1. College Views On Cops:
Attitudes Toward Police Among Criminal Justice and Non-
Criminal Justice Students at Caldwell College
2. Introduction/Theoretical Perspective:
This research will be based on the theoretical perspective that students at Caldwell
College with criminal justice majors will have a more positive attitude towards the police
and law enforcement officials than students at Caldwell College with non-criminal justice
majors. It is in one’s desire of college major or personal preference that makes a
difference in whether or not they support police and law enforcement officers.
3. A statement of the problem and sub problems:
The purpose of this research is to assess the attitudes of criminal justice majors at
Caldwell College toward police and law enforcement officers in contrast with the
attitudes of non-criminal justice majors at Caldwell College.
Sub Problems:
1. Assess the views of criminal justice majors at Caldwell College towards
police and law enforcement officers.
2. Assess the views of non-criminal justice majors at Caldwell College towards
police and law enforcement officers.
3. Compare the two and make an assessment.
4. Concepts/Variables:
X and Y variables:
X Variable (Caldwell College Student’s Major) - The majors of students at
Caldwell College.
Y Variable (Views towards police and law enforcement officers) - Student
views on police and law enforcement officers.
(X) Independent- Whether the Caldwell College student is a criminal justice, or
non-criminal justice major.
(Y) Dependent- How that major aids with the student’s attitudes toward police and
law enforcement officers.
5. Hypotheses:
A. If one is a criminal justice major at Caldwell College, his/her attitudes towards
police and law enforcement will be positive.

2. B. If one is a non-criminal justice major at Caldwell College, his/her attitudes
towards police and law enforcement will be negative.
C. Criminal Justice majors at Caldwell College are more likely to have positive
attitudes towards the police and law enforcement officers than non-criminal
justice majors at Caldwell College.
Null Hypothesis- There is no relationship between a college students’ major and
their attitudes towards the police
6. Limitations:
The study will include only criminal justice and non-criminal justice students at
Caldwell College. It will not include any of the staff, faculty, or any other outside
population. The study is strictly limited to Caldwell College students only.
7. Importance of the Study:
This particular study could have value to Caldwell College because if the study
concludes that criminal justice majors at the college were supportive towards the police
and law enforcement officers, the college may consider instituting a program to interested
students to get involved with the police and law enforcement officers in the local area,
and obtain a feel of what goes into police work.