Toward a Comprehensive Model of Police Training: A Longitudinal Study Examining Predictors of Officers’ Training Motivation, Receptivity, and Outcomes

The literature on “what works” in police training is quickly growing. As we build this evidence base, it is important to not only examine whether a training program works but also develop a better understanding of how and why it works (or fails). Our paper builds on the theoretical framework of officer training motivation and receptivity by addressing several gaps in the existing literature and proposes an analytical model for training evaluation. We conducted a longitudinal police training evaluation by exploring different factors that may motivate officers to complete training, which, in turn, may impact their training receptivity and, ultimately, training outcomes. A sample of 351 newly hired Korean police officers participated in online surveys conducted at two time periods. The results demonstrate several factors are important predictors of training motivation, receptivity, and outcomes, offering empirical insights that can inform police agencies in designing and implementing more effective training programs.