introduction | the survey |
1:prior qualifications
2:job(s) after the course
3:the course
4:investigative psychology


Section 3: The Course.



Q8: Please indicate those aspects of the course that you have drawn on in your employment.

Twenty-one respondents answered this question. The most commonly cited aspect of the course that has been drawn on is research methodology, statistics & analysis. This was mentioned 13 times. The other aspect that was cited often was investigative interviewing which was mentioned 6 times. Due to the wide ranging employment gained by the respondents, various other aspects of the course were cited as being drawn upon by a few rather than a lot of the respondents. For example, the report writing and presentation skills was mentioned as useful by some, whilst others found crime linking, decision making, and the geography of crime particularly useful.

Q9: Are there any areas that were covered in the course you took which you feel would be valuable to future students?

Of the 22 respondents who answered this question, 8 (36%) stated that work placements and career advice would be most valuable to future students. 4 (18%) thought that training in crime analysis techniques would be very useful for future students. The citing of work experience, career advice and specific crime analysis techniques is closely related to a common theme where respondents frequently mentioned that there is a need to familiarise the students with the context of investigative psychology within the real world. Many mentioned that the course could be more applied to give the students more practical skills, such as crime analysis techniques and work experience. Others suggested that it could be structured to better inform the students of the opportunities gained by completing the MSc, such as more guest speakers who talk about how their field is related to IP and career advice.

It is worth noting that this has been recognised by the course and many such speakers and the course now incorporates a professional placement



Q10: Do you think that the course with people who did not have GBR:

a) Reduced the standard and quality of the course:

Yes: 3 (14%)
No: 11 (52%)
No Difference: 7 (34%)

The majority of respondents (86%) believed that the people who did not have GBR either did not reduce the quality of the course or made no difference. As mentioned, only 14% believed the standard of the course was actually reduced as a result. The reasons given for stating that these students without GBR did not reduce the quality of the course were similar. Respondents generally believed that the wide range of backgrounds and resulting cross-pollination of ideas, approaches, and opinions actually enriched the course. Others believed that the police officers applied knowledge more than made up for their lack of psychological background. Of the 14% that disagreed, it was mentioned that the course was intensive and hard and was slowed down as a result of their lack of psychological knowledge.

b) Improved the value of the course to you?

Yes: 10 (48%)
No: 3 (14%)
No difference: 8 (38%)

The majority of respondents (86%) believed that the inclusion of students without GBR either improved the value of the course or made no difference. 14% believed that it had a detrimental effect on the quality of the course for them. Reasons given for believing that the value of the course improved included; finding out how IP could be applied in the real world through the professionals experience, and the enjoyment of being able to converse and learn from a variety of individuals from different countries and diverse backgrounds. Others believed that police officers make valuable contributions such as police experience.



continue to section 4: investigative psychology


introduction | the survey |
1:prior qualifications
2:job(s) after the course
3:the course
4:investigative psychology


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