nity as to the conduct of police towards members of racial and ethnic minorities. If significant differences in such perceptions exist between different racial and ethic groups, there is, at the very least, a justification for further research that focuses on the reasons for such variations in perceptions. If no significant differences exist among different racial and ethnic groups in perceptions that police do behave both differently and inappropriately toward racial and ethnic minorities, there will be a clear indication that behavioral modifications on the part of police are necessary.
The purpose of this study is to measure and assess variations in public perceptions of police behavior toward racial and ethnic population minority groups. One research question will be investigated. This research question is as follows: How do public perceptions of the inappropriateness of police behavior toward members of racial and ethnic minorities vary among racial and ethnic population groups in Los Angeles?
The null hypothesis that will be tested is as follows: There are no variations among different racial and ethnic population groups in Los Angeles on the issue of inappropriate behavior by police toward members of racial and ethnic minorities. The independent variable in the proposed study will be the racial or ethnic group of study respondents. The operational definition of the independent variable will include the following classifications: (a) African American; (b) Asian American and Pacific Islander; (c) European American (white); (d) Hispanic American; (e) Native American (Indian); and (f) Other (self-identified). The dependent variable in the proposed study will be the perceptions of study respondents with respect to the existence of differences in the frequency of inappropriate police behavior toward members of racial and ethnic minorities in comparison to police treatment of European Americans. The operational definitio...