The Police Engaging the Business Community: Using Survey Research to Examine Needs

Abstract

This case study describes a survey research project in an experiential, classroom/field setting. It provides an example of the collaboration between a practitioner agency (police department) and researcher (the University). The research project provided students hands-on experience ‘doing’ survey research and they actively participated in the process from start to finish. The project gave students the opportunity to engage with the community, understand the issues that are important to local businesses as they relate to public safety, and perhaps most importantly, increased students' understanding of the research process which they will be able to use once they are practitioners themselves.