RESEARCH DESIGN: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches (3rd ed.

Submitted by: Alyssa Donelle Agustin, Ryan Alfred Suapengco, Ritchmond Tiu

Exercise 1: Research Topic, Review of the Literature, & Formulating the Question(s)
Due: August 16, 2017 (W) Consultation Time
Manner of Submission: Printed

Instructions: Select a novel topic or an understudied topic in psychology that you would like to study. The
selection of topic and what you would like to learn about it will be evaluated based on its feasibility and its
potential implication or contribution to the field or the discipline. Fill in the blanks based on the guide
given. Be mindful of the reminder in red or green font color on each cell. You are to submit an Exercise 1
for each topic you wish to propose.

A novel or I propose a phenomenological study on the experiences of police officers of

understudied topic in Officer-involved shooting, and its effect on how officers perceive their job as
psychology and what protectors and safety enforcers in their communities. The group would also want
you would like to learn to look into the comparisons of experiences and explanations of the police
about this topic. officers regarding their role in the current administration as well as the previous
administrations.

Research problem / Officer-involved shootings, along with other violent events that came with the
real-world issue new administration, have been and are still a great center of controversy in the
leading to the need for Philippines. Although there already are lot of studies on the impact of OIS on
this study and serves as victims families and the wider society, very few focus on its impact on the state
the background or officers themselves, the people who were given the authority and power to kill
context for the whomever the law points at.
research.
Because most articles, whether it be news or academic, only focus on victims
and families, the side of the state officers are not exposed. This may cause
preconceptions by the public that the police, who should be a symbol of safety
and protection, choose to be fearful and dangerous, when in fact state officers
may have a wide range of opinions and experiences of OIS

What are the key The key components in this proposed study are: (1) experiences/reactions (2)
variables that you perception (3) officer-involved shooting.
would like to explore
or examine?

What key words did The key words used are: (1) officer-involved shooting [___]; (2)
you use to search the reactions/experience of OIS [___]; (3) perception [___]
literature based on
your topic?

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 RESEARCH DESIGN: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches (3rd ed.)

What are the major Reference 1:

findings in the Barthelemy, J., Chaney, C., Maccio, E. & Church, W. (2016) Law enforcement
references selected that perceptions of their relationship with community: Law enforcement
will have the greatest surveys and community focus groups. Journal of Human Behavior in
impact and the Social Environment, 26(3-4), pp. 413-429.
contribution to the
development of your According to the authors of a study on police perception on communities and
research topic? What crime (Taylor & Francis, 2016), how policemen perceive the community they
theories were used in serve directly affects how they interact with the people in the community.
the study? What
recommendations The same study shows that although police officers identify the same societal
were suggested for issues, they have different perceptions on how to address such. Additionally, a
future studies on this survey collected data on how law enforcers perceive their relationship with the
topic? community. It also asked about how policemen perceive crime itself. A
violence-reduction program was implemented for the study and these
perceptions were remeasured to determine the effectiveness; however, I am only
concerned about their initial findings, before any intervention was made, since
I believe this reflects the reality of policing.

Results show that majority (75% +) of police officers agree that: (1) early
prevention help reduce crime; (2) officers should build strong relationships with
the community for cooperation and support; (3) policing should take different
approaches to suit different communities. 42% agree that worsening risk factors
should be avoided, such as making arrests should not be done in front of the
respondents children.

Surprisingly, selling and using drugs is the most frequent response to the
question what do you consider to be the most serious problem in the
neighborhood?. Making parents accountable for juveniles behavior was the
most frequent response to solving crime-related problems (17%), followed by
stronger law enforcement and sentencing (12%). The lowest was having people
accountable for their own actions (3%), and spiritual leadership (3%)

Relevance to the current study:

The group finds this study relevant to the development of our topic, due to how
the literature allows a way of identifying how police officers perceive their job
in relation to maintaining peace and order in a community.

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 RESEARCH DESIGN: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches (3rd ed.)

What are the major Reference 2:

findings in the David, R. (2016, July 10). The creeping normalcy of extrajudicial killings.
references selected Inquirer.
that will have the
greatest impact and This is not a journal article, but a news article, particularly under the editorial
contribution to the category. It talks about how extrajudicial killings is slowly becoming a matter-of-
development of your fact issue in the country, and how certain police officers seem to be able to talk
research topic? What about it with, quoted, a straight face. This may suggest something about the
theories were used in perception or attitude of some of our police officers on EJKs. Still, the goal of this
the study? What study is to determine whether this is true or not.
recommendations
were suggested for
future studies on this
topic?

What are the major Reference 3:

findings in the Human Rights Watch. (2016, August 1). License to Kill.
references selected
that will have the This is a report on permission to shoot announced by President Duterte. Although
greatest impact and he has denied giving authority to policemen to shoot to kill, violent behaviors have
contribution to the been evident among our police officers. He has publicly announced his approval,
development of your and even support, for executing drug pushers and users. As a consequence,
research topic? What incidence and tolerance for police brutality has increased across all kinds of
theories were used in issues, not just drugs.
the study? What
recommendations
were suggested for
future studies on this
topic?

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 RESEARCH DESIGN: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches (3rd ed.)

What are the major Reference 4:

findings in the Browning, C. R. (2012). Revisiting the Holocaust perpetrators: why did they
references selected kill?Amsterdam: Nederlands Auschwitz Comite.
that will have the
greatest impact and This book tackles the following situational factors that affect how policemen act
contribution to the in response to orders to shoot: (1) conformity; (2) obedience; (3) role assignment;
development of your (4) economic pressure; (5) socialization pressure; (6) persuasion and propaganda.
research topic? What Previous studies done by Asch, Milgram, Zimbardo, Sherif (realistic group
theories were used in conflict theory) supported such findings.
the study? What
recommendations Also refer to The Psychology of Nazi Perpetrators, from Illinois University.
were suggested for
future studies on this Relevance to current study:
topic? This may answer to some of the gaps on past research concerning why police
officers engage in force. Factors mentioned above are expected to come up during
the interviews, when policemen are asked how they perceive their job as
policemen in terms of having to use shooting.

What are the major Reference 5

findings in the Rai, T., & Friske, A. (2011). Moral Psychology Is Relationship Regulation:
references selected Moral Motives for Unity, Hierarchy, Equality, and Proportionality.
that will have the Psychological Review,118(1), 57-75.
greatest impact and
contribution to the Most studies suggest that people obey malevolent orders and/or egage in violence
development of your (and even killing) because of pressure, conformity, and obedience. People may
research topic? What also think that those who commit these acts have no sense of morality; however,
theories were used in unique studies suggest that some people engage in these acts for the opposite
the study? What reason. The study above asserts that some resort to violence and killings because
recommendations of the demands of their individual morality. This suggests that people will not
were suggested for hesitate to engage in violent behavior if they believe what they are doing is right.
future studies on this This is referred to as the Theory of Virtuous Violence.
topic?
Relevance to current study:
This may answer to some of the gaps on past research concerning why police
officers engage in force. This mindset may also appear in the interviews when
local policemen are asked how they perceive their job as policemen in terms of
having to use shooting.

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 RESEARCH DESIGN: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches (3rd ed.)

Formulating an Reference 6:
operational Murray, K. R. (2006). Training at the speed of life: The definitive textbook for
definition military and law enforcement reality based training (Vol. 1). Gotha, FL:
Armiger
Murray (2006) describes an incident of Officer-involved shooting as the
following:
1. Experience of using deadly force that was of interest, regardless of
whether or not the forces outcome was fatal for the
suspect.
2. Use of deadly force when their own life or anothers life is in danger of
serious bodily injury or death.
3. The intent to stop violent person from seriously injuring or killing
another person.

Online dictionaries define it as:

1. An incident in which a firearm was discharged during a situation
attended by a constable, usually where the officer fired upon a threat or
attack upon his person or that of another.

Operational The current study, for the purpose of recruiting participants, based on available
definition literature, shall use the following definition for officer-involved shooting:

Discharging of firearm by an officer with full arresting capacity, whether on or

off duty, against a suspect perceived as threat to ones own or anothers life,
with the intent of stopping or incapacitating the suspect, regardless of fatality of
the outcome.

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 RESEARCH DESIGN: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches (3rd ed.)

What are the major Reference 8:

findings in the Miller, L. (2007). Officer-involved shooting: reaction patterns, response
references selected protocols, and psychological intervention strategies. International
that will have the journal of emergency mental health, 8(4), 239.
greatest impact and
contribution to the The study that Miller (2007) conducted focused on a police officers reactions,
development of your responses (pre-shooting and post-shooting reactions), and interventions that
research topic? What he/she may take to address the incident.
theories were used in
the study? What According to Miller, an officer is likely to participate in a method of deadly force
recommendations in the line of duty in the following circumstances: 1) domestic or other disturbance
were suggested for calls; (2) robbery in progress; 3) burglary in progress; 4) traffic offense; 5)
future studies on this personal dispute and/or accident; and (6) stake-out and drug busts (with the order
topic? being from most probable to least probable). In terms of the experiences of the
officers, Miller reports that most officers tend to experience an alteration in terms
of perception, thinking and behavior.

In conclusion, Miller explains that officer involved shootings vary in severity and
may not be the most traumatic of experiences.

Recommendations:
N/A

Relevance to current study:

Our study may revolve around the same methodologies as this study, due to how
interviews were conducted to gain knowledge regarding the experiences,
thoughts, emotions as well as reactions of the police officers who are involved in
the shooting incidents. The proper responses and recuperative methods were also
shown in this study which could aid in possible outcomes that our participants
may have to undergo given the nature of our study.

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 RESEARCH DESIGN: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches (3rd ed.)

What are the major Reference 9:

findings in the Klinger, D. (2001). Police responses to officer-involved shootings. National
references selected Institute of Justice Journal, 253, 21-24.
that will have the
greatest impact and Klinger (2001) studied the emotional, psychological, and physiological reactions
contribution to the of 80 police officers after having shot a suspect during an operation using
development of your questionnaires and personal interviews. Officers reported having experienced an
research topic? What alteration of time, distance, vision, and hearing moments before pulling the
theories were used in trigger. Their memories may have also been affected, such that some respondents
the study? What report not being able to recall pulling the trigger. This results testimonies that
recommendations contradict evidence. When asked what made them decide to shoot, they reported
were suggested for having sensed some danger upon themselves or others, which prompted them to
future studies on this use force. It is interesting, however, that these reactions may lessen over-time, as
topic? attention to the incident lessens. The reactions and behavior of other people (such
as friends, family and colleagues) may have also aided in their recovery from the
shooting experience.

Common themes that were found include: (1) perceptual changes during a
shooting - enhanced attention to visual details, tunnel vision, blunted hearing,
slow and fast motion, time alteration, etc. (2) physical responses post-shooting -
insomnia, fatigue, crying, loss of appetite, nausea, headache; (3) cognitive and
affective responses - anxiety, recurrent thoughts, legal anxiety, guilt, sadness, fear
for safety, numbness, nightmares, etc.

Recommendations:
The researcher pointed out the need to tackle why police officers respond as
they do. While the current study may not directly address this, interviews that will
be conducted will give respondents the freedom to tell their narrative experiences,
including how and why they think they responded so to shooting.

Relevance to current study:

Some of the themes that appeared in this study may also appear in our findings.
Thus, we may formulate our questions around these themes. We may also replicate
their methodology, since they reported that their gathering methods were more
compatible than previous ones.

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RESEARCH DESIGN: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches (3rd ed.)

Reference 10:
Broom, R. E. (2014). A phenomenological psychological study of the police
officers lived experience of the use of deadly force. Journal of
Humanistic Psychology, 54(2), 158-181.

Using Giorgi (2009) version of Husserlian phenomenology adapted to

psychology, Broome (2014) sought the meaning(s) of police officers first-hand
experience of using force in policing. Participants were three officers who have
used deadly force, regardless of whether it was fatal or not. He began the interview
with the words In as much detail as possible, tell me what it was like for you to
use deadly force on a suspect as a police officer?.

He coined the term deadly force paradox to describe what officers feel pre-
during-post shooting. Pre, they still feel in control of the situation, making discrete
decisions of whether to use deadly force. During, their drive to shoot feel as if it
was automatic, an act of survival, in the presence of threat from the suspect. Post,
the conflicting emotional reactions of preserving the self by inflicting harm unto
another.

He states that the officers, by means of legal, peers and colleagues opinions, tries
to justify the shooting act, to attribute the criminality to the suspect.

Recommendations:
N/A

Relevance to current study:

This is not an understudied aspect of police first-hand experience of OIS.
However, the author introduced an interesting term for the phenomenon of
conflicted emotions officers feel after shooting a suspect. This experience, now
given a name, may be expected to appear during interviews, and would be an
interesting center of a detailed discussion with the respondents.

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RESEARCH DESIGN: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches (3rd ed.)

Reference 11:
Broom, R. E. (2011). An empathetic psychological perspective of police deadly
force training. Journal of Phenomenological Psychology, 42, 137-156.

By analyzing written accounts of three cadets (officers) of their lived experiences

in deadly force Reality Based Training (RBT). Psychological themes of their
narratives were then compiled to form a descriptive phenomenological account of
the experiences and reactions of officers who have encountered deadly force
situations. 12 constituents stood out from the reports, namely: (1) ambiguity; (2)
anxiety; (3) in-role and real-world experiences intertwine; (4) planning; (5)
perceiving dangerous behavior; (6) shock; (7) attention focus; (8) time distortion;
(9) vulnerability; (10) awareness of performance; (11) awareness of partners
behavior; (12) control restoration after seemingly losing control.

They reported that, although they knew what they were doing and what was
happening, they were unable to recall/control some aspects, such as how many
bullets fired, being unable to move for a period of time.

Relevance to the current study:

Findings in this study are relatively new compared to more established
psychological reactions; such as the awareness of movements and events, in
contrast to previous literature which said policing actions shift to survival actions
(Broome, 2014).

Reference 12:
Mackenzie, N., & Knipe, S. (2006). Research dilemmas: Paradigms, methods
and methodology. Issues in educational research, 16(2), 193-205.

Direct quotation:
The interpretivist/constructivist paradigm grew out of the philosophy of
Edmund Husserl's phenomenology and Wilhelm Dilthey's and other German
philosophers' study of interpretive understanding called hermeneutics The
interpretivist/constructivist researcher tends to rely upon the "participants' views
of the situation being studied" (Creswell, 2003, p.8) and recognises the impact on
the research of their own background and experiences. Constructivists do not
generally begin with a theory (as with postpositivists) rather they "generate or
inductively develop a theory or pattern of meanings" (Creswell, 2003, p.9)
throughout the research process. The constructivist researcher is most likely to
rely on qualitative data collection methods and analysis or a combination of both
qualitative and quantitative methods (mixed methods). Quantitative data may be
utilised in a way, which supports or expands upon qualitative data and effectively
deepens the description.

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 RESEARCH DESIGN: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches (3rd ed.)

What are the themes Based on the analysis of the literature regarding officer-involved shootings, it
or patterns emerging would appear that most individuals who happen to have experienced such an
across past studies incident undergo an alteration in cognition, belief, thoughts and affect.
you had reviewed? Common themes found in the literature correspond to: perceptual changes,
physical responses to the incident, and cognitive and affective responses.
Justification of shooting act by attributing criminalization upon suspect is also
found across subjects.

What are gaps or Although a lot of studies have already tackled the reactions- whether mental,
inconsistencies psychological or physical- that occur in police officers with regards to officer-
emerging across past involved shooting (OIS), few have used the interpretative phenomenological
studies you had approach to determine why these reactions occur. Additionally, few studies focus
reviewed? on how these lived experiences affect the way police officers perceive their jobs
as supposed protectors and enforcers of their community. It is also important to
consider that few, if not none, studies of the same nature have been conducted in
the Philippines were OIS is prominent.

Based on the What are the police experiences (and/or reactions) of officer-involved shooting,
literature reviews, and how do these affect their perceived fulfillment in their job as law and safety
what research enforcers?
question do you want
to answer (pertains to
what you really want
to know)?

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 RESEARCH DESIGN: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches (3rd ed.)

Based on literature, Reference 12:

what will be the Mackenzie, N., & Knipe, S. (2006). Research dilemmas: Paradigms, methods
theoretical lens (if and methodology. Issues in educational research, 16(2), 193-205.
qualitative study) of Giorgi, A. P. (2009). The descriptive phenomenological method in psychology:
what will be the A modified Husserlian approach. Pittsburg, PA: Duquesne University.
theoretical
perspective (if The study that our group plans on pursuing would require the use of both
quantitative study) interviews and surveys that would enable us to maximize data-gathering from our
that will frame your participants narratives. The quantitative data that would ideally be taken from
study? several respondents would allow for support or expansion of lived experiences of
few interview participants. With that said, the group will pursue an exploratory
sequential method that slightly favors the qualitative aspect due to the in-depth
information being acquired from the interviews.

The group will proceed with the study via the theory of constructivism which was
developed by the likes of John Dewey (philosophical approach), Husserl
(phenomenological), Piaget (cognitive constructivism), and Vygotsky (social-
constructivism). The theory of constructivism states that the basis of an
individuals development of knowledge about the world is centered around his/her
experiences. Through constructivism, our group will be able to generate a new
understanding of our topic, and modify previous perceptions, beliefs and thoughts
regarding the police officers demeanor in terms of fulfilling the job of protecting
the citizens of our country. We seek themes and patterns that may emerge from
our data in the Philippine context, rather than verify already established patterns,
but that are from foreign respondents.

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 RESEARCH DESIGN: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches (3rd ed.)

Based on the Reference 13:

phenomenon we are The Philippine National Police. (n.d.). Official Gazette.
planning to explore (Different Officers and Officer ranks within the Philippine National
and the variables we Police. Information on the current studys participant profiles were taken
will investigate, what from this comprehensive list. Other key characteristics are taken from the
would be the profile documentation of a focus group discussion.)
of our intended Philippine Handbook on Human Rights-Based Policing
respondents? http://www2.hss.de/fileadmin/suedostasien/PNP-Guidebook_Human-
Rights.PDF).

The participants in my study shall consist of officers from the lower ranks of the
Philippine National Police (PNP), with the following titles specifically:
1. Police Officer I
2. Police Officer II
3. Police Officer III
4. Senior Police Officer I
5. Senior Police Officer II
6. Senior Police Officer III
Our target population are those coming from the following operational support
units, as they are the ones who are typically scouting public areas where criminal
activities and police chases commonly occur.
1. PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG)
2. Highway Patrol Group (HPG)
3. Civil Security Group (CSG
4. Police-Community Relations Group (PCRG)
Only those assigned to the City Police Offices (CPOs) around Metro Manila, will
be recruited as participants. These are the ones assigned to the cities within the
Metro. CPOs from the cities with high crime rates will be prioritized. Only those
who have had first-hand experience of OIS, regardless of fatality, will be
recruited.
Other inclusion criteria are:
1. Officers who wear and carry a badge regularly.
2. Officers who carry a firearm regularly.
3. Officers who have full arrest powers.
4. Officers who were acting in full capacity, whether on or off duty, during
the OIS incident.
For the safety of the researchers, and for controlling characteristic variables, those
dispatched exclusively for Drug War Operations (e.g. Oplan Tokhang) will be
excluded, as well as those who have a record of unjustified extrajudicial killings
(police brutality in the absence of the situational factors, legal guidelines, and
policing standards. Refer to the Philippine Handbook on Human Rights-Based
Policing using this link: http://www2.hss.de/fileadmin/suedostasien/PNP-
Guidebook_Human-Rights.PDF).

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 RESEARCH DESIGN: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches (3rd ed.)

Definitions: lockdown on definitions

Something that is not captured by reference 10
The fulfillment should come after the interview not from the very start
Editing of the questionnaire to the relevant items that are not sensitive
Connection to extrajudicial killing, (policemen who work under the duterte administration)

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