Measuring normative obligation to obey the police: An empirical assessment of a new police legitimacy scale

Purpose: This study empirically evaluates a normative obligation to obey the police scale that was introduced by Pósch et al. (2021) to address problems with traditional obligation measures. The objective is twofold: (1) to assess the measurement qualities of the scale, and (2) to test the scale's direct and mediating effects on theoretically-relevant variables. Methods: Using survey data from a national opt-in online sample (N = 1509), this study employs exploratory and confirmatory factor-analytic techniques to assess the scale's underlying structure. Path analysis using maximum-likelihood estimation and bootstrapped standard errors is used to test the direct and mediating effects. Results: The factor models indicate that the normative obligation to obey the police scale is a unique latent construct, which is distinguishable from an obligation measure rooted in coercion and dull compulsion. The results from the path model demonstrate that normative obligation to obey the police is associated with a higher willingness to cooperate with police. The indirect effects show that the normative obligation scale mediates the association between procedural justice of the police and willingness to cooperate. The direct and indirect effects do not achieve statistical significance in the path model when compliance with the law is specified as the criterion variable. Conclusions: This study highlights some of the challenges associated with operationalizing police legitimacy. Nevertheless, the evidence is encouraging and supports Pósch et al.'s normative obligation to obey the police scale.