CHAPTER 10: DISCIPLINE AND PROBLEM BEHAVIORS
TRUE/FALSE
1. A primary rule of effective discipline is that it should be carried out as close to the time of the
violation as possible.
a. True
b. False
2. Discipline is closely related to morale.
a. True
b. False
3. 10 percent of officers can cause, or have caused, 90 percent of the problems in law enforcement.
a. True
b. False
4. Those officers with the highest performance have a high level of self-discipline.
a. True
b. False
5. Organizational consequences are stronger than personal consequences.
a. True
b. False
6. Positive, constructive self-discipline is usually least effective.
a. True
b. False
7. Officers should have input on rules.
a. True
b. False
8. No union contract protects workers from discipline when a valid work rule is violated.
a. True
b. False
9. Officers must object and refuse to obey an immoral or illegal order.
a. True
b. False
10. Negative discipline should precede positive efforts to gain voluntary compliance.
a. True
b. False
11. Among the most challenging problem behaviors are abuse of sick leave, substance abuse, corruption,
insubordination, sexual harassment, use of excessive force and misconduct off duty.
a. True
b. False
12. Disciplinary actions should be carried out in private to avoid embarrassment and defensiveness.
a. True
b. False
13. Officers who receive summary punishment do not have a right to a hearing.
a. True
b. False
14. Certain consequences are more powerful than uncertain consequences.
a. True
b. False
15. Both praise and reprimands can be effectively given in one minute.
a. True
b. False
16. Fairness means treating everyone equally.
a. True
b. False
17. Sexual harassment has decreased in visibility and has resulted in few lawsuits.
a. True
b. False
18. If managers suspect an employee is abusing alcohol or drugs, they should never accuse the employee
of doing so, but should focus instead on job deficiencies and corrective action.
a. True
b. False
19. Most departments use a horizontal use–of-force continuum.
a. True
b. False
MULTIPLE CHOICE
20. Which of the following statements about discipline is true?
a.
Discipline must always be positive.
b.
The only type of behavior is self-discipline.
c.
Discipline is training for controlled behavior.
d.
The most effective discipline is negative.
21. The purpose of discipline is to __________.
a.
reward unacceptable behavior
b.
promote desired behavior
c.
establish authority over employees
d.
use positive approaches to behavior only
22. A good discipline philosophy involves __________.
a.
using negative discipline at all times
b.
using nonparticipative approaches to rules and regulations
c.
using positive discipline at all times
d.
using both positive and negative discipline approaches
23. An agency’s _______________ is the foundation on which most discipline must be based.
a.
policy and procedure manual
b.
mission statement
c.
budget
d.
touchstone value
24. It is usually true that __________.
a.
informed employees are apt to meet expectations
b.
employees should have input in determining rules
c.
the majority of officers want to conform
d.
all of these
25. Wrongful termination lawsuits have ____________ in the past decade.
a.
declined sharply
b.
declined only slightly
c.
remained constant
d.
increased
26. A fair disciplinary system would include __________.
a.
an appeals provision
b.
immediate and impartial enforcement of rules
c.
reasonable but necessary rules and regulations governing employee behavior
d.
all of these
27. The PRICE method of discipline __________.
a.
has the manager set goals for the correction of employee behavior
b.
attempts to focus on a specific problem or problems
c.
feels it is unnecessary to evaluate performance
d.
all of these
28. ____________________ uses training to foster compliance with rules and regulations and
performance at peak efficiency.
a.
Negative discipline
b.
Positive discipline
c.
Summary discipline
d.
Self-discipline
29. Management under fear of discipline is __________.
a.
a new trend in management
b.
negative reinforcement
c.
only reserved for troublesome employees
d.
never acceptable
30. SOPs are sometimes available to officers in the field via __________.
a.
cell phones
b.
Internet
c.
department intranet
d.
DVD
31. Negative discipline involves __________.
a.
using reprimands and punishment to induce expected behavior
b.
using praise to achieve expected behavior
c.
using reprimands only in emergency situations
d.
using punishment, but not reprimands
32. Wrongful termination lawsuits arise from the due process clause of the __________ Amendment.
a.
First
b.
Fourth
c.
Fourteenth
d.
Sixteenth
33. The cornerstone of use-of-force training should be ____________ assessment.
a.
cost
b.
liability
c.
threat
d.
balance
34. The primary purpose of negative discipline is __________.
a.
to send a message to others that such behavior is not acceptable
b.
to help offenders correct behavior
c.
to punish wrongdoing
d.
both to send a message to others that such behavior is not acceptable and to help offenders
correct behavior
35. The type of sexual harassment that involves a supervisor’s demand for sexual favors from an employee
in return for a job benefit is _____________ harassment.
a.
hostile-environment
b.
negligent-environment
c.
nonsequiter
d.
quid pro quo
36. The text of an SOP should not be focused on prohibited acts because __________.
a.
employees may have a negative view of the department
b.
individuals seeking civil lawsuits are more easily able to win suits
c.
research has found that reading negative sentences leads to negative attitudes
d.
none of these
37. Of the following disciplinary actions, which is considered most severe?
a.
suspension
b.
demotion
c.
discharge
d.
written reprimand
38. The next most serious punishment after a warning or reprimand is __________.
a.
demotion
b.
dismissal
c.
termination
d.
suspension
39. When administering negative discipline, managers should __________.
a.
focus on the person and not the behavior
b.
not threaten, argue or show anger
c.
ascribe intent to the behavior by implying it was done purposely
d.
all of these
40. When supervisors accumulate the negative behaviors of a subordinate and then dump them all on the
officer at the same time rather than correcting them as they occur, this is known as __________.
a.
the gunnysack approach to discipline
b.
summary discipline
c.
progressive discipline
d.
the comprehensive approach to discipline
41. In effective discipline, punishment is __________.
a.
immediate, consistent and impartial
b.
delayed, inconsistent and biased
c.
immediate, unpredictable and based on individual circumstances
d.
never appropriate
42. _________________ are written directives related to policy, procedures, rules, and regulations
involving more than one organizational unit.
a.
Mission statements
b.
General orders
c.
Memos
d.
Direct orders
43. Individuals who demonstrate ability but do just enough to get by are known as __________.
a.
10/80 employees
b.
marginal performers
c.
decoupling employees
d.
change behavior performers
44. Which of the following types of individual is often silent and unresponsive, and seldom offers his or
her own ideas or opinions?
a.
complainer
b.
pessimist
c.
passive
d.
avoider
45. Which of the following individual types attack verbally or physically, using threats or demands to get
their way?
a.
bullies
b.
snipers
c.
imploders
d.
avoiders
46. Which of the following individual types yell and scream, and are often overemotional?
a.
bullies
b.
snipers
c.
imploders
d.
exploders
COMPLETION
47. ______________________ is a set of self–imposed rules governing a person’s self-control.
48. The illegal or unreasonable use of force is considered _____________ use of force.
49. _______________ is how a person acts.
50. In law enforcement, _______________ is defined as a failure to obey a lawful and direct order from a
supervisor.
51. The IACP defines _____________ as “that amount of effort required by police to compel compliance
from an unwilling subject.”
52. _____________________ is a form of civil disobedience reflecting a philosophy on nonviolence.
53. __________________________employs reprimands and punishments for wrong behavior in an effort
to compel expected behavior.
54. Over 40 years ago, in ____________________, the Supreme Court held that law enforcement agencies
could legitimately have more stringent conduct rules, including rules regulating off-duty behavior
because a police officer is “directly, immediately and entirely responsible to the city or state which is
his employer.”
55. Usually the final step in progressive discipline, _______________, is being fired from employment.
56. ________________________ uses both positive and negative discipline to achieve individual and
organizational goals.
MATCHING
Match each statement to the item listed below
a.
appeal
f.
PRICE method
b.
balance of consequences
g.
reprimand
c.
comprehensive discipline
h.
summary discipline
d.
demotion
i.
suspension
e.
negligent retention
57. a five-step approach to employee performance problems
58. a disciplinary action placing an employee in a position of lower responsibility and pay
59. uses both positive and negative discipline to achieve individual and organizational goals
60. discretionary authority used when a supervisor feels immediate action is needed
61. the most frequent type of disciplinary action
62. considers behavior in terms of what positive and negative results the behavior produces and then
focuses on those results
63. a disciplinary action barring an employee from a position
64. failing to terminate an employee when justified
65. a request for a decision to be reviewed by someone higher in command
ESSAY
66. Explain the two models developed to address the use of force. Outline them both and discuss their
advantages and disadvantages.
67. Discuss the concept of progressive discipline and explain what steps are involved.
68. Describe the balance of consequences analysis process, what factors are considered and what types of
consequences have the greatest impact. Next, explain how managers can change the balance of
consequences.
69. Explain what the EIS is and list and discuss the five guiding principles.
70. Describe the techniques managers can use to deal with different types of problem employees and how
these techniques could affect department morale.
