Predicting turnover of police officers using the sixteen personality factor questionnaire

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between personality characteristics assessed by the sixteen personality factor questionnaire (16PF) and turnover. The sample consisted of 280 police officers who voluntarily terminated their employment during an eight-year period and 280 officers who remained employed in the police force. A limited number of personality characteristics were found to predict turnover. These were Factor C: affected by feelings versus emotionally stable, Factor I: tough-minded versus tender-minded, and Factor H: shy versus venturesome. Contrary to expectation, two conscientiousness scales (Factor O: placid versus apprehension, and Factor Q4: relaxed versus tense) and two emotional stability scales (Factor O: placid versus apprehension, and Factor Q4: relaxed versus tense) were unrelated to turnover. The authors also explored the existence of differential validity based on gender; no evidence of this was found.