level of mental health.
Research limitations/implications
The surveys were conducted at the beginning of the community outbreak. Given the cross sectional nature of the data, the findings may not reflect officers' mental health at different phases of the pandemic.
Originality/value
Such study can add a cross-national perspective that can be utilized to generalize about policy perspectives related to police mental health at times of health crises, such as COVID-19 pandemic.
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Doris C. Chu and Linda S.J. Hung
The purpose of this paper is to examine different aspects of Chinese immigrants' perceptions in San Francisco.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine different aspects of Chinese immigrants' perceptions in San Francisco.
Design/methodology/approach
Survey data gathered from 198 Chinese immigrants were utilized to assess respondents' evaluations of the local police.
Findings
It was found that Chinese immigrants' satisfaction with police contact and perceptions imported from countries of origin were significantly associated with ratings of the police in the city. In addition, length of residence in the USA was inversely associated with evaluations of the police.
Research limitations/implications
The sampling method adopted in this study, not a probability procedure, to some extent may possibly reflect the perceptions of Chinese immigrants who were in need of cultural support and services from various social and community organizations in San Francisco. It should be noted from the descriptive statistics that the average education level for this sample is comparatively lower than it is for the overall Asian population in the USA. Also, only 11 percent of the respondents were under 24 years old. It is acknowledged that this sample may under‐represent the constituency of younger people or more established immigrants who do not need as much ethnic support or various types of services.
Originality/value
There is no other empirical research that specifically examines the Chinese community's perceptions of the police in San Francisco. The findings thus provide police administration a clear strategy to improve Chinese immigrants' perceptions of the police. Training in cultural sensitivity and communication skills, as well as professional attitudes of enforcement, may improve immigrants' satisfaction with the police during the contact, which can enhance Chinese immigrants' perceptions of the police.
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Doris C. Chu and Chang-Chi Tsao
The purpose of this paper is to compare Taiwanese male and female cadets’ attitudes toward women in policing. Specifically, this study assesses whether female and male recruits…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to compare Taiwanese male and female cadets’ attitudes toward women in policing. Specifically, this study assesses whether female and male recruits differ in: their assessment of women in policing; and their preferred roles of women in policing.
Design/methodology/approach
Surveys were conducted with 438 cadets (229 males and 209 females) who received recruitment training at the Taiwan Police College in 2011. This methodology provided a rich sample to explore police recruits’ attitudes toward women in policing.
Findings
Although male cadets had reservations about females’ capability and physical strength in handling certain aspects of police work, they supported women being assigned to equal or similar duties as men upon entry into the police force. Compared to male cadets, female cadets were more likely to perceive females as being competent as males and thus adequate for police work. Nevertheless, female cadets were reluctant to embrace women's integration into police work, which might require them to perform duties similar to or the same as those of men, such as patrol.
Research limitations/implications
It should be noted that the survey in the current study was conducted while recruits were going through training at the police college. The authors cannot rule out the possibility that surveys conducting under this type of circumstances may result in socially desirable responses. Future study should include surveys with cadets at different stages of their training (before, between, and at the end of the training) to further examine if the levels of recruits’ receptiveness to gender integration change over time.
Practical implications
This finding highlights the importance of equipping female recruits with mental preparation and physical skills. The training at the academy should prepare cadets with the required skills to serve as patrol officers to boost their confidence. Equally important is to provide suitable training to help cadets raise stress awareness and develop coping mechanisms.
Originality/value
Most studies conducted in the past have mainly focussed on police officers’ perceptions of women in policing. Only a handful of studies examine future police recruits’ attitudes toward women in policing, and most of these studies are conducted in western countries. A better understanding of police recruits’ attitudes toward women in policing in a non-western cultural setting can provide insight into theoretical and policy perspectives related to these issues.
Doris C. Chu and John Huey‐Long Song
The purpose of this paper is to assess empirically Chinese immigrants' perceptions of the police in Toronto, Canada.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to assess empirically Chinese immigrants' perceptions of the police in Toronto, Canada.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were analyzed based on 293 surveys conducted with Chinese immigrants who participated in various community service organizations in Toronto, Canada, between March and May 2005. Ordinary least squares and ordered logit regressions are used for the analysis.
Findings
The paper shows that individuals who had previous contact with police rated police less favorably than those who had not had contact with police in the past. In general, people who rated police as helpful when they called them for assistance expressed a higher degree of respect for police. In addition, poor communication was a significant predictor of Chinese immigrants' perception of police prejudice. Finally, a majority of respondents expressed the concern that more bilingual police were needed in the city.
Research limitations/implications
As with any study utilizing a non‐probability sample, care must be taken to avoid generalizing the findings to all Chinese immigrants in Toronto. Since the sample was taken from participants of various community service organizations in Toronto, the findings may not be appropriate to generalize to the other constituencies in the Chinese community, such as young people.
Practical implications
The paper highlights the need for improving the quality of police services, recruiting more bilingual officers (or officers from their communities), strengthening police training in racial and cultural diversity, and reducing communication barriers to improve Chinese immigrants' evaluations of the police.
Originality/value
This research is the first to specifically examine Chinese communities' perceptions of law enforcement in Canada. Law enforcement can utilize these findings to improve their services and address the Chinese community's concerns; not only can this promote the police‐citizens relationship, but it can also encourage the Chinese community's participation in a crime reduction partnership.
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Chris Baumann, Wujin Chu, Hume Winzar, Michael Cherry and Doris Viengkham
Chris Baumann, Michael Cherry, Wujin Chu, Lorne Cummings, Doris Viengkham and Hume Winzar
Nga-wun Li, Chu-po Ho, Kit-lun Yick and Jin-yun Zhou
Net buoyant force is a crucial factor affecting the functional performance of clothing for water safety. This study aims to develop an alternative method for measuring the net…
Abstract
Purpose
Net buoyant force is a crucial factor affecting the functional performance of clothing for water safety. This study aims to develop an alternative method for measuring the net buoyant force of various buoyant materials such as buoyant fabrics, on a small scale in a more accurate and efficient way than the existing method.
Design/methodology/approach
The net buoyant forces of buoyant materials with different thicknesses and forms were determined and compared using three methods. In Method 1, the traditional method involving mathematical calculations was used; Method 2 involved using the buoyancy-measuring device from the study of Jin et al. (2018) and Method 3 involved using an alternative buoyancy-measuring system that simulates the actual situation of using buoyant swimwear by measuring the force needed to submerge the buoyant material in water at a standard depth. The net buoyant forces of 22 buoyant materials were measured and compared to test these three methods. The accuracy, reproducibility, sensitivity and validity of these methods were then statistically compared.
Findings
The results obtained with the alternative buoyancy-measuring system had higher accuracy, reproducibility and validity than the results obtained through mathematical calculations. The sensitivity of the buoyancy-measuring system (Methods 2 and 3) was higher than that of the traditional method involving calculations (Method 1).
Originality/value
An alternative method is proposed to measure the net buoyant force of buoyant materials on a small scale with higher accuracy, reproducibility and sensitivity.
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Ivan Y. Sun and Doris Chu
The purpose of this paper is to compare attitudinal differences between Taiwanese and US police officers.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to compare attitudinal differences between Taiwanese and US police officers.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper studies interview and survey data collected from 288 officers in two Taiwanese departments and 638 officers in two US departments to assess police officers' role orientations and their attitudes toward aggressive law enforcement, legal restrictions, and citizen support. Mean comparison and multivariate regression were conducted to examine variation in officers' attitudes across countries.
Findings
The paper finds Taiwanese police officers differ significantly from their US counterparts in all attitudinal scales. Compared to US officers, Taiwanese officers tend to have a broader role orientation, positive attitudes toward aggressive patrol, and negative attitudes toward legal restrictions and citizen support.
Research limitations/implications
The paper sees that future studies should analyze data collected from non‐English‐speaking countries in other regions. Future research should also collect data that reflect variation in economic and political developments. Multi‐level studies that incorporate both aggregate‐ and individual‐level predictors should be conducted to further broaden our understanding of officers' attitudes from an international and comparative perspective. More attitudinal dimensions should be considered in future research.
Practical implications
The papers implies that Taiwanese and US police administrators should continue to cultivate attitudinal propensities that echo the underlying values and principles of community policing. Police administrators, especially Taiwanese police managers, should seek ways to improve officers' negative attitudes toward citizens.
Originality/value
The research in this paper examines officers' perceptions of the police role, law enforcement, and citizens, which have rarely been analyzed in previous cross‐national studies. This study enhances our understanding of police job‐related attitudes under different social and cultural contexts.
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Doris Chenguang Wu, Haiyan Song and Shujie Shen
The purpose of this paper is to review recent studies published from 2007 to 2015 on tourism and hotel demand modeling and forecasting with a view to identifying the emerging…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to review recent studies published from 2007 to 2015 on tourism and hotel demand modeling and forecasting with a view to identifying the emerging topics and methods studied and to pointing future research directions in the field.
Design/methodology/approach
Articles on tourism and hotel demand modeling and forecasting published mostly in both science citation index and social sciences citation index journals were identified and analyzed.
Findings
This review finds that the studies focused on hotel demand are relatively less than those on tourism demand. It is also observed that more and more studies have moved away from the aggregate tourism demand analysis, whereas disaggregate markets and niche products have attracted increasing attention. Some studies have gone beyond neoclassical economic theory to seek additional explanations of the dynamics of tourism and hotel demand, such as environmental factors, tourist online behavior and consumer confidence indicators, among others. More sophisticated techniques such as nonlinear smooth transition regression, mixed-frequency modeling technique and nonparametric singular spectrum analysis have also been introduced to this research area.
Research limitations/implications
The main limitation of this review is that the articles included in this study only cover the English literature. Future review of this kind should also include articles published in other languages. The review provides a useful guide for researchers who are interested in future research on tourism and hotel demand modeling and forecasting.
Practical implications
This review provides important suggestions and recommendations for improving the efficiency of tourism and hospitality management practices.
Originality/value
The value of this review is that it identifies the current trends in tourism and hotel demand modeling and forecasting research and points out future research directions.