Abstract
This study explored the effects of subject matter expert (SME) viewpoint (incumbents/supervisors versus users of work products) on job analysis data in a law enforcement context. As part of a job analysis to develop a content valid test and training program for police report writing skills, assistant district attorneys and police officers were asked to evaluate the criticality of 16 dimensions of police report writing, incorporating two subscales, grammar and content. Analyses indicated that police officers and district attorneys had similar ratings for items related to report content, but police officers rated grammar as more critical than did district attorneys. District attorneys in this case were more reliable in their ratings. Implications for job analysis, including considerations in choosing SMEs and the utilization of SME data, are discussed.
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