Current Research
A showcase of ongoing studies within the LEAPP Consortium and affiliated laboratories around the world. If interested in participating in any study please click affiliated links for more information.
The Delphi Project
The Delphi study aims to develop a competency framework of competencies needed for consistent performance under pressure in policing contexts. The Delphi method is a well-established research approach that utilizes expert consensus to address complex issues.
The Autonomic Modulation Training (AMT) Intervention
In consultation with expert police officers, academics & clinicians, AMT has been tailored to address the unique stressors officers face in all areas of their lives: operational, organizational & personal. Through 8 weekly online sessions (45-90mins each), users will learn tangible techniques to modulate mental & physical responses to stress. Participants will be provided with a wearable heart rate monitor, iPad & biofeedback app to see & rewire their physiological reflexes in real time.
Observational behaviour assessment for psychological competencies in police officers: A proposed methodology for instrument development
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We proposed a novel empirical methodology for evaluating psychological competencies in police officers, particularly through behavioural observation assessment. We provided a pragmatic framework for police agencies to effectively implement and interpret a behavioural assessment instrument. In the step-by-step methodology, we summarized what is known about behavioural assessment, made a practical translation of this literature to the field and illustrated the methodology with a practical example.
Action Research for Use-of-Force Training
The use-of-force training program for police officers is perceived as quite generic and as somewhat distant from the daily duty of police officers. Therefore, the Dutch National Police developed living labs at police training centers to set-up a training program in co-creation with the operation that acknowledges the needs of (teams of) police officers. The police instructors in the living labs had the opportunity to experiment with different types of learning activities and alternative planning methods. Action research was used to monitor, evaluate and systematically develop three of the living labs. The acquired knowledge, lessons learned, and experienced obstacles of the living labs were shared with other training centers to facilitate collective learning. A publication of this study is in progress.
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Short, Powerful and Intensive Firearms Training
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A new method of firearms training, called 'Short, Powerful, and Intensive' (SPI) was evaluated by comparing it to the regular firearms training at Dutch police academies. The SPI-training is organized into compact, intensive clusters, with a larger emphasis on scenario-based training with non-lethal firearms. Our evaluation focused on the learning environment, learning outcomes, and learning experiences of both training methods. Our comprehensive evaluation aimed to determine the effectiveness of SPI-training, providing insights for optimizing police firearms training.
Embodied Teamwork
To investigate teamwork of police officers, the behavior of collaborating police officers (teams of two officers) in 50 video recorded realistic training scenarios has been coded. The coded behaviors are verbal, spatial, gaze, movement and action behaviors. Currently, we are analyzing the behavior sequences that take place before and during use of force by one or both of the officers in the realistic training scenarios. We look at the behavior sequences within officers to test different analysis methods: do the analyses result in predicted patterns between officers? To find out how police officers react and/or behave when their colleague uses force, we analyze behavior sequences between police officers in a scenario.
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Affiliated Research Institutes
