After reading the article "Controlled Burn: The Gendering of Stress and
Burnout in Modern Policing" by Kurtz, focus on the results of this article and
discuss:
Do you understand the results? Why or why not?
What recommendations do you have for presenting the results of
this research so that a police executive could use them?
The research asserts that a number of social scientists have drawn connections between stress
and problems with health-related issues including increasing anxiety and alcohol use,
hypertension, insomnia, and heart disease. Moreover, the research generated prior findings
connecting police work events with stress and burnout in regression models. Also, it indicated
new and often neglected variables, including those related to gender, were essential to
understanding both stress and burnout. The research found that male officers with college
degrees were less apt to evidence stress than officers without an education (Kurtz, 2008). This
finding is not entirely clear nor is it evident why this finding held true for men and not women.
Given the importance of the gender variables in this study, perhaps there was an interaction
effect between education and beliefs about women in policing. In addition, where the research
findings became a bit interesting was that the assumption that “perhaps African American men
are better than White men and women at mitigating stress, but it takes its toll overtime resulting
in burnout when it finally manifests itself” (Kurtz, 2008). It created a conclusion that wasn’t fully
addressed and studies clearly to its reason.
Also, it was surprising to find out that it is not surprising that male officers were most apt to
believe that women were treated more leniently. The perception “that women are physically too
weak to fulfill job requirements is a recurring theme in police organization literature. Moreover,
male officers viewed female officers as a liability, believing they lack the physical size to contain
violent officers and create safety concerns in patrol situations” (Kurtz, 2008). Furthermore, it is
important draw-down from this research was the fact that these differences reflected group-based
perceptions. These groups work and live in the same environment, but “White males apparently
do not experience the same awareness as others in the department, reflecting what some refer to
as White masculine privilege” (Kurtz, 2008). In turn, men and women officers exist in the same
surroundings yet gain a whole different perspective and experience at work and how they live.
The results seen swayed and are collected based on assumptions and perception, which
introduces bias. It could arise “problems related to sampling error, and potential sampling bias
are compounded when estimating” (Mosher, 2011). Even the researcher seems to be expecting
some of the results as he often starts the discussion with phrases such as “not a surprise”, or “as
expected”. I would recommend a study revision so that more accurate data based on facts,
actions, and data collected results can be measured rather than individualized interviews based
on assumptions and the perspective and small glimpse window some if the officers manifested.
The mixed method attempts to measure to be dissonant and nearly failed to measure the study’s
teal intent, presenting assumed individualized results. Simultaneously, the researcher needs to
maintain a neutral perspective and collect accurate data based on actions, environment, and
conditions rather than assumed views. “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,
a worker who has no need to be shamed, rightly handling the word of truth” – 2 Timothy 2:15.
Reference
Bachman, R. D., & Schutt, R. K. (2013). chapter 11. In The practice of research in Criminology
and Criminal Justice. essay, Sage.
Holy bible. (2011). Zondervan.
Kurtz, D. L. (2008). Controlled Burn: The Gendering of Stress and Burnout in Modern Policing.
Feminist Criminology, 3(3), 216–238. https://doi.org/10.1177/1557085108321672
Mosher, C. J., Miethe, T. D., & Hart, T. C. (2011). In The Mismeasure of Crime. essay, SAGE.
Hello Grant,
Thank you for your post about the article. I totally agree with you that the police officers’ job is stressful
job including anxiety, depression, as well as suicide thoughts. Moreover, after reading the article
“Controlled Burn: The Gendering of Stress and Burnout in Modern Policing”, I gained a new perspective
on the fact that the majority of research addressing officer stress fails to mention gender or concentrates
on gender as a simple control variable that it is quite confusing. According to Bachman 2013, “the use of
mixed methods should be an intentional design decision, not the addition of another aspect of research
that is an afterthought or fishing expedition”. Thus, in order to use this study in a useful way, the authors
should have tested less variables. If this is truly a gender study, then race should not be tested. According
to Bible, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” – Philippians 4:6-7. We must stay
true to the intent and not fall susceptible to bias and assumed data when applying the mixed methods.
Reference
Bachman, R. D., & Schutt, R. K. (2013). chapter 11. In The practice of research in Criminology
and Criminal Justice. essay, Sage.
Holy bible. (2011). Zondervan.
Kurtz, D. L. (2008). Controlled Burn: The Gendering of Stress and Burnout in Modern Policing.
Feminist Criminology, 3(3), 216–238. https://doi.org/10.1177/1557085108321672
Hello Jessica,
Thank you for your post about the article “Controlled Burn: The Gendering of Stress and Burnout in
Modern Policing” by Don Kurtz. For my opinion, the research tested too many variables, and the authors
were not concise in their comparisons of the findings. The authors should have tested less variables as
well as different races. The fact is how other races were categorized since the study only had two races
listed. Moreover, it is whether other races or mixed-race officers were not surveyed, or they were
lumped into one of the other categories. Thus, the hypothesis is that gender affects officer stress and
burnout then why is race being tested? The research should focus on gender effecting to stress as a
simple control variable. “The use of mixed methods should be an intentional design decision, not the
addition of another aspect of research that is an afterthought or fishing expedition” (Bachman, 2013).
According to Christian viewpoints, we should be clear and concise in our speech. “It’s the same for you. If
you speak to people in words they don’t understand, how will they know what you are saying? You might
as well be talking into empty space” – 1 Corinthians 14:9. Therefore, the researchers must endure their
findings can be understood and be present objectively. “Anxiety in a man’s heart weights him down, but
a good word makes him glad” – Proverbs 12:25.
Reference
Bachman, R. D., & Schutt, R. K. (2013). chapter 11. In The practice of research in Criminology
and Criminal Justice. essay, Sage.
Holy bible. (2011). Zondervan.
Kurtz, D. L. (2008). Controlled Burn: The Gendering of Stress and Burnout in Modern Policing.
Feminist Criminology, 3(3), 216–238. https://doi.org/10.1177/1557085108321672
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
