Prevention

Publication of the BAK’s research study on law enforcement officers’ attitudes toward corruption

The Federal Bureau of Anti-Corruption (BAK) has been conducting research on attitudes toward corruption since 2015. Now, the results of the second research study examining law enforcement officers' attitudes toward corruption are available.

Since 2015, the BAK has been working closely with corruption researchers of Hanover University. Following an initial study – the BAK has reported (visit the link "Initial study") – a measurement tool for measuring attitudes toward corruption was developed and standardized that is specific to Austria. This instrument can be used, among other things, to assess possible vulnerabilities to corruption of a certain group in comparison to the general population of Austria. In the now presented follow-up study on law enforcement officers’ attitudes toward corruption, this Austrian version of what is called the Hanover Corruption Scale – HKS 38 Ö – was used for the first time. With the help of HKS 38 Ö, around 1,400 new entrants to the Austrian police service were queried about their attitudes toward corruption.

As it turns out, the average attitude toward corruption held by Austrian police officers in training is comparable to that held by the general population of Austria. There is a slight tendency for police officers in training to disapprove of corruption more readily than the general Austrian population. Moreover, as the age of respondents increases, they tend to have a more adverse attitude toward corruption. No differences in attitudes toward corruption can be found with regard to gender.

The new title "Corruption – Attitude – Police” of the "Personalpsychologie” publication series (link below) discusses in detail the results with regard to the abovementioned and other variables, which are classic subjects of self-report studies and official statistics on the topic of corruption. Among other things, the new publication answers the question to what extent such findings are reflected in the dark figure of crime, and whether variables derived therefrom show a cause-effect relationship with attitudes toward corruption.

The study results also help to adapt relevant training concepts as well as specific training measures to the requirements of the particular training group.
This research study was co-funded by the European Commission as part of the ISF "Situation Picture" project.