1. Marthinus Koen Research and Publication Agenda
While I am currently in the process of data analysis for my dissertation research, three broad
objectives constitute my vision to remain an active scholar in the field of police and police
technology research. These objectives include, furthering research on body-worn cameras,
collaborating with other scholars that are involved in police research, and involving students in
research projects. The following research statement outlines my research experience, which
consists of both quantitative and qualitative methods; my publication agenda; and my vision of
how I will contribute to scholarly work in the foreseeable future.
Although my primary research interests are in policing and police technology, as a graduate
research assistant, I have gained some experience outside of police research helping Dr. Danielle
Rudes in her research on motivational interviewing strategies among juvenile probation officers.
As a part of the research team, I was mostly involved in data collection duties which consisted of
ethnographic note taking during client meetings and conversational interviewing with probation
officers. The qualitative research skills that I developed while working on this project strongly
influenced the research design of my dissertation which focuses on the technological frames of
police officers regarding body-worn cameras and how these frames of reference affects police
behavior.
The study is being conducted at a city-level police organization in Maryland and employs mixed
methods to explore the technological frames that exist among organizational members and how
those impacted the use of body-worn cameras. My dissertation research uses a survey, semi-
structured interviews, and direct observations of 45 police officers throughout a single agency to
learn how they make sense of and use body-worn cameras. With this project I have gained a
considerable amount of experience beyond qualitative and quantitative research methods, but
have also gained valuable experience in the logistical and administrative aspects of being a
primary investigator of a study. Some of this includes, writing a research proposal, creating
survey and interview protocols, gaining access to and maintaining a strong relationship with a
police organization, and creatively overcoming apprehension from research subjects. Thus my
research experience is not limited to data collection and analysis but has also been enriched by
practical experience that in my opinion fosters valuable traits such resourcefulness and creativity.
With the rich data from my dissertation research, I plan to publish at minimum three peer-
reviewed articles. The first will focus on how patrol officers interpret body-worn cameras and
how those interpretations seem to affect the way they use them in their interactions with
members of the public. The second will seek to identify the different technological frames that
different members of this police department used to make sense of the introduction and use of
body-worn cameras, including areas where these perceptions overlapped or were in conflict. The
third will look at the relationship between new technologies and organizational change, including
the factors that appear to inhibit or foster change and help explain unanticipated outcomes.
Beyond these publications, my vision as a scholar includes three main objectives: furthering
body-worn camera research, collaborating with colleagues, and involving my students in
research.

2. Extant research on body-worn camera research is still underdeveloped, and in my opinion and
the opinion of many scholars, body-worn cameras are a technology that will quickly diffuse and
be a part of police practice in the same way that automobiles are a part of policing today. It is
therefore imperative that more research on this topic is conducted and I would like to contribute
to that effort in two ways: First, by conducting studies similar to that of my dissertation that
examine officers’ perceptions of body-worn cameras in other police agencies in order to
understand what might account for any differences in how they are perceived and deployed.
Existing body-worn camera research on outcomes, such as whether or not body-worn cameras
reduce citizen complaints, is certainly important, but it does not address how officers construct
their understanding of these cameras and how this affects the way they are used in their everyday
work.
Secondly, to collaborate with other scholars in order to study the impact of body-worn camera
footage in the court system and how body-worn camera footage has affected the relationships
between the police and different members of the courtroom work group. Since body-worn
camera footage can be perceived as an excellent source of evidence, it is imperative to
understand the complete impact that this footage has had on courtroom practice and processes
(e.g. perceptions of police officers’ word, plea bargaining, due process). Nonetheless,
understanding the full impact of body-worn cameras goes beyond police organizations and
therefore future research must study their impact other branches of the criminal justice system.
My desire to collaborate with colleagues and other scholars does not only lie in furthering body-
worn camera research but is also found in my eagerness to build on my existing experience. I
believe that there is a lot to be gained from working with other scholars and since I am a
relatively young scholar, I will actively seek out opportunities to contribute to studies that my
colleagues are working on. My existing research skill set would make me a valuable asset to
quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods studies and I intend on honing my research skills as
I collaborate with scholars who have research interests in areas like policing, organizational
change, police innovation, or police technology research.
The third component of my vision involves working with young scholars on research projects
whether as a principal investigator or co-principal investigator. Including students in my research
or helping them with their own projects, in my opinion, is very important because it affords them
an opportunity to gain insight into how research works as opposed to reading about it in research
methods textbooks. Furthermore, collaborating with students can help them become familiar
with and appreciate some of the administrative and logistical considerations that are often
overlooked in research methods classes. Ultimately such insight can help them better prepare for
their own thesis and dissertation research. In addition to gaining valuable insight into the
practical aspects of research, students will also gain useful experience that can serve as the
foundation of their careers. Such experience can help them develop their own research interest
and skills, giving them an advantage when entering the job market.
I am an active member of scholarly organizations like ASC and ACJS and would like to continue
my involvement with these organizations. In my opinion, my interests in body-worn cameras is
relevant to current events and will continue to be as body-worn cameras become more common
among police agencies and addresses a very underdeveloped area of research. This, in addition to

3. presenting on projects I collaborate on with other scholars, or studies I have helped my students
with will afford me an opportunity to significantly develop my existing skill set, build on my
experience, and ultimately become a strong, contributing member of the scholarly community.