Physics

Meteorology

Block (permutation group theory)

Mathematics

Medical education

World Wide Web

Engineering

Political science

Psychology

Training (meteorology)

Geometry

Cadet

Session (web analytics)

Graduation (instrument)

Computer science

Applied psychology

Medicine

Mechanical engineering

Behavior Analysis in Practice

We conducted empirical analyses of training at 3 large regional police academies in the United States. We objectively examined the performance and learning of 3 classes, a total of 115 cadets, across 3 representative training approaches to defensive and control tactics. Experiment 1 examined the content and effects of single-session or block training across 8 weeks during the academy. Experiment 2 examined the content and effects of spaced sessions with small-group practice and scenario-based feedback across 8 weeks during the academy. Experiment 3 examined the content and effect of block training with scenario-based feedback across 15 weeks during the academy. Experiment 3 also demonstrated the impact of performance feedback on instructor behavior and cadet performance during the academy and 16 weeks after graduation. We provide recommendations and a call for research based on the performance and learning literature, grounded in behavioral science.

Police Academy Training, Performance, and Learning