Design and Validation of a Tool for Measuring the Value of Higher Education in Police Officers

The opinion of police officers regarding the perceived value of higher education that is most beneficial to future and current police officers is very significant. In this study, the researchers were looking for the construction and validation of a tool for measuring the value of higher education in police officers.

This research was conducted with a practical and exploratory approach and utilized a mixed sequential exploratory methodology. The qualitative research method is a descriptive phenomenology type, and the Colaizzi method was used in its data analysis. The participants were seventeen people with different degrees and occupations who were selected by a criterion-based purposeful sampling method and studied with a semi-structured interview tool. Quantitative research method is descriptive and correlational. For the sample size, 144 eligible people were selected to participate in the research by cluster sampling method. Cronbach's alpha coefficients of the questionnaires are between 0.80 and 0.90. To evaluate the psychometric properties of the researcher-made questionnaire from the exploratory factor analysis, to check the fit of the data with the structural model of the questionnaire, from the confirmatory factor analysis and to analyze the qualitative data from the ATLAS.ti software, for the calculations related to the exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis from the software Mplus8.7 and spss21 was used for correlation test.

After measuring content validity, face validity and construct validity using the factor analysis of data obtained from the research, the tool for measuring the value of higher education curricula was converted into 48 components in three main dimensions. This three-factor model has a suitable fit and has been interpreted and named based on the concept of variables and theoretical background as promotion and improvement of organizational performance (professionalism), professional ethics and degree-oriented (negative value).

Considering the unique feature of the proposed model (extracted from the understanding of serving police officers), the results can be used in the policy-making and planning of the higher education system in order to improve job performance and also to achieve standards in different areas of the curriculum.