The effects of expectancy disconfirmation on outcome satisfaction in police-citizen encounters

Michael D. Reisig, Meghan Stroshine Chandek

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

109 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study tests the expectancy disconfirmation model using survey data from citizens who recently had police encounters. We find support for the expectancy disconfirmation model's primary hypothesis that increased disparity between expectations of police performance and actual service inversely affects citizen satisfaction with the way the police handle encounters. This finding persists for both roluntaiy (e.g. breaking and entering victims) and involuntary (e.g. traffic citations) police encounters. Our results also suggest that the scope of the expectancy disconfirmation model is limited. For example, the disparity between expectations and actual service is not correlated with citizen satisfaction with the police in general Overall, the results show that the expectancy disconfirmation model is useful in that it provides conceptual guidance in an area of research that has been relatively void of theory, and can also help identify needed changes in police practices.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)88-99
Number of pages12
JournalPolicing
Volume24
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Expectancy theory
  • Police
  • Satisfaction

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine
  • Public Administration
  • Law

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The effects of expectancy disconfirmation on outcome satisfaction in police-citizen encounters'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this