In search of police investigative thinking styles: an exploratory study of detectives in Norway and Singapore

Abstract

In this paper, we argue that more research attention needs to be devoted to profile how investigators think when attempting to solve crimes and dismantle terrorist networks. Since 9/11, there is much activity focused on profiling criminals and terrorists but little on the other side of the investigative equation the detectives/investigators themselves. Therefore, the focus of this paper is to begin to address this gap in police-law enforcement-security knowledge by reporting the results of an exploratory factor analysis (n = 157) with a random sample of Norwegian and Singaporean police officers. Results indicated that a 3-factor solution of investigative thinking provided a strong fit for the data. The three underlying dimensions found are labelled in the paper as challenging proactivity (factor 1), procedural methodology (factor 2), and procedural professionalism (factor 3). Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed in the light of the findings for these three factors. The importance of this paper lies in its contribution to the burgeoning area of knowledge management as it relates to policing and law enforcement.