Using the Rasch measurement model to design a report writing assessment instrument

Area of Science:

• Educational Measurement
• Law Enforcement Training
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Report writing is a critical skill for Michigan law enforcement recruits, mandated by the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES).
• MCOLES initiated research to modernize training and testing for law enforcement report writing.
• Ensuring officer competency is vital for public safety and effective law enforcement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate an assessment instrument measuring law enforcement officers' ability to write incident and investigative reports.
• To apply the Rasch measurement model to enhance the validity and reliability of the assessment.
• To establish a clear link between report writing competencies and essential patrol officer job functions.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Rasch measurement model for instrument development and analysis.
• Conducted a structured validation process including job task analysis, expert input, and literature review.
• Created an assessment instrument to measure student competency in report writing.

Main Results:

• The Rasch model facilitated the assessment of key measurement principles, particularly construct validity.
• Established a validated connection between report writing standards and the essential job functions of Michigan patrol officers.
• Produced an authentic instrument for measuring minimum report writing competency with valid inferential results.

Conclusions:

• The validated instrument provides a reliable measure of law enforcement report writing skills.
• The project ensures that Michigan law enforcement training and testing processes are valid and reliable.
• This contributes to licensing officers who meet minimum competency standards, enhancing public safety.