The Affective Domain and Police Values Education: Is the Former Used to Convey the Latter in Support of the National Decision Model?

Abstract

This small-scale case study investigates how the affective domain of learning is used by police trainers to incorporate the values of a small UK police force into training. The affective domain is an educational theory which focuses on learning with a feeling tone; for example: attitudes, values and emotions. There are two branches to this research, the first is how the affective domain is used with the Learning & Development Department (LDD) of a UK police force; the second is the extent to which the values of the force feature in training within the LDD. These branches are then brought together to consider whether the values of this force are actively conveyed throughout training by using the affective domain of learning. The research suggests that the affective domain is used in training, but mainly to illustrate the importance of the training being delivered, with a view to increasing motivation and learning. The values of the force are present in the Learning & Development Department, but only in so far as they are prevalent on posters and coincidentally in practice. There is acquiescence in responding to the values of the organisation, but inculcation of them is limited.