VALUE OF THE ACTION LAB IN POLICE TRAINING

Abstract

Howard Becker and Anselm Strauss made the cogent point that "in occupations whose central feature is performance of a service for outside clients, one chronic source of tension is the effort of members to control their work life themselves while in contact with outsiders." Police work does involve "service for outside clients" and its incumbents do exert effort to control their work life. It also involves membership in a tightly, knit work group with its own values, customs, mores and attitudes. Despite extensive contact with the public, a veritable horde of outside clients, the police do not readily allow themselves to be influenced by views arising from outside
their ranks.