Journal Article Review: Crisis and the use of force Assignment Instructions
Overview
Police use of force has always been subjected to scrutiny. Since the infamous video of the police
beating of Rodney King in 1991, police use of force has attracted a great deal of attention from the
media as well as a number of social justice advocacy groups. While law enforcement academies include
substantial use of force training, officers still must make split second decisions, often in poor light or
under great duress. In more recent years, practically every cell phone is equipped with a camera, video
recording is present in many public places, and police vehicles and individual officers are equipped with
cameras that capture all or parts of an encounter. Police officers have more than 45 million interactions
with citizens in any given year; studies have shown that force is used in less than two percent of those
encounters. Despite this reality, uses of force will always be heavily scrutinized, particularly considering
recent highly publicized and racially charged events. You must be able to address police use of force
from a multifaceted approach, considering the totality of circumstances that led to its use. What defines
you as a graduate student is the ability to consume and understand the peer reviewed empirical
research in their particular area of interest. A regular review of such literature refines your acuity and
challenges their assumptions on a daily basis. It is for this reason then that you, at Liberty University
Online, become discriminant and well versed in the understanding of how objective methodologies pave
the way to more informed policymaking. The following assignment challenges you to move beyond
anecdote and learn more about how other scholars succeed at failing to disprove their theories.
Instructions
For this assignment, you will select a peer reviewed journal article from one of the databases located in
the University’s online library. The article will relate in some way to the reading material (use of force)
you have reviewed for this particular module. After you read the article, you should download the
Journal Article Review Template. You will then complete a Journal Article Review for the article you
read. You are not reviewing the article in the sense that you are assessing it, but rather you are
reviewing it so you can provide analysis and relate to your reader the main point and how they relate to
the area of crisis intervention. The assignment is not to be too much shorter or longer than the example
in the template. Ensure that you focus on the critical thinking piece of discussing the implications the
article has on criminal justice as this is the most important aspect of this process. How does the article’s
content relate to the field of law enforcement? How does it influence policy and practice? This can be
accomplished in the comments, recommendations, and conclusion sections of the assignment. Use an
APA citation for the article you choose; you may provide additional reference support if you choose to,
but it is not required.
REVIEW OF A JOURNAL ARTICLE: AN EXAMPLE
o Bibliography (in APA format)
Author, F. (1776). Effects of classroom testing by microcomputer. Journal of ABCDE, 99(9), 9-19.
o Problem
Microcomputers are being used for a variety of purposes, but research about their instructional
effectiveness lags behind adoption rates for the technology. Further, there is a limited research base
about the effects of microcomputers in vocational agriculture on learning in the affective, cognitive,
and psychomotor domains. The research base is even more shallow when effects of testing students by
computer technology are explored.
Comments: The problem statements agreed with the title and seemed to be of educational significance.
The problem was not clearly visible to the average reader, and it required several readings to establish
why the researchers felt this study needed to be done. It was limited to the researchers’ capabilities and
resources.
o Review of Literature
Student conducts a review of the literature and finds at least three relevant studies that have been
conducted in an area of crisis intervention. Students will include a succinct summary of the research
and how it informs the study under review. This summary will help to show the connection between
the body of research, problem statement, hypotheses/research question (s), and the current study.
o Objectives
Specifically, the study sought to determine: (a) the effect taking an objective final examination by
microcomputer would have upon student cognitive performance; (b) the effect this method of testing
would have on student attitude about computers immediately after the examination; and (c) whether
this method of testing would require more time than conventional paper and pencil testing procedure.
Comment: The author’s objectives were answerable, and they chose to obtain them by testing null
hypotheses. These hypotheses were testable and served to help explain the problem.
o Hypothesis
This research tested hypotheses about how effectively microcomputers could be used to administer an
objective classroom test to students who had studied and used computer technology.
Comments: The purpose was clearly and concisely stated and agreed with the title. It was limited to the
researchers’ capabilities and resources.
o Methodology
The treatment followed the post-test only control group design; consequently, the study involved two
replications. Both replications were conducted during a Nostate State University course. A two-stage
random assignment was used in assigning groups and treatments. The three dependent variables
measured in this study were: (a) minutes to complete the test; (b) score on the test; and (c) score on the
attitudes about computers.
Comments: The methods used to gather the data for this article were clearly explained. The
instruments and development were explained, and the reliability coefficients of all possible tests were
given. The population used was adequate. No discussion of the statistical techniques was given in this
particular section.
o Findings
Personal data by treatment and control group was provided in table form and explained with a short
narrative.
Hypothesis one: A one-way analysis of covariance revealed that the two groups were not significantly
different in terms of their scores on the 35-item final examination.
Hypothesis two: The mean attitudinal scores of the two groups were positive in both replications, and
there was no significant difference in the two groups’ attitudes about computers.
Hypothesis three: There was a significant difference in minutes required to complete the exam in
replication one; however, there was no significant difference in replication two.
Comments: The findings were well organized, sectioned, and reported objectively. The tables were
well organized but, due to the difficulty of the statistical tests employed, would not stand alone to the
average reader.
o Summary
Students should provide a succinct summary of the study in this section prior to providing the
summary of the article/study. There was no summary given. Or the author’s summary was misguided
because…
o Conclusions
Conclusions and implications were formulated with the knowledge that subjects for this study used
microtechnology extensively during a computer applications course. In this investigation, final
examination scores were independent of the method of testing. The method of testing was not a
determinant of how students felt about computers. Since time required was not consistent over the two
replications, the methods of testing as well as other factors appear to influence the time requirements
of test completion.
Comments: The conclusions were based on the findings, logically stated, and included a discussion of
implications to criminal justice in general and law enforcement in particular. What does the article
mean to law enforcement leaders and officers? How does it influence recruiting, hiring, training, and
leadership?
o Recommendations
"Additional research is needed in other classroom settings to see if consistent findings about cognitive
performances, time requirements, and attitude are achieved."
Comments: The recommendations were limited to a call for additional research in the area. What are
the student’s recommendations for future research and how would it impact crisis intervention in law
enforcement?
CJUS 630
JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW ASSIGNMENT GRADING RUBRIC
Criteria
Levels of Achievement
Content
(70%)
Advanced
92-100%
Proficient
84-91%
Developing
1-83%
Not
present
Understanding
Methodology
9.25 to 10 points:
Displays a thorough understanding of
the methodology that was used in the
article.
8.5 to 9 points:
Displays a general understanding
of the article, but not the
methodology that was employed.
1 to 8.25 points:
Articulates an inadequate
understanding of the
article.
0 points
Not
present
Critical
Thinking
20 to 21.5 points:
Offers a critical and constructive
understanding of what the article
addresses about criminal justice
topics and can articulate what the
article means to the future of criminal
justice.
18 to 19.5 points:
Offers an understanding of the
article and what it means to
criminal justice, but cannot
articulate what it means to the
future of the discipline.
1 to 17.5 points:
Offers a basic
understanding of the
article and the manner in
which it addresses
criminal justice topics
and their relevance to the
discipline.
0 points
Not
present
Central Purpose
of Article
20 to 21.5 points:
Understands what the author was
trying to say with the article and
articulates the central purpose for the
article to the reader with clarity.
18 to 19.5 points:
Articulates the central purpose for
the article, but needs more clarity.
1 to 17.5 points:
Offers a basic
understanding for the
article, but lacks critical
points of understanding
and clarity.
0 points
Not
present
Clarity
9.25 to 10 points:
The paper is clear, flows logically,
has smooth transitions, and is
organized in a chronological order.
8.5 to 9 points:
Minor errors of organization and
flow that compromise the meaning
and readability of the paper.
1 to 8.25 points:
Major errors of
organization and flow
that prevent the paper
from being understood as
intended.
0 points
Not
present
Structure (30%)
Advanced
92-100%
Proficient
84-91%
Developing
1-83%
Not
present
Grammar and
spelling
12.5 to 13.5 points:
11.5 to 12 points:
1 to 11 points:
0 points
CJUS 630
No spelling or grammatical errors in
the paper.
Minor errors in the paper that
distract the reader and confuse
meaning at times.
Multiple errors in the
paper that make it
difficult to understand
what is meant.
Not
present
Formatting &
References
12.5 to 13.5 points:
No errors in APA Style, headers,
organization, borders and meets
minimum reference requirement.
11.5 to 12 points:
Missing at least one required
reference or multiple mistakes in
APA style that distract the reader
and distort the meaning of the
paper.
1 to 11 points:
Missing more than one
reference and/or making
more than one mistake of
formatting or
organization that detract
the meaning of the paper.
0 points
Not
present
1
Review of a Journal Article
Course:
Institution:
Date:
2
REVIEW OF A JOURNAL ARTICLE
Bibliography
Legewie, J. (2016). Racial profiling and use of force in police stop: How local events trigger
periods of increased discrimination. American journal of sociology, 122(2), 379-424.
Problem
Disproportionate application of politicians based on races has elicited diverse political
reactions. Racial prejudice in the application of force by police has been characterized by
indiscriminate beating and shooting of people based on their races. The article also examined
racial segregation and excessive use of police force which later results in intergroup clashes,
foreground categorizations, and prejudiced reactions.
Comments: The problem statement presented an arguable topic that examined a knowledge gap
in the police's use of force. It was easy to recognize the problem because it is a social issue that
has been overlooked for the longest time. Therefore, we carried out an extensive literature review
coupled with interviews of police force victims to create a substantive presentation of our case.
Literature Review
We carried out a literature review and found extensive data on racial discrimination in
applying to the police force. In addition, fieldworks, interviews and different media debates on
racial bias in policing helped make our case. This review will include an informative summary of
the research and how it contributes to the general study. The summary will create the link
between research, problem, research questions and the current research.
Objectives
3
This article's main objective was to examine how indiscriminate use of force by police force
based on race contributes to intergroup conflicts and foreground racial prejudices. The events
reduce the cohesion between the public and the police department, invoking police against races.
Another objective was to examine how police and the public's use of force affect the relationship
between police and the public.
Comments: The objectives of this research were answerable through the research questions
developed. The research questions were answered and helped in solving the problem.
Hypothesis
The research sought to explain whether the police use based on racial lines led to intergroup
conflicts and foreground racial prejudices.
Comments: The researcher explained the problem in line with our thesis statement. Proving the
hypothesis depended on the researcher's capability and cooperation of the participants involved
in the interviews.
Methodology
The researcher used a quasi-experiment that examined the impacts of the police force against
minority ethnic groups. The method was designed founded on 3.9 million times and geocoded
police stops of people in New York City. It did not necessarily focus on the extreme cases of
police callousness but in its place examined the daily police-citizen relations and the potential
uneven use of police force. The design compared different instances of police force use and
created a counterfactual relationship that captured what could have happened if the police did not
use force.
4
Comments: The research precisely explained the method used in this study. The correlations
between data and their impact were presented. The researcher also gave statistical data and
defined it as well.
Findings
The findings gave quasi-experimental evidence that showed extreme instances of the police
force that can considerably result in conflicts between police and the public. The use of force by
police was conservative, considering the analyses depended on data given by the police. Our
central hypothesis was satisfied by the findings because there was enough evidence to conclude
that the police force led to intergroup conflicts.
Comments: The findings were reported objectively and answered our hypothesis.
Complimentary estimation based on a regression continuity design was applied to reaffirm the
findings. The responses were race-specific and were based on threats, public safety and
stereotypical profiling.
Summary
Based on the research, the article revealed a number of general methods where certain
actions triggered prejudiced application of force by police. This means that police's behaviour
does not only come from fixed situations but also sequential systems of actions and reactions.
This argument by this article leads to an emergent idea of enquiry in criminology that depends on
previous actions to well comprehend methods that activate the use of force by the police. Apart
from these broad theoretical contributions, this article introduced a new approach to measuring
the police force's disproportionate application based on racial lines.
Conclusions
5
Conclusions were explicitly drawn based on the sequential examination of diverse data. The
scores were finally examined independently of the scores. The method used was the primary
determinant of the expected results.
Comments: Conclusions were based on the results, systematically stated, and supported by data.
The research examined the implications of the use of force by police based on the research
findings.
Recommendation
"More research should be carried out to establish how use of force affects the relationship
between the police and the general community."
Comments: The recommendations were made based on the request of the policing agencies to
establish methods of improving the relationship between the police and the general public. The
policing agencies sought to know the best training strategies to improve police service and
reduce the use of force.
