Citizens' Preferences about Police Work : An Argument for Racial Variations

Nation expands the literature on citizens' attitudes toward the police by considering citizens' preferences for police work. She argues that citizens' preferences can partly explain racial variations in citizens' attitudes toward the police. The complexity of police work requires the conceptualization of two key terms—citizens' preferences and police work—and has added new ideas to the attitudinal literature. Nation's work furthers policing research by showing that there are racial differences in preferences for police work. Additionally, the introduction of both expectancy disconfirmation theory and organizational theory as viable theoretical frameworks that support the relevance of citizens' preferences and the relationship to citizens' attitudes and satisfaction, add new theoretical areas to explore.