| The current research was designed to furnish an unpretentious but rigorous examination of the subject of ethics education, seeking the most commanding and useful method to deliver the curriculum. A review of the literature revealed several methods currently used to teach ethics. The respondents examined the various methods, noted the positive and negative characteristics of each, and concluded the case studies method is the most useful. During the early months of 2009, four groups of police personnel from a large police department in the Western U.S. were surveyed to determine the preferred methods of delivering ethics education. The groups were police officers, investigators, management, and non-sworn personnel. The results indicated the case study method was selected more frequently and was favored by each group. Additional support was seen for the usefulness of the methods of films and movies; lectures; and books, publications, and articles. Strong sentiment was shown against the use of role-playing and philosophers and their philosophies. The survey revealed absorbing and irreconcilable points of view regarding the subject of ethics and its subsequent training. No universal agreement was found on how the training should be delivered, and the respondents believed each method had some usefulness. Law enforcement trainers should evaluate the methods now used to teach the curriculum and consider a blended approach using several methods for increased effectiveness. |
